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2 f u M 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.