The Christian index and southern Baptist. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1881-1892, September 22, 1881, Page 2, Image 2

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2 • ; FROM FEAR wofder land. Now, many who read this beading to my letter, will surely wonder and say, well, where is Wonder Land ? I answer it is near where I am while I wriie this; less than one hundred miles away to the east. In fact, the snowy peaks that surround that land are in plain sight from where I now sit. It consists of a tract of country 65 miles long and 55 miles wide, situated mainly in the northwestern corner of the Territory of Wyoming, and partially within southern Montana and east ern Idaho Territories, embracing 3575 square miles, nearly 200 miles more than are con tained in the two states of Delaware and Rhode Island, or a little less than a six teenth part of the grand State of Georgia By an act of our Congress, passed in Febru ary, 1872, this part of our national domain was withdrawn from sale and occupancy and set apart as a “National Park" or ‘Per petual public pleasure ground, for the use and e: joyment ot the people.” Sometimes it is called the “Yellowstone Park,” because the Yellowstone River rises within it, thence flowing into the Missouri and con stituting its chief tributary. It is, in fact, a part of the great water-shed of our continent, inasmuch as not only does the Yellowstone rise within it, flowing into the Missouri and thence to the Mississippi, the Gulf and the Atlantic, but the Snake River, too, the principal tributary of the Columbia, rises here, flowing into the Columbia and thence into the Pacific How I have longed to visit this Park, for I have often, as have undoubtedly many readers of the Christian Index, read of the attractions congregated there and the fame of which has gone out over the wide world. My desire togo thither was even intensified when to-day, almost within sight of the land, I read over again the following description I had long carried with me, cut years ago from an account of a visit made there by another, and especially when I read it also to a gentleman of intel ligence, sitting by my side, who had been there and whosaid to me that while it was all true, yet it did not tell the half of what was wonderful to be seen there. “Here nature has assembled such a sur prising number of the most sublime and pieturesque objects, and, amidst the grand est scenery of mountains, lakes, rivers, cataracts, canyons and cascades, exhibits such a variety of unique and marvelous phenomena of spouting geysers, of boiling and pulsating hot springs, of pools of steam jets, solfataras, fumaroles and salses rumbling and thundering and pouring out sulphurous hot water, or puffing clouds of steam or throwing up great masses of mud, that its early explorers gave it the name whose appropriateness is now universally recognized, of ‘Wonder-Land.’ ” But I ca. not go tbe-e now. It would require days of time and hard staging, and much expense withal, to go the full bund red miles beyond the railroad and through these wilds, where accommodations for travellers are yet Sew and very costly. More than this, 1 was delayed six whole days by the floods in the mountains of New Mexico and Arizona, along the line of the new Southern Tr insco tineut route; on my way over to (he Pacific, so that I am now a whole week behind the time proposed for being home again in Philadelphia. I must, therefore, though most reluctantly, abandon the hope of visiting this Park at present, and promptly hasten my journey in an opposite direction. But what I have written may so direct the attention of some others, more favorably situated as to visit this land of wonders and enjoy what, for the present, at least, is denied to me. I write this at Beaver Canvon, Idaho Ter ritory, a small station on 'the Utah and Northern Railroad, over 300 miles north from Salt Lake City, about 1300 miles from Omaha, 1800 west from Chicago. Only eight miles to the north is the line of Mon tana Territory and less than 100 east is Wyoming Territory, 'which, taken together and in connection with Idaho, form a large nearly square block of country almost six times as great as the State of Georgia. At present these vast fields have a small popu lation-aggregating only 100 000. 20,000 in Wyoming, 40,000 in Montana and 40,000 in Idaho. But they are being rapidly opened up to the world by the construction of rail, roads, and, consequently, are fast filling up with people. The next two years will be likely to see a marvelous advance, for, cold as the climate is, (it snowed here only two days ago and a stove firejs to-day requisite to comfort), it is a most favorable country for pasturage and for wheat and grass and is especially rich in minerals, which fact alone is sure to attract here a vast popula tion. But the readers of this Christian paper will be interested also to know what is being done by our denomination for the evangeli xation of this great field—aggregating almost a ninth part of our whole country. lam happy to say we are doing something. At Cheyenne and