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COLLEGE EDUCATION IN GEORGIA.
FREE TUITION,
The question of free tuition in the coheres
of Georgia set ms to be advancing, without
debate or criticism. Few of our thinking
men are believed to favor it; the masses
have not asked for it; scarcely one has ad<>
vocated it in the public prints; and yet it
has reached the point that the State Univer
sity boldly asks the Legislature to so secure
the income of the University, that she can
give free tuition to all who ask. The friends
of the denominational colleges are not pre
pared for such a measuredoubt its pro
priety but, fearing the effect on their pat
ronage of free tuition at the State University,
they begin to cast about for means to cheapen
their tuition.
Before the die is east, and the measure
with all its influences, whether for good or
evil, is adopted, is it not best to give some
thought to the subject, in the light of the
past and of the present.
THE QUESTION.
The question is not that of giving the
elementary education of thecommon schools,
or the more advanced course of our grammar
schools, to all girls and boys, without price.
Nor is it the adding to these some knowl
edge of the dead and living languages, of
natural science, of drawing, of music, and of
other accomplishments, as in the free schools
of New York city. The people of Georgia
have voted a very moderate amount of free
elementary education to their children ; and
the tax-payers of New York city have pro
tested, in vain, against the hardship of being
taxed for the accomplishments of the chil
dren of the majority, who pay few taxes, but
have many children to be schooled. But.
the question is, that of super adding to all
these the present liberal course of study in
our male colleges, with every addition to
those curricula which the progress of the
future may suggest. It is entirely possible
that professional courses of law, medicine,
etc., where connected with classical colleges,
will be compelled to follow the same course.
And, if woman is “the better half," why
should not her colleges be equally free?
This is the question, with some of its possi
bilities.
ITS HISTORY.
Free tuition was almost unknown in
Oeorgia before the war. Mercer was proba
bly twenty years old before a single student,
other than in the pure theological course,
was excused from tuition. The same was
equally true in all American colleges. Pay
ment of tuition was the rule everywhere.
The small number of exceptions only em
phasized the rule. At the North the old rule
remains in force. A few colleges—we recall
only one or two in the Western States which
are Immensely wealthy by the appreciation
of lands set apart by the State—grant free
tuition. But Harvard, Yale, Princeton,
Brown, Amherst, and all the leading well
known institutions, have not abated a tittle
in their rates of tuition. The charges,
especially in courses of advanced science, are
rather bewildering to students from our
latitude. The same is true of our real South
ern Universities; the University of Virginia,
the Johns Hopkins University and the Van
derbilt University. A student pays well for
what he gets there, and is satisfied with its
quality and price. But some of our South
ern colleges have made advances toward free
tuition. The classes of free students have
been increased until, in Georgia, not more
than one-third to two-thirds of the students
in the four college classes pay tuition. The
demand now is for unlimited free tuition in
all male colleges.
ITS CONSEQUENCES.
The immediate consequences are already
in sight. The State Universfty, 'enjoying an
annual income of forty thousand dollars,
asks the aid of a guaranty from the State, as
precedent to free tuition; in plain words,
must have further State aid—now. Foresee
ing the consequences to Mercer of free tui
tion, a benevolent friend proposes, in a late
number of The Index, to be one of a num
ber to increase the endowment SIOO,OOO,
to enable the institution to cheapen tuition.
Both Universities must have immediate,
present aid, in order to inaugurate free tui
tion. That is a bad foundation to start
from. They must become beggars, in order
that they may be liberal givers.
The future consequences are more serious
still. We may get a glimpse of them by
citing a few contingencies, which will soon
be realities. The State University has, in
round numbers, 150 college and agricultural
students at Athens. Suppose free tuition, or
better times, should bring fifty more, making
200. To teach these 200 well will demand
another teacher. How is he to be paid ?
The S4O 000 income is already absorbed by
current expenses. The new teacher v ill
find unsubstantial nutriment in free tuition.
Nothing short of another State appropriation
will keep his soul and body together. Should
the University number 300 students at
Athens, the five new professors required
must eat from the same dish.
The writer met a new grass on his place
the other day, and would like to know its
name. But where could he send it to get its
name? He recalled some amateur botanists
in the State, some fair teachers of it, but no
expert botanist, in or out of college. There
are a dozen experts in botany in agricultural
colleges North. Should the Georgia Agri*
cultural College decide to supply this defi
ciency, as she should, how will the botanist
be paid? Whole acres of corn were cut
down last year in Wilkes county, and this
year in Laurens county, by some rascally
bug or beetle. No one in Georgia could lo
cate him and his relations. He had to go to
the Agricultural Department at Washington
for identification. Where can aGeorgia En
tomologist get pay for such work ? Not in
the State College, unless the Legislature
makes an appropriation. A lady was paid
one thousand dollars, last year at Washing
ton, to arrange a part of the cabinet of in
sects, which had been accumulating for
years.
Brown University sent one of her profes
sors to Florida a few years since to collect
rare birds to be stuffed tor her cabinet, and
he spends his time in caringforthat cabinet.
Northern and European colleges and socie
ties spend millions on their museums and
cabinets. There is not an approach to one
in Georgia. Should our State College cons
elude to collect a cabinet of objects, suitable
for our farming population, as is done in all
the best agricultural colleges North, how
would the expense be paid ? Only by a new
appropriation by the State.
In like manner, should Mercer University
have an accession of fifty students, another
professor will be needed. How will he be
paid? She lost a tried, learned and popular
officer by reason of her insufficient income.
How will she pay for the new professors,
demanded by greater prosperity ? Many de
mand a reinauguration of the Theological
Department. No one of the present faculty,
probably, can teach Hebrew to the young
ministers. How will a Hebraist be paid ?
