Newspaper Page Text
2
f r
INDIAN MISSIONS OF THE SOUTHERN
BAPTIST CONVENTION.
BY a. UOTKIN.
MUMS** TWO.
CBEEK MISSIONS.
Among the Creek’s evangelization, com*
uenced under much more discouraging cir
cumstances ; for as late as the year 1845 they
would not allow baptism to be administered
in their territory, and until 1846, violent
persecutions were waged by them against
the "praying people. Mr Smedley, in a
letter to the Board' dated Feb. 11th, 1845.
gives an account of the cruel scourging "of
four more, and others expecting the lash.”
If I do not err greatly, one of these was our
good brother Peter Folsom, who is still liv
ing—a venerable and faithful preacher. An
effort was made iu the Creek Council, in
1846, to enforce the penalty against the
"praying people,” but through the influence
of Joseph island, and a few other, the effort
failed; still, when any were converted among
the Creeks, it was necessary for them to go
into the territory of the Choctaw nation lor
the administration of baptism. In 1847 Rev.
A. L. Hay was sent as the first missionary
'to the Creeks. *under the appointment of the
Board at Louisville, Ky. He was greatly en
couraged in his work; for the persecuted
Christians, chiefly colored slaves of the In
dians. flocked to hear him, and, through
their influence, many Indians were induced
to attend bis ministry, some of whom were
converted and added to the company of the
disciples'.
About that time in the' northern part of
the Creek country, a man, named Jacob
Hawkins, half Indian and half negro, who
was the slave of the widow Hawkins, be'
came converted and was baptized, secretly,
by night, for fear of the Indians. For the
the same reason he was, by night, secretly
ordained to the work of the ministry, by Dr-
Bacon and Rev. Evan Jones, of the Northern
Board. In after times this man became very
useful and was of great assistance to the
missionaries. On account of some misunder
standing. Mr. Hay's connection with the
Louisville Board was severed in 1848 or 1849.
In the former year Rev. H. F. Buckner was
■appointed missionary to the Creeks by the
American Indian Mission Board, and has
continued his labors among them until the
present period, with the exception of a year
or two spent in Texas, just alter the late war.
The stern exigencies Os hostilities had forced
him to "refugee” with the Creeks on Red
River, where he continued among them,
preaching and baptizing, in connection with
other missionary refugees, till tiie close of
the war, when prevented by circumstances
and the want of means, from returning to
his field of labor iu the Indian Territory, he
accepted the pastorate of the Baptist church
at Independence, Texas.
The labors of this devoted and self-abneg
ating missionary have been remarkably sue
cessful- The harvest seems to have been
prepared beforehand and made ready for bis
reaping. Between January and June 1849
he and Jacob Hawkins baptized ninety-four
persons, of whom sixty-mine were Creeks,
twenty-two were blacks, two were Choctaws
and one a white man ; and the close of the
year 1850 beheld 397 members in the church
he had built up among the Creeks.
The great need, for the mission among the
Creeks has always been a Manual Labor
school; and this has also been the ardent
desire of the friends of that mission. As
early as January 1850, the Rev. 8. Wallace,
a zealous and pious man, was appointed
superintendent of a contemplated Manual
Labor school; but the enterprise failed, and
he remained |n the Territory a short time
only. «
■MBABBASHUENT AND TKANHFkB.
The Mission Board, at Louisville, became
so* embarrassed financially, in 1854, that
their missionary drafts were protested, and
at tße meeting of the American Indian Mis
sioh Association, .for that year, held in
Memphis, Tenn., the Rev. H. F. Buckner,
then the only Southern Baptist missionary
among the Creeks, was urgently solicited to
take the field, as agent for the collection of
funds for Indian missions. Leaving his
field of labor in the care of a few native
preachers, he accepted the agency and trav
eled throughout the South for fourteen
months, during which time he collected not
only what was due to the missionaries, but
a surplus. Attending the Southern Baptist
Convention at Montgomery, Ala., in 1855,
he was mainly instrumental in securing the
transference of all the Indian Mission work
of the American Indian Mission Asscciation,
to the Domestic Mission Board of the Con
vention ; and thus the Southern Baptist
Convention became first thoroughly com
mitted to the Indian Mission work.
The missions and mission schools, estab
lished by the American Indian Mission As
sociation, were continued, and new enter
prises were inaugurated. The Gospel by
John, and a small volume of hymns were
translated into the Creek Indian language
by Rev. H. F. Buckner, and published by
the Board, as was, also, a grammar of the
Creek language, prepared by Mr. Buckner.
Since that time the Home Board has prusec
uted this work with great zeal and ardor, and
with much success, its principal, and for the
greater part of his time, its only white mis
sionary, being Dr. H. F. Buckner.
FORMATION Os THK HEPHZIBAH.
In the Minutes of the Georgia Association
for 1794, we learn that several churches, in
their letters, moved for a division of the As
sociation. The subject was taken up, and
ail churches ‘ in the lower part of our union,
who see fit to form another meeting of this
nature, have our consent." This was agreed
on, and Saturday before the fourth Lord's
day in September, 1795. was appointed for
the first meeting of the Lower Association,
"at Buckhead Davis' meeting-house. John
Thomas, Jephthah Vining, and Silas Mercer
were appointed messengers.” Such being the
facts the Hephzibah must have been organ
izedin 1795. as the Georgia met on Saturday,
October 19jh, 1794, at Powell's Creek meet
ing-house. Still, there may have been a
preliminary meeting in 1794; but it more
probably occured, if at all, in the spring of
1795. Can any one throw light on the
matter?