Laramie, the two largest towns of Wyoming, we have churches with excellent pastors and good houses of wor ship, Sunday schools and prayer meetings, and all in flourishing condition. In Monta na, with its 40,000 present population, we have, alas I but a single church and that with no home, and only a single Baptist minister in the field, giving his whole time io the preaching of the gospel. In Idaho I think we have four feeble churches and two pastors. We surely should, as Baptists, be doing more in so important a field, and already, since leaving home, I have sent back to the Board of our American Baptist Publication Society, of Philadelphia, recom mendations for two additional colporters to be appointed *o labor here. Oh for more money for Christ’s cause and more laborers, and both these will come—when God’s peo pie have more of the spirit of his Son. G. J. Johnson. Beaver Canyon, Idaho Territory, Aug. 31. A SUMMER CAMPAIGN. The summer’s campaign is again finished. The bishop of the Henderson church called brother Bullington and myself to his assis tance and continued the meeting at that church a week, closing on the third Sunday in July. He baptized seven into its fellow ship that morning. This church has less than fifty members. But these are kept pretty well in hand, and are fairly awake in their work. The Hayneville church has not held a protracted meeting in years. Number of members, about the same of the Henderson church. Its Sunday-school has been carried on without intermission for many years, and is composed of the church members them selves as the nucleus, who are ever endeav oring to bring others into its fold. The pas tor baptized two young ladies from the Sun day-school into this church on the first Sun day in August. This church is getting ready to entertain the next session of the Renoboth Association to convene on the 14 th of Octo ber next. More than two hundred dollars have been expended in repairing their nouse and fixing up. Tell the agents to go by rail to Perry, on Friday, October 14th, where they will be met by conveyances and trans ferred in approved Associatlonal style to the church. Our church being away of from anywhere, we would be glad to put some of oar best preachers on exhibition that our people out there might find out that there THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1881. are other preachers in our denomination be. sides Tharp, McCall and Cheves. The Houston Faccory church has be tween fifty and sixty members—four fifths of them females. Barely keeps going. Has only its monthly meetings. Congregations always good. Baptized one there on second Sunday in July. The Mt. Olive church, Sumter county, moved its place of meeting to Andersonville last December, where its congregations have been greatly increased. But its membership is small and by no means awake to the im portance of their position and work. The trying to serve two masters makes the hope of accomplishing much with them a forlorn one. They held continued meetings a week, closing the fifth Sunday in Suly Bap tized one there. The church at Drayton, Dooly county, has about fifty members, good, live, active workers. This is especially true of members received during the last two or three years In the most thickly populated neighborhood they keep up a Sunday-school and prayer meeting, have just closed meetings there, which began a week ago. Baptized six. A. J Cheves. Montezuma, Ga., August 29th, 1881. INTERCOMMUNION AMONG BAPTISTS OF THE SAME FAITH AND ORDER IS LA IF FUL AND EXPEDIENT. NUMBER 11. Argument 4.—Local churches, as such, are the only integers, units or members of the kingdom of Christ.—page 150. Kingdom of God, kingdom of Heaven, understood. We confess this is a new revision of the gospel, to our understanding. Since reading it, we have looked in vain for any text where the Kingdom is so spoken of in the New Testa ment. We find passages wheresuch a read ing would rob the text of all sense and mean ing, such as Matt. 6 33, 12 28 ; 18 3 ; 19 24 and numerous other places" As to the hy per-criticism to which Dr. Graves resorts, and the wide divergence among our learned men which he exposes, it must, in the end. have a sad influence upon the stability of our principles, among the thoughtful but unlearned portion of our membership. In self-defence, we have for years shut our eyes and ears to almost everything but the Word of God in seeking the sense of Scriptures More than fifty years ago, before we knew it would be our duty to preach, we learned from that good old man of God, Jesse Mer cer, that the Scriptures were, with the aid of the Spirit, the best, most elaborate, most un failing interpreters of themselves. This short lesson has helped us much. We have thought that in this fact was to be found the secret of that man’s abounding wisdom. He had very few books in his library fora man w’ho occupied hss position. Before closing this paper, we will notice two facts in relation to Dr. Graves' book: One is, that he nowhere gives what appears to be the Savior’s reason for giving us the ordinance. Jesus said, “This do in remem brance of