But, not so fast 1 Should free tuition be set
on foot, before the SIOO,OOO be raised, what
will pay the present faculty? Tuition
amounts to $2,500 or $3,000. Cut this off,
and one or two of the present officers must
And employment elsewhere. And how
about the unfinished building, and failing
apparatus, and incomplete library and mu
seums? But there is an agent in the field 1
Yes, that is the remedy. An agent is neces
sary to keep the college going respectably.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 188 I.
But free tuition will demand greater activity
in the agent, and greater liberality in the
denomination. The more students there
may be in the ftiture, the poorer the college
will be; and two hundred students, who are
able to pay but are not allowed to do so,will
now close the venerable doors of Mercer.
IS IT RIGHT? IS IT NECESSARY?
Tuition fees are the prices paid for educa
tion in the schools. Education is regarded
as one of the most valuable possessions.
Every parent feels called upon to secure as
liberal an education for his child as his
moans will allow. How many say, “I will
give my son and daughter an education it I
can give them nothing else. That cannot be
taken away from them.”
And what the parent will pay is shown by
the thousands and millions of dollars paid
out yearly for education in our private
schools, and in the male and female colleges.
Every unendowed school and college is
supported by the tuition fees. The teachers
in the thousands of private schools live by
them. Our female colleges are supported by
their tuition fees. Instruction and tuition
fees are inseparable. The farmer sells his
cotton and the purchaser pays him its value.
The Christian Index Company furnishes
The Index weekly to those who wish its in
struction, and the subscriber pays its sub
scription fees. The gospel is dispensed to
our churches, and yet this free gospel is paid
for in the support of its ministers, aud that
usually in stipulated salaries. We pay for
our provisions, for our clothing, for our
farming tools, for our houses, for our books,
for our physic, for our land, —for everything
we need and which we acquire from an
other.
For everything, “but not for college tui
tion,” say some; “that should be free as the
air and the water.” And why ? Is it not
valuable? How much have our colleges,
poorly endowed as they are, cost, in order to
furnish this education? Why should this
be an exception? A moderate common
school education is furnished by many States,
mainly on the ground of the prevention of
crime; as the State provides courts to punish
crime; that we may have quietness and
peace. Many doubt the policy of these free
common schools, and many wise citizens at
the North are inclined to thinK them a fail
ure. But who will say that a college educa
tion is so essential to the well being of a
State that it should be made free? Not one
will place it on that ground. It is really to
be classed with the luxuries, rather than
with the necessities of life.
There is nothing to be said in its favor. A
foolish generosity to give away something to
everybody lies at the bottom with many. A
desire for popularity counsels the squan
dering of the money of oneself and of other
people.
Have we cast up the value of college fees ?
Twenty-five paying students will about sap
port on® nrofessor. One hundred students
willst ppo. t four professors. Two hundred
students will pay for eight professors. There
is a college, respectable in the number of its
faculty and of its students, supported by
tuition fees alone 1 A moderate endowment
to pay for buildings, apparatus, library, and
that college is immortal. An influx of stu
dents will only strengthen, not crush it.
Tuition fees are the life of a college. Nor
thern and European institutions cherish
them. They economize the income they
have in hand, as a prudent man husbands
his means. There may be funds held by the
colleges or by societies, to aid meritorious
students. But the college tuition is paid
Mercer holds the Gray fund, to aid indigent
young men from Jones county; but their
tuition fees arealways paid in full. The ex
ecutive committee of the Georgia Baptist
Convention manages the Educational Fund,
bat they pay Mercer the the tuitiou of the
beneficiaries. The catalogue of Brown Uni
versity puts tuition at one hundred dollars
per annum. It mentions one hundred schol
arships ; four by the University, and sixty
by individuals, these sixty four for “merito
rious students who may need pecuniary as
sistance ;” three funds, founded by two indi
viduals and by the class of 1838, amounting,
to $12,800, to aid' meritdrious students; and
the $50,000 Agricultural Fund, devoted to
the education of scholars, each at the rate of
one hundred dollars per annum, to the ex
tei t of the entire annual income.” Not a
word of free tuition to anyone, except the
four University scholarships. Her tuition
bills amount probably t 0525,000 per annum.
They are her Samson locks of strength. No
Delilah has beguiled her of them. These
strong Northern colleges, made strong by
their quid pro quo, tuition bills, cannot af
ford to throw away their wages. But our
weak Southern colleges indulge the vain
hallucination that they can exercise the
lordly generosity of giving their tuition
free to every one, whether they need it or
not, and yet live and prosper. And thus
we shall continue to make ourselves, in
the matter of thorough education, “hewers
of wood and drawers of water’’ to the
North.
Again, should we not be faithful execu
tors of a trust? Father Mercer and his
contemporaries gave freely of their means
to endow Mercer University, that young
Baptist ministers and the sons of Baptists
might have a school where they might be
educated. During the lives of these men
they did not give free tuition (except in
Theology) even to young ministers. Shall
we extend it to all,—to Baptists, to Meth
odists, to Jews, to Mormons, to Atheists?
Did Mr. Seney have this last contingency
in view when he gave so liberally to Emo
ry ? And must our Financial Agent pre
sent the same contingency to every one of
whom he solicits a subscription ? And is
free tuition necessary ? Did a deserving,
poor boy ever fail to enter any college be
cause he could not pay tuition fees? A
common sympathy provides for him every
where. And are tuition fees a serious bar
rier? Board washing, books, and the loss
of service at home on the farm, or in buss
iness, are the determining elements. An
investigation of the free classes, scholar*
ships, etc., in our various colleges, will
show that those who enjoy those privileges
are not poor, but usually well-to-do, and
that they would not have asked the privi*
leges, had they not been tendered to them.
