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AND MEMBERS OF THE
NEW EBENE7.ER ASSOCIATION.
Doubtless there are many Sabbath-school
workers in the Association who have no
knowledgeof our Sunday school Convention,
which was organizid at Central Point, in
Dodge county, last year. It is to you I espe
cially pen these lines, hoping the generous
editors who have a circulation in this Asso
elation will give this note space in their pub
lications. . , .
The second Article of the Constitution de
fines its “objects to be the organization,
maintenance and improvement of Sunday
schools. and to promote the cause of the Re
deemer.”
“It is composed of messengers from the
churches and Sunday schools in the N. E
A.” Each church and school are entitled to
three messengers, and one for each addition
al twenty members after the first twenty
five.
‘ Its officers consists of a President and one
Vice-President for each district of the Asso
ciation, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall
perform the duties usual to such offices, and
such others as may be assigned them, and
shall be elected annually. The vice-Presi
dents shall have special charge of the work
in their respective districts, and will be ex
pected to visit, organize and improve Sun-,
day schools as they may have opportunity,
and report to the President one month be
fore each regular meeting of the Conven
tion." .
This organization is yet in its infancy, and
lias done nothing in comparison with what
it is destined to do.
This is an organization of the church by
the church, and from the church it must be
fed with tl e sincere milk of the Word.
Therefore, we make this appeal to every
member of the church in this Association
(and especially the pastors and Superinten
dents) to use every effirt for its support.
The Executive Committee assigned your
humble servant (the writer) the district
known as the Northeastern District, taking
in all the churches between Rehoboth and
Mount Calvary. We have not yet visited all
these churches, but intend to do so as soon
as our business will permit, and hope to be
received with the same generous hospitality
and co operation hitherto met with.
Brethren, let us do away with the term
“Winter quarters for Sunday-schools.” I
say, let us mot it out of our Sabbath school
vocabulary, and if such has been our case,
let us endeavor to reform 1 Satan never en
ters troops in 'winter quarters.” He is
ever fighting.
Brethren, let us rally to the front and bat
tle for the right, and victory will perch upon
•ur banners.
Pastors, we need your help. Can you not
drop a word to your congregations occasion
ally on this all-important subject,- Sunday
schools ? If you would have your churches
thrive, and increase in membership, do a
little more talking about Sundav-ichools to
the members of your churches. If you desire
an “Evergreen church,” why, just organize
and maintain an “Evergreen Sabbath
school!’’ In thelanguage of brother S. Boy
kin. “I can not close without urging upon all
to consider the solemn responsibilities rest
ing upon us as workers in the Sunday-school
cause. Ours is no unimportant, trifling post
tion. with which we may dally as a child
dallies with an amusing plaything; but it is
a position whose solemn responsibilities are
as broad as heaven and earth and as lasting
as eternity. Let us remember that our work
involves the spiritual destiny of the young
churches of our land, and especially of our
own churches. Let us remember that it is a
duty for which we shall be held to a strict
responsibility when we shall stand before our
Judge in the last great dav of final account.”
W. H Tarver,
Vice Pres’t N. E S. S C.
Hawkinsville, Ga
TEE RESPONSIBILITY OF LIVING
Every one has, at some time, been struck
with the greatness of the gift of life. To be
endowed with intelligent beings,—to look
abroad and scan the creation which sur
rounds us on every side.—to follow nature
up to the Great First Cause, and become
familiar with the idea of a self-existent Al
mighty Creator, and to realize that He is our
Father, that He cares for us, that He has
arranged for our present and eternal happi
ness,—all these are thoughts which aresuffi
cient to fill us with wonder and amazement-
Whea we learn that He has made us onl
a little lower than the angels, and provided
that we shall, by-and-by, be equal to them,
we can at once realize the fearful responsi
bility of living, and tremble in view of the
weightv concerns which are thrust upon us
every day of our brief existence on earth.
How difficult, and yet how solemn, are the
problems of life, as they unfold before us and
challenge our solution ! How much to be
done, and yet how little do we know about
where to begin, and how to prosecute our
life work ! How heavy our tasks, and yet
how small our strength ! How beautiful is
holiness, and yet how fearfully we are in
clined to sin and evil 1 We look to the fu
ture and in the distance yawns the grave
and beyond that eternity, shrouded in im
penetrable darkness, is waiting for us I
The question forces itself upon us, Is life
a comedy, or is it a fearful tragedy ? Shall
it bring weal or woe? Heaven or hell?
Wrapped up in life are the grand possibili
ties of an eternity of glory. Shall we be able
so to unfold it as to secure the ravishing
prize? Shall our life be that of the just
shining brighter and brighter unto the per
fect day? Or shall our feet stumble upon
the dark mountains and our sun go down at
mid-day?
Sometimes the chilling thought comes
crashing into the mind, “Let us eat and
drink, tor to-morrow we die.” When the
grave closes upon us the dark waters of ob
livion will roll piteously over our life, and
we shall be as though we had not been.
Then, like half ship-wrecked sailors in the
dark and starless night, we cast out the an
chors of hope and anxiously wait and watch
for the day. Feebly, then, glows the flick
ering lamp of reason, just shedding
enough to make darkness visible, and to in
crease its terrors.
Man! feeble man! what need'st thou?