MONTHLY OLIVE BRANCH.
Joseph Thompson, whoa few months ago
successfully led the expedition of Keith
Johnson to the Central African lake regions,
always found a peaceful means for overcom
ing the hostility shown by some ofthe na
tive tribes. At the close of his journey, he
says:
"I felt it to be my proudest boast that, of
the band ot 150 men which left Dar es Sa
laam, only one did not survive to see
the Indian Ocean again ; and it will ever be
a pleasure to me to think that though often
placed in critical positions, I never once re
quired to fire a gun for either offensive or de
fensive purposes."
A writer in the Gentleman’s Magazine,
upon quoting the above testimony, says:
“This is the sort of man that is required to
‘open up’ the Dark Continent. His conduct
stands in pleasing contrast to the filibuster
ing work of Stanley; and it cannot be said of
the energetic young Scotchman that instead
of opening the door to civilization and trade,
he has made it more difficult for those who
come after. His proud boast that only one
of his porters had died during the march is a
zuuch nobler one than the American travel-
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1881.
er's tale'of the number of natives that hie
elephant rifle waa able to bring down."
It may be permitted the compiler of these
notes to eay, that upon a careful reading
(and published review) of Stanley's
"Through the Dark Continent,” soon after
its publication, he came to the following
conclusion thereupon. "The great impor
tance of Stanley's discoveries, both morally
and commercially considered, will be ad
mitted by every one. Every one, also, will
be likely to ask himself the question: Did
the immediate object in view justify the
means ? The explorer found the popula
tion of equatorial Africa divided into a great
number of tribes, generally hostile to each
other, and, so tar as met with, mostly suspi
cious of, and hostile to, the strangers. To
what was this unfriendliness attributable, if
not to the insatiate cupidity of Europeans
and Arabs,which ever reaching out for fresh
supplies of slaves, had for three centuries
stimulated this baleful spirit of suspicion,
and provoked these inter-tribal wars ? Is it
probable that the sudden appearance of a
large body of armed strangers in their midst
would be likely to exerfca reassuring effect
upon these savage tribes to whom the tradi
tion, if not indeed the direct experience, of
the prowess and greed of the kidnapping
whites, must have been but too familiar?
• » • Whilst, therefore, to this day, dis
trust, kept alive by fresh exhibits of perfid
ious practice, remains the bar to reconcilia
tion between our own nation and the red
men, so the armed expedition of Stanley
from Zanzibar, like that of Sir Samuel Ba
ker, from Egypt, will have taught the ne
groes of the Nile sources to fear the power,
rather than to love the religion of the Chris
tian.”
It is pleasing to have heard that, at the re
cent mission-stations of the Baptists upon
the lower Congo, carnal weapons have no
place. If, now the lives of any of the mis
sionaries should be lost through the mani
festation of simple trust, the seeds of the
trouble would probably be found at the Eu
ropean commercial agencies near the
mouth of the river, where gunpowder and
rum are freely exchanged for the natives'
palm oil and ivory.
There has been recently published in Lon
don, a supplementary volume, by G. B. Mai
leson, tq Sir John Kaye's History of the Se
poy War. It throw* a new and important
light on the subject of that sanguinary
struggle, showing that all the horrors of
Lucknow were brought about through the
wanton ignoring of the native rules concer
ning adopted heirs and the application in
stead of European precedents and customs.
Malleson says:
"Os all the rights devolving upon a Hindu
laud owner, the right to adopt is at once the
most cheri. bed and the most sacred. It is an
observances'joined upon him by bis reli
gion. Should he fail to have a child, he is
bound to provide for himself an heir by
adoption. On the child so adopted he bes
tows all the care and affection ordinarily
lavished upon the off pringof love. Taught
by his religion to believe that bis own hap
piness in the other world depends upon the
transmission to his adopted son of the in
heritauce of hie fathers, he is ever careful to
instil into his mind that he actually is of the
family, and will be, after his own death, the
representative of its traditions and its hon
ors.”
It was by setting aside this established and
cherished custom of the Hindus, that the
East India Company, upon the plea of default
of legal titles,confiscated certain of the Sepoy
estates and absorbed them into the British
territory. The immediate pretext of the mu
tiny, however, was the serving out of cart
ridges greas-d with animal fat to the Sepoy
auxiliaries, for to these the grease was a defi
ling abomination. The reader of the Lifeof
Havelock,-who has been thrilled at the ac
count of the relief of Lucknow, will, never
theless, in the light of these facts, experience
a feelingof humiliation that the ideal “Chris
tian soldier” should have been employed in
this work of oppression. Butlt *n_LUawar
rior's first duty to “obey effaers,” or as the
poet expresses it: , ■
“Sot theirs to nfake reply,
Not theirs to reason why." •
So we may hope that the British Conlman
der, in piiuishing the mutinous Sepoys, was
not cognizant of the fact that his superiors
or himself violated either the laws of God or
the rights of man. Yet, if we look into the
recent debates in the British Parliament up
on the proposal to make peace in the Trans
vaal, we will find that men having a high
reputation in the world as Christians, were
found to cry loudly for the continuance of
war. At a recent, meeting, Sir Wilfred Law
son, M. P. salfl iu allusion to this, “I was in
the Honsguf L yrdssix weeks ago,and I heard
Lord Ciitfjs remonstrating with and con
demning tt>e Government of his country
because they iftd sheathed the sword and
refused to shed any more innocent blood in
the Transvaal. And as I heard him declaim'
ing and denouncing those who would not
shed the blood of their fellow-creatures, I
thought to myself I had never seen anything
more repulsive than that exhibition of a
Christian nobleman shouting for two hours
for the slaughter of his fellow Christians.”
