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2 r I '-' TO THE REHOBOTH ASSOCIATION. Diab Bbkthbkn :—ln answer to several I eails I send a few items from "The In- I dis ns’’: Our mission work is in a hopeful condi tion. The native brethren appointed to service in A-pnck sho-nub-by District are becoming enthusiastic in their work. Re eently a "two days’ meeting” came off at Bethlehem church near A-tok a, at which Benjamin Baker and 0 las-se-chub by had been invited some time before and had sig nified their intention to be present. But when the time arrived they sent word that ttiev could not leave their more destitute »isa’/Mi field.— that the work was growing rapidly on their hands. Invitations from aw* neighborhoods were multiplying, and could not supply the demands for ibeir visits. Several c invertshave been bap tized in that!'district and several stations es tablfsbed. If God continues his blessing, in a few nears we shall have several strong Baptist churches among the Indians over there Wilson Nail, too, is doing well among the Ghickasaws. He has traveled alone going from settlement to settlement, md from house to house He has also bap tized several —within the last few days five at one meeting! Let us thank God and take courage. Bro ttoH* Hogue has just returned from To rorto., Canada, where he attended the Third tßrernational Sunday school Convention of the United States and Canada, esthe repre sentative of the Indian Territory. The dear old brother has not had a recreation in a long time never was north of Mason and Dixon's lineandweall thought a trip to Canada would do him good So we made uo the money in our Sunday-schools and sent him w to represent ns. He was greatly delighted. Thedeath of Rev Lewis Cass is sorely felt in his part of the Nation. He was a more excellent gentleman. Poverty and suf fering. no doubt, hastened his death. In a letter now before me, and the last he ever wrote me, dated February 10th, he says, "I received yonr kind letter and gift some time ago. and was thankful for your kindness. Ton have done as much or more for me than my own people. I have seen harder times this winter than ever before in my life Brother, you know we have no con tinuing city in this world. Some of our good brethren and our children are already gone only a few days ahead of us.” This was literally true in his case, as he died only a few weeks after this letter was written. The field he occupied is an old and impor- Sant part of the work occupied by the South »m Home Mission Board. The people, the ehurch and the Governor of the Nation, who resides in that neighborhood, have petition ed the B >ard at Marion to appoint Rev. W. 8. Young, a very devoted, excellent and suitable white man on the line in Arkansas to supply brother Cass' church and field. It is ofthe highest importance that the Board respond favorably to the appeal and make the appointment. Rev. J A Trenchard will, D. V., soon remove to the Creek Nation to assume the Superintendency ofthe new Baptist Mission School, which brother Buckner has, after several years of faithful and devoted labor, succeeded in establishing. Rev. A. Frank Ross is now at McAlester, ready to take b-other Trenchard’s place in .hat important field This leaves the eastern par* of the Nation without a missionary and leader and makes the appointment of broth er Young the more important. The Northern Home Mission Society at its recent anniversary at. Indianapolis, adopted our little Indian Baptist Theological'School I atTanleqdah, Cherokee Nation, as one of the objec-s worthy of its fostering care. I think this assures the success of the school. I have never doubted the necessity and im portance of such a Baptist school for the .-raining of our young Indian preachers and Christian workers I felt it should not be jonfined to one nation only, but be open to all the tribes We have several promising young Choctaw preachers who would like to attend a session or two at tjie school. t The cost is SIOO for ten months. Who will help these young Indian preachers? Fraternally and truly, J 8. Murbow. 4-tokva, Choctaw Nation, J me 30th,1881. fl enf.raT meeting. The general meeting of the first district of rhe Flint River Association met with Paran shnrch on Friday before the fourth Sabbath m last month. The Introductory sermon was preached at 11 o’clock by Rev. William 6 McMichael. The delegates assembled at two o'clock p. m. for business. Re-elected Rev Jesse Mays Moderator, and brother John W Hooten. Secretary. Revs William G. McMichael, John T. Kimball, James G. Kimball and Timothy Kimball, and brethren E. E. Pound and James Britton responded as correspondents from the second district. We had a pleasant session, some good preaching and several warm meetings. One joined by experience, and others are expect ed Owing to pressure of business—it being early in the season—the meeting closed Sab bath evening. Our district meetings are increasing in interest, and we trust in good We ire generally cheered by the presence ot enod preaching brethren from the second district, ami we would be much pleased to have ministers and brethren from the other districts to visit us. There was a large assembly on the Sab oath ; good order prevailed, and the crowd was bountifully provided for by the well-, known hospitality of the brethren and com munity. We feel that these general meetings, well attended, supplies, in some measure, the long absence of the Association, on its regu lar round, from our district; yet we cannot 1 see that the Flint River Association is too large and cumbrous to hold together. We adjourned to meet with the church at Cabaniss on Friday before the third Sabbath '■n Julv, 1882. J. M. DR. ADAM T. HOLMES. i desire to call the attention of the Baptists of Georgia to the widow and children of our lamented brother, Dr. Adam T. Holmes. Sister Holmes is quite old, and very deaf, living with her relatives because she has no jieans of support Brother Holmes left a Httle boy and girl that are entirely depend ant upon others for their daily food and rai ment. They are living somewhere in the up-country. If I.am correctly informed, our deceased brother did a great deal for the Baptista of Georgia; gave liberally of his means to Mer air University, and was always ready to aid in every gooa work promotive of Baptist in terests in the State. His body, I am informed, lies in Atlanta without even a slab to designate the spot. Sow, in view of all his labors, and financial aid in the educational and religious interests of Georgia Baptista, are we satisfied to wait until an angel shall find the sacred spot and rmsod his body for resurrection purposes? x shall we not, as the people of God, do something that will not omy designate the root where he lies, but tell the busy passing throng •• Here lies Adam T. Holmes: loved, honored and respected for his true meri t and -qany labors of love and munificent gifts to THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1881. the educational and religious interests of Georgia Baptists?" If it is true that Mercer University has shared a large portion of his financial gifts in the past, Is it too much to ask that some arrangements be made by which the son may reap the advtn’.vjes of a college course? And what shall I sav in the inter st of the dear little daughter? What will brother Oox, of LaGrange, do? What can brother W. C. Wilkes, ofGainesville. do? What of Mouroe Female College, in Forsyth? And thus what will Baptists all over the State do? Sister Holmes has very recently joined the Marshallville Baptist church. It is not my privilege, as yet, to know her, having never met her. Neither have I seen or known the children. Ye;, as a Baptist, lam interested in them, and am willing to do all lean for them. If others think as I do, and will sug gest some plan by which the grave can be designated, and t h e children educated, I will take pleasure in aiding ai.y such measure or plan that may be adopted. B. L. Ross. Fort Valley, Ga., July 18th, 1881. FROM THE FIELD. I attended the Sunday-school Convention at Dove's Creek Baptist church, to which I had made pastoral visits and rendered sue cessful labors in the ministry several years before I removed with my family to Stewart county, Georgia, and another year since I came back. The meeting included two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, of last week, and was very well attended. My brother, W. R. Goss, who was to have preached the Intro ductory sermon, was absent, and Rev. C. A. Stakely filled his place well. The president of the body,Rev. J. G. Gibson, served admira bly. The weather was exceedingly warm, hut speakers kept very well balanced in dis cussions as to their warmth and zeal. Upon the whole, evidently a good impression in favor of the Sunday school cause was made. The body adjourned to meet with Salem Baptist church, Oglethorpe county, on the same days of the week after the second Lord’s day of July,lßß2 Last Thursday evening I went into the neighborhood of Bio Baptist church, with which a presbytery met, the day after, for the ordination of brethren Cobb, Thornton and Higinbotham to the deaconship. Preach era present included L. W. Stephens, the pastor, J. D. Adams, J. W. Vickery and t e writer. By arrangement the sermon was preached by I. H. Goss; presbytery modera ted by L. W. Stephens; candidates questioned by J. W. Vickery and the writer, who also made the ordaining prayer. Moderator gave the charge, and the occasion was very im pressive and enjoyable in the house both morning and evening, and very much so around a well-shaded and a still better fur nished table for the supply of all present. From this meeting I went to my monthly meeting with Line church, beyond Hartwell. Saturday's meeting was discouraging. I felt to say, Lord save or we perish—used the words, “Christ is preached” Sunday we had many out, and it was much more pleas ant to preach. The Holy Spirit was with us to make it so. 0 for this to be the case at all times. The speaker wept more than com mon, and others felt more than they do sometimes. Agreed to have services of prayer each Sunday, etc , till I meet them in August. The Lord be with us then. Last evening at the Methodist church graveyard I found a large crowd at the burial of a single son, who had died very suddenly —lived only a few hours after he was brought from the field and heat, where he had fallen to speak no more on earth. By request I talked to, and prayed for, the souls ofthe living relatives and friends, especially for the widowed mother, Mrs. Martha Teas ley, whose tears could but fl > w on such a sad occasion. I heard that two other men in Hart county had recently been called sud denly from their work by daath. Let all “be ready, for in such an hour as ye think not'the Son of man coipeth.” ’ I H. Goss. Bowman, Ga, July 18th, 1881. , MACON ITEMS. To-night fifteen happy converts will be baptized by brother Warren in the baptistery of the First Macon church. These converts professed faith and united with the First church, in East Macon, where there is an arm of our church placed, for the summer, under the care of our young brother D. S. Marrow, a ministerial student of Mercer University. For the last three weeks a very precious revival meeting has b en in progress at Warren chapel, conducted by Dr. Warren, who was assisted