Nothing but the glowing sun of revelation
can remove the thick darkness and relieve
thy doubts.
In that blessed light we must study life if
we would not find ourselves engulfed in the
Stygian waters of soul-destroying infidelity.
H. C. H.
FROM A. J. CHEVES.
Editors Index. The undersigned, as a
“country parson.” has his hands pretty full
this year. His little farm engages his atten
tion four or five days every week, and Fri
day and Saturday before the first Sunday in
each month, he rides east twenty-seven
miles, to serve the church at Hayneville,
Houston county, and ditto before the second
Sunday about the same distance northeast,
to Houston Factory church. Ou the third
Sunday and Saturday before, southeast, to
Drayton, Dooly county; and on the fourth
Saturday and Sunday he rises to the dignity
of a railroad preacher, and rides the whole
<1 stance of eleven miles southwest, on the
S. W. railroad, to the celebrated town of
A dersonville.
His churches also think they have their
hands full. Two of them—Hayneville, the
IHE CHRibIIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1881.
Rehoboth, and Drayton, the Houston —are
getting ready to entertain Associations.
Such preparations! The churches are to be
overhauled and repaired. “Things” must
look new and in order. “Fallings" (pigs
and calves) are to be selected and “fed up.”
As all this was away from home, his in
terest in it could be maintained in a very
philosophical way. But now having to try
it on himself, and to take the initiation at
that, his interest runs out of the philosophi
cal into the anxious. For, behold ! we are
now to have the Rehoboth Sunday-school
Convention, to meet at Spalding, near Mon
tezuma. on the 27th, 28th and 29th of May,
next. Our chief anxiety is that it shall be a
success. And if our Rehoboth brethren and
some others, if they are not agents, will only
turn out, we would be assured, on that
point.
Will you not please tell them that we have
put an extra quantity of fertilizers about our
garden truck, and have special calves and
pigs that are just "rolling in clover,” etc.,
and the yards are just full of young chickens
that will be three or four months old by that
time, etc ; and that all this is for them, and
they must come? Must come '
A. J. Cheves.
Montezuma, Ga.
LETTER FROM M. B. WHARTON.
Editor Index : I came here three weeks
ago to complete the Baptist subscription in
the city towards the $200,000 to be paid in
by June Ist. I have raised something over
six thousand which, considering the field
bad been so well gleaned before, satisfies me.
I shall now make an effort with the citizens
at large.
The Seminary is doing a noble work here,
and getting to be highly appreciated by the
people of all denominations. Dr. Boyce is
greatly loved and admired, and so are Drs.
Manly and Whitsett White.
Dr. Broadus is regarded as the prince of
preachers.
The students do effective missionary work
in and around the city.
Walnut Street church has elected Dr. T. T.
Eaton, of Petersburg, Va., as pastor, and I
received a letter from him this morning
stating that be had accepted, and would be
here on the 29th. I think he is the very
man for the place, and so stated to the
church. I am occupying the pulpit of the
church during my stay, and find it a great
fileasure to preach to my old charge after so
ong an absence. Os course I am entertained
by the members, and great is their hospitali
ty and kindness to me. Walnut Street is a
noble church—one of the largest, strongest,
and best in the whole land.
Dr. Burrus is holding a meeting at Broad
way, assisted by Dr. Lofton, of St. Louis.
Several accessions, and the meeting continues
with interest.
The brotherhood are looking forward with
interest to the meeting of the Southern Bap
tist Convention.
I forgot to state that Dr. Weaver is also
holding a meeting with good results.
M. B Wharton.
Louisville, Ky., April 16th.
FROM HOMERVILLE.
Editors Index : ”’o the many brethren
and sisters of the Baptist church throughout
our State, I wish to make an appeal through
your dear columns. You will doubtless be
surprised to hear that there is, upon an
average, only one Baptist church known as
Missionary Baptist in every thirty miles of
this southern country. At DuPont, which
has been my home for many years, there
were only a few of each denomination, and
it was impossible to build a separate churcli
At this place, where I have recently moved,
there are a very few Baptista, and means are
limited. Both these places are in Clinch
county, on the S , F. & W. R. R , only eight
miles apart.
Since my move here, Mrs. Gary, a good
sister, and I have undertaken to build us a
home—a Baptist church at Homerville.
While you have homes where you may meet
and mingle your prayers and songs on the
Sabbath, we must know none of that pleas
ure. The Primitive Baptistsand Methodists
have churches that we can attend, but can
not feel at home. Our doctrines have been
imperfectly understood, and we earnestly
believe if we had a church that many who
have been reared to oppote us would eventu
ally join us.
Dear brethren, sisters and friends, don't
read this and cast it aside, but think over our
destitute country, and send at once dona
tions, accompanied with an earnest prayer
that God will bless us by giving us a chu-ch.
Such donations will be promptly acknowl
edged in The Index. We are poor; give to
us and lend to the Lord. Pray for us.
Your sister in Christ,
Mrs. Alice P/nnal Tomlinson.
Homerville, Ga., April 15th.
PEN DROPPINGS.
BY L. L. V.
