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SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION-
The Sunday-sclool Convention of the
Rebobath Association at 2:80 p, m. convened
at Spalding, Macon county. Oa., according
to appointment. and was called to order by
the President. brotherChss Smith,of Macon.
The following is the order of exerciser,:
Ari. 1. Opened with devotional exercises
which proved to be a delightful season.
Art 2 Appointed committees —Ist. On
Credentials—A. J. Cheves 8. P. Sanford;
2nd. On Business and Preaching—James
Mcßryde, B. F Cauley L. O Niles.
An. 3. Reports from 'he various schools
composing the ‘Relioboth Sunday-robool
Convention, which wuh one or two excep
tions were very interesting and encouraging
The roll of delegates reported Is as follows:
Forsyth—D Banford ; Ist Macon —8 P
Sanford. Mrs. 8 P Sanford, Jas. Mcßryde;
South Macon—Chas C. Smith, B. F. Cauley.
Jas Evans. Miss Helen Cawley and M'S-'
Millie Shelvenon; Warren Chapel—by hl'
ter; Perrv—B F. Tharp. Mi s Ida Tharp
Mrs. Cliff bavis ; Marshallville —L 0 Nibs
W. H Bice, Mist|Delia Massey; Hendiraou
O. Fiixgerald, B 0. Kendrick; Spalding
Mr. and Mrs A J. Cheves, Erwin McClung
and G. R Briggs; Ft. Valley Mrs T. A
Skeilie; Houston Factory—G. 11. Staley, B
Barfield.
Art 4. “Home and Sunday schoollnstriic
tion.-Tueir Relation to each other.’ Discus
sed by Rev Jas Mcßryde, and Essay by Mrs
A J Cheves. Also in short speeches by sev
era! of the brethren' f
Art. 5. “Ditc juragements and their Cure.”
The regular appointees to dtseU'S this sub
ject not being present, it was given over to
the Convention at large and was discussed
by many of the brethren with real interest.
Adjourned with prayer and praise.
Friday, 8 30 r m.
Opened with prayer by the President, bro
ther Smith, and proceed d with the regular
order us exercises, which consisted in an ad
dress fr m our Pres den , Ch s C Smith, on
the Work and Power oi ihe Sunday-scuool
Convention. Dr E W Warren, not being
present the subjictas'ignei to him was de
ferred, and the Convent!- n adjourned with'
singing and the benediction.
SATURDAY MORNING 9 O'CLOCK.
Opened the exercises with pray er and sing
ing, and spent thirty minutes or more in
devotional exercises. Discussed the subject:
"God's Call to The Sunday-school Worker.”
Next: “The Teacher’s Power’ -LO Niles and
others. Next: “Bible Study and Bible
Teaching”; "The Hope of The Church”,
“The Nation’s Safety”—oy Dr B F Tharpe
and others; then adjourned with prayer.
BATUBDAY EVENING 2.30 O’CLOCK'
Opened with singing and prayer and pro
ceeded with regular order of exercises.
Art. 10 “Ui.successful Teaching. Its
Cause and Cure ” ProfS P Sanford, and Es>
say by sister 8 8 Cook of Marshallville.
Art 11 “How to cultivate in our pupils
a love for the study of the Bible?” a J
Cheves and others.
Art. 12 was dispensed with, and Art 14
was substituted instead. Brethren Hillyer
and Jno. Eden not being present, it was dis
cussed in general by several of the Conven
tion. Adjourned with prayer and praise.
BATUBDAY NIGHT 8 30 O’CLOCK.
A profitable and practical address was de
livered by our President, brother Cbas C
Smith. Subject—“ Things needed in all our
Sunday-schools, viz. Better teaching—Better
lessons—Holy Spirit.” After which the sub
ject of “General difficulties in connection
with Sunday school work” was discussed
with interest. Adj rurued with singing and
prayer.
SUNDAY MORNING 9.30 O’CLOCK.
Sunday-school with lesson, most impres
sively taught, illustrated and applied with
a black-board exercise, by the President.
11 o'clock a. m. Afinestrmon, 11, Peter
iii chap. 4th vrrse. “And sating, where is
the promise of his second coming? for since
the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as
they were from the beginning of the crea*
tion.” Dr B F Tharp.
SUNDAY EVENING 3 O’CLOCK.
Sunday-school mass meeting, which was
largely attended and highly interestii g.
SUNDAY NIGHT 8.30 O'CLOCK.
Preaching by G R Briggs, of Virginia.
Text, Daniel 111-17, “But if not, be it known
unto thee, O King, that we will not serve
thy gods, nor worship the golden image
which thou hast set up.” Subject, Christian
decision always arrived at with respect to
God’s Will. Dare to do right, even in the
face of a fiery furnace. Addressed to be
lieven, a most instructive and important
sermon, which fitly closed the delightful
and happy exercise.
Chas. C. Smith, Pres’t.
