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4 HENRY H.TUCKKR, Kditor. THE LOGARITHMIC PROMISE. “How should on* chase a thousand and two put teu thousand to flight." Deut. 32 39. Within the last few weeks or months we have had much to say about the in dependence of churches. Each church, in our opinion, is a little empire sep arate from and disconnected with all others, and wholly independent of all persona and things in this world, hav ing plenary power within itself, to do and perform all that is to be done for the kingdom of God, by any organized body under the requirements of the New Testament. The decisions of each are supreme for itself; and this side of Heaven there is no higher court to which appeals can be taken. As with individuals each one must give account of himself to God, so with churches; each under God is its own master, di viding responsibility with none. In various ways we have illustrated our belief that concentration of ecclesiast ical responsibility and power would work injury to the cause of Christ, and that in the segregation of churches there is both strength and safety. It is needless to say more on this subject; but having committed ourselves fully to this doctrine of isolation, we have now something to say on the ad vantages of combination. The very idea of combination invol ves the idea of plurality; for unity is the last analysis that can be made, and in order to combination there must be at least two units, or any number greater than one. Hence, if there are any advantages in combination, no unity can enjoy them. Hence, again, if there be but one church, the ad vantages of combination, if there be any, must be impossible to that church ; and hence, finally, if all churches in stead of being merely combined, are united so as to form one consolidate body which might be properly called the church, no benefit can be derived from combination; its unity making combination impossible. But what are these benefits? In the first place, observe that various forces acting in different directions, on the same body, will produce a result, dif ferent from what the same amount of force would do, if operating in only one direction. The resultant force is a diagonal coinciding with none of the component forces. Every attempt to unite churches into one organic body, results in hierarchy, and places power in the hands of a few; for every hier archy is an oligarchy. These few give direction to the affairs of the whole, and the great body of God’s people on earth are the mere subjects of a govern ment, in which virtually they have no voice. True, they may choose their masters, but these, when chosen, are masters none the less, and those who choose them are but spiritual serfs. Thus within the kingdom of Christ another kingdom is erected, an imper ium in imperio, for which there is no warrant fn the New Testament. One is our Master and all we are brethren ; to that One we all owe supreme allegi ance, but in our relations to each other we are on equality. Let each church be a democracy, and let each be indep endent of every other, and there can be no gigantic power to exercise spirit ual despotism ; and let these combine their forces on any given object, and the result will be what no man or set of men united would give it. Thus direction is given not by the few, nor even by the many, but by all. Every one has his influence, and can make himself felt as a force. Who is it then that controls Christian effort in its great enterprises? No pope, nor con vocation, nor synod, nor conference, but the whole people of God. We are much more ready to believe, that the mind of the Lord is with his people, than that it is with any body of spirit ual magnates who would lord it over God’s heritage. Hence, when churches •ombine without uniting, wiser and purer counsels prevail, than when by union they concentrate power in the hands of a few. Each is a check upon the other; all looking to Christ, and thus they keep each other in balance, like the heavenly bodies revolving ar ound a central sun. By combination there is not only a different direction given to power, but there is an increase of power. Two men can often do more than one man taken twice. Suppose a house to be built, whose timbers are just too large for one man to handle. Two men might raise the frame in a day, but one man could not do it in two days, nor in twenty, nor a hundred days, nor ever. Suppose even that one man had the strength of two, or of twenty, there would still be occasions when power would be needed in more places than one at the same time, and thus two men of ordinary strength would be more efficient than one with the strength of Samson. For similar reas ons, men form partnerships in business. Separately each one can accomplish so much; combining their efforts sup posing there to be two of them, they accomplish not merely twice that much but more. This applies not merely where capital is needed, but in the learned professions as well, and con sequently lawyers and doctors com bine in firms, for mutual advantage. THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 1881. All that we have said has