me.” Paul in I. Cor. 11 24, re hearsing the occurrence twice, repeats the the words, and then tells us that as oft as we observe it "we do shew the Lord's death till become.” But our learned men tell us it is intended as a “token of our church rela tions,” "a symbol of church fellowship ’ And yet we are taught that it is not intend ed to furnish an occasion for the demonstra tion of Christian fellowship, .bus we go from one thing to another; will we not at last strip the ordinance of its solemn signifi cance ? Another thing we mustnotice; this, whole fabric is built on air, or what is very little better in this case--the opinion of men When you look fora scriptural basis there is literally none. Not one positive declaration to show the present custom wrong, not one text of Scripture from which a plain, unlet tered child of God could learn that the pro posed exclusiveness would be right or neces sary. One other thing we must notice before we close this paper. The whole line of argument seems to be secular. Keeping the main question strictly in view, no account is taken of those spiritual relations that come into existence simultaneously with regeneration, and which are the true impulses to such customs among the people of God. The first we shall mention, (viz) the unity of the body of Christ, is used as if relating only to each separate church and with no reference to its spiritual force. The second—the tact that observing the ordinance is an act of worship, is not men tioned. These things we shall urge as reasons why’ the practice ought not to be abandoned. C. H. Stillwell, CLARKES VILLE ASSOCIA TION. We had the pleasure »f attending the re cent session of this body, held with the Mac edonia church, Lumpkin county, near Por ter Springs, Friday, August 26th. After the usual introductory services, the organization was perfected by the election of Rev. J. P. Osborn Moderator,and brother Sutton,Clerk. The officers were both young men, but con ducted the business with promptness and skill. They did their official duties well. This Association is composed of twenty churches situated in parts of Lumpkin, White and Habersham counties. Hereto fore they have done comparatively little for missions, but are now taking more enlarged views of their obligations to engage in the various departments of Christian work. The importance of taking and reading our de nominational papers was discussed, and if ‘he brethren had had the money, we could have secured some subscribers for The Index —some were secured by the Moderator for the Banner. After the report on Sunday schools was sead, and speeches made by brethren Un derwood, Cannon and others, among them the writer, a motion was made requesting that all who would agree to bring this sub ject before their churches and urge its im portance, should rise from their seats. Near ly all the members arose. We hope to hear at the next session that a good working Sunday-school has been formed in each church. We have met but little opposition, we may say none to Sunday schools in any’ part of Northeast Georgia. It has been said that many of the Baptist ministry and the churches in this section are opposed to Sun day-schools and missions, but as was re marked by brother A. F. Underwood, “it is a mistake?’ We had a pleasant time at this session, and we trust good to the cause of Jesus will follow. Though the drought in this neighborhood bad been severe, as it has been all over this section, the delegates and visitors were cordially received and most hospitably entertained. A severe storm of wind and rain commenced one Saturday night and continued through Sunday and Sunday night. C- M. I. ~TWO REVIVALS. A meeting beginning on the third Sun day in August, with Bethlehem Baptist church, Morgan county. Rev. W. A. Brooks, pastor, recently terminated, resulting in six baptisms. There were other conver sions, and hopes are entertained of a great er accession of persons. The services were conducted for the most part, by Rev. J. T. Prior. This is brother Prior’s old home church, and it is pleasant to note the bles sings of God upon his labors since his re turn to Georgia from California, where he has spent the last twelve years. As a result ot a late meeting at Indian Creek church, near Clarkston, Georgia Railroad, brother Prior baptized one person last Sunday; two others are standing over for baptism at the next meeting. FROM ARLINGTON. • I have consented to give you an account of a small circumstance that took place with the Bethel Association some yi-ars ago. thinking it might be profitable to some and entertaining to others. When I first settled in Blakely, Early county, Georgia, in 1836, there was a de nomination in this section known as tt-e Whiteites. They had formed an Association called the Salem United Association. They were in the habit of bolding a camp meeting within a few miles of Cuthbert, Randolph county, once a year, and Mr. White, a man of very considerable ability, was a regular attendant. They held a camp meeting in 1840, and it was my pleasure to be at the meeting. It was at this meeting that brother T. Bowen (who, after some years, went as a missionary to Centra! Africa) was converted and baptized, and became a member at Mt. Olive church, at which church the camp meeting was held. He soon became a preacher of the Whiteite faith. He was a man of deep piety and fine sense, and in a short time bicame the mo-t influential and active minister of the Salem United Asso ciation. He soon found be was not in the right place, and went to work and succeeded in dissolving the Salem United Association, and brought all the church, with the excep tion of two or three, into the Bethel Asso ciation in 1847. There were, as well as I can now count ap from memory, about ten ministers that came into the Bethel Association from the Salem United Association. This Association was considered, or professed to be, free will, or rather, Armenian in doctrine, except bap tism by immersion upon a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We considered that baptism, valid from the fact that Mr. White and the ministers that withdrew from us and formed an Association of their own faith and order, had been baptized and or dained by’ the micisters of the Baptist church. We therefore could not repudiate their baptism without repudiating our own ; and, notwithstanding they’ had fallen into many errors in doctrine, they have been always sound upon the subject and mode of baptism. The churches and ministers soon became high toned Calvinists, in fact, some of their ministers, if not all, became so sound that they were like the Indian’s treethey bent too far towards the Anti-nomian faith. Many of the churches still remain with the Bethel Association, and are ranking with the largest and best churches we have. I see, from The Index, that there is a church and pastor of the Bethel Association that is rather resembling the Indian’s tree I am afraid it will soon be thought that a candidate for baptism must take a theologi cal course in 'otne college before they can be baptized and received into the Baptist Church. 1 admit that the church has the supreme right to judge of ihe qualifications of her members; but, at the same time, she and her pastor should remember that God's word gives the qualifications that are neces sary for a fit subject for baptism, and the church has no right to depart, in any way. from the teachi- gs of God’s word. Those that are fit subjects for baptism are also fit subjects, after baptisqi, to become members ot the church. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Savior of sinners is the law that governs 1 aptism in the gospel, and evidence of faith in Jesus Chpst, was all that the commission of Christ and the apostles required- John the Baptist required fruit meet for repentance, and that they should believe Him that should come after him; that is, on Christ Jesus. The jailor and his house believed, and the apostles baptized them before day. The eunuch’s experience is a gospel experience; I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. On the day of Pentecost, those that gladly received the Word were baptized, but how many were baptized the apottle did not know, and neither do I know. The never asked any one if they believeuWiat any other baptism but immersion was valid. Those that were baptized on the day of Pen ■ tecost continued steadfast in the apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, and in breaking of bread. I have no idea they were asked by the apostles if they believed in the doctrine of “particular election” or the “perseverance of the saints,” etc. All the apostle wanted to know was, if they believed on Jesus Christ, and no more. We need never have any appiehensions about there being sound Baptists, or whether we believe all the doctrines of the Baptist Church or not. We regard all candidates for baptism as babes in Christ, and not theologians. The great danger is. that those received from other churches will soon be come too Baptistic;—they are almost sure to be like the Indian’s tree. It is nearly always the fact that there is a stream of per secution that follows them from the church from whence they’ came that drives them to God’s word to defend themselves. Thomas Muse. . Arlington, Ga., August 30th, 1881. REMINISCENCES OF MERCER. NUMBER VI. The fall term of 1853 opened, as we have said, amid the excitement of an election ; it closed amid the excitement of what was termed a rebellion, and a wholesale expul sion. When the time approached for the trial of oui unfortunate fellow-student upon a capital indictment, there was a very gene ral desire among the students to witness the proceedings. They- petitioned for permis sion to attend, twice—if we recollect aright —once in a body, and again by classes lu response to these petitions, the President announced on the morning of November 3d —the day the trial began—that none would be permitted to go, save those who had been subpoenaed as witnesses. In making this decision we are still of the opinion that the Faculty committed an error, though we are no longer inclined, as we were then, to impugn any one’s motives. The announce-- ment excited much indignation. There