Philadelphia. J. W. L.
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Fifty years ago. protracted meetings, as
now appointed, were unknown in this State
and in this country as well, so far as I am
informed. They were not originally ap
pointed, or decided upon, before hand, but
were the result of revivals already existing.
Revivals in those days were the result of the
ordinary means of grace, and, were carried
on by those means alone. Happily, there
were no professional revivalists, and such
meetings were conducted by the pastors,
aidea by such ministers as be might call to
his assistance.
Fifty years ago, there were not halfa dozen
Baptist ministers in Georgia, who were Col*
lege graduates, and the denomination did
not exceed thirty thousand members, though
there had been an accesssion of about ten
thousand during the great revival of 1827-
28, just passed.
Fifty years ago, instrumental music was
practiced in only two Baptist churches in
the State that I knew of (Savannah and
Augusta), and in very tew of other denoms
inations. A majority of our people had no
fellowship with the practice, and many are
of the same opinion still.
Fifty years ago, the almost invariable cus*
tom, in social and public worship was to sit
during singing, and to kneel during prayer.
The irreverent habit of sitting in time of
prayer had not then been introduced, and it
is to be regretted that it has become so com
mon in our town and city congregations. I
trust, our country churches will continue
steadfastly to adhere to the old and more
scriptural way. Who would think of mak
ing a practice of sitting in secret and family
prayer? Ought not the habit complained
of to be correeted ?
Fifty years ago, there was only one college
in the State -Franklin College, at Athens,
(the A in Athens was pronounced sharp,)
then the State College, now the State Uni
versity. It was controlled almost exclusive
ly by the Presbyterians. There were only
two or three female schools, one of the most
popular being at “Cherokee Corner 1 ' on the
stage road from Washington to Athens.
Fifty years ago, there was not a steam en
gine, nor a telegraph pole, nor a mile of rail
road in the State. The people, male and fe
male, travelled on horseback. If they went
on wheels, it was in sulkies or gigs, or in the
old-fashioned four wheeled family carriage.
Buggies had not come into use then. In the
latter part of his life, Jesse Mercer always
traveled in his four-wheeled carriage—not
from pride, but because he was an unwieldy
person and the subject of many infirmities.
The only public conveyance was the lumber-
ing stage coach,a vehicle admirably fitted for
killing horses, and for testing the patience
and piety of passengers.
Fifty years ago, there was not a religious
paper published in the State. A small sheet
was issued for a short time at Mount Zion,
Hancock county, by Rev. Mr. Gildersleeve,
a Preeby terian, but it had been transferred to
Charleston, S. C., and was published Ip that
city as the Charleston Observer. I dotfln, -if
there were ten secular papers in th* State at
that time.
Fifty years ago, the question, whether the
Baptists of Georgia would be missionary or
anti-missionary had not been decided. The
Antis were in a decided majority, and the
conflict then raging was no child’s play. I
have lived to see my fellow soldiers, who
stood in the fore-front of the battle, fall one
after another until the whole line nyfited
away. But, as the fathers fell, their sons
took their places, and the victory is now
eomplete.
Fifty years ago, the cause of Foreign Mis'
sions was in its incipiency. Its friend* were
few and feeble, its enemies defiant, formalists
indifferent, infidelity sneering, Satan raging.
In view of what has been accomplished?fnay
we not exclaim, “ What hath God wrought!"
And may we not go further, and hope and
expect that in the next fifty years such Scrip
tures as the following will be fulfilled:
“The earth shall be full of the knowledge
of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
"The North shall give up, and the'■Routh
keep not back. He will bring his sons Joni
far, and his daughters from the end* of the
earth.” “The people shall praise thee, 0
God, all the people shall praise thee.” And
that every nation, and kindred, and tongue
and people under the whole heaven shall be
shouting, “Alleluia, for the Lord God omni
jolentieigneth!" J. H. Campbell.
MERCER UNIVERSITY NOTES.
MEBCEB UNIVERSITY. —FIFTH DECADE.
1879-1881.
FACULTY.—PRESIDENT.
Rev. Archibald J. Battle, D.D., 1872 to the
present date.
PROFESSORS. —COLLEGE. '’S
Mathematics.—Shelton P. Banford, LL.D.,
1839 to the present date.
Greek.—William G. Woodfin, 1872 to
1879.
Latin.—Rev. Epenetus A. Steed, to
the present date.
Belles Lettres.—Rev- John J. Brantly, D.
D., 1867 to the present date.
Natural Philosophy and Chemistry.—Jo
seph E. Willet, 1847 to the present date.