“Faith without works is dead,” says the
apostle ; and he might have addei as a cor
o lary to this, that if the faith be not good, it
had far better be dead. All history teems
with proofs of the proposition that r.o hing
renders one more mischievous than a strong
earnest belief in an erroneous doctrine. The
Emperors of pagan Rome were persecutors of
Christianity just in proportion as they were
believers in the old mythology. The same
may be said of most who have acted the part
of persecutors. Who was ever more earnest
in his belief than Loyola and Torquemada?
Yet how baneful was its infiuence upon their
countrymen, and indeed upon their race!
Philip the Second was thoroughly conscien
tious, and terribly in earnest. He believed
with all the powers of his narrow intellect,
that it was his heaven-appointed mission to
extirpate heresy. Hence, his absolute power
over a hundred millions of human beings
was all directed to the one end of bringing it
to pass that, throughout his dominions, no
man, woman or child should write, speak or
think otherwise than what he believed to be
the truth. That he subjected those who
swerved from this standard to a persecution
most searching and relentless, proves not
that he thought more wrongly than others
have done, but that be was more conscien
tious in carrying out his convictions. But
did his conscientiousness render him guilt
less in the sight of men ? Or, will it, the
great day of summing up, render him guilt
less in the sight of God ? We can not think
so. Os course the man who does evil, be
lieving that he is doing right, is not so de
praved as the one who does wrong, knowing
it to be so. But a bad faith is not a perfect
excuse for bad deeds. More especially can
an erroneous faith not be plead in extenua
tion when there is ample opportunity to ar
rive at truth. The man who excuses himself
in prejudice, as in a coat of mail through
which no shaft of reason can penetrate, mutt
be held responsible for his faith.
Brother Tucker: Rejoice with us I God
has been so merciful I We have about sixty
in our household and only three unconver
ted. Twenty-four of our boarders (young
ladies) have been hopefully converted within
the last ten days. The very air is full of
prayer. Thank God that he put it into the
heart of his servant, Col. Shorter, to estab
lish this College.
The young ladies keep up a daily prayer
meeting. Pray for us ; especially the three.
Fraternally,
R. D. Mallary.
Shorter College, Rome, Ga.
[Written forTHB Christian Index.]
SKETCHES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES
THE GERMAN EMPIRE.
Emperor William, (King of Prussia). The
constitution of the Empire is confederate,
under the presidentship of the King of
Prussia, who bears the hereditary title of
German Emperor. He has the right and
duty of representing the Empire for all pur
poses of international law, of declaring war.
making peace and treaties, etc. He is the
Commander-in-chief of the whole army and
navy in peace as well as in war. Except the
military powers of Bavaria and Wurtemberg,
which form—but in peacetime only—sepa
rate corps under the command of their res
pective Kings. He names and dismisses the
officers and functionaries of the whole Em
pire. His edicts made in the name of the
Empire, must be countersigned by the
Chancellor, who, as first minister of the
Empire, is by his signature, responsible for
them. The third factor of government is the
Reichstag or legislative parliament, consist
ing of one deputy to about every hundred
thousand inhabitants of the Empire. The
departments especially belonging to the leg
islatiun, administration, or control of the
Empire and its Government are, all matters
connected with the army, navy, post 'and
telegraphy, passports, emigration, coloniza
tion, political laws of the citizens, the whole
civil law, coinage, banking, commerce, nav
igation, railways. The bills promulgated by
the Bundesrath and the Reichstag in accor
dance with, and sanctioned by, the Emperor
are compulsory on all governments of the
Empire and annul all possible regulations
contradictory to them in the different states
I his large Empire of Central Europe com
prises the following twenty-six States :
states. square popula-
MILKH. TION.
1 Prussial34,4lß 25,742,400
2 Bavaria 29.292 5,022,39 1
3 Saxony 5,783 2,700,588
4 Wurtemburg 7,531 1,881,505
5 Baden 5,821 1,507,179
8 Hesse 2,965 884 218
7 Mecklenburg Scheverln... 5,138 553,78 >
8 Saxe Weimar 1,404 292.933
9 MecklenburgStrelltz ... 1.131 95,678
10 Oldenburg- 2,470 3 9, 14
11 Brunswick 1.425 327 493
12 Saxe Meiningen 952 194,491
13 Saxe Altenburg 510 1145,8'4
14 Saxe Coburg and Gotha... 760 182,599
15 Anbalt 9 »7 213,565
16 Schwarzburg Rudolstadt 364 76,679
17 Schwarz Sondershausen.. 332 67,18't
18 Waldeck 438 54,743
19 Reuss (older line) 122 46,985
26 Reuss (younger line) 320 92,875
21 Schaumburg Llppe 171 33,133
22 Llppe 438 112,450
23 Lubeck I’9 56,9i2
24 Bremen 97 142,2 *>
25 Hamburg 15.’ 388,618
26 Alsace Lorraine 5,6 3 1,531,804
Total of all Germany 208,744 42,727,.6)
Os the above there are 25,580 615 Protest
ants, 14,868,808 Roman -Catholics, 512,000
Israelites, and about 100,000 of other relig
ious persuasions. The number of Germans
in the surrounding States (Austria. Switzer
land, etc.,) areestimated at 13,000.000, giving
a total of 56,000 000 as German speaking
people. The revenues for 1880 consist of.