been sug gested by that passage in Deut 32:30, where it is declared, in 'effect, that, on certain conditions, “one shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to > flight." Why this dis proportioned in crease of effect? Arithmetic would seem to teach that, if one could chase a thousand, two would put two thou sand to flight But there is something else besides figures to be taken into the account. The power of combination is a factor which enhances the value of the combined units. Two men, separ ate and independent as individuals, but combining their forces, can do not. merely twice as much as one man, but ten times as much. It is remarkable that the increase corresponds exactly but inversely with the logarithms of numbers, and hence we have called the text the logarithmic premise. It is certainly surprising that the dis tinction between arithmetical and geo metrical progression should have been observed, and it may be that the Spirit which indited this expression had refer ence to this peculiar relation of num bers. But in another place, (Lev. 26 :8), where the same general thought is ad vanced, the proportion is not kept up. It is there said, “Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight.” All combinations may not be of equal value; the result in some cases may be as fl ve to one, and in others as ten to one, and the variations may be infinite; and passibly this may be the reason of the difference in the two texts quoted. This may be fanciful, and therefore not at all to be relied on as interpretation; and this may be the case, too, with the logarithmic proportion noticed in the first of the passages adduced. But we think it is not a mere fancy to suppose that the disproportionate increase spok en of in both texts is not meaningless. In the one case (Deut. 32:30) the words are spoken by Moses in his dying song; in the other case (Lev. 26 :8) the words are spoken to Moses, by one who pre faces his speech by saying, “I am the Lord your God.” It is by no accident that this peculiarity of expression oc curred ; nor can we suppose that a mere current phrase was vaguely adopted, for if this had been the case, the same form of expression would have been used in both instances. We must think that the words were used intentionally ; not thoughtlessly, nor yet as mere mat ter of rhetoric, and that they mean something. Now, what do they mean? Why should it be said that “One should chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight?” Definite numbers may indeed have been used in an inde finite sense, which is a very common usage; but why, in each case, should there be greater increase spoken of than the figures mathematically justify? We do not claim to have found an an swer to this question; but we can con ceive of no reason other than that which we have given, namely, that when two or more forces are combined, they are more potent than the same amount of force would be if acting as a unit. If we are right in this supposition, which we think is something more than a mere conceit, then an ecclesiastical organization which absorbs all its forces into one grand aggregate, thus destroy ing their independency by unification, can never enjoy the benefit indicated in the logarithmic promise; for the promise is not to such. On the other hand, mere independence, without combination or co-operation, reduces the dissociated little units to the same condition with the monster unit just described ; no promise is made to them. The assurance is not to the small, nor yet to the great; but to the harmo nious co-operation of many; it is at once a divisor and a multiplier—a di visor of force, a multiplier of forces. The Lord, with regard to the resto ration of exiled Israel to their own land, said, “With supplications will I lead them” (Jer. 31:9.). There is sweetness in the thought, that the Lord leads his people, and surprise in the thought, that he leads them with their own supplications. His guidance is already in their cries for guidance, for “he pours out the spirit of grace and of supplications” on them, (Zech. 12 :10) and through that spirit prompts the askings on their part which corres pond to the purposed givings on his own. Both the prophets speak in the plural, intimating at once the united supplications of the body of believers and the persevering supplications of the individual believer, for the prayer which God answers is the prayer of fered by his people with on® heart and one soul, and none has a share in that answer but he who shows the fervency of his prayer by its frequency. —Augusta Evening News : The spe cial services at the First Baptist church in which the pastor, Mr. Landrum, is assisted by Rev. W. C. Lindsay, will continue all this week, and the public are invited. The impression made by Mr. Lindsay is deep and lasting, and he will ever be remembered as one of the most powerful and striking exemp lars and preachers of divine truth ever heard in this section. —The Henry County Weekly says: The Primitive Baptists, of Hampton, are making an effort to raise, by sub scription, a sufficient sum of money to build a new house of worship. The present edifice was erected ovir fifty years ago. QUERIES. ' The following questions are asked _ us by a minister of high standing; the , names are fictitious, and so far as we know, no such case ever happened. 