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2 -jfr ' r 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.