Modern Languages.—Rev. John J- Brant
ly, D D., 1867 to the present date.
PROFESSORS. —LAW DEPARTMENT.
Equity, Jurisprudence, Pleading, and
Practice. —John C. Rutherford, Esq., 1875 to
the present date.
International and Constitutional Law.—
Hon. Clifford Anderson, 1873 to the present
date.
Common and Statute Law.—Walter B.
Hill, Esq,, 1873 to the present date
ALUMNI.—COLLEGE.
1880. f
Clifford LeC. Anderson, Paul M. Atkin
son, Junius K. Battle, Charles Z. Blalock,
Felix C. Camp, Charles A. Carson, Frank
W. Cheney, Willie L. Duggan, John M.
Horton, Spencer 8. Marsh, Eugeuius A.
Nisbet, Cosby W. Smith, James C. SolonlJki,
Thomas H. Thurmond, William S. West,
William M. Wimberly.
1881.
John F. Anderson, Robert B. Barron, Ed.
Burke, Charles C. Blackshear, Lawson«E
Brown. William Bunn, John F. Eden, Bev
erly D. Evans, Jr., Robert L. Finney, George
J. Ford, Thomas B. Fuller, Thomas Grier,
Thomas N. Hawes, John R. Irwin,
Jones, McAllen B. Marsh, Newton W. kW:
Bryde, George W. McCall,
KutmaHy, Diary J. Pbwefo, Rowe WRfr’
Julien 8. Rodgers, William W. Solomon,
John T. West, William B. Worthy.
ALUMNI.—PARTIAL COLLEGE COURSE.
1880.
* Robert D. Brown. . •
ALUMNI.—LAW DEPARTMENT.
1880.
P. W. Edge.
GROUN. SAND BUILDINGS. ’
The city of Macon presented to the Uni
versity about seven acres of land, lying to
the southwest of Tatnall square and separat
ed from it by a street. The University pur
chased subsequently some five or six acres
lying broadside to the foregoing. These
grounds are within a few hundred yards of
the western corner of the city limits, tyid
comprise a portion of the high rolling bills
that overlook the city on the southwest and
northwest.
During the spring of 1872, the foundations
of the central edifice were laid on the first
plat of ground. The building is of brick,
about one hundred feet long by eighty feet
in breadth, three and a half stories in height
and has two towers, the main one of which
is one hundred and seventy six feet high.
There are thirty four rooms. The building
was first occupied, October 1874. President
Battle and family reside in a portion of the
rooms, the remainder are used as recitation
rooms, library, museum and society halls.
Boarding departments had been discon t.n
ued at most Southern colleges before the
war. The necessities of the times have
caused are opening of them in the last few
years. During the summer vacation of 1872
there was erected on the second plat of
ground, the building known as Students’
Hall. It is of brick and two stories high.
It contains rooms for the steward, a dinipg
hall, a chapel for college prayers, and ab;>ut
twenty-five rooms for students. Good quar
ters and excellent board have been furnish
ed here to from forty to fifty students at very
reasonable rates.
ADMINIbI'RATION.
President Tucker resigned his office July,
1871. Rev. A. J. Battle, DD„ was elected
to fill the vacancy, October, 1871,Jand enter
ed on the duties of the presidency, July,
1872.
Dr. Battle is a native of Georgia, and was
at one time a student in Mercer University.
His father, Dr. Cullen Battle, lived for many
years at Powelton. Georgia, a town then no
tid for good schools and as the home ofa
number of intelligent, wealthy and influen
tial Baptists. Dr. Battle was one of the
most liberal contributors to the endowment
of Mercer University. He subsequently
removed to Alabama. President Battle
went through a part of his early college
course at Mercer, and subsequently gradua
ted at the University of Alabama. He filled
the Greek chair at bis Alma Mater for many
years. This University was virtually closed
after the war, and Dr. Battle accepted the
presidency of the Judson Institute, from
which he was called to Mercer. He is the
third of a trio of Georgians who have filled
the presidency of our University in immedi
ate succession.
Coming from another State, President Bat
tle had known little of the differences of
opinion in the denomination in reference to
the Institution, and has received a fraternal
welcome from all parties. With tine social
powers be has attracted a friendly interest
in the affairs of the college, from the com
munity of Macon irrespective of denomina
tion. The public exercises of commence
ment are witnessed by large and enthusias
tic crowds of her citizens. Dr. Battle's fame
also, as a graceful and effective public speak
er, has laid heavy contribution on him in I
that line. He has represented the college as
preacher or public orator in almost every
portion of the State. The sojourn in Macon
has been characterized by peculiar trials and
difficulties. Anew and strange community,
the terrible scourge of meningitis in 1873,
the financial panic of the same year, and tbe
years of depression since 1 The success of
the Institution in the face of so many dis
couragements, must be a source of pride and
gratification to President Battle.
THE PAST AND THE FUTURE.
The writer has attempted in these “Notes”
to sketch, in a brief way, something of the
history of Mercer University. The first
Baptist school in the State was Mt. Euon
Academy, organized in Richmond county
in 1807. The next was Mercer Institute, es
tablished at Penfield, in 1833. The first
Baptist college, chartered in Georgia, was
the Southern Baptist College to be organs
ized at Washington, in 1836. But its char
ter and endowment were surrendered. In
December, 1837, Mercer Institute was eleva
ted, and was chartered as Mercer University,
with a Board of Trustees, elected March,
1838, and commenced the work of a college
in January in 1839.