1. Can the Baptist church at Col , umbus after receiving John Smith by letter from the church at Griffin, and keeping him in the church for six ’ months, return him without a letter to the church at Griffin? When John Smith was received by the church at Columbus, the letter that he brought from Griffin became a dead letter, and Smith was in the same pos ition that he would have been in if he had never belonged to any church other than the one at Columbus. This church had no more right to send him to Griffin without a letter than to any other church without a letter. If this church discharged him from its mem bership without a letter, he became virtually an excluded member. 2. Can the church at Columbus, having received Smith as above, at the request (not of Griffin fortrial but) of Smith himself, return to him the identical letter brought to them from Griffin six months before? No. The moment he became a mem ber of the Columbus church, his letter was dead, and for pratical purposes ceased to exist. It had accomplished its mission; it had done all it was ever intended to do, and it could not pos sibly do, or be made to do anything more. If the letter had been burned Io ashes the moment the Columbus chuich received him, no harm would have been done to anybody or to any thing. If it had not been burned, the paper might still exist, but the writing on the paper would be null and void, and of no value or effect; and hence the letter could not be used for any purpose whatever, either at Smith’s re quest or at Griffin’s request, or at any body’s request. 3. If Columbus returns Smith, in either<of the above ways to Griffin, and Griffin afterwards gives Smith a letter to Macon, and Macon receives him, what is the true status of Smith as to church membership? Where does he belong? If the church at Griffin received Smith in either of the above ways, it received him as an excluded member from another church. A church can do this; a church can receive anybody it pleases; and sometimes it may re ceive those who ought not to be receiv ed. When a church receives a mem ber who has been excluded from an other church without consent of that church it breaks fellowship with tlfet other church, unless, perhaps, when that other church is so far off as to be practically out of reach. But excluded members are frequently received by a church with the consent of the church from which they were excluded. In the case supposed, Columbus seems to have been willing for Griffin to receive Smith. But whether Columbus was willing or not, Smith became a bona fide member of the Griffin church the moment the vote receiving him was taken; and as Columbus was willing for its excluded member to be so receiv ed, no fellowship was broken. Smith, now being a member of the Griffin church, may be dismissed by that church to Macon, and when he is re ceived on the strength of it, his member ship is with the Macon church. Columbus excluded him, whether rightfully or wrongfully, regularly or irregularly, intentionally or uninten tionally, it is needless to inquire. Grif fin received him, whether rightfully’ or wrongfully, regularly or irregularly, wisely or unwisely, is immaterial. Grif fin afterwards dismissed him by letter, and on that letter Macon received him, and his membership is with the church last named. 4. Columbus wishes to know if it is still responsible for Smith. Columbus is reponsible for having done a very unwise thing; that is, for excluding Smith when (so far as the record shows) there were no charges against him; responsible also for an other unwise thing; that is, for putting a man in the position of an excluded member when the intention was only to dismiss him ; responsible also for a third unwise thing; that is, for attemp ting to send a member to another chureh without a letter. Griffin is also responsible for an un wise thing; that is, for receiving Smith either without a letter, or with one which was of no more value than blank paper. If Griffin wished to receive Smith into membership, he should have been required to get his letter from Columbus; or else Celumbus should have been asked to say distinctly that Smith was an excluded member, and that no objection would be made to his being received at Griffin. In either of these cases Smith would have become a member of the Griffin church in a regular way. As it was, his reception was irregular, inexpedient and without precedent. But now that Smith is a member of the Macon church, nobody is respons ible for him but Macon ; and Macon is not responsible for the errors commit ted by Columbus and Griffin. If any of our brethren differ with us on the points involved they are welcome to the use our columns for a reasonable time; the discussion, if there should be any, must not be too long. Once, in an Italian city a man sicz ed from an altar the candles burning before the crucifix, and carried them before the bust of the poet Dante, ex- claiming, "Accept this homage, of