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Our Pulpit.
“THK natural philosophy op the
BIBLE."
An address drlivrrid by in. H'. T. Cheney, pastor
if Curtis Baptist church, Augusta, Ga.. upon the
A nnieersary occasion of the Augusta Bible Society,
Mag Sth, 1881.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Il is customary, in addresses of this kind,
to begin with a few introductory remarks :
but, on account of very limited time, I shall
be guilty of a breach of forensic and pulpit
etiquette, and commence “in medias res.’’
I must steal time to say, however, that I
am thankful to God that He has seen fit to
establish the Augusta Bible Society, and that
through so many years He has blessed and
maintained it. And I pray Him that He
may more abundantly pour out His blessings
upon it in the future, and that he may cause
each and every member of ittorealize, more
than ever before, its grand and glorious pur
pose, and labor for it accordingly.
And 1 am fully persuaded, according to
my knowledge at present, that these anni
versary occasions are valuable promotion of
Biblical truth and influence, inasmuch as
they encourage Biblical discussion, study and
The Christian world holds that the Bible
Is the Word of God, containing His revealed
will; that when minus all interpolationsand
properly translated, it is the truth to the
letter, plenarily inspired. It is true some
good men differ as to the amount or degree
of inspiration. They differ from orthodox
Christians as to whether the Bible, in all of
its parts, word for word, is the very “ Word
of God,” or whether the "Word of God* is
in<the Bible. Yet, it is true that Christians
universally accept the Bible as containing
God’s revealed will.
On the other hand, numbers contend that
the Bible is not God's production but man’s;
ibat it lisps tbe "shibboleth” of man's falli
bility ; fallibility in moral precepts and ex
amples ; fallibility in moral and philosophi
cal principles; fallibility in scientific state
ments.
Now, if the Bible is the Word of God in
deed, it is infallible in all these respects,
when interpreted according to tbe design of
the purposes and objects of revelation. It is
a fortress of truth impregnable. It is a
mountain of inspiration immovable. It is
as steadfast and unchangeable as Him who
spake it. This all Christians believe. Then,
since this is true, should Biblical devotees
fear attack ? Should they attempt to evade
scrutinizing investigation? Should they
not rather invite the onslaughts of infidelity,
and court the mental scalpel of critics,
knowing that they are coming at those
"things that can never be moved ?"
I feel sometimes constrained to thank God
for Comtes and Humes and Ingersolls, be
cause their tremendous splash and flounder
in the waters of inspiration will only aug
ment the receding ana incomingtidal waves
that will wash from its rock bound shores
the stranded wrecks of Unbelief and hypo
critical belief.
Since many of the attacks of infidelity
have been against the scientific statements
(or revelation) and allusions of tbe Bible, I
propose briefly to consider a few of these
under the subject, “The .Natural Philosophy
of tbe Bible,” and I sincerely trust that I
may advance a few thoughts upon this im
portant subject that will be profitable for
your instruction.
By "philosophy” is meant, literally, the
love of, or search after, truth; it then comes
to mean tbe knowledge of truth, either re
vealed or discovered, and then systems of
truth, either natural or moral. When the
truths of a system refer to, and have to do,
mainly with the realm of Nature and her
laws, the system under which they are com
pended >is termed “Physics,” or “Natural
Philosophy.” When we speak of “Natural
Philosophy” as a system which is the result
of tbe investigation of man, we mean his
compendium of the facts, principles and
laws of matter and of natural phenomena,
which have been discovered, proved and
classified by him ; and by tbe "Natural Phi
losophy of the Bible,” we mean the facts,
principles and laws of Physics revealed in
the Bible, or alluded to in it, whether the
allusion be true or untrue, just so the pur
pose of the allusion be effected; but tbe
revelation, so far as it goes, must be true; it
is a revelation. Revelation teaches truths
previously unknown. Allusion is reference,
for some purpose, to what is received there
as true, without teaching that what is allu
ded to is true or not. This is an important
distinction that must be borne in mind.
Judging from the purpose for which in
spiration was given, it is evide.it that the
main primary object of the Bible is to teach
“Moral Philosophy.” And if any reference
ii made to Physical Science, it is for a rela
tive and secondary purpose. That man does
not study the Bible with a rational nor holy
intent who goes to it mainly for the scienti
fic truth which it may secondarily, relatively
and, I might say, accidentally set forth. Any
man, who wishes to study the Bible profits
bly, must bear in mind throughout the en
tire volume, that the object is not to teach
systems of Political, nor Physical, nor Me
dicinal Philosophy, but Religion, Moral
Philosophy. The Bible is the tutor of the
soul, —the governor of the conscience,—and
that man under-values it, and misconstrues
its heavenly, holy and exalted mission and
purpose, who poes to it expecting to find a
thorough treatise on Geology, or a perfect
system of Astronomy. He, who goes there
with such intention, will be certainly and
woefully disappointed.
God has ordained, for man's profit and
Sleasure, that he shall engage his mind in
iscovering, so far as he can, tbe facts, the
laws, the principles, the grandeur and the
wonders of God’s footstool, and of his out
stretching handiwork. Man is a creature of
activity, and it seems now that the power of
this activity is indefinite. He cannot be
stationary. The law of bis nature forbids it.