The very poor, with few exceptions, who
need help, do not go to college. The pa
rents of the great body of college students
are the intelligent, and the influential, and
the well-to do members of communities,
who are able to, and do, take care of them
selves. As a class, they have never asked
free college tuition. They would feel
degraded by asking for it.
Now, in the light of these facts, shall the
colleges in Georgia grant free college tuition
to everybody? Shall every other recom
pense for labor, and for the necessaries and
comforts oflife be paid for in money, but
college tuition be put on the cheap free list?
Shall our colleges lie denied their legitimate
means of support and of growth ? Shall
the feelings and the principles of the dead
and living donors of endowments not be
consulted nor respected? Shall men, able
to pay and willing to pay, be exempted by
the action of those who did not consult
them, and be embarras-ed by the question
of accepting or declining. Shall our col
lege be doomed ever to be dwarfed and hu
miliated by self-imposed pauperism and
mendicancy? Shall they commit suicide for
a sentiment, from a misjudging liberality,
through a cheap desire for popularity ?
One result will surely follow : “Call your
self a sheep, and you will be eaten by the
wolves.” Say that your college instruction
is not worth the usual recompense, paid in
the largest and most respectable colleges,and
your patrons will take you at your word.
They will say cheap tuition, poor instruc
tion. They will send to colleges where in
struction has a good market value. How
many of our best boys are now flocking to
Vanderbilt, and the University of Virginia!
And more will go, when we still farther de
preciate our Georgia education.
If the State University takes the fatal step,
she can never recede. Let Mercer and Emo
ry follow wiser counsels. Let them guard
their tuition fees as their strength. Let
them strive to keep the confidence of their
patrons, by an economic husbanding of their
means; and by a liberal use of them in in
structors, in buildings, and in every facility,
which shall make their instruction sought
after, by reason of its thoroughness, its ex
pansiveness, and its ready adaptation to the
spirit and progress of the age.
Will not the Baptists of Georgia give this
subject serious thought? The future of
Mercer University is at stake.
A Baptist.
FROM REV. DR. HILL YER.
It has been many months since I appeared
before your readers as a contributor to your
columns. This long silence has been due to
causes which I could not control, bnt which
would afford no pleasure to any if I were to
enumerate them. Suffice it to say, my in
terest in The Index, and the cause which it
represents, is unabated. I wish it had a
hundred thousand subscribers.
I suppose your readers have learned, by
this time, that I have become the pastor of
the Baptist church in Washington, Wilkes
county. It was a sorrowful day when Ibade
farewell to my brethren in Forsyth. I had
labored for them nearly fifteen years. Un
numbered acts of kindness, and very many
pleasant associations, had made me love that
people. I love them still. I eornestly hope
that the great Head of the Church will take
care of that dear “little flock.”
Here in Washington we find ourselves in
the midst of a kind and appreciative people.
The church is not large, nor financially
strong; but it is blessed with many excel
lent, earnest members. They are willing to
work.
We have a good Sabbath-school, and, so
far, a well "attended prayer -meetin £ In
this meeting we have adopted t ie topical
method. A subject is assigned for investi
gation during the week. At prayer-meeting,
after devotional exercises, every member of
the church is expected to cite some verse
from the Bible illustrating the chosen sub
ject. For example: at a recent meeting the
topic assigned was, “The safety of God’s
people.” At the proper time invitation was
given to all who bad collected any passages
bearing on the subject to report. Nearly
every member of the church responded. By
the time we got through, we had rolled up a
testimony in favor of God’s unchangeable
grace, of his everlasting love, and of the
saints “final perseverance"’ that was refresh
ing.
But our church greatly needs a new house
of worship. The one we have is so impaired
by time that many think it bad economy to
try to repair it, and yet we are hardly able to
build a new one,—not unless we can get
liberal outside help. What shall we do?
May we not hope that Georgia Baptists will
feel some interest in our behalf? Let it not
be forgotten that Washington was the home
of Jesse Mercer. That he and his contem -
poraries in the ministry led the van in the
inarch of our denomination through the
State. Scarcely a church east of the Octnul
gee river can be found which did not feel bis
influence. It was he that planted The Index
among our people. It was he that gave us
our noble University. These two instru
mentalities, under the blessing of God, have
made us the people that we are to-day.
Surely our brethren will not fail to respond
when the little church, of which he was, by
the grace of God, the founder and first pas
tor, shall ask for help to rebuild their house
of worship.
I have not forgotten to talk about The
Index among our people as I have bad
opportunity. Most of those to whom I have
spoken, however, are subscribers already. I
hope to send you a few new names after
awhile.
I had intended to give you an account of
soiue of our country churchea whfch"it'’has
been my privilege to visit, but this letter is
long enough. You may hear from me again
at no distant day. S. G. Hillyer.
Washington, Ga., August 31st, 1881.
SEASONS OF REFRESHING.
I commenced a meeting at Hollonville on
Saturday, July 23d, which lasted six days.
Many of the brethren were induced to take
an active part in the meeting—some making
good exhortations.
This church is a large one, and most of the
members have been received by baptism
within the last five years. The main object
of the meeting was to bring out the working
qualities of the members, though we did not
loose sight of the salvation ot the unrenewed.
Five were received by experience and were
baptized the last day of the meeting. I ex
pect several to unite with the church next
conference.
On Friday, July 29th, the general meeting
of the fourth district of the Flint River As
sociation met with the Hebron church.
Most of the churches sent messengers.
Brother W. C. Felts, the only preacher pres
ent, was there on Saturday.
The general meeting was pleasant and, we
hope, profitable. The meeting was protrac
ted until Friday, and eight were baptized.
On Saturday, August 6th, I commenced a
meeting at Mt. Olive church, which lasted
until the next Friday. On the last day I
baptized 37—19 males and 18 females; six
men and their wives, three other men over
middle life, one of them a doctor, whose wife
was a member, while the other two left their
wives, though both claim a hope, and I ex
pect to baptize them at our next meeting.