which thou art worthier than Christ.” We recoil from blasphemy, and we do well to recoil from it. But, alas, how often we give Christ the second place in the affections of our hearts,or iu the labor of our lives, and think nothing of it! and rejoice in it! and plume ourselves upon it! What little things, too, we prefer to Christ! what false things! what foul things! Ah, wheth er we think it or not, to place even the greatest and truest and purest things above Christ is to make them little and false and foul. To make them so? Yes; and ourselves also—if, fndeed, the littleness, and falseness, and foulness be not first in us, and only made the worse by this guilty folly. FACTS AND HGURES. It is a common saying that facts and figures do not lie. We believe it was Sidney Smith who said that no two things in the world are more freely used in the interest of lying than facts and figures; and if Sidney Smith did not say it, we do. A lie slipped in among a goodly number of facts, may easily escape notice; it is in good com pany, and so does not excite suspicion, but on the contrary, unless closely ex amined, it partakes of the respectabili ty of its surroundings; acd even if there be no lie mixed in with the facts, like Satan presenting himself with the sons of God, the facts themselves, by wrong collocation, or by partial state ment omitting the hinge-facts, may be not only misguiding, but vastly more so than any collection of mere false hoods. So with figures. Their mean ing is clearly defined, there is no am biguity about them; they carry with them an air of exactness; and men always pay intellectual homage to ex actness, so that what comes to us with mathematical precision, we scarcely dare to controvert. Yet a single mis placed figure in a long calculation, can scatter more of the distemper of false hood than almost anything else. Not long ago we published half a column of facts and figures from an authentic source, going to show a most frightful deterioration in the morals of the State of Maine. These statements were used, and with great effect, by the enemies of the anti-liquor laws in force in that State. We used them for no such purpose, but rather to draw out, from some of our Pine-tree breth ren, an explanation; and naming our valued exchange, Zion’s Advocate, we said that we should take it as a kind ness if our brother, the editor of that journal, would give us some light. Whether or not it was our request that brought him to the front, we do not know, but in the front he stands; and as no one else invited him, so far as we know, and as no one else has given the much-needed explanations, we shall take it for granted that our call brought him to the floor. He of course is the father of his own speech; but, under the circumstances, we claim to be its grandfather. Well, he has made a pretty clean showing. He does not, indeed, dispute the statements published by us, but he brings in other facts and figures which put a very different aspect on the con dition of things in Maine. His able article is too long to copy, and this we regret, but as we have the confidence of our readers, they will take our word for it, that it is clearly made to appear, that the result of the anti-liquor legis lation in Maine has been to diminish, very largely, the commission of crime. We say this, not specially to sustain that legislation, (for we should not favor it in Georgia), but because having pub lished what is discreditable to the peo ple of a great State, we feel in honor bound to say now, that those statements are misleading. In January last the office of the Bap tist Banner, published in Cumming, Ga. by our brother J. M. Wood was des troyed by fire. The first number of the new issue now published in Gaines ville, has just reached us. The editor expresses his thanks for editorial cour tesies shown by other papers in the following language: “To our Exchanges and the Press of Georgia: Surely no editor has ever fal len into better hands and a nobler brotherhood. With only two or three exceptions our exchanges have not on ly helped us in giving publicity to our subscribers regarding our lost books, but from time to time offered words of encouragement and cheer; and have withal continued to come to us during these three months of suspense. From our hearts we thank them all. “We also tender thanks to the press of Georgia for kindness shown. We hope to prove to be worthy of this mar ked respect and confidence. Send us your papers to Gainesville, Ga.” We congratulate our beloved brother on his recovery from his misfortune, and trust that his enterprise will be profitable to himself and to our de nomination. The Baptist Banner waves at Gainesville, the Baptist Sun shines at Rome, the Georgia Baptist thrives in Augusta, “Kind Words” are spoken in Macon, and the old Index will al ways continue, we hope, to point in the right direction. Artificial pulpit eloquence, cultured but cola, (to borrow a figure of Long fellow’s ) “gleams like a river, frozen and starlit.” It attracts for a season ; but, at last, one shivers and shrinks from it. GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS. The following