A. J. Chkvbs, Sec’t’y.
Dear Index,
hi addition to the above, prepared by bro
ther Cheves, permit the following: The Con
vention at Spalding, which adjourned Sun
day night. 29th, was a grand success in every
particular —one of our worthiest and most
respected among the aged brethren, who
have been attending associations for forty
years, expressed his opinion that this meet
ing was equal, if not superior, to any he had
ever witnessed. Hundreds were present,
eagerly receiving the order of exercises,
which were profitable and highly entertain
ing, and must have made lasting impres
sions, which it is hoped will accomplish the
true purpose of our organization, viz., more
consecration to and zeal, energy and enthusi
asm in the Sunday-school work and the ad
vancement of “The Master’s Kingdom." It
was with true gratitude that I beheld so
many ministers present. 0, brethren, hasten
to recognize the Sunday-schools and the
Sunday school Convention as your best
friends. Know now and forever that we are
training boys and girls to become members
of the churches of which you are pastors, and
that before the next decade of years shall have
passed away, your members will be made
up of the children, who attend the Sundays
school to day, and will be a liberal, charit
able, intelligent, pious, consecrated and a
godly membership. Brethren, let us dwell
together in unity. The most profitable and
pleasant experience of the session was the
precious visitation of the Holy Spirit. AU
hearts that sincerely and reverently waited
upon Hkn were rooted and grounded in love
and realized that length, bieadth, depth
and height of the love of Christ, and were
tilled with all the fulness of God. Oh, my
brethren, we were abundantly blessed.
In conclusion a word about “Spalding and
its lovable, generous and hospitable men
and women.” Spalding is a beautiful little
village in Macon county, about two miles
from Montezuma, the garden spot of the
county, and inhabited by the precious gems
and pearls within its borders. I must except
brother Lewis and his kind and pleasant
wife, of Montezuma, whose choice viands
and rich dainties will ever be remembered
“by my inner man. ’ Deserving especial
mention are the brethren, Lord Sam Turner
and Grand Duke A J Cheves, whose hospiu
ality could always take a dozen more. These
generous brethren must have entertained
fifty guests besides twice as many mules and
horses on Sunday of the session. Thete are
ladies, too, who deserve “honorable men
tion,” but I am afraid to make exceptions in
speaking about them (enough said). Spal-
IHE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, JUNE 9, I bbl.
ding—beautiful Spalding-dearly art thou
loved. Noble and hospitable men, ucrific-
Ing and devoted women, green -re the mem
ories of your many guests with the exp-rien
ces of your gentle and considers'* ministra
tions during our stay among you!
The next s>*»ion of the Convention will
be held with "Shiloh Baptist church,” near
Thomaston, brother Jno A Jac*son, pastor,
embracing the fifth Sunday in July.
Brethren, let us take courage. God has
accepted our efforts and will continue to
blew us. We have already seen the work of
the Lord prospering in our hands Let us
not be weary in well doing, for io due season
we shall reap if we faint not.
Chas. (1. Smith
May 27th. 1881.
A BUDDHiS'tIPRAYER.
While visit ing a oelebrated temple in Cen
tral China—now more than twelve months
past—l was struck with a certain formula in
the ritual, beginning with the words, 'Neu >
AhmitahahSha Kya Muni.O mah tu-Fah, ’
etc. These words w-re chanted iu monotone
by some forty officiating priest-, while in
Krand procession around the central image
in the main hall of the temple I have
since then, observed the same fhi g in other
Buddhist tempi* ’in different parts of the
E np re ‘ ■*
The significance of this invocation uterus
io be about Ibis : Far back in antiquity, a
particular Briddah was imagined: distinct
from those of history, and ♦ ho. the Chinese
contend, was at hast contunporary with
Gautama, iflndeed not antedating Meadvent
ny many centuries. This Buddab is known
to them as Ahmetshah or* Boundless Age.”
and the faith is. that all who accept liis me
diation, and make outward manifestation ol
the earns by the formula above quoted, are
assured of a comfortable place in the north
western section of the Heavenly Paradise
where this particular deity is supposed to
reside.
The curious part of this superstition is, Im
probable native origin; while the religion
with which it is associated was founded in
India nearly ten centuries before its intro
duction in China It is well known, so- in
stance. that this formula, and this particular
"ranch of the Buddhist faitb, constitutes no
part of the Buddhist religion or ritual in In
dia; and the query which naturally pre
sents itself is, Did this Ahmetnbah Bud tali
have a Chinese origin before the introduc
tion of the Hindoo religion, about the mid
dle of the first century of the Christian era? ’
The Chinese insist that such is the fact;
and, consiquently, that Buddhism, when
properly understood, is as peculiar to them
as to tlie Hindoos. In this, as in most
things, they will never admit their secoi.da
ry position to any other race or country, but
contend that, by special covenant between
heaven and their remote ancestors, they
oave ever been iu a position to receive di vine
revelation direct, instead of having to learn
the nature and purposes of the Deity through
His dealings with other peoples
An intelligent Confucian once asked me
what particular maxim of the Christian re
ligion was thought by Christians to be the
most important in its bearings upon every
day life I replied, without hesitation, that
the Golden Rule, “Do unto others wbatso
ever you Would have others do unto you,”
embodied the Christian’s conception of his
wboleduty taman.” “Yes.” said he, “that
is heavenly truth and then be intimated
quite plainly, though with great suavity and
delicacy, that, inasmuch as Kung Futz
(Confucius) announced the same Rule some
six centuries before Christ was born ; it had
doubtless been adopted by the founders of
our religion ! The maxim of Conlucius, to
which be referred, is translated by Dr. Legge
as follows: “Do not to others whatsoever
you would not have others do to you." Thjs,
it must be admitted, is substantially a nega
live form of theChristian'maxim refe r d to;
and it embo< ies the essence of the Confucian
noctrine of Compensation, so universally ac
cepted among educated Chinamen, whether
Buddhists or Tauists.