by brother Murrow, and the result thus far is fifteen additions by ex perience and five by letter. Warren chapel has been a great conven ience to the Baptists in East Macon, and the effect of the late meeting in that portion of our city has been really salutary. Held at night mostly, and during the week, the meetings in East Macon have not interfered with brother Warren’s regular church duties He will take a month’s holiday soon, and, after attending the Rehoboth Sunday-school Convention, near Thomaston, on the fifth Sabbath, will proceed further northward and seek rest for a few weeks, and he deserves it, for he has conducted two revival meetings successfully in our city since the hot weather set in. Dr. Landrum has gone northward; Dr. Battle is at the Chalybeate Springs-; Prof. Sanford is off on his usual summer trip; brother Mcßryde is up the country; brother Evans, a Mercer student, who has been re cently ordained by Drs. Warren and Land rum, is here hard at work in the hot weather for the South Macon church as its pastor; and the rest of us, who can’t get away, are sweltering, for our city has been experienc ing some not weather. The Sunday-schools keep up fairly, al though many absent ones make the attend ance below the average. Macon is healthy, though, and, in fact, is as healthy as any city in the State, for which I will vouch. Macon, Ga., July 20, 1881. S. B. LIGHT DESIRED. The newspapers are full of mention of the forthcoming Revised New Testament ;—the joint work of committees of learned men— one in England and one in the United States. It seems that the work has been accomplished within the last ten or eleven years. Now. some of us remember that more than t hirteen years ago the Bible Union was actively engaged in revision. Until within a few years past, we have heard but little of it. Some of its works we have in our libraries, and prize them very much. What has become of the Bible Union? Where is Prof. Conant and his coadjutors in this work? and what has become of their unfinished work? It seems that the library of the Union has been sold. What does ail this mean ? Enlighten us if you please. As somewhat connected with this subject, allow me to mention what seems to the writer a marvelous thing-a very marvelous thing. The learning of the world says that immer sion is the first, best meaning of the Greek word “baptize ” And yet, up to this time— to this last revision—there seems not to be candor ‘and love of truth enough in the learned world to make the New Testament say so. They know that this anglicized word does not reveal clearly the truth to the popular mind, and yet they dare not remove the obscurity. Allegiance to King James and the Episcopacy seems te be stronger than allegiance to truth. And this is called conservatism in our English brethren. Con servatism of darkness fbr the masses it is, but not of light and candor. It looks more like presumptuous trifling. D. G. D. JOTTINGS BY THE WAY. Dear Index Some two weeks have elipred since my tail letter was written, during which time I have traveled over a large scope of coun try. In order to bring this letter within reason able length, I shall have to omit many details of travel that it would afford me much pleasure to give. My last letter left me en route for Enon church in company with brother Patterson, the pastor. Enon is a grand old church twelve miles (tn Georgia) from Eitfauln. and la truly “as a city set upon a hill," dispensing light to the Wrtultry around. The membership is large and efficient. A new house of worship was recently erected, suited in every way to the wants of the large congregation that assembles here at every stated meeting. Brother Patterson is an excellent pas tor and greatly beloved by his church and people I am much Indebted to the brethren and friends of Enon for many acts of kindness during my brief sojourn in their midst. I spent Satuniay and Sunday here very Pleasantly.an-* on Monday brother A. H. Teel carried me to Morris station en route for Fort Gaines This. Fort Gaines, is one of the noted spots In Georgia In the days long agene. Fort 4alnes stands upon a bluff overlooking the river, and took its name from the fort that was built here in the first settlement of this country. There is nothing left to mark the spot where the fort once stood, save a grove of grand old oaks. During the late war the same bluff upon which the old fort once stood was strongly fortified by the Confede rate authorities. One of the large guns, the rem nants of the battery, lies near where the battery stood. It is off duty now, and like.y to-tymaln so, perhaps forever. I snent a part of two days here to some profit to The Inßex, and very plea santly to mys If. I was agreeably surprised to find here, amonr the most active and effi lent workers of the Baptist church, brother W. M Speights, formerly of Hancock county. It was a Sleasant meeting to both of us Brother 8 has one good work here for the Index as well as for the Baptist cause otherwise. Brother J H. Cor ley Is serving the church here most acceptably. I was truly glad to meet him here, but sorry to find him quite unwell. May the good Lord res tore him to his wonted health. This Immedlatesectlon of country suffered se verely from drought last year, and corn is very scarce with the farmers. The oat crop-hauig a partial failure this year there Is great demand for corn, and much difficulty experienced lu obtain ing a sufficient supply for the country. From Fort Gaines I went by private convey ance, some twenty odd miles across the country into Calhoun county. The road we traveled lay through a good farming section, and the crops were looking well. The great