He mus* increase, or he will decrease. He
must move forward, or he will go backward.
Hence, we see the love and wisdom ot God
in revealing but little of natural truth, and
in leaving immensity to engage for eternity
the activity of man.
In all scientific revelation and allusion in
the Bible, there are certain principles that
govern their interpretation and acceptance,
and in all study of tbe Bible these must be
understood and constantly kept in view.
The first and all-important principle that
must be borne in mind is, first, That tbe
Bible is not intended to teach Science, but
Religion.
The second principle is this : That the
Bible reveals, and alludes to, only so much
"Natural Philosophy” as is necessary for the
establishment and vindication of the claims
of Religion, and for the conveyauce of moral
truth.
Let us illustrate this important principle,
and apply it in the revelation es creation.
Goa commands men to tear, love and
worship Him. Now, tbe question arises,
What right has God to do this? How is man
placed under obligation to obey God ? Sup
pose God had not revealed himself as tbe
great Creator, but as some unknown, un
knowable being, had thundered His com
mand, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God,
and Him only shalt thou serve,” would man
have felt under obligation to obey him any
more than he would to obey tbe fabled gods
of Olympus? In order for God to enforce
and establish the right of their claim of wor
ship upon man, it is absolutely necessary
that be should reveal himseli as the Creator
of man and all things. There must be the
revelation of creation, and especially of Him
who created.
This establishes tbe claim of religion; and
it is not so necessary that there should be an
exact revelation of the "modus operand!” of |
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1881.
creation, as of the simple fact that God did
create; and, therefore, that He has a reasona
ble, authoritative and moral claim upon all
His moral creatures.
Modern scientists may, and do, shake the
faith of some as to the time, “modus operan ■
di," etc., of the creation, as detailed in sim
ple style in the Bible, but they can never,
by any show of proof, or trickery of rhetoric,
or sophistry oflogic, change any rational
man’s convictions as to tbe fact that there
has been a creation, that this creation is an
efleet, and not an eternal, self existent thlr.g;
and that, therefore, there must be a Creator.
And the goodness, the love, the wisdom,
the government and the power exhibited in
creation, as we realize the facts and the phe
nomena of creation, fully establish the Crea
tor's claim on all His moral creatures. This
fact the Bible purposely reveals fully, clear
ly, simply, In such style and phraseology
that tbe most illiterate and untutored of
God’s moral creatures can understand and
comprehend it. «
Suppose God bad made this revelation in
some such style (abstract, abstruse, scientific,
or whatever you may term it), as Spencer's
definition of “Evolution,” how many men
would have known that there bad ever been
such an event asthecreation, or such a being
as the Creator?
I fearlessly make the statement that if
modern scientists should prove that tbe
Biblical details of the creation were not true
scientifically, that would not at all invalidate
the value of revelation on that question, so
far as the purpose of revelation, and tbe end
to be attained, are concerned. If God inten
tionally, and with a good and gracious pur
pose reveals a fact in a figure instead of a
literal scientific category, does that, in tbe
least, depreciate its intrinsic value as a fact?
The third principle of the revelation of
“Natural Philosophy,” and of allusion to it
is, That, in- divine revelation, God ad
dresses men according as they are mentally
capable of reception.
Tbe period ot revelation extends over about
three thousand years. Daring this time tbe
notions of men concerning Physical Science,
the system in which they lived, its laws and
environments, were very limited and crude,
and when any natural phenomenal allusion
or statement'was necessary for tbe purpose
of conveying moral truth, they were made
according to tbe views and notions of tbe
age and people in and to which the moral
truth was taught. Otherwise they would
have understood nothing that was meant,
and besides God would have debased the
Bible into a work on Science.
Growing out of the third, the fourth and
last principle follows, That tbe scientific
revelation and allusions of the Bible, iu the
manner of their presentation, are more
largely figurative and apparent than real.
Now, let us illustrate and apply these
principles in a hasty investigation of the
Biblical revelation concerning the creation,
and also in a few scientific allusions.
The Mosaic account of the creation is a
scientific revelation, and, if I am not mis
taken, it is the only one in the Bible, other
so called scientific teaching being simply
allusion or inference. The fact of creation,
and the object of its revelation, we have
already noticed. We will now examine, in
the light of the principles of inteipretation
that have been laid down, tbe "modus
operantii," tbe order of time, etc., of this
event as given in tbe Bible, and also institute
a comparison with modern scientific teach
ing on this subject.
The Bible divides tbe creation into six
divisions or periods of time. The power of
God, as directed by His will and wisdom, is
the creative agency. The divisions of time
are called “days.” “The evening and the
morning were the first, second, etc., day.”
In each of these days certain orders of things
were created. It begins with matter already
existing in a formless, chaotic state, having
been previously created "in the beginning."
When this “beginning” was when God crea
ted the heavens and the earth, we know not.
Neither are we informed how long after this
“beginning” it was when “the Spirit of God
moved upon the face of the waters.” The
"days,” or periods of time, begin with the
creation of light; then the firmament is
formed; then the dry land is caused to rise
out of its watery grave. God then begins
creating the flora and fauna, commencing
with the lower orders of life, and concluding
in the last "day” by creating man, making
man the last and highest form of creation.