I recur to these facts and incidents, falling
within the range of my own personal obser
vation, merely to show how deep seated is
the native religion of China in the Chinese
mind ; and that it is a fatal error in our Mis
sionary Societies to send half educated and
sluggish-minded men to China as ministers
and exponents of the Christian religion.
William L. 8i bugos.
Canton, China.
GRA TEFUL ACKNO WLEDGEMENT.
Editobs Index : Permit me, through the
medium of your columns, to express my
grateful thanks to the Western Association,
especially to Enon, Elim, Antioch and Long
Cane churches, with divers individual breth
ren and sisters, and other kind friends, there
and in the Sarepta and Rehoboth Associa
tions, for liberal benefactions, by which I
was kept free from want and suffering while
ministering to the relief and comfort of my
wife during her protracted affliction. For
this bountiful charity I pray the good Lord
that each one who contributed a nite thereof
may realize the fulfillment of His gracious
promise to those who give, that it shall be
given to them again.
Four years ago last August, my wife was
stricken with paralysis, which* rendered her
so far helpless that she was just able to sit
up and walk about the house and yard a lit
tle. In this condition she continued up to
last February a year ago, when, in attempt
ing to walk across the room one evening,
she unfortunately fell and so injured her
already stricken hip, that she was-never after
able to sit, stand, or walk, and for several
weeks suffered excruciating pain. Scon
after this misfortune, occasion?.! signs of
mental aberration became apparent in her
convi rsation, and during the past winter
these signs developed into total derange
ment. She was devoid of reason, and her
vital powers gave way more rapidly than
they had previously done, and gradually she
sank until Wednesday, the 11th instant, at
11 o’clock, when, with only a slight con
tortion of her lips, she calmly yielded up her
spirit to God. . , ,
Thus, with a hand in which were mingled
both goodness and severity, has God brought
down to the grave one who had, forfifty-two
years, with great constancy, put her trust in
Him ; and bereaved a sorrowing husband of
a beloved bosom companion, with whom he
had walked, for nearly fifty years, in much
love.
Had the deceased been spared until the
tenth day of September next, she would have
completed the expressed limit of human
life—three score and ten years.
Green Hartsfield.
Enon Grove, Ga.
Editors Index : Allow me space to state
a few facts about Mercer High School, Pen
field, Georgia:
1. i'his institution is the offspring of the
Baptist Convention of the Slate of Georgia.
2. It is the adopted child of the Georgia
Association.
3. It is located where, taking all the facts
into the account, its two best friends, breth
ren Jesse Mercer and B. M. Sanders, lie
buried, and let me add, requiescant in per
petuum in pace in Penfield.
4. It is managed by teachers in the persons
of brother John W. Ellington and our sister,
Miss C. C. Sanders, worthy, indefatigable
and faithful. .... .- j ,
5. We aid similar institutions outside of
our bounds.
6. Mercer High School has some sort of a
claim, on somebody, somewhere.
7. He that does not provide for his own,
should read 1 Tim, v. 8.
Wm. A. Ovemok.
MERCER UNIVERSITY ROTES.
MERCER UNIVERSITY —FOURTH DECADE,
1869-1879.
FACULTY—PRESIDENTS.
Rev. Henry Holcombe Tucker. D D., 1866
1871; Rev. Archibald J. Battle, D.D., 1872
to the present date
PROFESSORS—COLLEGE.
Mathematics.—Shelton P banford, LL.D •
1839 to the present date.
Gr-ek.—<Villiam G. Woodfin, 1872 1879
Latin —Rev Epenetua A. oteed, 1872 to
the present date.
Bellis Lcttres— Rev John J. Brantly, D
1) . to the present da e.
Natural Philosophy and Chemistry.—Jos
eph E Willet, 1847 to the pres. nt date.
M dem Luiguages.—Rev. John J. Brant
ly, D D , 1867 to the present date.
PROFESSORS. LAW DEPARTMENT.
Equity, J ttisprudeuce, Pleading and
Practice —Hon. Carlton B. Cole, 1873 4;
Juuu C Rutherford, Esq., 1875 to the pres
ent date
International and Constitutional Law.—
Hou. Cl.ff.ird Anderson, 1873 to the present
date. .
Common and Statute Law.—Walter B
Hili, Esq , 1873 to the present date.
ALUMNI. COLLEGE.
1870.
