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