The Christian index and southern Baptist. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1881-1892, August 04, 1881, Page 2, Image 2

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2 f C ’ V ■ f ~- ’vC.qYxj'*•'■' .■». xy' MINISTERIAL LIFE It has been a good while since I have of fend anything to your columns, for the reason that 1 have had nothing to say wor thy of your notice. Having now something to say, I do so- First of all, I cannot agree with your ven erable friend and mine, Dr. A. W. Chambliss, in the sentiments upon the above subject, summarized in a sermon many years ago. and recently elaborated in a book. It has always seemed to me, and time and experi ence have strengthened the conviction, that the divine precepts require a minister to give his whole time and thought to his great /Work if possible. Ido not think that God always makes it possible. If we all had faith and gifts enough it doubtless would be. And yet even Paul did not find it so in his case. I despair of finding a better and abler minister than Paul, who thought it necessa ry, at times to labor with his own hands, whether directed by human wisdom alone, or by revelation from heaven I know not; by the latter, I rather think. So that he may be regarded as an example for ns. The latter end of many or our ministers has been so straightened as, if not to give the enemy occasion to blaspheme, yet to criticise, and I am persuaded that this has sometimes been so far the case as to throw a shadow back upon a life, in the main, well spent. To say the least, we all have often felt sad in view of the helpless and unpro vided senility of many good men. Can this melancholy close of life be avoided ? Has it been avoided by the most consecrated of men, in every case? I suppose, that the rule ought to be, first of all and constantly, to consult heaven in solemn prayer as to the path of duty, to put forth every exertion to secure exemption from secular cares, and then if need be, to do something promising provision against old age. I have not fallen easily into the plan of State Boards. In the outset I feared a re placing of the pastoral by the itinerant sys tem ; the collision of State Boards with the Home Mission Board ; and, in general, an injudicious multiplication of machinery. One of the grand objections, in ray miud, to the itinerant system, is the precarious na ture of the opportunities it allows for laying np in store anything for a rainy day; anoth er is the expensiveness of frequent change of field, another, the lack of quiet and time for study. In Apostolic times, the basis of plan appears to have been the establishment of strong pastorates as centres of evangelism. For unexplored regions, “regions beyond,” evangelists,.itinerants were employed. This I am aware is the idea of all our boards, in the main. The question is wholly about the rartion of settled and traveling ministers, not like the proportion apparently proposed. However, the scheme of State bo.rds was, at first, perhaps, the only tenta tive, and lam glad that the establishment of pastorates is becoming a part of the policy; so that we can all fall into the ranks. last me indicate some idea covering tbe whole subject. Sustentation funds, whether local or more general, cannot, I am persuaded, meet the wants of superannuated or disabled brethren or their families. They will prove insuffi cient; will involve too many delicate ques tionsin the administration ; will be supposed to take the responsibility, partially, at least, off ofthe immediate churches where the ben eficiary may reside. The loccl churches, wherever able, ought to see to the wants of their own; and that they are not able, as the rule, contradicts tbe divine injunction to provide fqr them, and the ditine idea that each church should have at least one elder, all its own. In farming commpnities, it is easy to provide a small farm, or supplies from the farm, or labor, or all, so as to place and keep at ease the pastor and his family, without much actual money. Let them call a man of God,after much prayer and thought permanently Let him feel «; hime, having sought the divine direction as the church is supposed to have done, not occupying his place as a stepping stone but as a life field What cannot be sugplied by others he may supply with his own hands, in some part An hour or two’s labor, a day or two in each week, will be good for bis health, and pro dnee many conveniences' And so old age will find itself sheltered. If schools are not at hand he can do a great deal for bis chil dren at home without serious interference with pastoral work. If in a town or city with sufficient salary, let some annual in vestment be provided for by his brethren or himself. If adapted to the work of an evan gelist, very well; but let some security be thought of in any event. Ministers have no right to leave their families on charity; it does nobody any good, it answers no desira ble end ; it dwarfs their spirits; it often es tranges the.n ; the prospect keeps his heart sick ; it destroys his Cnristian manhood. The point is, these evils are to be avoided by every possible means. It is a bappy fact that one mav, now a days, say what he will on these subjects without encountering pre judice or provoking opposition. Older men remember the time wnen it required nerve to drop a hint in this direction. A vastly larger number of churches provide substan’ lially for their pastors now than before the war when the people had all and abounded The writer lives in a region where, in ante war times, nobody was supported. He ministers to feeble churches or new, that look to bis wants liberally and heartily. So it is becoming all around. Monthly collec tions so" missions are sanctioned, wherever proposed, so far as known. A good time is coming. Whether sticking to topic or not, I have brought