Now, it is to me a strange and striking
fact or coincidence that the modern scien
tists, while professing that their investiga
tions have been pursued, aud their conclu
sions reached independently of the Bible, yet
they follow, in the main, its order of the
account of creation.
They begin in the Archaeau era, the first
and lowest known, with matter and force
and heat, or the voidless chaotic earth en
veloped in water, already in existence. The
existence of matter is assumed. I know the
Evolutionists go farther back and begin at
the beginning, as they say, with tbe proto
plasmic atom, but their starting-point is the
same, they must, and do, acknowledge tbe
previous existence of matter. They teach
that in the primitive state of the earth it
was enveloped in water, and that some in
ternal force, caused by unequal secular heat
ing and cooling, and acting radially, expands
the earth in certain parts, causing it to rise
out of tbe water, and the water to be collect
ed in other depressed portions. In this way,
gradually throughout ages, the dry land and
seas were formed. After this, forms of life
come into existence. First, the simple pro
toplasmic life, as the Protoyoa, the lowest
primordial form.
The Physiologist then traces, in the Palte
ozoic, aud Mesozoic, and Nesozoic eras, the
gradual merging into existence, which he
calls Evolution, of the higher and more per
fect and complex organisms of life. This
evolution of all the forms of life, from the
lowest to the' highest, takes place during
multiplied ages. He reaches, lastly, the
Psychozoic era, or the era of man, of mind;
this era includes the present time. Scientists
of the school of Evolution are quite generally
agreed as to this order of development.
And here, as I remarked before, the strik
ing fact presents itself to us, that so far as
the order of the creation of life is concerned,
modern scientificand Biblical teaching agree,
which inclines me to accept the teaching of
the former on this point. This is a fact
worthy of epecial note. The only difference
between them is that the Biblical account is
ultimate, while the scientific is penultimate.
The Bible goes back to tbe final cause, God,
Science stops this side of a final cause with
matter and force, etc., as effects already in
existence and in activity. But in so far as
the orders of the creation* of life, the revealed
“Natural Philosophy” and modern "Natural
Philosophy” agree. So plain is the case that
we are almost forced to conclude that there
must have been some recent plagiarism from
Moses. Hence, it seems that on this point,
if modern science be true or not, it corrobo
rates the Bible. And if it be true, then
Moses must have been inspired.
There may be apparent conflict between
the theory of literal Evolution and the Bib
lical declaration "that each brought forth
after its kind;” but scientists nave not
proved, nor can they ever from the nature of
the case, that, by an inconceivable some
thing (or nothing) called "differentiation,”
one order of life was evolved from another
inferior and entirely different order. Scien
tists can never reason away the impassibility
of the gradations of physical, vital aud men
tal existence.
They find, in the rock structures of differ
ent eras, tbe fossils of different orders ot life,
and that is all they know. And this does
not, in tbe least, conflict with tbe declara
tion of Scripture that "each brought forth
after its kind." The theory of so-called
evolution is a base, groundless and unde
monstrable assumption. We know that
certain orders die, and others come into
existence, but who can prove that the living
came from the dead ? Could not God at any
time extinguish a certain species or genus of
life, and produce another of superior order
in its stead and cany on the work by natural
laws ? But what right has any man to base
upon these facts thefanumption of evolution ?
Now, as to the time taken in creation.
Apparently here is a conflict between the
inspired and the scientific accounts—tbe for
mer putting the time at six “days,” ths lat
ter, an inconceivable length. Just here it is
to the point to state that geologists differ
immensely among themselves in the esti
mates they give of tbe length of time requir
ed in tbe gradual evolution, or creation, or
formation of tbe earth and its forms of life.
They are not, and apparently never can be,
so far as we now know, agreed on this point.
The Bible gives tbe time from the creation
of Adam, of man, to the present, as six
thousand vears; scientists reckon it as vastly
more, Their computation is based upon
such data as the “stone age,”, the “bronze
age," etc., terms familiar to students of this
subject. But many facts are known wbicb
render such data wholly untrustworthy.
For instance, relics have been found in Can
ada, along the St. Lawrence, which wouM
reckon the time of the tribes who used them
in tbe geologic “Stone Age,” and tbe tribes
who used them would be labeled as of an
"ancient universal savagery; but it is known
that these tribes were comparatively civiliz
ed, busily engaged in fishing and'hunting
and husbandry, and that there relics court
not have been, at the time of discovery, over
three hundred and fitly years pld. I have
many facts of similar character at hand but,
for want of time, cannot mention them.
(See "The Unity of Nature,” by Duke of
Argyle, No. VII, in “The Eclectic Maga
zine” for June).
But, granting that scientists could prove
their almost interminable ages in creation,
still this would not all invalidate the state
ments of the Bible. Any one who reads
carefully the Biblical account of the creation
of the different orders of life, can see that, in
respect to time, the language is figurative.