The catalogue of its Faculty and of its
Alumni has appeared in these columns from
week to week. Summing up the latter, we
find that over five hundred young men have
received diplomas during its history of for
ty-two years. An equal, if not a larger,
number have received a partial education.
More than a thousand young men have gone
forth, carrying with them the power and
culture, which education confers. Os the
Alumni, eighty-six are ministers, a few not
Baptist ministers. Probably one hundred
and seventy-five Baptist ministers have re
ceived at Mercer a more or less complete ed
ucation.
Her past is secure- She has not done the
amount of theological training which the
fathers designed. They probably desired too
much. The first resolution looking to Mer
cer Institute, in 1831, contemplated a school
for those only preparing for the ministry *
This was amended at the next meeting, so
as to include all classes. To have educated
only young ministers, and to have left the
education of other sons of Baptists to the
State University and to colleges out of the
State, would ha »e given the denomination
in the State to day smaller numbers, and a
less decided impress of Baptist principles
Instead of one or two hundred ministers
trained in the curriculum of the theological
schools, Mercer has sent out more than a
thousand ministers and laymen, who have
felt the religious influence and training of a
succession of ministers in her faculty, who
have been remarkably sound in the faith and
fearless in its inculcation. Owing to this, iff
great part. Georgia Baptist is a synonym of
denominational orthodoxy; and Georgia
Bapti-ts probably rank second to those of
none of the Southern States in numbers,
culture and religious activity.
The future of Mercer University rests, un
der Providence, with the Baptists of Geor
gia. By united, earnest, consecrated effort,
they mav endow her with every appliance
for the thorough education of their sons in
every needed department of education.
Such is Brown University to the .Baptists ol
New England. They have ever united on
her, and she has no peer among the Baptist
colleges of the Union. She is the only
American Baptist college, with large endow
men*, and with large patronage. On the
contrary, by divisions, bv half hearted sup
port, or by leaving Mercer “severely alone,”
Georgia Baptists may have one, two, or
three mediocre Baptist colleges, and may
have to send their sous to colleges out of the
State for their theology, and for liberal clas
sical culture. Such, to a considerable ex
tent, is the Baptist college history in New
York State. Madison University did not
unite all, and so Rochester University was
added. And now New York State, instead
ofa Brown University, has two moderate
colleges, with every endowment but that ot
students. Texas, the great advancing State
of the Southwest, has entered oft the same
suicidal course. Baylor, founded in 1845,
was followed by Waco in 1861. , Two slen
dfij stems, instead of one great solid trunk.
Georgia Baptists have not failed to illustrate
thi same in their past history. About 1853
Marshall College at Griffin, and Cherokee
Baptist College at Cassville, commenced to
divide with Mercer the Baptist patronage of
the State. The Baptists as a demomination
are very independent in their opinions; and
individual Baptists are very much inclined
to “lean to their own understandings.” An
excess-of this produces endless Hi visions,and
divisions weakness. The present is a day
of consolidation. “Little drops of water
make the mighty ocean.” May the Baptists
of Georgia act wisely now. A better oppor
tunity .another opportunity,may never come
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
In the preparation of these ‘ Notes,” I
have bad to rely almost exclusively for sta
tistics, upon that excellent work, “Georgia
Baptists.” by Rev. J. H. Campbell; and on
an abstract of facts and dates, from the
Minutes of the Board of Trustees, by Rev.
G. R. McCall. These have been suppiemen
ted by a series of very interesting and valu
able letters from Rev. D.E Butler, brother
1.0. McDaniel, Dr. S. P. Sanford, Dr.
Campbell, Hon- Mark A. Cooper, Hon. John
B. Walker, Dr.-Landrum, Rev. J. W. El
lington, 8. A. Burney, "L. L. V.”, “J. H. K.”
and“M." Many thanks to the brethren for
their favors.
CONCLUSION.
More than eighteen months ago, the wri
ter was impressed with the seeming apathy
manifested toward Mercer University. Her
friends seemed to have lost heart and voice.
Weeks and weeks passed, when her name
was not seen in print. Talking about our
friends wonderfully revives our love for
them. He determined to talk about Mer
cer's past; to go over the old-incidents so
dear to the hearts of many of the fathers and
of the old students; to catalogue the names
of preceptors and students; to say something
of her wants and of her possibilities ; and to
enlist as many as possible in helping to talk
about the dear old theme Hence these
“Mercer University Notes,” and these letters
of reminiscences of the brethren. They may
have been a trifle desultory and rather widely
separated. That was not intended, but it
may have beet subserved the purpose in view.
And now they come to a close. It has
been a labor of love with the writer ; and he
hesitates to dismiss from his employments
the occasional article about Alma Mater.
But a class-mate, Dr. Landrum, takes up the
good work in a more practical and per
sonal manner. He will see the friends in
their homes, he will detail the excellences
and the wants, and he will be the medium
through which they all mav express their
interest, either by sending their sons or their
contributions- Ernest.
Mercer University.
*Life of Mercer, p. 165.