Andrew J Beck. John H. Bullard, Isaiah
Tucker Callaway, J Hamilton Carswell,
'James D Colclough. James K Dykes. Zeuo
I Firspatrick John L. Dagg Hillyer, Paul
I. Hud-on, Virgil A. Jordan, William O
Mit :bell, James A. Nelson, John T. Prior.
Jeremiah J. Sanders, Joseph W. Sanders
William M. Siu s, Jeremiah T. Smith, Ma
rion 8. Weaver, Nathaniel L. Willet.
1871.
John J. Brantlv. WiLiam T Brantly. John
P. Callaway, Alexander W. Carswell, Willey
Denham. Samuel R.Garrison, Calvin George,
I-iaaQ Jackson, John Pope Jones, William
Moses Jordan, Albert H Newman, William
H. Norton, Furman Tupper, Kerr Boyce
Tupper.
1872.
John Atwell, Edward W. Butler, Joseph
B Miller. Bennet A. Salter, Thomas F.
Stubbs, John C. Weaver.
1873
Marshall Z Andrews. Wylie W. Arnold,
James Pope Brown, Enoch Callaway, Ben
jamin S Fitzpatrick, John 8 Freeman, Al
bert J. Harvey, Walter M. Jackson, James
A. Jones, William E. Reynolds, William
Ira Smith.
1874.
William A Adams. Charles E Armstrong.
John A. Bradley. Thomas IJ. Butts. Judson
A. Cheney. D LeSueur Gaulden, James Cv
Hinton, Joseph H Jones. Alexis A Mar-'
shall. Charles M. Nutting Robert W. Patter
son. Horace M. Powers, Daniel W. Proctor,
Peter Solomon, Jr.
1875.
Joel W. Butts. Edward H.Cabaniss, James
B Chevis, Aurelian F. Cooledge, John F.
Daniel. Linton A. Dean, John B. Dykes.
John A. Ivey, L Randolph Jeter, Amaziah
8 Jones. Lambert W. Jones, E. Alexander
Keese William T. Lightfoot, Alexander H.
8 McKay, McDougald Nisbet Robert V.
Nottingham. Augustus M. Patterson, Henry
< I Peeples, Robert W. Sullivan, William D.
Williams, Jr.
1876.
Alexander S. Anderson, John T. Boifeuil
let, Janies M Dunwoody, Oscar L. Fortson,
Erasmus Z F. Golden, John A. Goodall
John W. Hixon Thomas J. Hixon. John G.
Holtzclaw, William J. Hughes, Benjamin H
Ivey, William D. 'elks, James S. King, Joshs
ah A, Mas-ey, Milton A. Meroney, Charles
L. Moses, ThaddeusE Murphey, Howard M
Smith, Charles W. Sparks, Clarence L
Stubbs, William A. Thomas, Samuel P.
Wise, Seaborn W. Wright.
1877.
James S. Barfield, George S Birch. John
N. Birch, Belton N Brantly, Peter W. But
ler, John A. Callaway, Wellborn F. Clarke,
James R. Duggan, James A. Etheridge Le
gare H. Poster, Victor A. Ham, William L.
Hawes, Charles H. S. Jackson, Daniel G.
Lee, Luther Link. John li. Mack, John W.
McCord, Hugh D. McKay, Henry A. McKay,
Leonard McManus. Janies G. Ryals, Samuel
R. Sims, Janies T. Smith, James W. Sutilve,
Arthur 0. Ward, Andrew E. Williams.
1878.
Daniel M. Cabaniss, Joseph J. Carson, Na
than B. Carson, Liwrence B. Duggan, Wil
liam H. Felton. William T. Gaulden.William
B. S Gilmer, Guy 8. Hillsman, Henry M.
Holtzclaw, Clarence C. Leman, William R.
Muslin, Charles H. Richardson, Thompson
M. Smith, Wilki. s B. Stevens, Joseph J.
Twitty. Albert B. Vaughn, Hugh M. Willet,
Howard J. Williams. Benjamin L. Willing
ham, William B. Willingham.
1879.
Cullen G. Battle, Richard H. Blalock, Syd
ney C. Bronson, Augustus N. Burke, Burrell
R. Calhoun, Ira S. Chappell, Lloyd Cleve
land. Charles W. Crockett, Methven T. Free
man, Samuel S. Gaulden, Frederick W.
Glover, John E Harris, Philip A. Jessup,
DeWitt McCraiy, Eugenius A. Nisbet, Alon
zo H. Nunnally, A. Goode Price, E. Nisbet
Reid, H. Turner Smith, Stephen D. Smith,
Robert H. Walker, James D. Weaver.
ALUMNI. — PARTIAL COLLEGE COURSES.
1871.
George S. Obear, Jr.
1872.
George L. Mason, Virgil H. Powers.
1877.
Philip W. Davis.
1878.
Henry C. Bagley, Thomas S. Brantly.
ALUMNI. —LAW DEPARTMENT.
1875.
Charles E. Armstrong Joseph H. Jones,
Robert W. Patterson, Horace M. Powers,
Walter G. Smith, William M. Spence, Wil
liam S. West.
1876.