My space forbids me to go into the full proof
of this tact here. It is plain, yea, I might
say evident, from the phraseology of tbe
Biblical account of the creation of tbe vari
ous orders of life, man excepted, that their
creation was according to the natural laws of
formation and growth. After the account of
the creation, in Gen. I, we have the follow
ing in the 2d chapter, 4th and sth verses:
“ These are the generations of tbe heavens
and of the earth, when they werecreated, in
the day that the Lord made the heavens and
the earth, and every plant of tbe field before
it grew, and every herb of the field before it
was in the earth.” Judging from this pas
sage and others, I think that tbe revelation
teaches that God formed the. floral life in
germ, in seed, so many and of such kinds,
and in such time as He saw fit, and then tbe
earth brought them forth, and they grew,
according to the natural laws of germination
and growth. Gen. 1:11. “Ana God said,
‘Let 'the earth bring forth grass, tbe herb
yielding seed, and thefruit-treeyielding fruit
after his kind, whose seed is in itself updfl
tbe earth: and it was so. ’
The same is true of all the animal forms of
life except man.
Gen. 1:20 24: “And God said, ‘Let the
waters bring forth abundantly the moving*
creature that hath life, the fowl that may fly
above tbe earth in the open firmament of
heaven.”' “And God said, ‘Let tbe earth
bring forth the living creature after his kind,
cattle and creeping thing, and beast of the
earth after his kind : and it was so.” ’ And
in verses 21 and 25, we are told : “And God
created,” etc. “And God made the beast of
the earth,” etc.: which ■ teaches that He
“created,” “made” them, all the same, al
though they were generated from the germ
of life in the sea or earth, which God hafi
caused to be there, and all according 41
established laws of nature, which hold now.
AU this creation and growth could be, and
was, according to natural laws, and yet it
could be truly said that God “created.”
This is true oi all life except that of man
It was said of all beasts and fishes and fowls:
“Let the earth and sea bring forth;” but of
man it is said that God made man out of the
dust of the ground, and made him in His
own image, and breathed into him tbe breath
of life, and man became a living soul. Tbe
animal man was made in God’s own hand
as the mould, and he was made a perfect
man, full-formed at once; other animals,
etc., were “brought forth.” They are from
the earth, having no principle ot life butthat
derived from the elements of the soil of
earth ; they are not above the earth ; they
return to the earth from whence they came,
and that is all of them.
Man isof God,from God,and returns to God.
B"t I must not diverge from the point in
hand, viz, the time taken in creating accord
ing to natural law, these orders of life. If
the Bible teaches that all this was done ac
cording to natural law, and the different
orders at different times, as would be neces
sary in the economy of nature, then, most
assuredly, the divisions of time, called
“days,” in which these protracted processes
took place, are not intended to mean literal
“days.” The term “day” must be received
as figurative, and it means simply a division
of time. And God showed wisdom in using
figurative (language thus in reference to the
time employed. Just here the principles of
interpretation which we laid down apply,
and are illustrated.
Suppose God had seen fit, as it ap;>ears
that He did, to create according to natural
law, and this gradual process had consumed
millenniums, and He wished to convey the
facts and order and sequence of creation in
such a manner that the then infantile mind
of man could best receive them; could this
not have been accomplished most effectively
by revealing these things to him as having
taken place, in their order, in those natural
divisions of time with which his ybung, un
tutored, inexperienced mind was most
familiar, which divisions are known as
"days?”
Man had not then been accustomed to deal
with, or think of, long periods of time; God
wished to make revelation accordingas man
was "mentally capable of reception," and
hence He termed the divisions of time in
which He had created, or caused to be
brought into existence, the different forms of
life, simply, “days.”
So that man’s mind was not bewildered
with the maze of piled-up ages, and facts
were not obscured by tbe mists of useless
detail.
Although Moses was inspired, yet, no
doubt, he wrote the account of creation from
tradition which had came down from Adam;
and we must bear in mind that the art of
writing was then unknown, and for so long
a period from Adam to Moses, men could
not have remembered and transmitted an
immense, comprehensive and itemized ac
count of so tremendous an event. We have
tbe facts, we have 'he principles, we have
the phraseology, and we must form our con
clusions as to other minor points from them.
And I hold that if science proves its inter
minable ages in creation, the true Biblical
account of tbe same event will not be in the
least depreciated.
In conclusion, I will notice briefly some
scientific allusions made in the Bible wbicb
wicked men are wont to scoff at.
In some of its appeals and commands, the
Bible alludes to the “corners of tbe earth,”
“the ends of the world,” etc. From such
passages as these men assert that tbe Bible
teaches that the earth is flat, and upon this
they attack its truth and inspiration. Now,
let us apply our principles of Biblical scien
tific interpretation.
There is no doubt but that at 'he time
these statements were made in the Bible,
men believed that the garth was flat, and had
"corners” and “ends,” etc. In making his
appeal, or giving his command, by inspire-,
tion, God addressed them, and conveyed
moral truth to them, in the way that they
were then “mentally capable of reception.”
God taught them nothing concerning t he true
form of tbe earth. He simply made alln
sloin, whiqh may be true or untrue. He
adapted his truth to their minds. The lans
guage need is, of course, figurative. He left
it for man to find out the form of tbe earth.