customs $76,750,000, post- office, telegraph
and railway $6,750 000, contribution of the
Confederate States $21,000,000, total, about
$135 000.000. The expenditure of the Em
pire amounts to about the same. The na
tional debt is $71,000,000. the funds created
from the French war indemnity for fortitica
tions. invalidsand war purposes amount to
$185,000 000
Zollverein.—The Empire forms a Cus
toms Leazue named Zollverein. Excepted
from it are some territories of Prussia—Old
enburg and the Hanse Towns. Bremen and
Hamburg. The imports into the Zollverein
amount to $930 000 000,the principal articLs
being grain, spinning materials, animals,
and animal food. The colonial produce im
ported is w od, fruits, hair, skins, leather
yarns, cordage, tapestry, garments, metals
and spirituous liquors. The export
amount to $730 000,00% the principal article
being grain. The mercantile marine con
sists of 4.804 vessels ;of these 351 are steam
ers. The total length of railway in the Em
pire extends to 21,438 miles, of which nearly
one-half belongs to the State. The telegraph
lines are 37,385 miles in length. The impe
rial navy consists of 79 steam vessels, inclu
ding3o ironclads, with several other men of
war in course of construction. The position
of the Imperial Reichslander Alsace Lorraim
is exceptional. Theconquered departments
form a province belonging to the whole Em
pire in general under the special administra
tion of a lieutenant of the Emperor, F. M
Baron Manteuffell, with the capt'al at Stra i
bourg, with a population of 94 306. It has
a newly founded university, The popula
tion of Muhlhausen the famous manufactu
ring place is 63.213, of Metz, 45,8?6.
Education.—There are 21 universities in
the Empire with 1,800 professors, attended
by 16 600 matriculated students Educatioi
is general and compulsory throughout thi
Empire. The German Empire Army one
peace footing consists of 401,659 men, 17,200
officers. In April 1881 there will be a furthei
augmentation, making on a peace footing
427,274 men inclusive of officers On th
war footing the total strength amounts to
1,392,111 men with 33,281 officers There
serves (Ersatztruppen) with 280 212 men
Bisilzungstruppen with 421 752 men,and tl e
Landsturm, a last reserve are net in th
above. Service in the army is compulsory.
[Tobe continued with article Prussia.)
LETTER FROM MADISON.
Madison, Ga , April 12th, 1881.
Editor Index ;—I have read with much
interest the communications of “Ernest” in
The Index, in reference to the history of
our beloved Mercer University. Anything
relating to Mercer attracts my eye in The
Index, and, thererore, when I saw that Dr
S P Sanford, Rev. J. H. Kilpatrick and
brother L L. Veazey had something to re
late of its history, I was delighted to read
their articles also. The truth is there are
no memories more pleasant than those as
sociatedwith dear old Penfield during the
days of my college life. We have a natural
love for the spot where the light of day
first broke upon our vision. But, while!
was born here in Madison, I trust I was
born again at Penfield, and, somehow, 1
love the spot. I love its citizens, I love to
recall their nam s, I love the old chapel,
where the evening twilight bore aloft the
prayer of young hearts, I love its very trees,
beneath which the youthful orator repro
duced the classic scenes ofGreeceaud Rome,
I love the men—noble, good meu—great,
high pillars of truth, whose names cannot
be forgotten. I have no doubt that the wo
man of Samaria loves to think of the well,
where Jesus preached to her of the living
water I love to think of Penfield as the
spot where Crawford, Tucker, Hillyer, Mell,
Williams, and other good men, preached the
ever blessed gospel. I love the spot, where
in obedience to the command of J esus, I was
buried in baptism by that great and good
man Dr. N. M. Crawford. This was in 1859,
when some thirty students professed faith in
Christ and were baptized. Who can tell the
influences for good, that have blessed ti:e
world, which have resulted from the mem
orable revival season of 1859? War, and
trouble and time have erased the recollec -
tion of many names from my memory, of
those who then gave their hearts to God.
But are they not written in heaven ? I can
never forget what a chilling influence was
exerted upon the young converts that year,
from the fact that one who was prominent
in the meeting, as a preacher of the gospel,
at the close of the meeting departed from
the faith, and walked no more with us.
Oue incident, and I am through with
these scenes: One Sabbath morning, iu
Nov. 1859, when Dr. Crawford, the pastor of
Penfield Baptist church, had baptized a
large number of students, the venerable
form of ou&dear brother, Jesse H. Campbell
with his son, A. B. Campbell, was seen go
ing down into the water. Father Campbell
stated, as I remember, that he had been
spared to baptize all his children, and that
he could now say with old Simeon, “Lord,
now leitest thou thy servant depart in peace,”
etc., It was a thrilling scene, and I felt it
was good to be there. There were few eyes
that were not moistened with tears as he
buried his son and brother beneath the wa
ters of baptism. God spares yet that venera
ble man of God who preaches to the poor of
Columbus, while his son, the bishop of the
church at Columbus, is a brother whose
praise is in all the churches. Surely the
Spirit of God hovered over that baptismal
scene. Samuel A. Burney.
JOTTINOS~BY~THE WA Y.