trouble is, not on ly here, but wherever I have been, too much cot ton and not enough corn in cultivation. "Farms ers used to say, in speaking of their crops, “my corn field,” “my cotton patch.” Now it iscotton field and corn patch And this change in farm ing operations has brought our country to its present impoverished condition, and if it is eon tinned much longer the result will be an utter financial ruin. Strangers, wiser than we, will own our fair Sunny South, while we irnd our children will become hewers of wood and draw ers ot water. It hasgotabout to this point now. It Is no uncommon thing to see the descendents of once affluent families the employes of those who have come up from the humbler walks of life. Not long since, I saw the daughter of a once wealthy family hoeing cotton, barefooted,ln the hot broiling sun, thus endeavoring to aid her husband in supporting the family, wh ie he (the husband) was working on the same farm for nine dollars per month Theownerof the farm informed me that she was reared in the lap of luxury and while off from home attendirfgschool a negro girl was sent with herand boarded hi the college to wait upon her. Pardon this digression. In the foregoing. 1 have no special reference to this section of coun try, but intend ii for all sections where king cot ton has been a relentless tyrant * About sundown the kind who had giv. nme a seat out from Fort Gaines, set me down in front of the house of one of my long time friends, Mr. L. D Wiggins, formerly of Washington county. We had not met in years, and the meeting now. so unexpected was joyons indeed. Spent the night, and the next morning Mr. Wiggins and family went with me over to spend the day with our good brother, Green Whlddon, the father of Mrs. Wiggins, who also came to this county from Washington several years ago For years and years Green Whlddon was not onlv a pillow in Bister's church near Sandersville,—he was one of the corner-pasts—if that makes It any stronger. Many happy reasons had we spent together In the long ago. and it had scarcely occurre 1 to me, until very re cently. that I should ever again be with him in this life. And now, again to be at his pleasaut home, to sit at his hospitable board, to sing again with him and his children as in the dags jjt yore. How kind our Heavenly FathvtAJhkljui/jnrovid- Ing sweet repasts along the T'Jb.-’Ajo'yflF- As in Washington, so In CalHoum I find tills good brother occupying the same responsible position of deacon (and a deacon in truth) tu the church near him and one of the best churches is ill this country. I regret that I cannot remember the name of this church. My next stopping place was Arlington, the present terminus of the branch road from Smith ville via Albany. Thevtllagehas sprung up in a few years, a’ <1 is likely to be a place of some importance. This is the home ofourgood broth er, Rev. Thus. Muse, at whose house I was most kindiv entertained during my stay. Brother Muse’is serving this and several other churches, with the same z A al and devotion that has charac teriz d his ministry for so many years. From Arlington to Leesburg, where I remain ed over Sunday To my deep regret, brother Harvey, pastor of the Baptist church, was abroad filling his regular appointment at Oglethorpe. During mv stay I was most kindly entertained at the pleasant home* of brother Love, whose excel lent wife, formerly Miss Mattie Whiddon, I have known from childhood. My trip to Leesburg was both pleasant and profitable, and I hope to repeat It next fall. Next to Albany, where my heart was cheered by receiving “letters from home" which —some of them—had been following me from point to point for weeks, and which would have reached me long before, if Uncle Sam had been less tardy In forwarding. At Albany I found brother Hauks pastor, in the midst of an interesting meeting in the Baptist church. There was more interest manifested by the people, I was told, than had been for many years. Ido hope the good Lord has blessed Albany with a gracious outpouring of his spirit Brother Hanksis a faithful pastor and good preach* r, and is doing valiant service in the cause <f Christ. This Is a strong church I remained at Albany about twenty-four hours,not finding much to be done at this time. The hea vy failure of a large banking house in Albany some months ago has had a very depre'sing effect upon the financial condition of the country sur rounding Albany as well as in that city It was a heavy blow upon many, some of whom will never recover. From Albany to Camilla, and out one mile and a half to the truly delightful home of that prince of brethren, Rev. J. L. Ui derwood. It was in deed, pleasant to be st this quiet retreat after the noise and dust of travel. Brother Underwood I found as busy as a tee, with his farm, his school, and everv Saturday and Sunday preaching some where. Camilla has suffi red severely from fire, rhe torch of the Incendiary (as is believed ) has been applied twice and the greater portion of the business part of the town has been laid In ashes. The brick have been hauled up preparatory to rebuilding and the work perhaps begun ere this. Spent a part of two da vs here and at brother Un derwood's,and shall ever remember this first visit with feelings of pleasure But here Is the brother who is to carry me to my next appointment and I must desist. 