Several other men became deeply concerned.
This church has a deacon who, I think, hes
been called on every meeting to lead in
prayer for the last eighteen months, and I
nave been impressed in every prayer with
one petition, and that was for the heads of
families in the bounds of the church who
had made no profession of religion. It seems
that his prayer is being answered.
I have been pastor of this church seven
years, and we have had a revival every year.
The church has been in a revival state for
five years. It. now numbers over 250 mem
bers, and is bringing out several exhorters
of past days. Some young men of fine
promise. In this meeting, as in the others,
I had no ministerial help. I do not know
but that it is better for pastors to conduct
their protracted meetings by themselves;
the members feel the necessity of helping,
and are more easily influenced to do so. It
is very pleasant, indeed, to me to have the
help of the members.
When we closed this meeting I requested
the members to bring, at our next confer
ence, a thank-offering to the Lord for mis
sions. E. M. Hooten.
A REVIVAL.
Providence Baptist church commenced its
annual protracted meeting on Thursday
night, August 18th, and continued it for ten
days, holding prayer-meetings at 9 o’clock a.
m. and 6 o’clock p.m. each day. Our pastor,
Rev. W. W. Kelly, preached morning and
evening to large and appreciative congrega
tions. Revs. I. H. Pitman and Spearman
were with us a portion of the time. Eigh
teen accessions were made to the church
fifteen by experience, two by letter, and one
restored. We feel that there are others who
ought to have joined. Thirteen of the can
didates were baptized yesterday morning.
The remaining two stand over for baptism
at our next meeting day.
Our pastor has been engaged for four weeks
past in carrying on meetings at his different
churches. Long may he be spared to labor
in the Master’s cause. W. F. Jones.
Asbury, Ga., August 29th, 1881.
Missionary Department.
REV. J. H DxVOTIE, D.D., I
REV. C. M. IRWIN, D.D., f Mlton,
OUR MISSIONS.
[An Euay by Samuel Earle. Read by appointment
before the meeting of the Noonday Auociation,
at Acworth, Aug. 6th ]
To what effect, rather than under what obliga
tion, the efforts of the Christian world have been
so long exerted, should, it seems to me, form, on
an occasion like this, our most profitable subject
ot inquiry. That missionaries of the cross ought
to be sent forth, that contributions ought to be
exacted, that the prayers of God’s people ought to
ascend for His blessing upon them, none, 1 pre
sume. within the sound of my vol. e will deny ;
and if, out of the mere weakness ot faith or con
trariety of nature, anywhere are inclined to
doubt, a very brief appeal to the racred Script
ures would suffice to prove the weight—the most
serious weight—of our obligations both by pre
cept and example.
Christ our Lord had but announced himself to
a select band of believers, doing His wonderful
works under strict injunctions that "they should
tell no man.” when he sent forth the seventy
sent them forth with charge, with commission,
and authority for suslenlatlon, as their good
and sufficient outfit “Go ye,” .he said, on the
eve of ascension, in pointed and express lan
guage, “Go ye into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature.” The period of eigh
teen hundred years that has elapsed since that
day is a long retrospect. It is true that “the star
of Bethleham" has become • the sun of righteous
ness ” illuminating thech< icest parts of the eirth
with a light which, as it proceeds from the
throne of God. shall never fade adown a western
sky. But how »uch remains unevangelized,
how much under a dense cloud of ignorance, su
perstition, unbelief ? How much may we dis
cover still lying id wickedness? A careful sur
vey may serve at once as an incentive and an au
gury for tne future.
It has been said that “after eighteen hundred
years the proportion of professed disciples of
Christ to the whole tna-s of mankind is no long
er than when Constantine took the throne.” Ud
to aboutthis time, that 1- of the edictof Milan A. D
313, making the legal establismant of Christian
ity, the churcnliad advanced with extraordinary
celerity, to supreme po.ver; it had gone on con
quering unit to conquer. Was there a cessation
o I the triumphs ot tne cross ? Henceforth, while
the sword and conquests ol Mahomet and his
successors, those ol the Moguls and Tartars, and
the final success of the Ottoman empire, may
have < stabrished, in the East, a full balance of
losses against all t at was to be gained in the
North, it is probable that, in the agitation of
heresy, in the prevalence of dissension, in the
selfishness aud ambition incident to the setting
up of a pontificate, we find an interior lesson of
halt‘ng, or decline. The effulgence of the cross,
which had been a sign to victorious legions, was
quenched : the crescent of Islam flamed in a noc
turnal sky. the church sunk from its high
aim, forgot its duty, forfeited the divine protec
tion and favor. In the reformation, likewise—
to presume the parallel—the disciples of Luther
seemed to carry al; before them up to the time
when they came to a composition with the Bap
tists, and then not a single kingdom, not a single
nation was added to the number already acquir
ed. What is our deduction ? It would seem that
the Holy Spirit has designated particular persons
of ouipouring, and that God, at stated times,
manifests himself in saving grace. Such, let us
hope, are tne indications ot the times at which
we are arrived. To the ardent mind oi a mod
ern Simeon, waiting for the consolation of a
modern Israel, it were easy to entertain, in the
rapt spirit of • pocalyptic vision, the sign as in
present fulfillment, of the mighty ang< 1 Hying
in the midst of heaven having the everlasting
gospel. Let us, O, God. be aroused to our duty
wisely redeeming the time. O, may the gracious
outpouring not subside till the whole habitable
eartn shall have been baptized in tne waters of
regeneration and belief I
In this light it Is that I desire to consider the
spirit and conduct of missionary enterprise dur
ing the last eighty—say to be exact the last ugh
ty-seven—years. It may animate the zeal and
activity ol what we may venture to call our gen
eration to know what we have done, what we
ave doing and what we are justifieu in hoping
for.