What would tbe people have thought if God
had said, “Look unto me all ye poles of the
earth," or, “Come unto me all ye meridians
of the earth ?"
Again, many take the allusions of the
Bible to the “rising” and “going down” of
tbe sun, and such like pbfases, to be inspired
teaching that the earth is stationary, and
that the sun moves about it as the center.
They say that the prayer of Joshua, for the
sun to stand still upon Gibeon, is the inspir
ed system of astronomy. In these instances,
and at the time of their record, of course, tbe
people believed that tbe earth stood still,
and that the sun and moon and stars moved
about it as a center; Joshua believed it, and
he prayed God accordingly, and, in so far
as it appeared to them, God literally answer
ed Josh: a’s prayer. God addressed tbe peo
ple, He dealt with them, He conveyed moral
truth to them, He answered their prayers,
all in their own mental phraseology. But
inspiration never did make any categorical
statement concerningastronomy. It simply
alluded to existent belief on the subject
without teaching that it was true or untrue.
It taught no system of astronomy. Such a
thing would have been entirely contrary to
the spirit and intent of inspiration. The
same thing is true concerning the geology of
the earth. God did not intend to teach
geology, but only what was necessary, viz:
that this is His creation, and all things tbe
creatures of His hand. Tosearch after minor
truths was to be man's employment through
out the ages. And this absence of scientific
teaching proves to my mind that the Bible,
is an inspired book. Contrast the scientific
teaching of Buddhism with the Bible, and
you will see the divine halo of the latter.
Buddha took great pains to teach that the
earth was flat and stationary, and that tbe
sun moved about it, that night was caused
by tbe sun sinking behind a huge mountain
reaching to the sky. The result is that
modern philosophy is destroying Buddhism.
It has taught false natural philosophy, and
must die in consequence, unless Buddhists
succeed, as they are trying to do, in keeping
modern science out of their schools and
colleges.
I might notice other instances of sim'iar
charater iu the Bible to those that have been
adduced, but it is useless. I have examined
a sufficient number tc prove that tbe "Nats
ural Philosophy” of tbe Bible is infallible,
either as revelatiou or allusion, for tbe pur
pose designed, if interpreted according to the
plain, evident and common-sense principles
that have been laid down
I have not made this address for the pur
pose of reconciling the Bible with modern
science, for, to my mind, there is no conflict
between tbe Bible and true science, but to
show you that we hold to “those things that
cannot be moved.” Wherefore, if we would
be wise, let ns study those things which are
true.- Thy Word, 0 God, is truth! We must
go to the Bible for all grand, ultimate truths
and facts. It alone can satisfy tbe searching
inquiries of man. Aggregate all purely hu
man systems of philosophy, and all together
do not teach an ultimate fact. They deal
enUrely with facts which are consequences
—with causes which are effects. I wish to
know the whence, the why, and the whither,
of all things. These are tbe ultimate facts
of nature, and I must go to that Inspired
Philosophy to learn them. Take it away
from me and the very light that remains is
darkness incomprehensible. Remove that
Book of books and, as Sir William Hamilton
says, “All is but a dream of a dream 1”
ME MORIAH. I
On the fourth of April 1881, expired, in Co
lumbus, Georgia, Jewett G. DeVotie, at the
age of forty. It Is not to late, even yet, for a
friendly garland to be laid on his bier. He
was tbe third of three noble sons, born to J.
H. DeVotie, D.D., by bis marriage with Miss
M.C. Noble, all ot whom have gone to that
bourne from whence no traveler returnetb;
and he was the last of eight children, all of
whom, together with their mother, “ are with
Jesus la heaven at rest.”
“Their spirits are stainless, their garments are
white,
Exceeding the splendor and brightness of light!
Their raptures ecstatic rise high as they sing.
That name o’er all names, Jesus, Jesus, tbe King. ”
Jewett DeVotie was born March 25th, 1841.
He had the best educational advantages at
the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.,
at Howard College,Marion, Ala., at Columbia
College, Washington City, and at Mercer Uni
versity, Georgia, where he graduated, receiv
ed his diploma in tbe summer of 1860, In his
twentieth year. Thus a fine Intellect receiv
ed excellent cultivation and training for that
sphere of labor, to which the latter half of
his life was devoted. But his studies were by
no means confined to the books of his college
curriculum; tor he dellehted to employ the
time, usually spent by the young in rest or
recreation, in laying up stores of knowledge,
by the perusal o! standard authors. Even, la
after life, with all the burdens of Edltor-ln
cblef, to a dally paper, resting upon him, be
found time, after the duties of the day were
over, to spend hours, late at night, In com
munion with tbe best authors- Il was from
a mind thus full and enriched that be was
able, day after day, for years, to pour out ln
'tellectual treasures that delighted the readers
ol his paper. He became a finished as well
as a prolific and instructive writer. His ar
ticles, on an endless variety of subjects—poli
tics, morals, rellg.on, social topics, material
Improvement—were all written not only with
ease, but with real ability; and, as a com
mercial writer, be has few equals, In this
country. For years, his Bunday morning ar
ticles, which generally took tbe form of suc
cinct essays, on social, moral or religious
topics, were eagerly read and warmly ap
plauded.
At the Inception of hostilities, In 1861, Mr.