Editors Intex : Since my last letter was writ
ten, 1 have been mostly engaged closing up my
travels (tor the present) on the Georgia railroad
and Its branches. There are quite a number of
churches and communities that I was not able to
visit at this time, much to my regret As soon
as my duties elsewhere will permit, I propose re
turning to this portion of the State, when I hope
to visit every church not already visited. And
lust here permit me to return thanks to the
brethren wherever I have been for the great kind
ness shown me personally, and lor assistance
rendered me in prosecuting my work. Also to
the polite and efficient conductors on the Georgia
railroad and its branches, for their courteous
manner, not only towards me, but to all who
Uavel with them. More polite and attentive
conductors—take them as a whole—cannot be
found anywhere.
On the 231 ult, meeting Rev. T. C. Boykin.
State Sunday-school Evangelist, at Camak, en
route for Warrenton, to attend the Sunday-school
Institute, I Joined him, and together we went
thither. Brother B was on his return from a two
weeks' tour in the Hephzibah Association. His
beaming countenance, as wellas the floral testi
monials, told plainer than words that his trip had
been a pleasant and successful one. But 1 will
have him to g've his own statement of his trip in
Hephzibah.
On the train bound for Macon I had the pleas
ure of meeting, also, that deservedly popular and
distinguished divine of the Methodist church
South, Rev. Dr. A. G. Haygood. Dr. H. is filling,
with marked ability, two of the most important
positions of the Methodist church of Georgia.
He is President (and a working one. too), of Emo
ry College, and editor of the Wesleyan Christian
Advocate Ido not wonder that our Methodist
brethren are proud of Dr. Haygood, they ought
to be.
Arrived at Warrenton, brother Boykin and I
were soon most comfortably quartered at the
pleasant home of our good brother, Farmer. A
happy home circle is only exceeded by the ioysof
heaven. Tnere is nothing to be compared to it
on earth
I could remain in Warrenton to but one session
of the Sunday-school Institute, and that was held
on Friday night, (I thought before I reached
Wanenton that it began Friday morning), a
fine attendance greeted the opening exercises
Brethren Boykin and Shivers each delivered an
Impressive and instructive address The choir,
le i by the accomplished organist, Mrs. Swain,
rendered delightful music, and a pleasant, and 1
trust profitable, meeting it was. This was all that
I could enjoy of the meeting, but I learned that
it continued to grow in interest to the last A
very large crowd attended on Sunday and listen
ed, with profound attention, to a line sermon
from brother Boykin on the "Training of Child
ren.”
Saturday morning ourexcellent young brother
Bunyan Cason, carried me in his buggy to Long
Creek, one of the grand old churches of Warren
county, and of the Washington Association. The
-ight of the neat and spacious building back for
clbly to memory that b.'loved old lather in Israel.
Rev’. Asa Duggan, who held this church in such
high regard, and who was, for so many years, the
beloved pastor, Brother T. J. Veazy has served
the church for more than fourteen years, and has
greatly endeared himself to the membership and
congregation. Brothel' Veazy is also a faithful
worker for The Index, and I was glad to find that
but few members ot this church, who were able
were not taking the paper. 1 attended service
here oa Saturday and Sunday, and had the pleas
ure of receiving quite a number of subscriptions
for the “Compendium” and for 1 he Index.
Saturday afternoon and night was a pleasant
time to me t uly, and brought many pleasing
recollections of the past. 1 was at the cheerful,
yea, delightful, home of my long-time friend ano
brother, Adam Cason, where I have spent many
happy hours in the days of long ago. This good
brother lias lived, well preserved, to see three
score years and ten. Many look older than he
does now before they pass 11 fly five. His children
fcre an honor to him and to the county that
claims them as citizens. All, I believe, are ear
nest, devoted Christians, and Bantists.
Sunday aiternoon I went to Jewells, for the
purpose of meeting old friends, and aliening ser
vice in the church at night. Since I was here,
but little over one mouth ago. death has been
here and borne away one greatly beloved, in the
p< non o'Oilando Jewell. Hediidon uuday, the
20th of February; ag d thirty y ars. 1 saw him on
the Wednesday night previous, : nd although he
was rapidly wasting away with that f.i tai disease
consumption, I little thought he would die so
soon. Years ago he gave his heart to the Savior
and united with the naptist church here, named
in honor of his nobl ■ father. Endowed by nature
with business talents of high order, and possessed
of many noble traits of character, a bright future
seeuien before him until disease fastened Us iron
grasp upon .I a. He was beloved, I think I may
truly say, by all who knew him. But his work
on earth is done—bis chair vacant at the family
hearthstone. But he has left us a bright hope
th. t be now occupies a seat with that Savior 1 •
whom he wholly trusted, in the Paradise of God
Weep not. fond mother; hush the deep sigh,
doting father; Orlando is not dead, but sleepeth.
May heaven comfort the bereaved family
I do not know when or vzhere I ever saw as
large an attendance at prayer-meeting as I met
at Jewe I’s chu/ch Sunday night. What a grand
and glorious work has been done here, it Is one
of the best churehes now in the Washington As
soclation, and the good work still continues wlih
Increasing ze >l. 1 remember well when there was
no sign of a church here, and scarcely a thought
of one ever being.
Took tea with brother A. T. Cason and family
Sunday evening, and after church went to broth
er D. A. Jewells s and spent the night. It is al
ways so pleasant to be with these good brethren
and their excellent families.
