The Christian index and southern Baptist. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1881-1892, July 14, 1881, Page 2, Image 2

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.