DeVotie,as a member of tbe Columbus Guards,
promptly volunteered In the Confederate
Army, and took a gallant partin tbe military
service of his country; but disabled by a
forced march, he was discharged from service
and, returning home In 1868, he became local
editor of the Columbus Sun. In that position
he remained until 1874, when he was assign
ed a position on theedltorlal corps, ofthe En
quirer-Sun, those two papers having been
consolidated. The following year, so highly
were bls abilities appreciated, that he was
advanced to tbe honorable and responslcle
S osltlon of editor-ln-chlef of the Enquirer
un, which post he retained, to the entire sat
isfaction of the public and of the proprietor
of the paper, until his labors were ended by
death, at the early age ol forty. Without
doubt his life was sacrificed to a sense of fideli
ty to bls position ; for It was over-work that
broke down bls system and brought on that
f aralysls of body which ended in dissolution.
t is comforting to know that on his bed ot
death he professed faith In Christ and ex
pressed his belief that "God, for Christ’s Bake
bad forgiven his sins, ” although he had nev
er formally connected himself with any
church. With calmness, distinctness and
emphasis, he expressed his gratitude to God
for divine mercy extended to himself, aud
his Willingness to receive it through tbe mer
its of Christ; and he professed readiness to
meet his God, with a good hope In the blood
of Jesus. ....
In person Jewett DeVotie was somewhat
below the medium size, rather deliberate In
bls movements and speech, with a kindly
and genial nature and very pleasant In social
intercourse. He was one of the most loving
of brothers and an affectionate and devoted
son Warm hearted in disposition, his was
a positive nature, possessed of great energy,
decision and strength of character. His In
dustry was remarkable. All bis time and
attention were given to his paper, the success
of which lay near to his heart. Independent,
high-toned and conscientious, he was true to
his section ; aud honorable, In every sense of
tbe word, he made himself respected by all.
Under his care the Enquirer-Sun become one
of the best papers In tbe South ; and when he
died our section lost one of its best editors,
' and Georgia one of ber noblest sons—a cult
ured, cultivated, genial gentleman, with the
heart of a woman, with a nature true as steel,
and with a brilliant Intellect, whose appar
ently bright and useful future was suddenly
blighted by untimely death.
Knowing him as 1 did from an acqualn
taucsblp of many years, and In hearty sym
pathy with a bereaved father, I cannot but
desire to crown bls memory with this friend
ly chaplet, as a token of grief at the nntlmely
end or one so gifted and worthy of esteem,and
of whom it may still be proudly said : he con
scientiously did a man’s full duty of service to
his country. B.
Missionary’ Department.
REV. J. H DxVOTIE, D.D., I
REV. C. M. IRWIN, f Editors,
Mission Board ot the Georgia Baptist Conveh
tion—Officers: Rev. R. B. Hcadden, 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. Homady, F. M. Daniel, V. C.
Norcross, Dr. Jas. 8. Lawton. Atlanta; G. A. Nun
nally, Rome; D. E. Butler,Madison; J. G. Ryals
and R. B. Headden, Cartersville; J. H. DeVole.
Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention.—Rev. H. A. Tupper, D. D., Corres
ponding Secretary, Richmond, Va.
Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention—Rev. Wm. A. Mclntosh, D.D., Cor
responding Secretary, Marion, Alabama.
THE IMPORTANT QUESTION.
The Home Board and the Foreign Mission
Board at the last session of the Southern Bap
tist Convention were instructed (shall we
say) to enlarge their work. Tbe Home Board
to give epecial attention to the large cities of
the South, where our denomination was feeb
ly represented. This was wise and eminent
ly proper. Tbe Foreign Board, m addition
to tbe fields in which it had been operating
(that is China, Italy and Africa), should pro
secute with all possible energy the work rec
ently begun in Mexico and Brazil. Then
we must not forget that the Board of the
Georgia Baptist Convention in addition to
the fields already occupied have commenc
ed evangelistic work in the northern part of
the State with the hope, at no distant day
that the thousands of Baptists of that section
may be brought into co operation with us in
our efforts to extend the Redeemer’s King
dom. To do all this and enable our Boards
to meet without embarrasssment to them,this
increase of work, will require no small addi
tion to the contributions of previous years.
The important question is, how can these
large additions of contribution be secured,
and the work be accomplished? That the
Baptists of Georgia, to say nothing of the
Southern Baptists, are abundantly able to
double and even thrible their gifts to the
cause of tnissions is not a debatable question.
They are able. We have great confidence in
the masses of our people, and believe, that
if all these denominational enterprises and
their incepetus were kept constantly before
them they would in a short time come wil
lingly to their support. How ?
1. These factscan be kept before the people
by holding a monthly meeting at each of
our churches. When this needed informa
tion can be given, and prayer be made for
the blessing of God upon our Mission work.