out, sidewise or endwise or other - wise, what I wished to say. Grace, mercy and peace I E. B. Teague. ' Red Lawn, July 6th, 1881. DOUBTS OH INSPIRATION. [From a Letter to a Friend ] It seems to me that we are now passing through a crisis similar to that in which modern Unitarianism had its birth in New England some 80 or 70 years ago. Then, as men had been dwelling too exclusively up on the Divine side of Christ's complex na iare there came a recoil and men dwelt so sxclusively upon the human side that they ran into serious error. It may be that from ibis controversy a truer view of the human nature of Christ has followed, and yet the Unitarians were grievously wrong, far more so than the old orthodox. So now with re- Srd to the Divine and human elements in e word of God. There is a reaction against an old dictation theory, but men are going as far wrong in the other direction as the Unitarians did. What is especially needed now is soberness. .... , ... It is to be noted that the leaders in this modern movement are German theologians —most of them unconnected men—trained ander State church theories. The ir/torov yxrwlor is that as the great moral change has never taken place in their own natures, they have no real conception of a supernatural influence on the human mind. Unless a man has experienced this supernatural (shall I say miraculous?) change in his own nature he of course rejects as im probable and unreasonable every such influ ence on others. With perfect candor from his standpoint he minimizes the Divine ele ment in revelation and magnifies the human. That converted men, like Prof. Toy, should be led away by these reasonings seems THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1881. strange, but I suppose it results from the too exclusive cultivation of the intellectual power (the part of our nature least affected by regeneration). If such a man, instead of being immured in his study, were engaged in mission work among the heathen, or among the destitute and degraded in some of the purlieus of our large cities, where he is brought into contact with the deep wants of the human soul, and where he would see clear proofs of the miracles of grace wrought by Divine power to day, he would not be tempted tod well so onesidedly on the human element. You do not often find men engaged in hard work, in actual contact with sin scarred souls, carried away by these rational istic theories As men engaged in monkish meditation believed sincerely all kinds of mi'aculous legends, so those engaged in mere intellectual study are liable to be led astray by phantasms. God called us into the ministry to work—to labor for the sal vation of souls—when we neglect this we cannot expect to be healthy, sound, well balanced Christians. A man who studies the book without applying its truths to hu man souls, is like a physician who studies drugs, but never sees a patient, he is one sided and his views are of little practical weight. As soon as we overlook the object for which God has given His revelation, un less we have an unusual amount of grace, we will be very apt to lose the Divine guid ance and be left to our own barren reasonings. It does seem to me that God has made sound views dependent on a soundly developed Christian character, thoughtful study, de votional fervor and earnest work for the Master are all needed. What I deplore is a rationalizing tendency. Men affected by it are on an inclined plane; you cannot tell where they will be five years hence. Dr. Toy was probably not so “ad vanced” five years ago as he is now. It does not make so much difference where a man is now —how much of the Bible he rejects as not of Divine origin—you may be sure al most to find him rejecting more after a while. He is not a safe guide while the tendency is there. As to the arguments of these men it does seem to me that they resemble inverted pyra mids. Upon the smallest base they build most imposing structures, which they have to prop up by all kinds of props. They make the most prodigious assumptions, and, like so many sceptical “scientists,” make such demands upon our credulity that men of sound minds stand aghast at their exhorbit ant requests. I believe this rationalizing tendency to be a disease—a spiritual malady. What are the remedies? Chiefly, I think, two. In the first place we need to go to some earnest absorbing Christian work. If we study the Bible in order to lead souls to Christ, to ap ply its precious truths to the healing of sin burdened souls around us—the great object for which God has given it to us—we will not be much troubled about its difficulties. Secondly, and nearly allied to this, we must develop the devotional spirit more largely. One of the leading independent ministers in England (Dr. Dale, I believe it was) was a few years ago a man of note amongthe “ad vanced" party; he took part in the Moody and Sankey meetings; God manifested Him self afresh to him, and all his weight is now thrown in the other side of the scale. I my self was once troubled with serious doubts; after puzzling myself with them with no other effect than to make myself miserable. I was led to take them to God in prayer, to cease from supposing that my reason could master all difficulties (which is only a subtle form of pride) and to leave it to God to settle them in His own time. I then saw that the doubts were temptations of Satan. As soon as I cast myself humbly upon God, asked Him for grace to do His will and I rolled my difficulties upon Him, the doubts vanished. “If any man will do His will, he shall know the doctrine.” Mr. Moony has appointed a series of con secration meetings at Northfield, Mass., in August. Could you not arrange to spend a week or so there? Many of our difficulties vanish as we draw near to God. “In thy light we shall see light." As He reveals Himself to our souls—fulfilling