is the programme of the Sunday-school Convention of the Cave Spring Association, to meet in the Rome Baptist church on Friday before the first Sunday in May: Introductory sermon—Rev. R. D. Mallary. Importance and best method of interesting the parents in the Sab bath-school work—Rev. J. W. Pullen. Importance of church supervision and co operation in Sabbath-school work — M. H. Bunn. Special benefits of the Sabbath-school to the church—Rev. C. H. Stillwell. The best method of es tablishing and keeping Sabbath-schools in the country—Rev. D. T. Espy. General discussion on Queries and Re ports. Sabbath morning—Meet with the Rome Sabbath-school at 9 o’clock. Sabbath 11 o’clock—Services by Rev. T. C. Boykin, State Sunday-school Evangelist. —Under the caption : “A Monstrous Heresy Unveiled”, the Augusta Evening News of last Thursday publishes the following card: “Editor Evening News: Please al low me space to give the public due notice that next Sabbath, at 8 o’clock p.m., at Calvary Baptist church,the pas tor will unveil the monstrous heresythat Baptism is an essential to salvation. “Besides the positive arguments drawn from the arsenal of Truth by which to slay that monster evil, every passage of Scripture relied upon by the various advocates of ‘water salvation’ will be honestly,fairly, and critically examined. “The day has come when the cause of ‘Truth’ demands—indeed, an intelli gent public demands free discussion from every pulpit, round every fireside in all our social gatherings, of those, great questions which mix and mingle with our highest interests. Let the people have the truth from every stand point, and make their own selection with intelligent and prayerful con cern. “I prefer the above to appear over my own signature. Respectfully, E. R. Carswell, Jr.” —Rev. W. A. Lane has been called (and has accepted the call) to supply the Baptist church in Fairburn for this year. —The Springfield colored Baptist church in Wynnton, in the suburbs of Columbus, was dedicated a few days ago. Rev. W. J. Marshall is the pas tor. —The open air meetings in Colum bus, conducted by Dr. J. H. Campbell, are still attracting large and deeply in terested congregations. —Macon Telegraph and Messenger: Very successful religious services have been held in the Baptist church night ly for a week. Rev. R. J. Willingham, who has been visiting this city, assisted Rev. E. W. Warren in conducting the services. The meetings will be con tinued throughout this week. Mr. Willingham has been called home, but will return, it is thought, and continue the good work. His many friends of this city trust that it may be so. He is an earnest worker and devout Chris tian —Brother H. L. Williams writes from Lumber City, Telfair county, April 3d.: “According to appointment Rev. P. A. Jessup, of Eastman, preached a very able and appropriate sermon, after which assisted by Rev. D. J. Thomp son, a missionary Baptist church was oiganized with four male and five fe male members. This is the first Bap tist church ever organized here, so far as I knew or can learn. “Pray for us and our infant church!” —The union meeting of the Elbert district of the Sarepta Association con venes with the Bowman Baptist church Friday before the fifth Lord’s day in May 1881. —A postal received from brother E. W. Warren, dated Macon, 9th inst., says: “Meetings in the First Baptist church are progressing favorably. About twenty have united with us. Students of Mercer are beginning to be interested. Will pious parents and brethren in the State pray for a great outpouring of the Spirit upon us?” —Macon Herald: Rev. James H. Hall, the Baptist divine, is doing good w».rk in Newnan. He is a popular preacher and a teacher of no ordinary ability. His church is prosperous, his preaching is effectual, and his teachings are “words of soberness and truth.” —Griffin Sun: Rev. Dr. DeVotie has accepted the call to the pastorate of the Baptist church at Decatur. Grif fin thus loses one of her most accomp lished gentlemen and pious citizens, while Decatur receives a zealous preacher, who is at once entertaining, learned and truly righteous. May God prosper and keep him and his family ever in the pure atmosphere of love eternal safety! The Macon Meeting. —The meet ing in Macon, we learn, is progressing favorably. Dr. Warren is assisted by Dr. Battle, Rev. R. J. Willingham and Rev. Jas. Mcßride. Brother Willing ham has done most of the preaching at night, and preaches very acceptably to large audiences. Dr. Warren preaches to quite numerous assemblies in the afternoon. He has put his mem bers to work systematically, and it is hoped that the work will become yet more extensive. Though no great ex citement has been manifested,yet many ask for prayer. About twenty-five have joined the church by experience and two by letter; about fifteen have been baptized. On Sabbath last Dr. Warren preached two most excellent sermons to very large audiences. From what we learn, the work promises to be much deeper in interest and widespread than at present. One student of Mercer, Mr. C. D. Peavy, has united with the church, as has also a young son of Dr. Battle, the President of