Do not say it cannot be done, and that it is
impracticable in the country churches. Try
it and “go forward” in the name of the Lord,
and these seeming hindrances will soon van
ish. This will be a good help towards tbe
incease in contributions, now so much need
ed. The information needed to be read at
these meetings can be found in the reports
of the Secretaries of these Boards, printed in
the min lies of the Southern Baptist Conven
tion. The report our State Board and Sec
retary will be found in the minutes of the
Georgia Baptist Convention. In addition
to these, there is the Foreign Mission Journal,
containing monthly communications from
the missionaries of that Board. Also The
Christian Index, where you will find val
uable items in the colums specially devoted
to missions.
2. Contributions will be largely increased
if the pastors of the churches will regularly
from the pulpit, and their private intercourse
with their people, endeavor to thoroughly
indoctrinate them with the principles of the
Gospel—thefr moral obligation to give of
their money, to send the preached Word to
those who have it not, and also to impress
their people that it is a duty they owe to
Jesus as well as to their destitute neighbor.
3. Then put some sort of machinery or
plan to work that will secure contributions
from each member—rich and poor, old and
young. The reader tnay say, it cannot be
done. We as emphatically reply, it can be
done. It has been done. There are churches
now in which very few, if any, fail to make
their regular contributions to each of our
Boards of Missions.
The question asked anxiously by our
Boards is, will the churches furnish us with
tbe means to meet this increase of work put
upon us, and which is so necessary to be
done? Let, the important question bean
sward, and answered at once, by all the
churches, pastors and members, beginning
in time to inaugurate some plan, if not those
above suggested, and work it regultfrly and
constantly. Do this, and with the Lord's
blessing money will be raised to meet every
demand upon our Boards. I.
REACHING THE MASSES.
The Southern Baptist Convention proposes
the far-reaching work of getting a contribu
tion for missions from every Baptist church,
and every member of a Baptist church with
in the boundary of the Convention. This is
a broad undertaking, and to accomplish it
the active co-operation of all the well-wishers
of the Convention and of the causes it repres
ents must be enlisted. In a paper pre
sented to the Convention in May last, the
Vice-presidents of the Convention were char
ged with much of this work. Instead of this
the Convention has imposed the labor on the
secretaries ot the Boards, with thepriviledge
bestowed on the Boards to “assign duties”
to their own Vice Presidents. Much of the
work in the States must necessarily be done
by persons residing in them. The Board beg
that their Vice-Presidents will aid largely in
this matter. Brethren full of their own af
fairs cannot be expected to meet the expen
ses of necessary clerks-and assistants. Tnese
expenses will be paid by the Convention
through its Boards. But Secretaries and
Vice Presidents alone cannot accomplish
what is proposed. Pastors and all active
workers for Jesus, male and female, must
contribute their sympathy and assistance.
In order that the people may be fully ap
prised of the nature and workings of this
scheme, we publish below the action of the
Convention, and a letter addressed to«the
Vice-President of the Board of Foreign Mis
sions. This is the beginning to execute, as
far as possible, the purpose and the orders of
the Convention.
ACTION OF CONVENTION.
The Committee to whom was referred the
paper on reaching tbe masses, submitted to
the Convention fiy the Joint Committee of
the two Boards, impressed with the obliga
tion resting on the Convention to endeavor
more energetically and systematically to el
icit, combine and direct the energies of the
whole denomination in one sacred effort for
the propagation of the Gospel, for this pur
pose unanimously recommend:
1. That the,Boards of the Convention be
directed to form the closest possible connec
tion with the State Boards, where such exist,
in such way as shall be mutually agreeable,
and in other cases to secure such agency as
each of tbe Boards may deem best; in both
cases providing for necessary expenses in
curred.
2. That the Secretaries of the Boards of the
Convention be instructed to secure frequent
distribution of information relating to their
work, by means of newspapers, tracts, leaf
lets and otherwise, as may be found expedi
ent, among the masses of tbe people; and
further, that each of the Secretaries be re
quired to prepare each year, or to secure
without cost to their Boards, tbe preparation
of a suitable address, containing such facts
and points as they would prefer to make in
a speech, could ttiey catch the ear of all the
people. They shall have a sufficient num -
ber of such addresses printed, and with what-,
ever aid may be obtained from the agencies
at their command, tbe shall send a copy
to every pastor within the bounds of the
Convention, and request him to embody such
facts and points in a sermon to his people,
and to take a collection at, or as near as pos
sible to, some specified time.
3. That it shall be tbe duty of the Corres
ponding Secretaries, as speedly as possible,
to prepare a roll of all the Associations with
in our borders, stating, under each, which
churches and Sunday-schools contribute to
their Boards, aud the amounts contributed,
and to make systematic effort each year to
bring over to this list tbe churches and
Sunday-schools which do not contribute.
4. That the Committee® on New Boards
be instructed to nominate, as Vice-Presidents
of the Boards, men known to be identified
with the interests of the Convention and of
the State Boards, to whom definite duties
shall be assigned at the discretion of the
Boards.
5. That the result of the efforts mentioned
in these recommendations be reported at
each session of the Convention.
6. That so much of the second day of the
Convention, as may be necessary, shall be
set apart for consideration of these reports
and of questions connected with them,
7. That these recommendations shall be
g Tinted in the minutes as by-laws of the
onvention, which may be altered at any
time by a majority vote, except on the last
day of the Convention.
J. W. M. Chairman.
LETTER TO VICE-PRESIDENTS.