His promise to manifest Himself to us as He does not un to the world—doubts vanish. Excuse me. my dear brother; but I felt as if I must have a talk with you. You have my deepest smpathy and sincere prayers. Your brother in Christ R. H. Gravis. A SUNDAY IN WASHINGTON, D. C. After a period of intense heat the weather changed, and Sunday morning, the 17th July, in Washington City, was clear, cool and beautiful. Still, the churches were thinly attended. Many have gone to the moun* tains and to friends in thecountry. I attended three Sunday schools during the morning The one at the E. street was small. Dr. Faunce has recently become pas tor, and the church is hopeful of the near future. The school at Calvary is very fine; have four hundred and thirty scholars, and there are two mission schools sustained by this church in the afternoon. The nastor, Rev. S. H. Greene, is a young man of gre. t zeal, aud is gaining a wide usefulness. He preaches without manuscript, and with great pathos. He is a devout Christian, and yearning for the salvation ot souls. The school at Dr. Cuthbert’s church is not large, but was efficiently presided over on this day by Prof. Mason, of Columbian College. He urged the teachers to fidelity just now while going over the books of Moses. Infidelity makes this portion of the Bible its battle field. He called attention to two articles in the last number of the North American Re view; one against the books of Moses and the other a beautifully written defence of the Scriptures, by a lawyer, Judge Black. He said he loved the Bible more than ever be fore, and hoped the teachers would resolve to hold their classes in diligent and thorough study of the Word. The Law and Medical departments of Col umbian College are doing well, but the Aca demic department is small and discouraging There is some talk of selling out the present location and moving into the city. Our Baptist colleges have their dark periods, but they are tough and live on. Hamilton, Rochester and Brown have reached the days of prosperity and ease by large contributions and bequests. When shall Mercer be placed on equally high ground of independence? It is the best thing the Baptists of Georgia and Florida have. Let them pray, labor and give for the increased power of Mercer Uni versity. Now, that Furman University has suspended, we give a most cordial invitation to our South Carolina brethren to send their sons to Mercer. We will do them good, God helping us. To return to my Sunday experience: I heard my friend, Dr. J. H. Cuthbert, preach in the morning. He taught lessons on the attempted assassination : 1. The danger of the bitter party spirit, and its terrible de nunciations of men in office. 2 The danger to society and government of nihilism and materialism. 3. The equal danger of fanati cism, which is also infidelity. From all dangers God is our refuge and, strength. It was a good and helpful service. The doctor is more feeble than when I saw him last. His summer vacation is near, and he hopes for more health for the autumn. It is a great comfort for a weary minister from the South to meet the delightftil Cuthbert family. All is so calm, so loving, so considerate. They, like others, have had their bereavements, and know what it is to disire- O so earnest ly i_to see again those who have gone into the larger and better life. There are a few homes on earth where there is found much of the Spirit and happiness of the Heavenly Home. 8- Landbum. JOTTINGS BY THE WAY. Diab Index: My last letter left me at Ca milla Alter a pleasant sojourn here, I con tinued my Journey over the 8 , F. 4 W. rail road . There are no day-passenger trains over this road now, and those who travel by day light (except for a short distance early In the morning), have to go by freight train In a box-oar, very poorly provided for passengers. The weather was very warm and dry, which, with the dust and poor accommodations, rendered travel as disagreeable as I ever ex perienced by rail. Why the authorities do not attach to those trains some kind of a pas senger coach, Is a little strange But I suppose they know their own business best. Stopped at Bartow for about twenty-four hours, spending a night most pleasantly at brother Rushins. Brother R. is pastor ot ths church here as well as other churches in the county. I did not find much to do at Bartow, and took the forenoon train lor Thomasville. Georgia possesses but few, If any. more at tractive spots than Thomasville Sltnated in a fine agricultural region, healthy and blessed with a refined and enterprising population. Its name Is ever onward and upward. Here! met a number ot old acquaintances and friends; among them Dr. L. B Bornhill, for merly of Emanuel county, and to whom I am specially Indebted for many pleasures while In Thomasville. Through the doctor's kind ness I was enabled to see much of the charm ing country immediately around Thomas ville. and to visit some of the splendid fruit farms in that vicinity. As every reader of the newspapers of the day is aware, for some years past there has been much Interest here in the cultivation of tbe LeConte pear. I visited the farm of Mr. Henry Sanford (for merly of Laurens county), who has a fine or chard of this superior fruit. He has a num ber of trees that are now nine years old. From a comparatively small limb on one of these trees Mr. Sanford sold four dollars worth of pears last year Thousands of trees are being planted In this county every year, and the orchards that ha re come Into bearing are held at almost fabulous prices. I was told that a gentleman who owns one of the finest LeConte orchards in the county states that be would not sell it for one thousand dollars per acre. And just here I wish to make a state ment that may be of some importance to fruit-growers, or those who may desire to ob tain trees