7 J-. M G. Medlock, FOREIGN COUNTRIES. CENTRAL AFRICA. An indefinite term, embracing in its larg est acceptation the whole of the continent, north of the British possessions in the South, to the Egyptian territory, with Abyssinia and the States bordering the Mediterranean on the north. Within these limits are com prised in the north the desert of Sahara, ranged over by Moorish tribes in the west, Suareg in the centre and Tebu inthe east. In succession to these are the fertile and dense ly populated countries of the Soudan, water ed m the west by the Sengal and Gambia rivers, and traversed farther in the interior by the Quorra, or Joliba, or Niger, and its large affluent, the Birme or Chadda. Along the valleys and in the basins of these latter rives, Mohammedan races called Fellatahs, or Fulahs, have established the powerful empires of Massina, Gando, Sokoto, etc , in the country occupied by the conquered ne gro Haussa nation. Some negro kingdoms yet remain around Lake Chad, Bornu, Ba girmi, Kanem. and Waday, whilst the most eastern Darfur has been absorbed by Egypt. On the coast, in the extre ne west ot the Soudan, the British, French and Portuguese each possess settlements, and passing Libe ria, the British colony of the gold coast on the Gulf of Guinea is backed by the semi barbarous kingdoms of Ashantee, Dahomey, and smaller states. South of the Soudan, lies an immense extent of unknown coun try, consisting of dense forests intersected by the river Congo, the only route yet explored across it, where are found, according to Mr. Stanley, cannibals and savages sunk in the loweststate of barbarism. Between the me ridiana of 26 and 35 degrees is found the great lake region of eastern Central Africa, and the head sources of both the Nile a-jd Congo rivers. These lakes form a plain 1 300 miles in length north and south with nowhere more than about 200 miles between the lakes, and are calculated to comprise an aggregate area of nearly 70 000 square miles. Around the Victoria Nyanzi the negro king dome of Uganda and Karagwe bate attained to a certain degree of civilization, but south and east of these the territory is divided into numerous petty states, and tne dreaded Ma sai, a bloodthirsty race, soour all the country from LakeNyassa northward to the the equa tor, where the lofty peaks of Kenia and Kilimanjaro rear tneir summits above the line of perpetual snow. Northeast of the lake district the Gallas inhabit the highlands soulh < f Abyssinia, containing the head-wa ters ofthe Juba river, and the unexplored country south of the equator and the Sjma ti, the almost entirely unknown great east ern promontory. The most southerly por tion of Central Africa is, with the exception ofthe small Kolabavi Desert on the borders of Cape Colony, a fertile, well watered re gion.in which the sources ofthe Zambesi and its confluents, flowing to the Indian Ocean, interlace with those of tributaries of the Congo. Portuguese possessions on both the east and«west coasts, bound this territory, in which the Ulanda, the Muerta Yanvo’s em pire, Lobal, Kibokwe, etc., the Marutse, Mabunda empire, the Motabeel kingdom, various sections of Becbuana, Kaffirs, and the Hottentot Ovampo, Damara and Great Namaqua Lands. The whole of the country under consider ation may be broadly divided, in respect to elevation, by a line across the continent be tween the fifth and tenth parallels of north latitude, the southern portion consisting of an elevated plateau, rising higher and high er at its edges near the coast, and the north ern of a considerbly lower region. The cen tral area, in the zone of equatorial rains, is covered with dense tropical forests and most luxuriant vegetation. To the north and south of this is a belt of less wooded country merging into rich cultivated and pasture lands, these being succeeded by the two al most rainless deserts of Africa, the Sahara, on the north,the largest on the surface ofthe globe, and the Kalahavi on the south. The area of this vast extent of country is calcu lated at 8 000 000 square miles, apportioned in the following manner : Sahara Soudan- Unexplored country on both sides of the eq u ator, between the west coast and 1» ke district- Lake region, including the lakes 50'>.000 Galla and Somali Lands 640,000 Region south and southwest of Lake dis- trictl.2oo,ooo T o t a lß,ooo,ooo Nothing beyond the roughest computation can be given of the population of these va rious nations, but judging the unknown by that which is ascertained, it may be stated at about 80,000 000, representing a density of ten individuals to the square mile, which is about two and a half times that of South America, but only one fifth of that of Asia. Some eminent geographers have made some most extraordinary estimates of thepopula tion of this region, i.e.: Behm and Wagner, in Die Bevolkernng der Erde, detail some thing over 170 000 000 as the number of its inhabitants, and the late Mr. Keith John ston has stated that forty to the square mile is perhaps the best estimate and not .too high for the average density of population in Negroland, which comprises the greater portion of Central Africa. The bights of Bermi and Biafra are the territory comprised between the points Cap"" St. Paul and Cape St John. This tract of coast land belongs to the different native kings,and a large and ex tensive trade in palm oil, palm kernels, shea butter and ivory, the latter coming from the river Niger, is transacted. The trading rivers are Benisi, Niger,Brass.New Calabar, Bonny, Opobo, Old Calabar, and Cameroons. DR. 8. G. HILLYER. The committee appointed by this church in conference to prepare some resolutions expressive of their appreciation of the char acter and labors of our pastor, who is soon to leave us for another field of labor, beg leave to present the following : Whereas, our beloved brother and pa tor, Dr. 8. G. Hillyer, has felt it to be his duty, in the providence of God, te accept a call to labor in another field, ard having resigned the