was a feverish feeling of discontent, but no at tempt was made at organized opposition. During the day a number of students who were not of the excused class, went to Greens boro, though there was no concerted action among them. What we heard that night tended greatly to increase the excitement. It was said that the evidence had all been ta ken, and that the following day would be devoted to argument by counsel. Such a display of legal eloquence was anticipated as might never be heard again. The desire to attend became stronger than ever. Some who were ordinarily least disposed to con temn the authority of the Faculty, were now willing to incur their displeasure for the sake of gratifying this desire. No com-- bination was formed. A considerable num ber—we do not recollect how many went, each on his own responsibility, though they felt that the number would insure their safty against any punishment worse thana severe reprimand. Counting those who had been subpoenaed, there were, we pre sume fully a third of the students in Greens boro that day. We heard of no disorderly conduct among them. Those we know who went out the last morning, went for the purpose of hearing the speaking, and as this began just as they reached the place, and continued until after sunset, there was no time, had there been inclination, for misbehavior. Even those who might under other circumstances have been disposed to be a little boisterous, deemed it wisest not to aggravate the offence of disobedience by improper conduct. The little community did not immediate' ly sink into its wonted quietude. There followed more than a week of anxious uns certainty. The air was filled with many and contradictory rumors. It was guessed that the Faculty were debating the question of how to deal with the delinquents, and though we then felt much, and still feel some, curiosity to know what passed at these meetings, nothing ever transpired. It got abroad in some way, however, that an ac • knowledgimentot wrong would be a’ci pte 1, and in accordance with this ides, a few,—we have really forgotteh whom or how many— sent in an application for forgiveness. There were, however, twenty still standing out, up to the 14th of the monta. Oa the after noon of that day all were notified to wait upon the President at his office. There was much curiosity, but not much dread;—for no one expected anything worse than a cen sure. There was a great deal of blank sur prise, when, with a deal of circumlocution, and a careful avoidance of t ie word expel, they were informed that the faculty had dis missed them The storm of passionate in dignation which followed this announce ment defies description. To the heated minds of these boys it did not seem that such a wrong was ever inflicted in all the tide of time. All that afternoon and until late at night they went in squads from place to place through the village, giving vent to their sense of outrage. They doubt ed not that everybody would sympathize with them as entirely as did their fellow students, and to test this feeling, they ap ; ointed a committee to draw up a paper for the public prints by which they were to “let the facts be submitted to a candid world.” The document was prepared, but never mrde its appearance. Indeed, the boys soon learned, to their surprise, that they did not have the public on their side Most persons, we believe, thought that the Faculty had erre 1 in refusing permission to attend the trial; but at the same time they’ condemned the course of the students in contemning constituted authority. As they became convinced of this they became less defiant in their attitude, and the more reflecting began to conclude that it would be wiser to accept the terms offered. One after another signed an acknowledgement, and by the beginning of the next term, most ot them were re-instated, and not one of them, we believe, ever regretted adopting this course. This disturbance had for a time a depressing influence on the prospects of the College. There were not enrolled at the next session as many new students as com mon. But in a year or two the Faculty had abundant reason to know that they had lost nothing in the estimation of the pub lic by daring to assert their authority at the risk of a heavy loss of patronage. L. L. V. GOSPEL ORDER. I have gone around among my churches holding a series of meetings with each. My order at each church was prayer-meeting each morning, when there were none to be baptized, aud preaching at eleven o’clock and at night. We had the relation of ex periences of grace, together with songs and exhortations, connected with the public prayers Many tears, and some expres-ions of joy, were also manifest. God’s Spirit did his work. Jesus was with us, as he promise to ministers who preach and baptize be lievers, etc.; but does not such promise im ply that He will not abide till the end of the world with those who change and renounce His order of things as when the most sacred ordinances of God suffered those overriding influences which, as the late Dean Stanley wrote was the case, when believers’ baptism was displaced