of this valuable Irult: Mr. Sanford Informed me that tbe LeConte pear and Sand I>ear are very different fruits. The Sand pear, le says, is very inferior to the LeConte I was under the Impression before, that they were one and the same fruit, but Mr. S. says not, and he certainly ought to know. So it would be well lor those ordering trees from any source to be sure they are getting the Le- Conte. My stay in Thomasville was exceedingly Eleasant. We (Baptists) have a good church ere, with brother Golden as pastor, I was sorry that he was absent from home during my visit, as I anticipated much pleasure in meeting him. From Thomasville to Quitman. by that same dirty freight train, or one lust like it. Quitman is another of the delightful towns of this portion of Georgia. I remained here over Sunday, attending the Baptist church, as a matter-of-course. Brother Carrol, the much beloved pastor, resides in the country, some six miles distant. He is serving this and Hickory Head church, preaching. If I remem ber aright, at each church twice a month. Both are excellent churches, with good Sab bath-schools. But of Hickory Head I propose saying more further on. During my stay In Quitman I formed many pleasant ac'quafntances. Spent one night with our good brother, Rev W. B. Bennett and family. His estimable wife, as many of your readers know, is tbe daughter of that champion in Israel, Rev. Dr. Jesse H. Camp bell . Hei e, too, I met the aged widow of Rev. Dr. Joseph 8. Baker She is also the mother of brother Bennett. I felt It was a privilege, Indeed, to meet this venerable Christian lady. She is now afflicted with paralysis but cheer ful '.n the midst ot the pleasant surrounding of children and grand-children, and happy in the love of the Savior. I also spent a night at the pleasant homeof brother Rountree, to whom and family I am specially Indebted. At the happy home of my long time friend and brother, Andrew J. sparks, formerly of Sandersville, I also spent a pleasant season. From Quitman to Valdosta. This charming and growing town had been so accurately described to me that I was prepared for the f Measure 1 realized upon visiting it. Wend ng my way to the Times office, I was soon feeling very much at home with that genial ?;entleman, Mr. Charlie Pendleton, the exoel ent editor of the Times. My first business venture in life was as the copartner of Char lie’s father, M“j P. C. Pendleton, in publish ing the old Central Georgian, at Sandersville, in 1556, purchasing the paper entire in 18’>8. Charlie says I learned him to set type, and I am not at all ashamed of my pupil. May success in the future crown him as it has in the past. Charlie (it would be too formal to call him by any other name) had me around the street pretty soon, and acquainted with quite a number of those I wlshe I specially to meet. Like Quitman and Thomasville, Valdosta Is situated In a good farming country. Here, and at other points along this line of railway, what Is known as “truck farming” Is engaged In to a greater or less extent, and has general ly been quite remunerative. This year the late cold spring was a serious drawback. The Irish potato crop was a failure, and other vegetables were so late that they were not In demand. The loss, from these causes, In po tatoes and cucumbers alone, amounted to a very considerable sum. Some time since the merchants, bankers and warehousemen of Valdosta, entered into an agreement that Is working great good to the farming Interests of this Immediate sec tion. They solemnly agreed that they would not sell or furnish corn or bacon to farmers on time. The consequence Is, every farmer Is trying to produce his own corn and bacon. It such an agreement was made and adhered to by merchants all over this land, the better it would be for the country. This “running” system Is running the country to ruin, and will result in bankruptcy to merchant aud planter If persisted in much longer. It has well nigh done It already. During my stay in Valdosta I was the guest of my good friend, R. Y Lane, Esq., formerly of Emanuel county, now one of the leading business men ot this country. • After a delightful sojourn here of about two days and nights, I started on my return, stop- Slng first at Ousley. This is a small village. utltand the country adjacent, contains a number of big-hearted Baptists. Only a few years ago there was no Baptist church here. One was finally constituted with three mem bers,—brother Ousley and wife being two of the number. This little germ has grown— this mustard seed- Into a thrifty tree. 1 was told that It was almost one continuous revi val, scarcely a meeting passing wlthoutsome one being baptized The exceedingly neat aud comfortable log bouse first erected has become too small for the large congregation, and a new framed house Is soon to be built. They have a fine Sunday-school—which was the beginning of the good work—with brother Ousley as superintendent. During my stay here I was the guest of brethren Ousley and Carrol. Thursday returned to Quitman for the pur pose of going out to Hickory Head. Brother Denmark met me here Friday and carried me out to his home, some ten miles distant. On this trip I saw some of the finest crops I have seen anywhere In all my travels. Here farm ing Is earned on as It once was all over Geor gia. The farmers have cotton “patches” and corn “fields.” I have not seen such fields of corn In many long years. This, I believe, was the 24th of June. The corn was, the mostoflt, In silk and tassel, and much of the cotton nearly waist high, and all nicely cultivated. Such fields of grand peasfpin dera, they call them here), I do not remember ever to have seen before. It Is upon these that the farmers raise their hogs. During my stay In the neighborhood I visi ted a number of families, dining with some, and spending a night with others, and