When a practical man opens to you a business
enterprise, he will show you, with a iwlukle of
the eye and a rapid enunciation, what h- calls
1 the figures"—the postulates upon which his en
terprise is built, and the calculation of probable
results. From a little book by Dr. Chnstlieb, of
Bonn, for which I acknowledged obligation to
Rev. Dr. Allen, Exiter Hall, in a popular “Mis
sionary’ periodical, some figures of this kind
speak with ihe eloquence of Christian achieve
ment and the elevation of Christian hope. Let
us consider,
1. MISSIONS AND THEIR BUPfORT h
Just before the close oi the last century, when
the vast heathen world was enfolded in profound
darkness, the cause of Foreign Missions may be
said to have taken its rise. During nearly the
whole of its course, there had been, in active op
eration, but three Protestant Mis.lonary Societies
—two of these the society for the propagation of
the gospel, and the Mowvian nissionary society.
The new Inpulse was given by the first conven
tion of English Baptists, which met at Notting
ham for prayer and conference on missionary du
ty ; through whom Wm. Carey, himself a first of
fering to the work, summoned the Christian
world with the voice of a leader. Increased, by
the time of which we speak, to seven, they were
served by seventeen mate missionaries—loo of
whom belonged to the last mentioned society.
The sum of £50,000 was contributed for their
support- There were 70 missionary schools.
With 50 translations of the scriptures. 5,000,000
copies were circula ed. The fruit of ther labors
could be reckoned in 50,0'i0 Protestant converts.
To-liow our advance, at the present day, in
stead'of 7 there are 70 Protestant societies—be
longing, 27 to England, 18 to America, 9 to
Germany, 9to Holland, and sto Scandinavia; to
say nothing of the societies of the British colo
nies, nothing of those of the newly evangelized
countries, al- of which are in diligent and hear
ty Co-operation with these. Instead of the 170
male missionaries, there are now 2,400 ordained
European and American ; of whom in China,
with 90 principal stations, and SCO out-stations,
there are 240; and in India, with 420 central sta
tions there are 600 Os native preachers and help
ers there are 1,600 in India, 1,600 In the South
Seas. In Japan, later information shows 20 re
ligious societies, having 160 missionaries at work,
and there are 60 churches. The material part of
the business presents a still greater over plus—
£so 000, then, £1,150,000 now ; of which credit to
England £7OO 000, to America £300.000, to Germa
nv and Switzerland Irom £IOO,OOO to £150,000. The
first named gives this year, up to the May anni
versary, £1,137,237, for all foreign and domestic
purposes.
These figures seem large ; yet they can be
shewn to be inadequate. At what do we alm ?
Nothing less than the conquest of the world.
The cause is the cause of the Lord of Hosts. It
is not, however, a line of general battle, not the
blare of a gospel trumpet, sounding, like that of
Sinai, loud and long, or like those of Joshua’s
priests in the circuit < f the walls of Jericho, not
the shoutings of the captains, not the thunder of
great ordinances in a stricken field, but an at
tenuated line of skirmish that we have hitherto
pushed into the dominions and up to the
strongholdsof Paganism. “The whole amount.”
it has been said, (I am obliged here, and
elsewhere, to Dr. Kittridge) “the whole amount
given to the missionary work of the world for the
last ten years hss not execded 810,006 yearly.”
Mark the calculation. This, on behalf of all
Christendom, is one dollar a year for the evan
gelization of each 100 souls, one cent a year for
each soul of the race. Turning to Dr. Joseph An
gus, we get the guage and reason of our work—a
work which, he calculates, would require 50,000
missionaries and 875,000,000 a year for their sup
port, and the futherance of their objects, With
such a force and such an appropriation, the
gospel might, it is conluded, be preached again
and again in ten vears. In lieu 100,000,000, the
huge sum of 750,000,000 needed ; in lieu of 2,400
missionaries 50,000 called fori Certainly it would
be easy to figure out of the numbers and the
wealth of Christendom, the easy possibilities,
both or to men and money, to meet this require
ment. Yet, with the church as with an individ
ual, it may be possible to become liberal to a
fault. The original commission taught her to
look,for all the essentials of her life, for all the
conditions of her growth, primarily to the Su
preme Head ; and perhaps it is a reflection up in
her conception of her expansive power, to say
nothing of her faith, that she should found so
largely upon money. This might be of less mo
ment inasmuch as the fault, if such it be, is a
generous one, did not th? system tend inevitably
to make native Christians nerveless and depend
ent You find the idolater prone, supine, ab
ject degradedin his worship; let the touch of
your Etheriel spear erect and restore him to his
man-like form. “The strength and dignity of
independence, (says an able misssonary.) being
gone, assurance easily and quickly follows, then
responsibility and finally effort. It is easy to set
tle back upon personal ability—which reaches
to the deeper spiritual life." Let us seek comet
method. To the'Baptist denomination besides the
honor of being the reviver of modem missionary
enterprise, Is due, so far as I know, the further
honor of striking out its true policy. The call of
India, reached by the venerable Earl of Shaftes
bury, for an independent, native, and a native
agency, has been, to certain extent realized in
her management in Burmah—her chosen van
tage-ground ; where her churches are trained to
contribute, however little, to the support and ex-
tension of the case, and her converts employed to
found and build the walls of their own Zion.
11. THE ORDINARY MEANS OF EUGMTMENT >M
FLOYKD BY CHRISTIANITY—THE SCHOOL-MAS
TER AND THE PRINTING PRESS.
1. While a godless science, and a merely au
thentic culture, undoubtedly tne leave of the
age, and not, even distantly, to be contributed
to by mlsslonary.effort, yet the founding of mis
sionary schools, and the circulation of a litera
ture, sacred inasmuch as it is chiefly the Bible it
self, has been united with the work as • most
important adjunct. Instead of the 70 missionary
schools, there are now 1,200. with 400 000 scholars.