Joseph H. Carstarphen, Harry S. Edwards,
Lenoir M. Erwin, Joseph J. Northcutt. Ben
jamin F. Sawyer, Christopher C. Smith,
1877.
Howell C. Erwin, Samuel Fischer, Daniel
R. Patterson, Thomas J. Simmons, Jr.
1878.
J. A. Brannen, A. L. Lanier, James L
Lawton, James B. Poyner, J. Toombs Rem
bert.
1879.
James T. Holleman.
A decli.ie in the size of the class of 1871,
and a marked diminution in that of 1872,
will be observed. This last numbered only
six. The removal of the institution from
Penfield to Macon was the disturbing cause.
An examination of the catalogue, as to the
counties from whieh the students came,
shows how this cause operated. While the
University remained at Penfield, a large ma
jority of the students were from Middle
Georgia, a few from Southern Georgia, and
very few from Northwestern Georgia. After
removal, the majority of studentshave come
from Southern Georgia, while the patronage
from Middle Georgia has diminished, and
that from Northwestern Georgia has in
creased. This sudden change in patronage
dwarfed the higher classes, until the patron
age from the new fields became established
and restored the equilibrium.
The Theological Department, which was
suspended in 1863, was not re-opened during
the fourth decade.
The Department of Law was organized in
1873. with a corps of able professors. It has
graduated six classes, numbering twenty
four members. Ernest.
Mercer University.
ORDERLY COMMUNION.
Editors t npbx : I have been hearing more
or le s objection for years to what baa been
called the close communion of the Baptist
denomination.
Some say this is all the objection they have
to us. Would it not have been better, sii.ee
"worda are things" witu most men, to have
said denominational communion ? For it is
a clear c<se that all the diff rent denomina
tions. as they now exist, were not known in
the time of the apostles If they had all
risen in their day, they could not have com
muned together at the Lord's table consist
ently with good discipline, such as our Lord
enjoins ; for the Baptiste of that early age
migtit nave excluded a member fiom their
comiuutiion on a certain cay ; at night he
might have j-iiued another denomination,
and have returned next day without giving
satisfactory proof of repentance and ameud
men', to the Baptist church which had Ustiy
excluded him from the privileges of the
Church; and, according to the open com
munion theory, have seated himselt at the
Lord's table among the very brethren who
bad cast him out, to enjoy the privileges of
the cuiirch, even at the Lord’s table, with
tinm This would have per dyzed all whole
some discipline then just as it would now.
Hence, evidently, anti-Christian!
Or would it not have beeu better to have
"aid all this time, “ orderly commuuion and
disorderly ?” accounting only that orderly
where the prerequisites nave i een observed
by the communicants, viz : (I) Repentance
(2) Faith, (3) Scriptural baptism, (irnmer
siou, as admitted by the most learued, to be
tlie meaning of biptizo), and (4). orderly
membership in a local church ot Christ, as
denoted by the membership of the churches
who observed this rite as taught by the apos
tlea, as well as by the Very order that Christ
laid down in His commission. Then, to
contend for clots communion would have
been contending for this orderly communion,
and to contend for open communion—to
contend for disorderly communion.
As Baptiste we so understand the matter
now, but some of our opponents do not p< r
haps; and they, the more readily, because
these things have not been kept thus plainly
before the people prejudice persons against
us, not following apostolic example to allay
prejudice, but rather exciting it. Wisdom,
however, is still justified of her children
We have only to keep closely to the order
indicated iu the commands of Christ, and
He will su tain His own cause through our
feeble instrumentality, "alway, even to the
end of the world.” Amen and amen I
I. H. Goss.
P. B.—Let all things be done decently and
'tW older.
THE BAPTISTS OF ATLANTA.
I accepted an invitation to pass the last
Sunday in May in Atlanta, and to address
the mass meeting of the Baptist Sunday
schools of th® city. The experiment was so
far successful as to lead to the appointment
of a committee to provide a meeliug on the
next fifth Sunday. There is need of such
united meetings oi ibe many churches and
Sunday schools of the city. Such meetings
will lead to co-operative effort in the work
common to all, and to an increased denomi
national power.
There will be a mutual understanding in
aggressive movements which will prevent
friction. By meeting in the several churches
in mass meeting, toe children will become
acquainted with all the places of Baptist
met tings, and be impressed with the fact
“'lßat the Baptist churches of the city repre
sent one people. Many persons rent, and
often move. No matter to what part of the
city the children are taken, they will have
some acquaintance with the church which is
nearest. The young of all the churches will
be benefited by the union meetings. The
union of the Sunoay-schools mav result in
reviving “The Baptist Social Union and
Cburch-extension Organization.”
A union meeting was also held at the First
church in the evening in theinterest of Mer
cer University. The University has warm
friends among the ministers and churches
of Atlanta. There are some rich men here
in union with the churches who will not
forget the importance of our demands for
endowment aud patronage. It is a glorious
thing to acquire money, and then to use it
for the endowment of a Christian College.
Such endowments bless the world through
the ages.
There seems to be a delightful feeling of
harmony and peace among our ministers aud
churches here. They all feel the need of
more zeal, spirituality and aggressive effort.