PROGRAMME
Os the General Meeting for the Third Dis
trict of the Appalachee Association to be
held with the church at Sugar Greek, Mor
gan county, beginning on Friday before
the fifth Sunday in July next.
Introductory sermon,Friday at 11 o'clock,
by Rev. J- T. Prior, Rev. J. A. Harris, al
ternate. After organization, the following
subjects will be discussed :
1. The relations and duties of church
members, one to the other. The discussion
to be opened by brother W. A. Brooks, to be
followed by any one who will.
2. The end intended to be accomplished
by church discipline. Brother W. A. Prior
to open aud any one to follow that will.
3. Is the spirit of missions essential to the
prosperity of the church. Brother W. H.
Cocroft to open, followed by all that will
tike part.
We earnestly request all the churches to
send delegates, and that the brethren will
come prepared to speak on the subjects, as
they will be called upon pirsmally.
H. C. Fears, C. C ,
Madison, June 25th, 1881.
Missionary Department.
REV. J. H DeVOTIE, D.D„ I
REV. C. M. IRWIN, f Editors,
Mission Board ot 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. T.
Spalding, H. C. Hornady, F. M. Daniel, V. C.
Norcross, Dr. Jos. 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, Va.
Home Mission Board ot the Southern Baptist
Convention—Rev. Wm. A. Mclntosh, D.D., Cor
responding Secretary, Marion, Alabama.
CHINA MISSION OF SOUTHERN BAPTIST
CONVENTION.
by rev. r. h. graves, of Canton, China.
The following valuable sketch of the
China Mission of the Southern Baptist Con
vention is from “The Gospel in All Lands.”
Pastors will do well to cut this out and
preserve it.
A Scrap-book for the preservation of mis
sionary articles would be a good plan to keep
posted upon the subject. Who will reduce
the suggestion to practice ?
Our work in China was begun immediate
ly upon the inauguration of the Southern
Baptist Convention in 1846, when Rev. J.L.
Shuck and Rev, I. J. Roberts were transfer
red to our care from the “Triennial Conven
tion,” composed of Baptists from all parts of
the United States. We occupy three im'
portant centers in the Empire of China,
Canton in the south, near the mouth of the
Pearißiver, Shanghai in the center, near
the mouth of the Yang Tse, and Tung Chan
in the north, not far from the mouth of the
Yellow River or Hwang Ho.
Canton was occupied first, Rev. Messrs- G.
Pearcy, S. 0. Clopton and their wives join
ing Mr. Roberts here in 1846. They were
followed before long by Rev. Messra. F. C.
Johnson and B. W. Whilden and wife, and
Miss H. A. Baker. Subsequently, Rev. O.
W. Gaillard and wife (1854), Rev. R. H..
Graves (1856), Rev J. G. Schilling and wife
(I 860 Rev. E Z. Simmons and wife (1871),
Rev. N. B. Williams and wife, and Miss L.
F. Whilden (1872), and Miss Sallie Stein
(1880) joined the mission.
The Shanghai mission was started in 1847
by Rev. Messrs. J. L. Shuck, M, T. Yates
and T. W. Tobey and their wives. In 1848
Dr. J. Sexton James and wife sailed to re
enforce the station, but were drowned before
they leached their field. In 1852 Rev. T. P.
Crawford an wife, and G. W. Barton, M.D.,
re enforced the mission, and 1853 Rev. A. B.
Cabaniss and wife joined the missionaries.
They were followed by Rev. Messrs. J. L.
Holmes and J. B. Hartwell and their wives
(1859), who soon left Shanghai to begin a
new work in Tung Chan, whither they were
followed by Mr. Crawford and wife (1864)
and Miss E. Moon (1872), and her sister,
Miss L. Moon (1874).
From these three centers the work has ex
tended in the neighborhood. There are now
six out-stations in connection with the Can
ton mission, and three in connection with
that at Shanghai. Young men trained for
the ministry in Canton, are pastors in Chin
ese churches in British Guiana (192 mem
bers), in Oregon (about 25 members), and
have also labored among the Chinese in Cal
ifornia. The Cantonsee members have also
a missionary society of their own, which
sustain two native missionaries and rents
rooms for them to preach in. The Gospel
has made its way in spite of much opposition
in some places. During the past eighteen
months two of our chapels near Canton have
been attacked by heathen mobs, and our
services have been suspended for a season ;
but in both cases ive have been able to resume
our work. / , i A
The latest statistics of our stations (De
cember 1880) are as follows:
Camon— Baptized last year, 52; present
membership. 357; pupils 109. Shanghai—
Baptized 12; present membership, 103.
Tung Chan—Baptized, 8; present member
ship, 83; pupils 70.
Total.—Baptized last year, 72; present
membership, 543; contributions, $448.14;
pupils, 179.
We here give the present address of the
missionaries and the time of their joining
the mission:
Rev. M. T. Yates and wife, Shanghai 1847
“ T. P. Crawford and wife, Chefoo 1852
“ R. H. Graves and wife, Canton 1856
“ E Z. Simmons and wife, Canton 1871
Miss Lulu F. Whilden, “ 1872
" Lottie Moon, Chefoo 1874
" Sallie Stein, Canton 1880
The church among the Chinese immig
rants in British Guiaua, presided over by
brother Lough Fook, embraces 192 members
some 25 of them baptized last year. They
have two chapels and own three stores, the
profits of which are devoted to missions in
China and in South America. Last year
they raised $2,200 for Christian work ! They
Lave a missionary society ol 60 members,
each contributing 25 cents a month. Mr.