Many of these are high-schools and grammar
schools, in which hundreds of theological stu»
dents receive instructions. In India alone, there
are 2,300 missionary schools, 2,300 native cate
chists, besides many hundreds of Sunday-school
teachers
2. • ‘The Lord gave the word: great was the
company of them that published it ” Instead of
the 50 translations of the Holy Scriptures and the
circulation of 5,000,000 copies, there are now. in
whole or in part, about 250 translations into as
many languages and dialects, 148,000,000 copies
distributed. This is the largest number over be
fore In the possession of the human race. The
proportion of copies to the entire population of
the globe. Is computed to be about one to every
ten ; and if, by the close of the century, the pro
ductlon goes on as rapidly as lor the last years, it
will amount to 200,000,000 one to every family.
With so much positive instruction and drilling
in schools, with so much sacred literature as
these figures imply, it is easy to foresee the full
rays of that Christian meridian before which the
clouds of heathen darkness shall finally flee away.
111. CONVERSIONS EFFECTED.
For the 50,000 heathen, about the beginning
of the century, professing conversion, there are
to day 1,650,000. More than the gross total of the
former period, were added in the year 1878 alone.
During the last forty years, less than half the
f eriod of our survey, the missions In China had
nereased from six Individuals to 12,000 commu
nicants. Take a less show of time—fifty years.
In India in 1852. there were 128,000 converts:
now th re are 460.100 The ratio of increase for
the first ten years whss3 per cent., for the second
was 61 per cent., aud dining the last has been
still greater. It is computed (again Dr. Allon),
that, at this rate of progress, supposing it to be
maintained there will be by the close of the cen
tury 1.10u.000 Protestant converts. In China, al
so, there are said to be good reasons for expect
ing an equal increase. Two entire new king
doms have become “the kingdoms of the Lord
and of Christ.” The bandwieh Islanas and
Madagascar have taken a recognized place
in the family of Christian nations Mada
gascar, “the miracle ot modern missions," debat
Ing the establishment of a church of Slate aud
with an edifice of Christian worship—a sacred
trophy—on the spot of the atrocious persecutions
of the Rock of Hurling.
There are certain circumstances auxiliary to
missions which were originally not all designed
in the interest of Christianity—civil and commer- i
cial affairs.
1. CAUCASSIAN SUPREMACY
has been establised in some of the most popu
lous and influential heathen nations. “Theelect
of God” is a scripturally current and familiar
phrase. It would be a curious, perhaps a strik
ing and a profitable speculation to ihdulgewith
respect to the dealings oi the Lord, not les-s with
individuals than with nations and people as the
instruments of his divine purpose. What with
the class of human passions and interests, the
prevalence of wrong and violence over the right,
when all order seems finally and forever lost, it
is frequently, if we confine ourselves to a single
epoch, hard to cherish the idea of God in histo
ry; but, directing the firm eye of faith through all
events to final results, it is possible that a consis
tent plan shall be still and forever endured.
God moves in a mysterious way. He will choose
even as he chose David. By the Jew came tae
idea of God—the manifestation of himself to his
creatures; through the Greek God choose to
mould the intellectual development of man
choosing his tongue as the vehicle cf the New
Testament: and by Dre Roman he choose to
wield with the sword and perfect the legal and
governmental organization of society. Undr the
Isw of Casar Augustus came the fullness of time
aud Chi Ist the Lord. Thus, when we speak cf
the Caucassian. we view him as the deposit ory
of divine truth and its accredited agent and mes
senger. His power is commensurate with his
trust. Japhet literally “dwells in the tents of
Shein.”
Beyond a doubt British rule in India has inci
dentally tended to foster and enforce, by a natu
ral, inevitable law. the religion of conquerors;
but, on the other hand, while direct government
al interposition in its favor never was, or, accor
ding to the genius of Christianity, never could
be invoked, too much, nevertheless, cannot be
said in condemnation of Christian rule and
worldly commerce pandering, as they have done,
to heathenism and idolatry. But Christianity
has shocked the law that is applied to the subject
territory. The power of a public sentiment, to
which all administration must conform, as it de
rives all its vitality and tone fromfChristian mor
ality, must silently enure to the benefit of the
faith ; and, even now, the benign effects of a
merciful sway are clearly apparent. The ener
gy of administration and the munificence of pri
vate contributions, within the last three or four
vears, to the sufferers by the famine, have mani
festly added largely to converston|and Christian
influence. But, in another quarter of Asia, the
tremulous reports, from time to time of interna
tional affairs, discover the atrosity of a power,
assuredly not less formidable and perhaps, not
less interesting for the influence which it is des
tined to exert. The Rusian already stretches
his dominion across that entire, vast continent.
On the shores of the ancient, classic Euxine,
he copes, if not as yet altogether triumphantly,
with the barbarous hordes of the Turk ; on the
borders of Afghanistan, he grapples with the
subtlety and strength of English policy; and,
stretching his lines far out to the East, he press
es upon the "celestial" confines of Chinese em
pire. To England and to Russia are annexed the
destinies of this quarter of the Globe. It is prob
ably the concussion of these two mighty monar
chies that shall strike the spark to Asiatic life
and activity. From her seat in the vast heart
of the Australasiou Archipeligo the great colo
nizer and evangelizer of nations may be expected
io do a good work for the tribes and islanders of
the South Pacific. France is in Algeria; Eng
land in South Africa. To that land, favored
with a similarity of climate and products to our
own Gulf States—a land that is already stretch
ing out her hands, the explorations of Living
ston have imparted a singular interest as the
seat of states yet to be born—whose God, we hope
will be the Lord.