Several of the churches are looking to im
proving or rebuilding their houses of wor
ship.
The Central church greatl v needs a new
and better house. May they find much
sympathy in their effort to build !
The First church will add new attractions
to their house, and the Second may even
rebuild in the near future. May blessings
rest upon t iem all abundantly!
There seems to be no limit as yet to the
growth of this new city. New and palatial
buildings are going up, and new railroads,
having their centre in Atlanta, are under
contract.
I rejoice that our denomination is so well
represented here by The Christian Index
and our churches. S. Landrum.
AFFAIRS IN MACON.
The First church has recently enjoyed a
“refreshing from the presence of the Lord.”
It was a good meeting,—a real revival to
many members of the church. The Lord
added to us a goodly number who, we hope,
are being saved. Our young brother,_ Rob
ert J. Willingham, of Talbotton, Georgia, did
some very acceptable preaching. He is an
earnest, zealous, godly man.
The South Macon church has had no regu
lar pastor. Brother Evans, a student in
Mercer, has been supplying the pulpit, and
has done as good service as perhaps any one
could have performed under the circum
stances.
We have a fine Sunday-school in our new
chapel in East Macon, presided over by our
young brother, Hugh Willett. I could with
our cause all over the city enjoyed a higher
degree of prosperity.
Dr. Landrum is to preach the Commence
ment Sermon of Mercer. We are anticipat
ing good results to Mercer from his wise
financial management. The University
needs more money. The Lord has it on de
posit with some of his people somewhere in
Georgia, and when, through Hisservrnt, He
draws on them, it is hoped they will honor
the drafts in full and at once.
We are expecting a pleasant time, and
hope for many of our brethren over the State
at our approaching Commencement.
E. W. W.
Union Point, Ga.
Acknowledgement.—Very many thanks
to brethren Rutherford and Campbell for
the large and valuable box of Sunday-school
books just received. It will help me very
much in organizing Sunday-schools in this
section- Hope to hear from others.
C. M. Irwin.
The Free Church missionaries at Bombay
have begun a theological class, and already,
witbin the limits of the Bombay Presbytery
"nine natives hat e bsen recognized as stu
dents of divinity.”
Missionary Department.
REV J 11 DkVOTIE D.D , I
REV. C M IKWIN. flMltora.
Mimlon Board ot the Georgia Baptist Conven
tion—Officem: Rev. K. B. Headden, President.
Rev J. H. DeVotie, Corresponding Secretary and
Treasurer: Rev. V. <1 Norcross. Recording
Secretary Members—Revs. D. W. Gwin, AT?
Spalding. H C. Hornady, F. M. Daniel, V. C.
Nurcross, Dr. Jas. 8. Lawton Atlanta; G. A Nun
nally. Rome: D. E. Butler Madison: J. G. Ryals
and R. B. Headden, Carteisvllle; J. H. DeVote.
Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention. - Rev. H. A. Tupper, D. D., Corres
ponding Secretary, Richmond, Vs.
Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention—Rev. Wm. A. Mclntosh, D.D., Cor
responding Secretary, Marion, Alabama.
WOMAN'S WORK IN CHINA.
The subject sugrrsted by your committee
is one that, would require many pages t<i dis
cuss in all its magnitude. Let us notice first
the importance of the work
The life of the Chinese woman is one of
almost absolute seclusion from tlie world.
The more closely she stays at home the more
ge iteel it is ; and even at home she is not
allowed to converse with her male relations,
except those of her immediate family When
she zoea on the street, she must have an el
derly woman, or one of her near male rela
tions to attend her. The pleasures of shop
ping are entirely unknown to her. When
she wishes to make purchases a peddler is
hailed as be pa-ses tlie door, and he comes
in and d>spla\s his goods.
The Chinese women, thus leading a life of
seclusion, are debarred the privilege of hear
ing the gospel as preached by malemissiona
ries in the churches, chapels and on the
streets. his being the case, it is necessary
to have lady missionaries to carry the gospel
to them in ibeir own homes.
The work in Tung Chow, China, is sim
iiar to what it is in every Chinese city ; and
a brief sketch of the progress of Christianity
there may give some idea of the work in
general When missionaries first went to
Tung Chow,—about twenty years ago,—it
was almost impossible for the ladies to gain
access to the women So great was the pre
judice against foreigners, that when Mrs.