Mond y morning brethren Rodgersand Bunyan
Cason placed me under renewed obligations by
acts of kindness I shall not forget,, and then
brother B. carried me to the railroad. Concluded
my busiue s on the Georgia railroad Mond >y,
and reached Augusta Tuesday afternoon. Spent
Wednesday in Augusta, but the cold wind was
blowing so fearfully that I could be on the streets
but little. Brother W. T. Cheney, pastor of Cur
tis church (through mistake I wrot j him pastor
of Kalkc i Street church in a former letter) made
me his guest duripg my stay in the city, and
placed me under renewed obligations, both for
myself and The Index, by his many acts of
kindness. He is doing a good work for the lat
ter as this list of new subscribers sent by him
at ests. Dined with and spent a very pleasant
season at brother W. W. Landrum’s, pastor of
Greene Street church. Here I met brother Lin
say of S. u h Carolina, who was in the city assist
ing brother Landrum in an Interesting series of
meetings iu his church. Brother L Is an able
minister, and presents the truths of the gospel in
a manner most impressive. He was to preach
every evening during the week. I shall not soon
forget the impression produced on my mind by
his sermon Tuesday evening. I do earnestly hope
the church and city has been, or will be, blessed
with a glorious revival.
This letter leaves me once more in the midst of
my f imily. As I write mv two youngestchildren
—one seven and the other five—are amusing
themselves about the room, waiting impatiently
for me to get through writing, that we may have
a romp together. To-morrow will be the first
Sabbath 1 have spent with them in months. And
Monday I leave again to be gone I know not how
long. Those who are with their families every
flay and night know uot what a privation this is.
Brethren, remember us when it Is well with you.
J. M. G. Medlock.
FROM TEXAS.
Editor Christian Index—D ear brother:—
We have just closed a good meeting ; more
than thirty accessions to the church. We
now number nearly five hundred. Our new
church building steadily approaches com
pletion. It will equal any in the South. We
are working to get it ready for the next
Southern Baptist Convention.
Our church unanimously petitions for the
nextsession. Sccoud the motion, wont
jou? I know you all desire to see Texas
again Three great trunk railway lines,
connecting with all the outer world will in
tersect here in July. Probably two others
by May of next year. If you’ll come, we’ll
give you a rousing welcome
. B. H. Carroll,
Pastor First Baptist Church.
Waco, April 12,1881.
Missionary Department.
REV. J. H DeVOTIE, D.D., I Mltnrq
REV. C. M IRWIN. f
Mission Board of the Georgia Baptist Conven
tion-Officers: Rev. R. B. Headden, President;
Rev. J. H. DeVotie, Corresponding Secretary and
Treasurer: Rev. V. C. Norcross, Recording
Secretary. Members—Revs. D. W. Gwin, A. Tl
Spalding, H. C. Hornady, F. M. Daniel, V. C.
Norcross, Dr. Ju. 8. Lawton Atlanta; G. A. Nun
nally. Rome; D. E. Butler,Madison: J. G. Ryals
and R. B. Headden, Cartersville; J. H. DeVote.
Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention.-Rev. H. A. Tupper, D. D., Corres
ponding Secretary, Richmond, Va.
Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention—Rev. Wm. A. Mclntosh, D.D., Cor
responding Secretary, Marion, Alabama.
‘HOME’’ AND ••FOREIGN."
In one sense the distinction implied in
these words has no foundation in essential
difference. Considered as “the field," tome
and foreign are no otherwise distinguished
than as the near and the remote; just as one
might distinguish between the city or State
where he lives, and some more distant point
or section which he should feel it his duty to
embrace in the circle of Christian interest
and Christian giving. China is farther away
than California; India is much more remote
than Texas or New Mexico: France and
Germany are divided from us by the breadth
of the Atlantic. Yet as all alike comprehen
ded in that “field” which our Lord has made
it the duty of His people to care for and to
cultivate these regions and “regions beyond”
are one “world lying in wickedness.”
Looked at from another point of view, tl e
home and the foreign in Christian work are
to be distinguished in just two ways: in the
first place, by thinking of the home as home;
that is, as that part of the world where oar
personal interest more especially concen
trates, where our own lives are to be led, and
where our responsibility as Christians begins;
and, in the second place, by considering that
the “home,” as regards world-wide Christian
enterprise, is, and must ever be, the base of
operations. Even so, no such distinction is
implied as can make one of these superior to
the other in claim, or in any way justify
d sparagement of the one in the interest of
the other. Upon the first of the two points
of distinction suggested, we have nothing to
say at present. With reference to the second,
we take leave to quote the words, recently
printed, of a distinguished Congregationalist
minister, Dr. Phelps, of Andover Seminary:
“It seems to me,” says Dr. Phelps, “and j
tbluk time will prove it, that the foreign work
has reached the highest point it will bear
while the home work remains as it Is at pres
ent. There is a law of dependence of the one
on the other, which Providence will not ig
nore, if we do. I wish, with all my heart,
that the American Board could double the
half-million annually—but they will never
pass beyond it till the home work has received
a great lift above the present elevation. In
no other way can we get moral force enough
to raise the money for the foreign treasury
tosay nothing of the power that is more than
gold. It is this view ot the relations of the
two that moves me, rather than any prefer
ence of one to the other On a large scale we
have no preferences; the cause is one. But
its success everywhere depends on strategy
more than on numbers; and spiritual strate
?;y, it seems to me, demands that the evange-
Izlng of this country should be kept aheadof
eveiy other movement for the conversion of
the world. Ouruatlonal history means that,
If it means anything.”