I did not find any one using Western bacon. I heard of one man In the neighborhood who was buying corn, but he did not have to give a mortgage and obtain it from the gralners of the West, but could supply himself from corn raisedin the county. The brother who car ried me out from Quitman sold a load of corn that day. I made Inquiry, and conld hear of no deaths among the mules and horses. Quite a contrast to my locality, where so many deaths have occurred from feeding on damaged Western corn. Now, I have not said this much for the pur pose of “puffing” any one or any section, but with a faint hope that others may- be induced to follow the example of these wise farmers, and give more attention to provision crops. Brother Denmark gave me a delightful drive, behind a spanking team, over into Florida. We traversed a fine farming coun try In so d-'lng. Lands undulate, well tim bered with a growth ot oak, hickory and pine, and the soli good. We crossed the new line, established by the Commissioners, be tween Gem gla and Florida. Georgia was the loser by the change, and the people—somt of them at least—are not yet entirely satisfied. They think that If a little more energy had been displayed by the Commission' rs from Georgia, matters would have been different. After the change, the State of Florida being under Radical rule, great Injustice would doubtless have been done those who held their lands under grants obtained previously from Georgia, but for the timely intervention of a bill introduced in Congrcssby Col. Mcln tyre, the then Representative from the First District of Georgia. „ . . .„ . . Attended Hickory Head church Saturday and Sunday, This is the church mentioned in the first part of this letter as one of brother Carrol's. It was constituted about nine years ago with seventeen members. Brother Carrol has been serving it as pastor since about six months after it was constituted. The mem bership now numbers, if I remember aright, (had the misfortune to lose my memorandum book), someihlng over one hundred. They have an excellent house of worship, large, neat and finished throughout. This is a working church, and patronizes The Index liberally, I spent a delightful time here, the brethren being wholesouled in their hospi tality. The loss of my memorandum book prevents my giving toe names of some to whom I am specially Indebted. This completes my work for the present along the line of the Savannah, Florida & Western railroad. . _ , Monday morning at three o clock finds me on my way back to Middle Georgia, once more to meet my beloved family after two month’s separation from them. J. M. G Medlock. REMINISCENCES OF MERCER. NUMBER VOUB. The election of Anniversary Orator of the Ciceronian Society for 1854, will be long remembered by those who took part In it. One of these at least was an active partici pant of tbe heated political campaign of last year, and he must have been reminded by the actions of men of how boys used to do. It had long been a rule to to elect this orator —(which was the highest honor the Society could bestow), soon after the opening of the fall term, and precedent had made it a law that he should be chosen from the Senior class. The class which had just become Senior in the fall of 1853 had almost from its formation been very urequally divided between the two Societies. Most of its members were Ciceronians, and as the class advanced, the inequality became greater. Several of these Ciceronians were both am bilious and talented, and, at an early day, it became improbable that there would be an easy “walk over” for any one to the honor of delivering an oration in the College chapel on the 21st of June 1854. In the beginning ofthe Junior year, indications of a disposi tion to divide into parties on this issue were discernible. It had become a custom, not unvaried however, to bestow this highest honor of the Society upon the member of a class who was likely to achieve the highest rank in scholarship. In this class there were three Ciceronians who were aspirants for the first distinction. One of them, how ever, while possessing in an eminent de gree that ambition which prompted him to work hard for a high grade in scholarship, was too unassuming to engage in the con test for official position in the Society. But it soon became evident that the struggle be tween the other two would be close. They were not very unequally matched. Both were endowed with fine intellects, aud though one has risen to very high ranks in his profession and the other has not become known beyond his county, we will not from this fact allow that there was any disparity ot mental giits. Both were ambitious, aud both possessed a large share of that personal magnetism which attaches adherents. The electioneering began fully a year before the time ofthe election, and was kept up during all the months with no small degree of eager nees. The interest, and even the partisan ship, extended beyond the Society. Mem bers of the rival Society—which, by the bye, was at that time threatened by no such cause of discord—enlisted themselves as workers for one or tbe other candidate. It did away with much of that emulation that had hitherto existed between tbe Societies. No Ciceronian cared to win a student as a member of his Society, unless he could at the same time win him as a voter for his candidate. Before the close of the spring term, the preference of almost every mem ber had been ascertained, and we would not be surprised if in some of their old text books there might not now be found lists which those who felt the keenest interest in the matter were ever and anon making out. These would -how that, while there was no chance for such a deadlock as has now be come the style, the contest would be very close. Two or three had not committed themselves, and of course each party ex pected to