Geo. Muller, of Bristol, has rendered great
aid in carrying on this work.
WONDERFUL CHANGE IN FORTY YEARS.
Rev. Griffith John, of Hankow, China, in
Gospel in All Lands, says: I cannot think
of the changes which have transpired in
China during the last 40 years without ask
ing with wonder and gratitude, what hath
God wrought? Only 40 years ago it was a
crime to learn the Chinese language by a
foreigner, a crime to teach it to a foreigner,
and a crime to print anything in it for a for
eigner. No public preaching was tolerated
in those days. To address an individual or
two, with fear and trembling, in an inner
apartment, with the doors securely locked,
is what Dr. Morrison, our first Protestant
missionary in China, had to do. He accom
plished a great work in translating the Scrip
tures and compiling his admirable dictiona
ries ; but he found it utterly impossible to
go forth and openly proclaim the message
of salvation. To him, China was a sealed
country, and his being allowed to remain at
Canton at all is to be ascribed to his connec
tion wtih the East India company.
Such is the great change that has come
over China during the past 40 years. It is
impossible to have any realization of its
magnitude without wonder and gratitude.
The progress in the work itself also is en
couraging. There is at present in connec
tion with the Protestant missions in China
more than 600 stations and out-stations;
more than 300 organized churches, of which
about 20 are wholly self supporting, and
about 250 partially so. There are 70 or 80
ordained preachers and pastors, more than
500 assistant preachers, some 70 or 80 col
porteurs, and about 90 Bible women. There
are between 15 and 20 thousand communi
cants. In 1843 there were not in the whole
of China 6 converts ; in 1853 there were 351;
in 1864 there were 1,974 ; in 1868 there were
5,743; in 1877 there were 13,035; and now
there are more than 15,000 The total con
tributions of the native Christians in 1876
was $9,272. This is a fact worth taking
notice of. The Chinese are a money-loving
people. Their principal divinity is the god
of riches, and their one aim in life is the ac
quisition of pelf. When the Chinese converts
begin to give their money, it may be taken
for granted that they have given their hearts.
—Progress and Pbayeb.—Dr. Chas. Man
ly offered the report, which showed, in ear
nest and fitting terms, the necessity of praj>
er in our work, and recommended the revi
val in our churches of the Monthly Concert
of Prayer.
RECEIPTS OF MISSION BOARD GEORGIA
BAPTIST CONVENTION.
From May 28th to June 28th, 1881.
STATE MISSIONS.
May 28. Laat report $499 86
Gen’l Meeting 3d Dlst. Central Aaso. 840
31 John M. Jeuea, Culverton 75
June 1. Ohoopie church, J. K. Daniell 2 00
8 V. A. Bell, collected on Held 4 CO
12 Decatur church, J. H. D 334
Sylvania church. Joi W. Hogan 1 81
P. A. Jessup, collected on field 2 eo
Geo. A. Blount, collected on field 30 75
G. B. Mitchell, collected on field 5 75
T. C. Tucker, collected on fle d..... 8 50
Woman's Miss. Society, Second Baptist
chuich, Atlanta, Mrs. 8. Wilson 2 00
22 Middle Association, J. R. Cooper, Tr. 700
Line Branch ch ,T. L. Pittman, C. C._ 320
A. Core, collected on Held 2 50
71 PerkinovHieehiirch, J. H. Allen 3 00
J. H. Fortson 5 00
Bethabara church, T. J. Swanson. 1 83
Central church, Stanford, Tr........„ 3 33
$589 52
SUNDAY-SCHOOL EVANGELIST.
May 28. Last report $ 5 00
June 22. Middle Assoclat'n, J.RCooper.Tr. 389
Union church, J. R. Cooper 2 18
Collections, T. C. Boykin, May 12 50
27 Friendship Association, Wm. Wells... 15 70
J. H. Fortson 5 00
$44 27
INDIAN MISSIONS.
May 28 Last report 3 00
31 John M. Jones 25
June 27' Beaverdam ch, W. B. Hardman... 300
$6 25
HOME MISSIONS.
May 28. Last report $22 46
Gen’l Meeting 3d Dist. Central Asso'n 200
31 John M. Jones, Culverton 4 to
Piney Grove, J. M. w ilson for New Or
leans .. 2 25
June 1. Ohoopie church, J. R. Daniell 1 00
12 Decatur church, D 333
Ladles'Working Union, Marietta ch.