pastorate of this church for that purpose, and his resignation having been accepted, therefore, be it Resolved, 1. That while we regard brother Hillyer’s character as being too well and favorably known as a man, a Chri tian and an ableminister of the gospel, to need any commendation from us, yet we desire to give some expression of our appreciation of cis character and labors Resolved, 2. That during his long pastor ate among us of nearly fifteen years, he has greatly endeared himself not only to this church, but to our community generally, by his useful labors, his wise instructions, and by his example of a pure consistent deport ment. Resolved 3 That in this sepa-ation, we feel that our church and community sustain a heavy loss that we shall not easily repair, and that within and without our church he leaves many true friends whose sincere de sires and prayers for his usefulness and hap piness he will carry with him. Resolved 4. That it is with real pain that we part with our pastor,who has for so long a time been the spiritual instructor and guide of ourselves and families—who has baptized our companions and children —who has visited us in misfortune and sickness, and who has administered to us comfort in the hour of sorrow and sore bereavement Our final words and prayer shall be —may God’s grace and spirit attend brother Hill ■ yer and his wife, sister Hillyer, to, and in, their new field of labor. Respectfully submitted. E. M. Amos, H. H. Cabanibs, C. A. Turner, Committee. Adopted by the church unanimously. In dex requested to insert. D. Saneord. C. C. Forsyth Baptist Church, July 3,1881. A FACT WORTHY OF NOTE. From two reports in The Index of the 30th ult., we gather a suggestive fact bear ing on revivals. In a report from Colum bus we read : “Most of the number (baptiz ed) have entertained a hope for months,and some of them for years past, showing that the Lord has been blessing the labors of his servants at times when they saw no signs of it.” Our pastor at Dalton writes, “Os the seventeen experiences related (in his meet ing) not more than two dated their change of heart to the time of the meeting.” Here we have in two reports the same significant disclosure. In two meetings the fact is brought out that souls were saved prior to the meetings under the ordinary ministra tions of the Word. If the data were at hand for a broader survey, I doubt not that we would have the same fact disclosed. We would see it generally true that the Lord saves through his own instituted method— the regular “preaching of the Cross.” There are, no doubt, occasions of “refreshing from the presence of the Lord, ’ when numbers are saved. But these are extraordinary oc casions. We can not get up these revivals. They come down from above. "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” J. H. W. Newnan. Missionary Department. REV. J. H DbVOTIE D.D., 1 Kdlto „ REV. C. M. IRWIN, D.D., f ulora ’ Mission Board of the Georgia Baptist Con ren tlon—Officers: Rev. R. B. Headden, President: Rev. J. H. DeVotie, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer: Rev. V, C. Norcross, Recording Secretary. Members—Revs. D. W. Gwin, A. T. Spalding, H. C. Hornady, F. M. Daniel, V. C. Norcross, Dr. 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. “O 'tie pleasant, 'tls reviving, To our hearts to hear each day, Joyful news from far arriving, How the gospel wins its way; Those enlightning Who in heathen darkness lay.” LETTER FROM MISS LULA WHILDEN. [Written to the Corresponding Secretary of Woman's Mission Society, Great am ville ] My Deab Sistkb: Your letter of March sth reached me a few days ago. I have already written to Mrs. Gresham for your Society, and presume my letter has reached you ere this. My letter was sent during the last of January. In April I wrote to Mrs. Kiddoo (who in 1880 was Correspond ing Secretary of the Central Committee) and asked her to forward my letter to you. In that letter I mentioned that I had decided to give up the instruction of I-Nai (the wo man whom you supported, and to whom I presume you refer in your letter under the designation of "New Hope”) as after a fair trial she seemed incapable of imparting in struction to others. Mrs. Gresham in a letter, dated October 23d, 1880, mentioned that your Society had sent SIO.OO to Dr. Tupper for I Nai’a support, and were expecting to forward the remaining eights by the next quarter. I did not know whether or not it had been sent. I wrote to Mrs. Kiddoo to say that up to the time that I-Nai left only little over ten dollars had been spent for her support, and that it would be unnecessary for your Society to send the remaining eight as she was not studying, consequently not receiving any pecuniary aid at present. You speak of $lB 00 sent to Dr. Tupper, but I do not know whether it is a second contribution of $lB 00 or whether it is the remaining eight of the first eighteen. If the first supposition is correct then there are twenty-six dollars, or according to the second supposition, there are eight dollars in the mission treasury from your Society which I have not used, and which I will not need to use. You can to Dr. Tupper, whether ou wish it toto general expenses, or whether you it to be appropriated to some other obj®rwhich you may designate We draw money contributed for special ob jects only as it is needed, consequently the above mentioned amounts have never been placed in my hands, npr do I care to take charge of contributions, unless there as likely to be immediate use for thrm which is not the case with regard to money fori Nai’s sup port. So with this letter my responsibility ends, and your Society can use the money sent to Dr. Tupper