Crawford and Mrs Holmes would attempt
to visit families to teach them the truths of
Christianity, the doors were shut in their
laces. Bv patience, kir.d treatment and
prayer, this prejudice was overcome in many
instances ; and, after a few years, though the
foreigner was not always cordially received,
ye' it. was very rare that even the most bitter
would exclude them from their homes
God s truth will not return unto him void;
and gradually the nucleus of a church was
formed. A few men and women, spite of
persecutions from members of their own
families, spite of the sneers of neighbors and
acquainta-ices, confessed their belief in tie
one true God, and in Jesus Christ, His Sou.
the work of visiting and teaching
the women at their own homes, it was felt
to be important to establish schools. Educa
tion among the men of China is very gener
al ; but it is verv rare they teach their girls
to read. The first schools attempted by
missionaries were for boys. Their object
was to give them a religious education as
well as to instruct them in Chinese classics,
and in such books in geography, arithmetic,
history, etc., as had been translated into the
Chinese language. Many of the church
members were from the towns and villages
at a distance from Tung Chow; and fortheir
children it was necessary to have a boarding
school. As they were not in such circum
stances as to pay board for tbeir children,
this was furnished them free, through the
liberality of the churches in America. Their
books, paper, pens, etc., were also given
them. Heathen parents, too, were willing
to send tbeir children to the foreign sc -00 l
when they could do so without the expense
of boarding them.
Next, schools for girls were attempted.
These proved even more difficult to establish
than male schools. “What is the use,” said
they, “ot educating girls ? It is only neces
sary for them to know how to sew, cook,
wash and iron, and clean up the house ; for
them to learn to read is perfectly useless.”
Christian parents hov ever, having become
more liberalized in their views, and appre
ciating the reading of the Bible, of course
wished their daughters to learn; and women
who were converted—or as soon as they be
came interested in religion—woujd wish to
learn to read; and the ladies would have
scholars of thirty, forty, fifty, and sometimes
sixty, years of age.
Another branch of the work is visiting the
villages and teaching in them ; and this is
no light work. To go to eight or ten villa
ges a day, to be thronged by a crowd, many
of whom are actuated only by curiosity to
see and hear the foreigner; to talk and read
to large groups of people from morning till
night, and then to sleep on a brick bed, in a
house with paper windowsand dirt floors, is
something of a trial to the physical man.
But surely for all the hardships endured by
the missionaries, and for all of the expense
to the churches in Christian lands in carry
ing on the work, the salvation of one ims
mortal soul would be ample compensation.
Let us thank God that many nave been
brought from darkness to light. There are
now in Tung Chow two flourishing churches,
two large male schools, partly self sustain
ing, and three schools. Many of the
scholars have joined the church, and given
evidence of being sincere Christians. Our
Savior’s command to his people was “Go ye
into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature ” Let us see to it that, while
we do everything in our power to advance
the cause in our own land, we are not negli
gent of the equally important duty of send'
ing the gospel to foreign lands.
INCREASE OF LIBERALITY AMONG THE
CHURCHES.
The report of the committee appointed at
a previous session of the Southern Baptist
Convention, to take into consideration tie
above matter, and the report of a Special
Committee, to whom the matter was referred
at the last session of the Convention, seem
to meet with universal favor, as they repre
sent, everywhere, the minds of brethren
who have expressed their opinions.
As this matter is now occupying the minds
of the brethren, why not start the ball, if
practicable, at once, so as to test the plan and
secure results by the meeting of the next
session of the Convention ? It is believed
that hundreds of our brethren, who now con
tribute nothing to missions, would readily
respond if the subject were fairly presented
to them.
Let such brethren as may be appointed go
forth, not as agents to collect money, but as
heralds of the cross-embassabors for Christ
—brethren whose hearts and heads are full
of the gospe’, and who are in full sympathy
with our prognssive movements. Their
mission will be to bring to bear upon the
people the spirit of the gospel of Christ,
showing the relation between the gospel and
the cause of missions. Let this great truth
be indelibly impressed upon the heart that
“the spirit of Christianity is the spirit of
missions.”
What we now need is a genuine, wide
spread revival of religion. Let a church be
truly revived, and their gifts will flow into
the treasury of the Lord. An incident occuis
to the mind, which took place at the close of
a two weeks' protracted meeting, when some
thirty-five had been received into the mem
bership of the church: A call was made for
a thank-offering to the Lord in the shape of
a contribution to our benevolent objects. It
was freely responded to, resulting in a gift
far beyond their ordinaiy contributions.
But who will undertake this work among
the churches? The following suggestions
were made sometime ago to one of the pro-
fessors at the Seminary, by whioh useful
employment might b-given to such students
as desire it during their vacations. Let these
brethren post themselves upon the whole
subject of mi-sinns.—past history, present
operations and 'Utnre prospects —arranging
the whole into a series of lectures, with maps
corresponding to illustrate the progress of
the work. L-t these brethren also turnish
tbemselvee with books btaring on the sub
ject of modern missions, such as histories,
biographies, trsv-ls, etc , and such periodi
cals as the “Foreign Mission Journsl," I'hk
Christian Index, which has now a special
department devmed to missions, and some
first class missionary magazine. Tbua
equipped, tbeir hearts and heads lull of puie
go-pel sermons, and their satchels full of
books and papers, let. them go forth preach
ing the gospel of Christ, lecturing on mis
sions, talking up t.heciaimsof ni'B'io..s along
the highways and aroun i the family circle;
selling books, and securing subbcribers to
papers wherever possible.
But how are these brethren tn be sustain
ed ? It is believed that large-hearted breth
ren and sympathizers with toe cause would
be found everywhere ready to a <ll lose who
were engaged in this grand work llso,
some profiis w-mld result from the sale of
books and subscriptions to permdicds But
if they were to tail in this war t-> ob an
sufficient compensation, it would bengtad
invebtmeut for the Boards to p <y sucn breth
ren a small supplementary salary, as has
beeu suggested by the committee.