We believe this reasoning to be strictly
j ust. The person—and there really are such
tiersons, strange as it may seem—who imag
ines that these interests, home and foreign,
are competitive and antagonistic, makes the
same mistake as does the pastor who looks
upon every appeal in behalf of home mis
sions or foreign missions in the light of a
raid upon his own salary. All these mat
ters, including that of pastoral support, will
receive the attention they respectively need,
exactly in proportion as brethren in the
churches are induced to look upon the broad
world field precisely as a good general studies
the scene of a military campaign. Such a
general never imagines it to be good strategy
to concentrate his army around some one
little fortress, and leave all the rest of the
scene of operations to take care of itself; he
aims to seize and hold all the strategic points,
with special attention to those which will
give him the key to the wholegreat military
problem be has to solve. Such strategic
points, for us, are the individual churches,
the important centers in the “home” field,
and those in the “foreign” field which com
mand the scene of operations there. To
neglect any ot these is alike a blunder and a
wrong It is folly to imagine that the hold
ing of one is in any sense an abandonment
of any other. In point of fact, while the
work is done upon any right system, the
strengthening of one is the strengthening of
all.
Our denominational history in this coun
try, for the last seventy years, fully justifies
what we are here saying. The inauguration
of home missions in 1832, gave a great im
pulse to the foreign missions inaugurated in
1812 The two interests have never clashed,
never been mutual hinderances in any way.
The growth of the one has meant growth for
the other. As the base of operations has
widened at home, and resources multiplied,
the occupied field abroad has widened in the
sane proportion. A revival in America has,
upon the great scale, meant more money for
Burma and China; joyful tidings from China,
Burma, or India, has kindled new zeal in
churches in America. Even in special cases,
what short-sighted human wisdom would
have expected to embarrass, has only helped
Just now there lies before us a letter, written
by one thoroughly informed on the subject,
in which these words occur:
“I know that, in many Instances, the for
eign mission receipts In the women’s socie
ties have been increased in churches where
a union society has been organized; and the
fact remains that in the Society of the East
and the Society of the West, their Incomes
have year by year increased, and tbelr sched
ules have been enlarged since the organiza
tion of the Women’s Home Mission Society,
which so many predicted would be sustained
by the sums withdrawn from the foreign mis
sion societies. In the First church (Chicago)
we some months since disbanded the foreign
mission circle, and organized a union society,
taking in the home work, and our treasurer
reported this week that the amount received
for foreign missions is three times that con
tributed last year, while the home mission
treasury had received nearly the same as the
foreign.”
It may be possible for a narrow policy to
set these interests in a position of antagonism
by persistently representing them as essen
tially such ; but it is certain that whenever
this occurs “somebody has blundered.” We
are sorry to see the effort made from time to
time to put home and foreign thus in atti
tudes of rivalry. What is plainly right is to
do all we possibly can for both, and push the
various movements of the great evangelistic
campaign, alike, over all the vast scene upon
which the victories of the cross are to be
won.—Standard.
The Australian Wesleyan Missionary So
ciety held its annual meeting in Sydney, in
January. The financial reports presented
covered not the year 1880, but the previous
year. It was stated that the accounts for
1880 were not fully made up, but would be
published in the “Report.” The whole
amount received in the previous year was
$73,385, of which $11,590 was expended in
the Friendly Islands, $3,910 in Samoa, $29, ■
110 in Fiji and Rotuma, $6,580 in New Bri
tain, and $5,850 on the Chinese mission.
Secretary Chapman’s report stated that 21
converts bad been baptized among the Chi
nese in Australia, and a number of members
had gone to Tasmania, and erected a church
and established religious services among their
countrjmeu. The revised New Testament
had had a large sale in the Friendly Islands
and it was eagerly read. The war in Samoa
has resulted in the burning of some churches
and in a loss ot five hundred members. In
Fiji there was a heavy lo s of members from
death ; but the additions were so large that
there was a net increase of one thousand.
There has likewise been an extraordinary
demand in F'ji for the Scriptures, and the
contributions for missions were very liberal.
The Rev. Isaac Rooney, in an address on his
experiences in Fiji, said :
“Cannibalism, through the grace of God,
has no existence in that country now. Fiji
had been won ata great price, and those who
had once been the most formidable oppo
nents of the missionaries were now their
firmest adherents. The success of the mis
sionaries in Fiji had been unparalleled in
any other country. During the last fifteen
years, no fewer than 65,000 cannibals had
been won over, and 30,000 Fijians had pro
fessed faith in Christ. And at the present
time there was scarely a native house in Fiji
in which family worship was not conducted.
He was not prepared to say that all the na
tives were true converts to Christianity, be
cause he believed many were only nominal
Christians; but there was no doubt that the
number of converts would be largely aug
mented if the Society could accede to the
demands of chiefs for teachers. Nominal
Christians there were begging for teachers.”
A SHORT SERMON TO ORTHODOX BAP
TISTS.
Text—“lf ye know these things, happy
are ye if ye do them.”—John viii. 17.
Dear Brethren: T use the term “ortho
dox” for all who esteem themselves so, with
out arrogating to myself the wisdom to de
termine who are so. I mean all. Land
markers and Anti-Landmarkers, Alien Im
mersioniets and AntbAlien Immersionists,
Baptists of all types, schools and tendencies.