2. Commerce, although the professed servant of
mammon, must necessarily put on the livery of
a missionary. It is apparently according to the
divine plan to employ all the agencies and activi
ties of man in the furtherance of his word and
work. If in servants professed, God requires ei
ther consecration, delights in a cheerful giver
and a willing sacrifice, yet he makes, we know,
the wrath of man to praise him and he extracts
from his enemies, often reluctant confession, al
ways a measure of subservience to his cause.
The “ ways and means ” of all the world, in as
just a sense as “ the cattle on a thousand hills,”
are all his and he will use them in consonance
with the laws he has himself permitted to be es
tablished. It was proclaimed that before the
coming of thegreat and dreadful day of the Lord,
he would send his messenger before his face,
founded upon the familiar idea of the herald pre
ceding the progress of the potentiate, filling the
valleys, the mountains and hills bringing low,
the crooked making straight and the rougn places
smooth. Snch, in a modified sense—in a merely
literal and mechanical reuse—is, in relation to
misssions. the office of commerce. Subservient
to the onward march of the King of kines, in
subjection to his easy yoke, all nations of the
earth, are all the inventions and the improve
ments of the age—the steamship, railway, tele
graph, etc., spaning the ocean and relaxing the
bounds of space. To such an ark comes the dove
of missions, bearing in her beak the olive branch
of peace and good will to men.
What, now, may be the exact order of prece
dence between the two has been seriously a sub
ject of controversy. Let us briefly examine its
character. From the days of the Romans as
glanced at by Csesar in his Com de Belle Gallico,
commerce has been a civilizer. For the products
of its arts and artisans, it needs to create a mar
ket by stimulating artificial wants and necessi
ties. It is of no nationality. To check the war
like spirit, to contribute to the establishment
of law and order, to improve the social condition
by introducing the fashions and modes of refined
life, to reduce all distinctions but its own to a
common level, all this adds to its remuneration,
prevents the depreciation of its value. It is some
times a pioneer, sometimes a campfollower.
Tha t there could be, however, as held by some,
a certain progress in civilization among the hea
then, in order to make them fit for the gospel
and to prepare for the gospel its most profitable
field, is an error calculated to sap at its founda
tion all missionary effort. Spite of all that may
be said of the ameliorating and humanizing ef
fects of commerce, it would, perhaps, be easy to
show, from one or two pertinent instances, that
the course really of fact is that of inspiration.—
“First the Kingdom of God and his righteous
ness and all these things shall be added.” Dur
ing thirty years, commerce, alone and undis
puted, had control of the Sandwich Islands.
The actual good Implanted was that the natives,
seeing the superiority of foreigners, who defied
and derided their gods, and, growing ashamed of
their system, which they saw could be violated
with impunity, abolished the Taboo—with it fal
ling their peculiar form of idolatry; to which, as
it had borne particularly hard upon the women,
the opposition of female chiefs largely contribut
ed—a triumph that tended to the elevation of
the sex; and, as similar opposition in other islands
was known to be, and much talked of as the
result of missionary labor, the measure here was
distinctly ascribed to their influeuce. Not only
did commerce erect no church, contrive no alpha
bet, ordain no constitution, enact no laws, but
directly introduced ardent spirits, licentiousness
disease hitherto unknown, all of which threaten
ed to destroy the moral and physical force and
work the ntter extinction of the natives. Twen
ty years of the missionaries witnessed an exact
reversal of the picture. Without its aid, in spite
actually of its resistance, the better state of
things at the Islands admitted of a nobler com
merce, which, chastened and subdued, is now
the best ally of Christianity.
For all benefits received the mission and the
missionary render a full equivalent. Subjected
to a business teat, in a word, it pays. Let us
adopt a suggestive calculation from Mr Cody It
cost the American Board, during thirty years in
round numbers, *1,220,000 to Christianize these
Islands; but the exports to them from San Fran
cisco alone, for the last three years, amounted to
*1,702,027, an annual income of $340,006 more
than the entire amount spent. The value also of
Boston exports, during the three years, was *347 -
455 It Is safe to say that the balance of trade In
our favor, is at least half a million a year ■’ so
that every two years and a half we receive more
by *30,000 than the entire cost ot Christianizing
for the fifty years. On the basis of direct in
crease in productiveness of native industries
trained under the auspides of the mission, it is
computed that every additional m’ssionary sent
to the South Seas Is worth *IO,OOO a year to Brit
ish commerce.
Bat. on the other hand, it is chiefly in our com
ing, on the selfish principles, to be sure, of barter
and exchange, the hostility of the savages, and
relaxing by international relations, the exclu
siveness of the great nations of Eastern Asia, that
it has rendered important service. India, the
richest jewel in the British crown, and destined
e.e long, we hope, io be the brightest jewel in
the crown of Christian rejoicing was, at the out
set, the dependency of an unprinci; led mercan
tile company. The great wall of China no longer
encloses a people isolated from the rest of the
world and cut off from the universe of human
sympathy. Janau. tire most promising mission
ary ground in the world, has been the most ex
clusive of nations ; it was opened by commerce,
or rather by the enlightened demands of a com
mercial age. To America is due much of that
honor—lit act of a people at once commercial and
Christian. Upon this fulcrum we hope to plant
a lever to nerve the eastern world. It is not the
present positive gains, but the position not un
like that of the British Isles with respect to the
neighb ring continent, and a national character,
at once capable, flexible and enterprising, which
may. in time, form theexact counterpart of Brit
ish influence on theothersideef the hemisphere
~Such are the achievements of missions; such
are the advantages in the prosecution of its work,
and the prospects it enjoys. 1 intended, embrac
ing the other side of the question, to treat of cer
tain circumstances detrimental and discouraging
to tire spread of Christianity, arising from (1) the
palpable irr> ligion of national policy; from (2)
the grrss and heinous wickedness of its represen
tatives abroad, governmental and commercial
agents, etc.; from (3) the spread of atheistic sen
timents and literature, derived from the coun
tries professedly Christian, and from (4) the want
of vital interest and a realizing sense of its power
and responsibility by the church at home. But
my work has spread out to an unexpect'd extent,
and I suspend; enough is done, however, if I
show—as I think I have—that the course of the
missionary is still onward among the nations of
Paganism, amidst trials, privations and dangers
perhaps, nut sustained by the devotion of man
and the blessing of God. O, may we be near the
auspicious rise of “the Sun of Righteousness with
healing In his wing"—healing the nations. Let
the rays of his present glory shine more and more
unto the perfect day.
