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2 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.