as you may think best. Probably your Society will share with me the disappointment that I Nai seems to be wanting in some of the necessary qualifica tions for a Bible woman, but your disap pointment cannot be greater than mine. Subsequent reflection has only convinced me that it would not have been best for me to have gone on spending so much time in her instruction with so little probability of its being useful to herself and others. She has been going out with one of Our Bible women, who says of her, “She seems to read with very little difficulty, when she goes out with me to assist among the women, but is unable to talk about it, or explain it.” A very necessary qualification in one employed as a Bible woman. Now, that I havefi lished the business part of my letter, I will tell you something about my work, or at least about a part of one day's work. Last week I went to the Home for old Women, a Chinese benevolent institution, where there are several hundred old women. Our Bible women have been accustomed to make weekly visits to this tome, and lately I have gone with them. At ten o'clock ,1 left home to visit one of my schools, and after my work there was finished, I went to the Home for the aged Women. The Home consists of rows of small bouses, built facing each other, with narrow streets running be tween. While walking along one of these narrow streets one of our church members invited me to her house to read, saying that theie were some women anxious to hear me tell of Jesus. A bench was placed for me in the narrow street and about half a dozen women gathered around me to listen. Among them I noticed a heathen woman, who had attended o ur Chapel service on the previous Sabbath. On asking her what she remem bered having heard there, she said, "It is in my heart, but I cannot express it.” She was one of my most attentive listeners. But she, who interested me most, was an old woman who said that she was ninety four years of age, and had lived in t'.ie reigns of six Emperors. She was very feeble and partially blind and deaf. I led her to a seat by my side and then said, "You rr - nine'y four years old, you must die soon—will probably not live to see a hundred—where are you going when you die?” “Yes, I must die soon, she said, and must go—who knows where." "There are only two places to go to after death,” I answered—one is a good place, where there is no sin, nor sorrow, nor pain, where you will never weep, but be happy forever —the good place is Heaven. Then there is a bad place, where there is sorrow and weeping and eternal suffering, this place is called Hell.” “I do not want to go to the bad place, I do not want to go to Hell, she said. I want to go to Heaven, to the good place.” "You are a sinner,” I said, "you have over ninety years of sins upon your soul, and you deserve to be punished, how can you hope to eet there?” I paused and let the question Eave Its full weight, and then told of the way in which God had provided for the sin ner’s salvation, by giving his own son as the sinner’s substitute. I told of bis death upon the cross, because he loved and pitied us, and did not wish us to perish. "He was good to have been wil ling to suffer and die for us,” she said. Be fore leaving I taught them a simple prayer which was scarcely more than the publican’s but which was all that they could remember. They promised to pray to Jesus. At another place, I met a woman in the street, who said, “I have been praying to Jesus since I saw you last.” She was an old woman, who sold needles, to whom I had spoken of Jesus for a few minutes on a pre vious visit. While seated in another place, reading to the women, one of them spoke of her pain and feebleness, and said that she did not think she could live much longer; then ad ded, “I wish I could die.” I told her that unless she was a Christian, dying would bring only greater suffering which would last forever. Then I told her of the only way of s.dvation through Jesus —others were there who listened—some with greater interest than she did. In another place a woman who had attended our Chapel said thatshe wished to unite with thechurch, but though I believe she feels some interest I found that she hoped to gain some tem poral advantage by doing so, I therefore dis couraged it. I was disappointed to find that some blind women and girls, who had shown some interest on a previous visit seemed indifferent to-day, and when I asked if they bad been praying to Jesus, they only answered, "We are stupid, we do not know bow,” but in a tone which seemed te indis cate that they did not want to be taught or to learn. Poor creatures, how I pitied them in their twofold blindness, physical and spiritual I We have between fifteen and twenty church members among the women in this Home. We made short visits to almost all of them- At one house I saw one of the old sisters pounding rice. She was both blind and deaf, and did not know that I was there until I laid my hand on hers and shouted my words of greeting in her ear. She finish ed pounding the rice as some one was wait ing tor it, and then took her seat by my side. "It is hard.” she said, to be both blind and deaf, but it is the Lord’s will; lam glad that I can do a little work." “It is only a little while," I said, “in Heaven you will be blind and deaf no lon ger.” I stopped to see another old sister, who was blind, and had been crippled by a fall. She seemed very glad and thankful to day. She was thankful because her lame ness was gradually passing away, and be cause some benevolent person that morning had given her some rice and other food which had seemed almost a feast to theold woman. She had now sufficiently