A. W. York 5 00
Woman's Mission Society, Gresham
ville, Mrs. S. Wilson,P C., for Hart
well, California Miss. Night School, 10 00
22 Line Branch ch, T. L. Pittman, C.C., 320
27 Sister Systematic Giver. A. J. Cheves, 100
Perkinsville church, J. H. Allen 1 00
J. H. Fortson 6 09
Central Baptist church, 1 tlanta, Stan
ford, Fi. C 3 29
Ladies' Miss. Soc., sth B, C., Atlanta,
for Frank Boss Orphans' Home,
McAlister, I. T 5 25
S7O 48
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
May 28. Last report $ 75 14
Gen’l Meeting 2d Dis. Central Asso’n. 200
31 John M. Jones, Culverton, Miss Moon, 100
Miss M. J. Bothwell’s S. S. Class, First
Baptist church. Augusta, Ga., 19 00
June 1 . Georgia G DeVotie 05
Ohoopie church, J. R. Daniell 2 DO
8 J. <4. Met all. sßs—s3o advanced by
Treasurer and reported at Athens,
leaving 54 86
12 Decatur church. J. H D 333
Received at Richmond, HAT, April
28 to May 24 t 28-0
Ladies’Working Union. Marietta ch,
A. W. York 5 Of'*—
Salem church, G. R. Moor, Conyers... 2 <0
Woman’s Miss Soc., Tunnel Hill, Mrsjgjg
S. W ilson .?• •’? 00
22 Middle Association, J. R. Cooper, Tr..«Ro 63
Bcarboro church, J. R. Cooper F 2 00
Line Branch ch, T. L. Pittman, C. C.T. 320
27 Sister, a Systematic Giver, A J.Cheves, 100
Perkinsville church, J. H. Allen 2 00
J. H Fortson 7 00
Bethabara church, T. J. Swanson 1 84
Mt. Paran ch, J P. Bradly,China Miss. 11 00 .
Central B C., Atlanta, Stanford 3 33
Cross Road, W. M. Dyer 3 10
Oak Grove, G. S. Lockhart...; 3 45
$244 43
RECAPITULATION.
State Missions. $ 589 52
8 S Evangelist 44 27
Home Missions 70 48
Indian Missions .......... 6 25
Foreign Missions ... 244 43
Indigent Ministers 70 83
$1025 78 ,
J. H. DeVotie, Treasurer.
China.—lfruly the teaching |g goof. ;Jl
the Tso Ky” district, abotlN sTOmTy THfIW ~~
south of Hangchow, the gospel has spread
with great rapidity in the last four or five ,
years; and/rltogether about a hundred ar;d
forty have been baptized’ The work began
through a visit of a scholar of that district
to Hangchow, where he heard the gospel,
and received it. Returning home, he feared ■
persecution ; but, to his astonishment, found
his relatives and friends ready to hear and
accept. Encouraged by this, he went on
telling others of the truth, and the work has
advanced to the present stage entirely through
native agencus, excepting the visits of a mis
sionary to examine and baptize converts.
“ Have you ever heard the gospel before?”
asked a missionary at Ningpo of a respecta
ble Chinaman, whom he had not seen in
his mission room before. “ No, ”he replied,
“ but I have seen it. I knew a man who
used to be the terror of his neighborhood.
If you gave him a hard word he would shout
at you and curse you for two, days and two
nights without ceasing. He was as danger
ous as a wild beast, and a bad opium smoker.
But when the religion of Jesus took hold of
him, he became wholly changed. He is
gentle, moral, not soon angry, and has left
off opium. Truly the teaching is good. ’’
—Gospel in AU Lands.
China Mission of The American Pres
byterian Church, South.—Mission work
was commenced in the year 1867. From the
Annual Report made this month to the Gen
eral Assembly we gather the following :
There are two Mission stations:
Hangchow—Rev. J. L. Stuart and wife,
Rev. A. Sydenstricker and wife, Rev. Geo.
W. Painter, Mrs. A. E Randolph, Miss
Helen Kirkland. Nine native helpers Rev.
M. H. Houston and wife are on their way
back to Hangchow.
Soochow—Rev. H. p . Dußose and wife,
Rev. John W. Davis and wife, Miss A. C.
Safford. Six native helpers.
Rev. F. S. Dobbins published in the Nas
tional Baptist of March 3d, 1881, the statis
tics of Protestant missions in China as fol
lows : 241 ordained missionaries, 23 lay mis
sionaries, 232 female missionaries, 230 na
tive preacbeis, 704 other native helpers, 18.416
communicants, 261 schools, 6,485 scholars,
165 stations, 576 outposts.
The Rev- Dr. David Irving published in
the Foreign Missionary for May, 1881, the
statistics for Protestant missions in China,
giving the total as follows: 270 ordained
missionaries and physicians, 83 ordained na
tives, 1,039 native helpers, 18,707 communis
cants, 6,247 scholars.
A Healthy State.—People are constantly
changing their homes from east to west and
north to south, and vice versa, in search of
a healthy state. If they would learn to be
contented, and to use the celebrated Kidney-
Wort wnen sick they would be much better
off. The whole system can be kept in a
healthy state by this simple but effectual
remedy. See large advertisement.
THE SECRET TOLD.
Nobody told, tor nobody knew,
How sweetly the pure lltbe violet grew;
How it came through the earth and the frost and
the dew,
Ana lifted its head to the heaven so blue,
Nobody told, for nobody knew.
Why perfect good health should gladden so few;
While thousands, who long something noble to
do,
Are bowed down by sickness their whole lives
through.
Somebody told, for every one knew,
The wonders Safe Kidney and Liver Cure do ;
In bringing pure health to the body anew,
And saving from death many noble and true.
Try Kendall’s Spavin Cure, a sure remedy
for Spavins, Curbs, Ringbones, or any en
largement of the joints. See the advertises
ment.
