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2 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.