recovered to be able to walk with the use of a stick- Before this she had dragged a small bench along and used it some time to sit on and sometimes as a support. In another house one of the old sisters said, “I wonder when the Heavenly Father will take me to Heaven,-when do you think it will be? I hope it will be soon.” I told her that none of us knew or could tell; that we were like little children at school, whose mothers said, ‘Study hard, and I will send for you to come home,’ but they could not tell just when they would go home. So we are here in this world and Jesus gives us work to do for Him, and tells us to go on doing it, until He sends for us to come home. We do not know when that will be —all we have to do is to go on working hard until He calls us.” A heathen woman when I spoke of Hea ven, said, "It matters little about this life, if we can only be happy in thelife beyond.” I have told you of this day, to give you some idea of our work, and how other days are spent. You will see that in a single day's work there are encouragements and dis couragements. Pray for us as we speak for Jesus, that the Holy Spirit may teach us what to say and that they 4nay hear aright, and receive this Savior as theirs. Yours with Christian love, Lula WHit den. Canton, China, May Bth, 1881. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CENTRAL COM MITTEE ON WOMAN’S MISSION SOCIETIES FOR THE YEAR ENDING MAY 1, 1881. Owing to protracted illness in the families of several members of the Committee, the attendance on the monthly meetings has been very irregular. The correspondence, however, has been maintained, and has been attended with good results. We are much encouraged with the success of our efforts. The receipts have been almost double those of last year. Several new societies have been organized, and we hope another year will show a greater increase in the work. We give below the amount contributed and reported by the various Societies of the State, through this Committee: W. M. S., Ist Baptist church, Atlanta, $36 00 W. M. S., 2nd Baptist church,Atlanta, 78 95 W. M. 8., sth Baptist church, Atlanta, 27 04 W. M. S., Quitman church .... 42 85 W. M. 8., Redland church .... 100 W. M. 8., Albany church .... 72 00 W. M S , High Shoals 10 00 W. M. 8 , Gordon Springs and Tunnel Hill 17 65 W. M. S., Greshamville 51 00 W. M. S , Corinth church . . ; . 16 65 W, M. 8., Fishing Creek and Penford churches 8 00 ' Total $372 14 Os this amount $39 35 was contributed to State Missions, and S2O 00 to Home Missions. We solicited a full report of the benevolent work of the Societies, but have received re ports from only three, which are appended -. City Mission and Benevolent work of Society Ist Baptist church, Atlanta, $lO2 75 Society 2nd Baptist church, Atlanta, 571 00 W. M. S., Albany church . • . . 16 70 Total . . . i . . $690 45 We greatly desire a correspondence with every society in the State, and where there is no society, we beg of the pastors to send us names of the female members of their churches, who would interest themselves in organizing societies in the many churches where there are none. There is no extra expense in sending funds through this com mittee. postage, stationery, etc., being con tributed by the members of the committee. Earnestly asking the prayers and co oper ation of every pastor and society in the State in our work, this report is respectfully sub mitted. Mrs. Stainback Wilson, P. C. C. Mrs. A. C. Kiddoo, Cor. Sec. The $25 000 which we want to raise this Conventional year, is likely to be realized, if the spirit which pervades the following letter prevails through the State. All honor to the Southern Female College Mission Society, and its branch society at Thomasville, with Miss Ellie Pittman its president. This is an original and beautiful sugges tion-mission societies in all our institutions of learning, with branches at the homes of pupils and graduates. Miss Sallie C. is au thorized to organize branches. All these fair contributors will please accept the thanks of the Corresponding Secretary. D. “ Dear Tb. DbVotie : I enclose check for $25.00. The missionary society of the South ■ ern Female College sends $13.00 of this amount, and wishes it appropriated to the distribution of Bibles in foreign lands. " I know you will be glad to kam that we have a branch society at Thomasville, Ga., organized by Miss Ellie Pittman, of that place, who graduated at our college last summer. Miss Ellie came to our Commence ment this summer, attended our last mis sionary meeting and brought with her the $12.00 which I herewith enclose. She wishes it appropriated as you think best. If you acknowledge receipt of same in The Index, please say it is from the Southern Female College Flinch Society, at Thomasville, Miss Ellie Pittman, President. “ Sallie C. Cox. “ Southern Female College, LaGrange, Ga June 30:h, 1881. INDIAN MISSIONS. Rev. Benj. Baker, missionary, of the Flinf River Association to the Choctaws, makes the following report for quarter ending June 30th, 1881: Day’s service 63—miles traveled 452—chur ches supplied 2—stations s—Sermons preach ed 30—Exhortations 21—Prayer meetings held 35—Religious visits 73—Baptized 4 Restored 4—Pages of tracts distributed 462 Bibles and Testaments sold 16—Sunday schools 3 pupils 165, teachers 7- Number professing conversion, but not baptized 3. Brother Baker has been promptly paid at the end of each quarter. Brother Murrow writes encouragingly of his work. J. M. Wood, Ch. Ex. Com. E. M. Hooden, Secretary. A Bloated Body does not always belong to an inebriate. Kidney troubles will cause bloat, but Warner’s Safe Kidney and Liver Cure has never failed to remove it.