Mercer Uni versity. —The Billow correspondent of the Carroll County Times writes: Shiloh church-building remains just as it was, the frame rotting in the weather. Not a blow from the mechanic’s hammer in eight months. In the mean time any amount of talk has been done, and promises have been made. A “work subscription” did it —A series of very interesting meet ings have been held in the Rome Bap tist church. The feeling that has been awakened in the community is exceed ingly gratifying, and promises great good in behalf of the Master’s cause in that city. The pastors and members of other churches are assisting in the good work. —The Baptist church-building at Davisboro will be finished throughout in a short time. IN MEMORIAM. [lt is with pain that we publish the following notice of the death of the wife of our venerable and beloved brother, D. G. Daniell. A sore heart, a very sore heart he will carry the rest of his life, but in the course of nature,the days of his pilgrimage will not be many though they may seem long; and surely it must help a man to bear his grief when he knows that he is within arm’s reach as it were of reun ion and of eternal life. We tender our sincerest sympathies to our bereaved brother, and pray that whatever his burden may be, he may have strength to bear it.—Ed. Index.] Mrs. Mary Daniell, wife of Rev. D. G. Dan iell, died on the 25th March last, at Wal thourville.’ Her death was quite unexpect ed, but she was ready. It might ba said of her: ■.‘The world recedes; it disappears! Heaven opens on my eyes! my ears With sounds seraphic ring: Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly ! O grave ! where is thy victory T O death ! where Is thy sting 1" These facts will be acceptable to the many friends of brother and sister Daniell. They had been married nearly fifty-two years. They were baptized at the same time, Jan. 6, 1833, by Rev. H. O. Wyer, and became members of the Baptist church in Savan nah. They had walked together as Chris-, tians and Baptists for forty-eight years. In all her husband’s toils, as missionary, agent, and pastor ; in war and peace; in many counties and towns of the State, she shared his toiis, labors and hardships. She was most energetic and laborious, as “a keeper at home.' 1 She never doubted her butband’s call to preach, and hence always said to him “Go, and we will be cared for somehow.” Among the last words she spoke to him was the word “go.” The pa rents and friends expected him to attend tne funeral ot a little child six miles away, and as she was not well, he spoke of going reluc tantly. She said, “the parents and friends will be disappointed if you fail; go!' 1 On his return he found her a life-like, beautiful corpse ; quiet, still, cold. He vainly asked her to speak. Her body was interred in Laurel Grove Cemetery, Savannah, near her son, George. Many brethren and friends deeply sympa thized with the bereaved family at the grave. It cannot be long before her husband, the faithful preacher of the glorious gospel, must follow her to the better land. “Asleep In Jesus, blessed sleep.” S. L. Savannah, April 6th, 1881. The Mission Board of the Georgia Baptist Convention, make this earnest appeal to the pastors and friends of missions, to exert themselves to aid the cause by liberal contributions between this and the meeting of the Conven tion. We have only two Sabbaths more until our financial report must be made. The inclement weather for nearly one quarter of our financial year preventing the assembling of con gregations, and the taking of collec tions, with other difficulties, has seri ously cut off our receipts. If we can succeed under these trying circum stances, our plan of raising funds will be as gold tried in the fire and approv ed of all. An effort and a little sacrifice before the meeting in Athens, and we will al, be glad together. Pastors, brethrenl sisters, permit the exhortation of your Secretary to rally and save our mis sionaries from loss, and the cause from reproach. “Brethren, ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how that he being rich became poor that ye, through his poverty, might be rich.” Can we realize those words and not act? May we not expect faith and love to attempt great things with this opportunity before us? Awake, sweet gratitude, awake, respondent to the Savior’s love! J. H. DeVotie, Cor. Sec. P. S.—Will not those who have funds in hand send them forward? State Missions are specially needy. Information in Regard to Rail roads to Delegates, Who May At tend the Georgia Babtist Conven tion. —The railroads which have agreed to extend facilities, and the reduction from regular rates granted, are indica ted in the following list: Charlotte Air Line and Western & Atlantic, 2| cents per mile going and returning, the Rome, Brunswick & Albany, and North Eastern railroads,full fare going, return on printed certificate of mem bership signed by the Secretary «f the Convention. Trains arrive in Athens as follows : Georgia railroad 3 : 30 p.m., 7 : 00 a.m. North Eastern 11:30 a.m., 8 :25 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday. J. S. Hamilton, Ch’rm’n Com. of Arrangements*