do its best at the beginning of the next term. When that time arrived excite ment was at a white heat. The electioneer ing among tbe new members aroused much bad blood, and though no fights occurred, animosities were planted that continued to bear fruit long afterward. When the long expected day arrived, both parties went into the hall dubious of the resultfor there were a few boys who had not definitely promised either side and one who was said to have promised both. A small spark that morning would have kindled a great mat ter. But, fortunately, there was no out break. The voting began and proceeded quietly. There was a “free ballot and a fair count.” Upon the reckoning up it was found that one candidate had a majority of two. As the chairman, had he voted, would have voted with the minority, there was just a difference of one in the strength of the parties. We do not suppose that a single one who took part in the struggle that day, ever participated in an election in which every nerve was more highly strung. There was no great outward display of triumph by the victorious party. It was rumored —we cannot vouch for the truth — that a score or more of boys had a jolly time that Saturday night over a jug of whiskey brought, clandestinely, from Greenesboro. There were a few bad spirits that came to the surface, amid this excitement, and their influence produced aninsubordination which rendered this fall term of 1853 one of the most trying in the history of the College. But the split in the Ciceronian Society was soon healed. When the Anniversary day came the next June, tbe Orator was escorted to the chapel by a little band among whom could be discerned no chagrin at his honors. He made no better speech than his rival would have made, but acquitted himself to the satisfaction of all. L L. V. ORDINATION. On Sunday afternoon at five o'clock, Rev. S. Landrum, D. D and Rev. E. W. Warren, D; D , at the request of the South Macon BaptL-t church, met with said church for the purpose of ordaining the temporary pastor, Rev. James Evins, to the full gospel minis try. There was no ordination sermon, the examination of the candidate was conducted by Dr. Landrum, at a previous meeting of the presbytery, and was very thorough and satisfactory. The ordination prayer and the charge to the candidate were made by Dr. Landrum. The charge to the church by Dr. Warren was very full and instructive. Ben ediction by the candidate. T. K. Youngblood, Cl’k S. M. B. 0. “Nz ked and Ye Clothed Me.”—We have met with a beautiful story, how a Russian soldier, one very cold, piercing night, kept duty between one sentry-box and another. A poor workingman, moved with pity, took ofl bis coat and lent it to the poor soldier to keep him warm ; adding, that he should soon reach home, while the soldier would be exposed out of doors for the night. The cold was so intense that the soldier was found dead in the morning. Sometime afterwards the poor man was laid on his death-bed, and in a dream saw Jesus appear to him. “You have got my coat on,” said the tnan. 'Yes, it is the coat you lent me that cold night when I was on duty and you passed by. ‘I was naked and you clothed me.’ ” Missionary Department. REV. J. II DeVOTIE, D.D . I „... REV. C. M. IRWIN, D.D., f “«<>". Mission Board of the Geonjla Baptist Conven tion—Officers: Rev. R. B. Headden, President: Rev. J. H. DeVotle, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer; Rev. V, C. Norcross, Recording Secretary. Members—Revs. D W. Gwin, A. T1 Spalding, H. C. Hornady, F. M. Daniel, V. C. Norcross, Dr. Jss. 8. Lawton. Atlanta; G. A. Nun nally, Rome; D. E. Butler,Madison; J. G. Ryau and R. B. Headden, Carteisvllle; J. H. DeVote. Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.—Rev. H. A. Tupper, D. D., Corres ponding Secretary, Richmond, Va. Home Mission Board of the Southern Bantlst Convention—Rev. Wm. A. Mclntosh, D.D., Cor responding Secretary, Marion, Alabama. CHINA. Rev. Dr. Humphrey furnishes the follow ing description of China; "This Empire comprises one third of Asia and one-tenth of tbe inhabitable globe. It is exceeded only by the Russian Empire with 7,725,000 square miles; aud the British Em pire with 6 890,000 square miles; having itself 5 300,000 square miles. It is one third larger tban all Europe. You can lay the United Slates upon it, Alaska included, and have room around the margin for half a dozen of Great Britain and Ireland. “China lies on the southeastern slope of Asia. It is walled in from the remainder of the continent by gigantic chains of moun tains having some of the loftieet peaks on tbe globe. It has at least 400 canals, equal to all the rest in the word. Some of them are 2,000 years old ; the longest was dug 600 years ago, and is twice the length of the Erie canal. That Titanic work of defence, the Chinese Wall, was built more than 100 B 0.: it is 20 to 30 feet high, 15 feet broad, and 1,500 miles long, and represents more human labor than any other structure on the globe. It is the oldest nation in the world; 2 000 years before Christ it had an elective mon archy. The names and dates of 58 monarchs before Romulus founded Rome are extant. ‘lts authentic annals reach back beyond Abraham. It was substantially what it is now—and what it had been for 3,000 years— when the shores of Britain echoed the first war cry of our invading barbaric fathers.’ ” This vast country has a population of four hundred millions of human beings, only eighteen thousand of whom have believed the gospel, after all the prayerful efforts of Christians and missionaries to introduce the knowledge ofthe Great Salvation into China. Unbelief suggests that there is no hope, where almost infinite labor is demanded, and so little has been accomplished. To our inquiry : Watchman, what of the night? Our believing hearts are thrilled with joyful anticipation by the answer: The promised day of God begins to dawn. The signs of the times ouj ht to animate the dis ciples of Jesus, aud influence us to increased prayer, sacrifice and labor. Let us consider these encouraging indications. Many missionaries have mastered their language, and the gospel has been preached to millions in their own tongue. The Bible, after twenty years of intense study and hard work, has been translated into the Chinese language and printed, so that it can be distributed at a small expense per copy. This is an advance resembling somewhat the day o 9 Pentecost. Eighteen thousand of tbe Chinese have gladly received the Word and have believed. The leaven has been introduced. We have Jesus’ authority to believe that it will leaven the whole lump. Prejudice and hindrances are being gradually removed. It appears to be God's plan not to invade heathen lands with large armie- of hundreds of thousands of missionaries to take pastoral charge of all the people, but to tend foreigners to sow the seed and prepare the way, then armies of native converts will be summoned to preach the glad tidings and make the cause self sustaining, and the foreign missionary will be needed no more. We are to send and sow the living seed, which is to increase and multiply into the millennial harvest. One missionary now will result in bringing a thousand native preachers into the field ere lot g. Converts shall be multiplied as the “drops of the morning dew.” “A nation shall be born in a day,” and “all nations shall serve him.” And tbe Lord said, as truely as I live, “all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” We are invited to participate in this grand work of faith and labor of love, which shall bring the whole earth to our Immanuel's feet. God will employ our instrumentalities and make them successful. T.ie price of a tract, of a Bible, a small contribution to support the missionary—though small at the beginning—He will make mighty at the ending. Faith sees the veil withdrawn. Christian churches occupy the sites of heathen tem ples. Innumerable church spires point to ibe skies Millions of the redeemed sing, “All hail ti e power of Jesus’ name I" The land of Sinim has crowned Him, and in China Jesus reigns. D. NORTH GEORGIA BAPTIST MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION. The recent session of this Association met with the Flat Creek church, Hall county, Friday, 22d July. The Introductory sermon, by brother Holland, was well received and made a good impression. At two o'clock the body organized by the election of Elders J. E. Rives, Moderator; W. 0. Wilkes, Assistant Moderator; D. 8. McCurry, Clerk; and B. F. Brown, Treasurer. After the appointment of the usual commit tees, reception of visiting ministers and some preliminary business, the body adjourned to nine o’clock Saturday morning. It was arranged for the Committee on Foreign Mis sions to read their report at ten o’clock, and brethren H. A. Tupper, Corresponding Sec retary of the Foreign Mission Board, and J. R. Graves, returned missionary from China, to address the assembly. Their addresses were listened to with deep interest by the large congregation, and all expressed their great gratification at the visit and speeches of these eminent servants of the Lord Je:us. All departments of mission work, at home and in foreign lands, were appropriately considered. This body of Christians, organized but four years ago, have made rapid progress in the work of missions—the prime object of their organization. They are sustaining a missionary in China and one among the In dians. It was a great pleasure to see the rapid progress these brethren have made, and their earnestness in working for the exten sion of the Kingdom of Jesus in the earth, led by the venerable Moderator, Elder J. E. Rives. This Association is also aiding young brother Pruitt in his course of study at the Theological Seminary at Louisville. In the absence of the regular appointee, the Missionary sermon was, by request, preached by Rev. J. H. DeVotie, in his usual touching and impressive style, and a good collection was made. The writer has attended no meeting where there was more enthusiasm displayed in the great cause of missions, and more earnest prayers for the speedy triumph of the glori ous gospel. The Association and visitors were most hospitably and amply entertained by the community. It was good to be there. C. M I. Japan, with eight hundred atheist students in her National University, and not a single Christian, waits to choose between Herbert Spencer and Jesus Christ, TO FRIENDS IN CHRIST IN ATLANTA AND ELSEWHERE. Early in the spring, I left my home in East Tennessee,on a missionary tour through Western North Carolina. After preaching about ten days for the church at this place,! accepted an invitation and have taken an agency to solicit funds to finish their new house of worship. Franklin is an inviting field, situated in a territory of ten miles square, in the centre of Macon county, with a good Presbyterian church house and manse, also, a Methodist church house and two parsonages. The Baptist church have erected a good brick wall, well covered, but are not able to finish it, without great sacrifice. Tbe situation of Franklin is beautiful. Nestling amid the towering mountains of Nantahala, Cawee and the Blue Ridge, and surrounded by fine farming lands, the upper basin of the Tennessee River, with the Ra bun Gap Short Line soon to open up com munication with the South and great North west via Knoxville, she bids fair, at no dis tant day, to be worthy the tradesman's notice. For a long time the Southern trade has found its way to this inland town, and this stock growing region has sent her herds to satisfy the Southern demand. Identified with the South by trade, they ask your help. Identified with Christians by the