JOTTINGS BY THE IFAF.
Well, here I am, at “dear old Forsyth ” as
so many noble women educated here would
write it, were they penning their jottings. I
have got to meet the first graduate of Monroe
Female College who does not love Forsyth
and the noble people who lived here during*
their school-girl days. It makes one feel
sad to look over the campus and not see the
grand building that once stood there. True
a new building in course of construction
stands upon the spot, but when finished it
will not be the same dear old college of the
past. May it be speedily completed and be
loved and honored by generations yet to
come as dearly as the old one was and is
But I am getting first what ought to be the
last part of my letter.
I anticipated much pleasure in visiting
Forsyth, and my fondest hopes were then
realized. First, at the postoffice I found let
ters from the dear wife and children from
whom I bad not heard.in some weeks. Reader
did you ever receive a long, good letter from
the dearest objects of your life, who was far
away, and from whom you bad not heard
for many weary days and weeks ? If so you
know Just how I onjoynd thoso letters, which
had been lying here In the postofflee await
ing my arrival. The next pleasure was in
meeting dear friends of the long ago. The
first of them whom I met were Drs. B T
Rudisill and J. B. Turner, formerly of San
dersville. Dr. R. Issues orders at once to have
me quartered at his pleasant home during
my stay. Pretty soon I began meeting with
old army comrades, and—well it is useless to
attempt to describe the pleasures we all felt
in meeting again after long years of separa
tion. Only tuose who were brothers in arms
during the dark days of the late civil war
can appreciate the fraternal feeling that
exists between those who served in the same
command.
Since last I was in Forsyth the fireflend has
been fearfully at work. Many of the best
business houses have been destroyed. In
some instances buildings upon the same lot
have been destroyed t wice. Masons and car
penters are now busy at work and soon the
business portion of the town will be as com
pact as ever.
as before intimated, the new college build
ing has been commenced, and the walls are
nearly completed. For some time past no
work has been done upon it for want of funds.
To the great delight of the entire population
President Asbury has returned to Forsyth,
and efforts are now being made to devise
means for raising the necessary funds to com
plete the building. All long to see the day
when Monroe Female College will again be
in full blast,withPresldent Asbury at its head,
surrounded by an able corps of Professors.
At the earnest solicitation of a number who
have daughters to educate, President A. has
consented to take a private class and will be
gin teaching very soon—perhaps has done so
already.
Since the removal of the beloved, Dr. S. G.
Hillyer toWashlngton,Ga.,theßaptlstchurch
has been without a pastor. The pulpit has
been efficiently filled by brethren Asbury,
Amos, and perhaps others, and thus regular
service continued with but little or no inter
ruption. The church is in correspondence
with ministering brethren, and prayer meet
ings are being held,asking for theguldence of
the Holv Spirit in selecting a pastor.
Superior Court was in session, His Honor
Judge Stewart, presiding. He is not only an
excellent Judge but a good;preacher. By
special Invitation Judge 8. preached In the
Baptist church Wednesday night, from the
text, -‘Prepare to meet thy God.” lam glad
the day has come when men of earnest piety
are filling many of the high places in the
State and country.
Thursday night I attended services at the
colored Baptist church. The church is truly
blest in its pastor, who has the entire confi
dence of white and colored. Rev. J. A James
the pastor in question, Is doing a great work
at Forsyth. His church has recently been
blessed with a gracious revival, an account
of what you have already published. The
church has a good home of worship, all com
pleted and paid for.
Friday afternoon I went into the country and
spent the night with brother Watts, and at
tended service at Logwall church on Satur
day. This is a small church, situated about
five miles from Forsyth, on the road to In
dian Springs. Brother Jesse Mays is the be
loved pastor, and is doing a good work. He
had J ust closed a series of meetings at Cabi
ness, with a number of accessions. The
church at Logwall has raised funds sufficient,
it is thought, and will erect a new house of
worship.
While we were here at church an accident
occurred that was shocking to behold. A
drunken man fell from a wagon in the public
road, and was fearfully—perhaps fatally—ln
jured by the fall and the passage of one the
wheels of the heavily loaded wagon across his
face and over his head. The man was old and
gray headed, and as I looked at his gray hairs
In the dust, his helpless bleeding form pros
trated on the hard road, I wished for the pres
ence of all those members of the Legislature
who voted';'gainst the prohibition bill. Kind
ly hands pl; cedthe injured man In a wagon
and sent him toward his home—all they could
do for him.
Brother Lee carried me back to Forsyth Sat
urday afternoon, and I spent the night with
brother Elijah Moere Amos, This was my
second night with brother A. and during my
stay I had the great pleasure of hearing a num
ber of his fine poems read, which I hope he
will give to the public in some form or other.
But I am making this letter too long. During
my stay In Forsyth I was most kindly en
tertained by my good friends Drs. B. T.
Rudisill and J. B. Turner and by brother A.
G. Cablness and E. M. Amos,and their excel
lent families. Their exceeding kindness I
shall never forget- J. M. G. Medlock.