Whatever may be our differences of opinion
on minor points, we are a 1 agreed that we
have a providential mission to be witnesses
for some important truths that are ignored
in the creeds of other denominations. But
our very orthodoxy may be a source of spir
itual danger to us. Each denomination has
its peculiar dangers, and it is to be feared
that our danger lies in the fact that we are
so firmly persuaded of the truth of our con
victions of the teachings of God’s word that
we are tempted to rest in our orthodoxy.
The fact of a man’s holding a truth in com
pleteness and with clearness involves a grave
responsibility. God will hold him accounta
ble for obedience to that truth as He does
not hold those whose views are more dim
and partial. We profess to hold, in distinc
tion from many othe s, that a Christian
church is composed of intelligent believers
only. Does this not involve the responsi
bility of giving all men the gospel ? ‘For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved. How, then, shall they
call on Him in whom they have not believ
ed ? And how shall they believe in Him of
whom they have not heard? And how shall
they hear without a preacher? And how
shall they preach except they be sent?” We
claim to hold the truth in a purer form than
others—to be more conformed to the apos
tolic model. Should not our earnestness in
spreading it be proportionately greater ? O,
it is a solemn thing to be orthodoxy.
Orthodoxy is valuable, but it will not
compare with love. “Knowledge puffeth
up, but love buildeth up.”—l Cor. viii. 1. A
man who is ortho.iox requires a great deal
of grace, or his orthodoxy may prove his
ruin. With all his orthodoxy, “he knoweth
nothing yet as he ought to know.” Our at
tainments, even in knowledge, are far below
what they should be, and in our practice
none of us live up to what we know. It is
he who heareth Christ’s sayings and doeth
them who has built his house upon a rock.
We may count ourselves happy in knowing
the things of Christ, but our Master says we
are happy only if we dothem.
Our Baptist forefathers have been among
the foremost in giving the pure word of Gcd
to men, in sending the gospel to the heathen.
Shall we rest on what they have done as a
proof of the tendency ofour principles, while
we ourselves, with greater facilities in carry
ing on the work, neglect to follow in their
footsteps ? When ancestral pride is a pillow
for men to go to sleep on, it is a very poor
thing; but when it becomes a goad to urge
men on to emulate the deed of their prede -
cessors, it has its value. Let us not prove
degenerate sons of our sires. Mere ortho
doxy is a mere soporific. But when belief
in the truth is translated into obedience in
the life, then it becomes a power of irresisti
ble might.
Brethren, let us seek to know in order that
we maj’ do—to learn the will of God that
we may love it and make it known to our
fellow men. Then alone will we be happy.
R. H. Graves.
Heathenism and Christianity.—Most of
the heathen temples in Siam are in a state of
decay. The decline es Paganism is seen also
in the fact that there are only one-fourth r.s
many Buddhist p'riests in Bangkok as were
tuere thirty years ago. A missionary writing
from Siam, says that that country would,
ere this, have been Christianized but for the
“fearfully wicked example of business men
from foreign countries.
During four years past a mission union has
been in existence, called ‘ The Middle As
sembly ot the Church of our Lord Jesus
Christ,” in Japan. This union in Japan
missions co sists of the U. P. Church of
Scotland, the Reformed Church in America,
and the Am. Presbyterian Board of Missions.
The fourth annual report of the Union has
been recently made. The combined force of
the missions consists of sixteen :
Ordained missionaries [Am. 12, Eng. 4] 16
Physicians 2
Teachers.. 8
Ordained native ministers 12
Native licentiates 17
Unlicensed native helpers and students 12
Organized churches 21
Preaching places an I stations 71
Scholars in day and boarding school 359
Adults in full communion 1,263
Gain in 1886 92
Baptized infants 178
Whole number on roll in 1879 1,333
“ “ " “ 1880. 1,441
Contributions of the churches
in 18791,763 yen
“ 18802,166 “
Equivalent In dollars of last amountll,9so.
Six of the churches of the Union are en
tirely under the care of native evangelists
and assistants. Rapid strides are being made
by the organization towards self support
among the native churches.
At a village on the Taurus Mountains,
Miss West, the American lady missionary,
had just mounted her horse to leave, when a
number of poor souls followed her some dis
tance. Her heart was melted at the cries of
an aged woman, who, with tears rolling
down her wrinkled face, and hands out
stretched as if for help, continually exclaim
ed, “What shall I do? Oh, what shall I do
to be saved ?2
The British Consul at Chefoo, in his report
to the Government, refers to the vast strides
that Christianity is making in China, noting
particularly the change of the educated and
uneducated classes toward the doctrine of the
New Testament. He attributes it to the
generosity of Christians toward the starving
victims of the late famine.
Rev. Frank 8. Dobbins, in the National
Baptist, sums up the Foreign Mission force
ol the world : 3,593 missionaries connected
with 85 societies, at least 2,000 ordained na
tive preachers, and 30,000 unordained native
helpers, 625,046 church members.
The Ongole Church, among the Teloogoos
of Burmah, was organized by Rev. J. E.
Clough in 1867. The whole number baptized
since is 15,796. In two years, 1879 80, 11,000
were baptized.