mutual image of Christ, they therefore, ask your prayers, that this wide field may be occupied, that multitudes of sinners may be converted through their influence aided by you. Please send by P. 0. order to the under signed, or Building Committee at Baptist church. G. H. Oalthobp. Franklin, Macon county, N. C. HOW TO GET MONEY. Referring to the appeal of Mrs. President Wilson, dated June 15th, 1881, to be found in your issue of June 30th, I beg to inform you that, in our section of country, “times are very hard,” money anything but easy, and very few are the ways tbe ladies can get a sufficiency to meet their daily wants, much less to contribute to other purposes. However, as the saying is, “where there's a will there's away, I will suggest that the mothers and daughters of every section can do something—knit socks, quilt, sew, etc., etc ; the articles so made to be placed in the hands of a committee, or forwarded, as “The Index man” may direct. Much good can be accomplished in this way, and the contributors feel none the poorer thereby. Every little is an aid, and goes, to some extent, to swell the amounts which, when properly applied, accomplishes that whereunto it was sent. Tell us, through the columns of the good old Index, what to do or what to make, and for one I assure you something will soon show that your suggestions were not with out avail. This is written by one who has for some time contributed of her work to further the cause of a Student. Rev. 0. H. Gulic says of Japan: “ About sixteen years ago a young Japanese lad, of not more than sixteen years of age, ran away to Shanghai, although there was a penalty attached to his leaving Japan, and began to learn to read by the assistance of some sail ors. In course of time he was able to read the gospel by John, and he read on until he reached the' third chapter, containing the passage, God so loved the world, that he gave bis only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him might not perish, buthave everlasting life.’ He seems to have got the full meaning of that verse, and the full sense as expressed in English. And then he prayed that God would reveal his Son to him, and the little runaway lad was tbe only praying soul on the ship. In due time tbe vessel arrived at Boston, whither she was bound. The captain reported the ship to its owner, and told him that he had a little Japanese boy on board, in whom he took some interest. The owner at once said, Send him up to me,' and tbe result of that interview was that the kindly ship-owner sent him to college, and seven years ago he graduated. While in the theological semi nary a grand embassy arrived from his native land, and permission was asked for this young man to leave tbeseminary, and, upon the Japanese youth consenting, lie was taken to travel over England and France. In course of time he went to America, where inducements were held out for him to re main ; but he said, ‘No, I am determined to preach tbe gospel;’ and he stood firm to his purpose, making known tbe gospel to his Japanese countrymen. That lad, to day a promising young man, is now at tbe head of a college in Tokio, training young men for Christian work and the gospel ministry.” The pennies of the children of England once built a missionary ship; it was sailed the John Williams, and has carried many a cargo of Bibles and preachersand teachers to the savage tribes in the South seas. The children of Baptist Sabbath schools in Georgia could sunporta missionary in China with their nickles if ibey would try. If we can get the children to give their pennies for missions understandingly, and from principle, we will have a missionary generation to work for Jesus when we are gone. Sabbath-school teacher and superinten« dent, what do you say ? Will we not attempt great things for God, and expect great things from God? Let us make the effort and see how easy it is to do great good in this direc tion, D. Christian Example.—John Jumper, the brave Seminole Chief and Baptist minister, is the missionary of the Western Association in Georgia to the wild tribes of Indians. He resigned the chieftainship of his nation with a salary of one thousand dollars, preferring to preach Christ crucified to the untamed, children of the forest, with only a salary of five hundred dollars, out of which he pays his expenses. He is a grand man, and there is no better missionary in the Indian field. With this sacrifice, on the part of their missionary, the Association will gladly and promptly sustain him. Writing to some of us, our Corresponding Secretary, after stating that the first quarter of our missionary year closes on the 31st of July, says, “ The short blackberry crop of our twenty-three State missionaries in Geor gia needs supplementing at once by the pay ment of their small salaries.” That is a delicate way to put the fuct that they are poor men. We who promised to take quar terly collections ought to supplement their berry crop. Did I promise? Q- T. Missionary Address —The August num ber of the Foreign Mission Journal will con*. tain an address on missions, ordered by the Southern Baptist Convention. The address will be mailed, according to the order of the Convention, to every pastor of the South. The facts and figures embodied therein, can not be obtained elsewhere in so convenient a form. Any pastor failing to receive a copy can get one. or as many copies as he will distribute, by applying to H. A. Tupper, Corresponding Secretary, Richmond, Va. Covetousness. —Jay was once preaching on covetousness, and thrilled his whole au dience by abruptly crying out, “ Avarice, avarice is the monsoon, the devil's trade wind from the church into hell.” His point was carried, for he impressed the thought indelibly upon their minds. But had he gone on to amplify, the effect would have been marred, it not altogether lost.