Foreign Mission Rooms, 8. B. C.)
Richmond, Va., June, 1881. j
To the Vice-Presidents of the Board of Foreign
Missions, of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Dear Brethren—l invite your attention to
the action of the Southern Baptist Conven
tion on “Reaching the Masses.” According
to recommendation ‘4’ you were elected Vice-
Presidents of our Board, with special refer
ence to your known interest in Foreign Mis
sions, and the aid which it was believed that
you would cheerfully render to our work.
The Boards are authorized by the Conven
tion to “assign duties” to their Vice Presid
ents. Our Board prefer to beg, as a great
favor, that you will assist in two matters
which can be best done by some one in your
respective States. They are as follows:
Ist. To ascertain definitely, according to
recommendation "1,” • what relation to our
Board your State Boards prefer to sustain,
or what agency for our Board, if any. is
deemed beet, with view to the most cordial
sentiments towards the Southern Baptist
Convention, and the greatest advance of our
cause among your churches.
2d. To have, according to recommenda
tion “3,” a roll prepared of all the Baptist
Associations in your respective States, and
under each Association the names of its
chuichesand Sunday-schools that contribute
to Foreign Missions, with the amount con
tributed, say last year, oi any previous year,
also the names of the churches that do not
contribute. The post offices of the pastors
or clerks of all the churches should be on
the roll. Perhaps the minutes of your State
Convention, or General Association, or the
minutes of your District Association may
furnish the desiredinformation. Such an ,
enrollment of Associations and churches,
with their contributions, or non-contribu
tions, by brethren of their own States, so
honored and beloved as yourselves, would
be liable, in our judgment to the least pos
sible objection on the part of the Associations
and churches.
To accomplish the above, money will be
needed. The Board expect to provide the
means- Your draft for necessary expenses
will be honored at sight.
Do have a suitable book prepared for the
enrolling of Associations and churches as
above, and employ competent clerical help,
that tbe work may be carefully done. The
details are left to your wise discretion. Does
any better plan for accomplishing these or
ders of the Convention occur to you?
If not, I would be glad to have you make
as early a start as possible, and to hear that
you accept this labor of love, imposed to car
ry out most effectually the action of our Cons
vention to “reach the masses” of our people
in order “to elicit, combine and direct the
energies ol the whole denomination in one
sacred effort for the propagation of the gos
pel.”
I am yours, affectionately,
H. A. Topper, Cor. Sec.
P. S.—Please send me the latest list of the
Pastors of your State, with their post-offices.
H. A. T.
CONVENTION ON CO-OPERATION.
Resolved 1. That the different State Con
ventions and General Associations, constit
uents of the Southern Baptist Convention
are hereby requested to give special atten
tion to the plan adopted, at this session, for
reaching the masses of the people; and
2. That those Conventions and General
Associations are respectfully and urgently
invited to co-operate with this Convention
through their respective State Mission Boards
for the purpose of attaining the ends pro
posed.—For. Miss. Jour.
HOME MISSION BOARD.
MISSION TO THE CHINESE WOMEN AND CHILD
REN IN CALIFORNIA. MISSION TO
NEW ORLEANS.
The-Board have accepted Mrs. Janie L.
Sanford, of Mississippi, the daughter of Rev.
(Confederate General) M. P. Lowry, as a
missionary to labor among the Chinese wo
men and children in San Francisco. They
are instructed by the Southern Baptist Con
vention “to send two or more competent and
efficient missionaries to tbe city of New Or
leans as soon as practicable.” To sustain the
mission to the Chinese women and children
and to carry out the wish of the Convention
in regard to New Orleans, large additional
contributions are required
Oar Baptist sisters are demonstrating what
loving hearts and active hands can do for
Jesus in their liberal support of “Woman’s
Mission to Woman” in foreign lands. Will
they not extend like sympathy and aid to
similar work among the heathen who at our
doors languish for the bread of life?
From a recent and authentic publication
of another denomination, the following ex
tract is taken : "The stranger who visits
the Chinese quarter in San Francisco, is al
ways struck with the number of Chinese
children, who throng the streets and alleys.
There never was a better field for hopeful
missionary work than this. If China is ever
to be made the kingdom of our Lord and of
his Christ, it will be mainly through work
among the children.”
It is desired that Mrs. Sanford should go to
San Francisco early in the fall. The Board
have not the means to send her, but with
faith in God, and in the Christian women of
the South, we lay the case before him whose
we are, and before them who have been re
deemed by the precious blood of his Son.
Os New Orleans it is no exaggeration to
say that it presents the most important and
promising field for missionary work in our
Southern land, if not upon the continent.
Iq this great commercial centre there are but
two white Baptist churches, with a member
ship of less than 400, in a population pf 225,-
000, of perhaps every nationality. "One of
these churches is burdened with debt: the
other is homeless.”
These facts are presented for the serious
consideration of Southern Baptists. Shall
we meet the obligations that Divine Provid
ence has laid upon us ? Shall we enter tbe
doors opened by the Divine hand to these
rich harvest fields? Can we refuse?
Wm. H. Mclntosh,
Cor. Sec. H. M. B. of 8. B. C.
Marion, Ala.