S. T. F.
Hamilton, Ge,
Amounts coutribm. d by stales to the two
Boards ol theSmi heru Bai.list Convention fr< m
May Ist, 188" to May 1-t, 1881:
Georgia—Home 80ard88.321 £4
Foreign Bouid 6,581 72
TotalJß,W 3 .6
Maryland—Home B>ard $ 825 00
Foreign Board 2.483 38
T0ta1.13.3-8 38
Virginia—Home BoardJl.ooß 57
Foreign Missions 5 231 67
Totall6 241 24
8. Carolina—Home Boardß2 2 9 37
Foreign Boatd6,oßl 13
T0ta188,343 50
N. Carolina—Home -oard* 939 16
Foreign 80ard...: 3,555 *9
Total 14 495 05
Alabama—Home 80ard51,755 -10
Foreign Board 2.016 33
Totalß3 771 73
Mississippi—Home Board* 270 69
Fo'eigu Board 3 657 42
T0ta188.928 11
Louisiana—Home Board..B 189 35
Foreign Board 645 14
Total„8 834 49
Florida—Home Board 8 288 90
Foreign Board. 109 90
Total ß 398 80
Texas—Home Board..s 76 90
Foreign Board 3,023 71
Totals3,loo 61
Tennessee—Home Board 8 164 97
Foreign 80ard....... 1,538 38
T0ta181,763 35
Kentucky—Home Board 83 636 88
Foreign Board 5,694 92
T0ta188,731 80
Missouri—Home Board„..B 96 45
Foreign Board 3,657 42
Total. ..83,753 87
Arkansas—Home Boards 23 45
Foreign Board 374 45
Total 8 397 90
California—Home Boardß 125 05
Foreign Boaid 27 00
Total ß 222 05
Illinois—Home Board ß 5 00
Foreign Board; 65 60
Total ß 70 50
Dist. Columbia—Home Boardß 47 63
Foreign Board 82 73
Total ß 130 86
New York, for Missions. B 66 00
Ohio, for Missions 1 40
Pennsylvania, for Missions 1 10
West Virginia, for Missions 89 13
J. H.DbVotik. Treasurer.
Rev. Dr. Hawthorne, at the Southern
B-iptist Convention, said that as we claimed
to be a missionary people, we ought not to
hesitate to do or say anything that would
show our right to the claim. He feared
that we were too much inclined to be like
the inoffensive district schoolmaster who,
when asked whether he taught that the
earth was fiat or round, replied : “I will not
be obstinate about that, I am willing to
gratify my patrons, I will teach either the
flat or the round system.” We claim to be
“Missionary Baptists,” that “tne spirit of
missions is the spirit of Christ,” but to ac
commodate our stingy or anti-missionary
brethren, (among us), we will not say ex
actly what we think on the subject of mis
sions.
A letter in the Texas Baptist Herald, from
Rev. W. B. Bagby, our missionary to Brazil,
states that he has pitched his tent for the
present at Campinas, San Paulo, to secure
the services of a first-rate native teacher in
the acquisition of the language. He says
that while superstition overspreads that
land, the power of Romanism is waning, its
place, alas,in many instances being supplied
by atheism, materialism, rationalism. We
need a strong force there, and our faith
should be strong.
Says a letter from C.-ylon: “It is a noticea
ble fact that when Christian women are
married to heathen husbands, generally the
influence in thehousehold is Christian. The
children usually receive a Christian training,
and grow up as Christians. Whereas, when
a Christian man takes a heathen wife, he
usually loses his Christian character, and the
influences of the household are on the side
of heathenism."
Rev. Arthur P. Chaplin, a Wesleyan mis
sionary in Natal, writing of an increase of
eighty converts in the Natal district, says
this encouraging result is largely due to tne
energy and zeal of the native preachers. “I
never.” he testifies, “saw the equal of agood
Zulu Christian anywhere for zeal in seeking
the salvation of his own brother. It is a
passion with him that puts many of us to
shame."
The chief work of the Free Church of
Scotland in Africa has been at Lake Nyassa.
The mission bears the name of Livingstonia.
The sum of £12,000 was raised as a fund to
carry on the mission, and Mr. James Steven
son, of Glasgow, gave £4,000 for the purpose
of constructing a road eight hundred miles
in length into the interior of Africa, between
Lakes Nyassa and the Tanganika.
Rev. Dr. Cuyler, in a letter from Cairo,
Egypt, says, of the United Presbyterian
mission in that city : “One of the members
(a produce dealer) is an annual contributor
of about seven hundred dollars to the miss
sic n and its work ! That looms large along
side of the benevolent contributions of our
average church members at home.”
At Vellore, India, the men of high caste
recently applied to the American Reformed
Church to give them a school for their
daughters. Twenty pupils were at once en
rolled, of whom twelve were Brahmins, and
in a month the pupils were one hundred and
forty.