by that of infant’s, and im mersion by sprinkling or pouring? Why, but for such disloyalty among Romanists in these and other things, are they left to hold that they were regenerated when in infancy, there was an application of water made to them by the priest for this purpose? Why. but for such departures from the gospel, and multiplication of evils, did they show the antichrist spirit In putting to death, through many years, the saints of the most high God under the name of heretics? May God enable all those v bom he calls to preach, not only to experience a change of heart through faith in Jesus not to be kept under a bushel, but to be professed in being per sonally baptized on a proper profession of their faith in a buried and risen Christ, that they may preach after this as did Saul, afterwards called Paul. Was not the order of the gospel being carried out, as was to be the case alway, even unto the end of the world, when Paul repented, believed, was called to preach, and was buried with Christ in baptism before he began to preach the same gospel which he had tried to abolish from the world ? Was not Jesus with Paul in the observance of this order while he preached Christ crucified to Jews and Gen tiles, and when males and females hearing believed and were baptized as became the gospel? And who can truthfully say that He was not with me in Hart and Elbert counties, Georgia, when I preached,—since my own repentance, call to preach, baptism, etc., —the same gospel, and baptized six be lievers at the Line, twelve at Cedar Creek, and two at Rock Branch, and gained two for baptism here at Bowman ? Who can say He will not be with those who keep to His order from generation to generation while the world stands? I. H. Goss. Bowman, Ga., September Bth, 1881. P. S.—ls there nothing to be lost in de parting from gospel order? And is there nothing to be gained in keeping faithfully to it alway, even to the end of the world? LOGIC. Knowing your particular fondness for logic, your high appreciation of a logical ar gument, and since only I, of all your breth ren, can furnish you the following bit, I do so, thinking it would be unkind to withhold it: Rev. Mr. Birkhead, who. a few years ago, preached extensively in North Georgia, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, bas been preaching here for several days. In one of his sermons he found occasion to give an exposition of Ex. 3.22. In his explana tion of the word "borrow,” he said sc> ptics were wont to charge God with dishonesty, but in doing so they betrayed their own ignorance of language; for borrow, at the time of King James’ translation, meant a very different thing from what it now means. Then it meant a modest way of demanding what was one’s own. So the word “prevent" no longer has its primary meaning of pre cede ; it now means to hinder. Now, since words are continually under going these changes in their meanings, he saw the wisdom of God in killing the He brew, Chaldaic, and Greek languages in which the Bible was written. And, since we have to go back to these languages toget the true meaning of words, the conclusion is patent that a revision of the Scriptures is wholly unnecessary. I reduced this argument to the following syllogism, which, no doubt, you can im* prove: The Hebrew, Chaldaic and Greek languages, in which the Bible was written, being dead languages, will forever remain the same. But tbe languages into which the Bible is translated, being living languages, are constantly undergoing changes. There-- fore, to revise these translations is wholly unnecessary. I enjoyed the argument, and so did his Pedobaptist brethren. It was amusing to see the smile of exultation play over the faces of those who oppose the New Revision. A. B. Vaughan. Longview, Texas, August 29th, 1881. Last year we received about 500,000 immi grants. This vear immigration promises to exceed considerably even that number. How can these people, speaking various tongues, of different training and habit, be come one with us in social, intellectual, and moral aims, and an impartial factor in our American civilization? Missionary Department. REV. J. H DeVOTIE, D.D., I REV. C. M. IRWIN, D.D., f Editors, AFRICA.—OUR MISSIONARY TO AFRICA IF. J. DA VID. LAGOS. A mission residence has been built here for some $2,100, which is one of the most comfortable and convenient mission-houses in the place. Four deaths have occurred in the church One was a Mohammedan convert, who had learned to read in a remarkably short time, and held the Bible as bis great comfort when forsaken by all his former associates. Dying, he was greatly concerned lest his four chil dren should be taken from the mission school. His feats were realized. They were withdrawn from the school by the mother, despite the entreaties of the dying and the living. Invited to a neighboring village, our mis sionary found a chapel built by several Christian residents, and received the fetiches of three heathen converts. On his arrival, the natives said: “Here is the house, who are you going to send to teach us and our children?” Brother Davis says: ‘Wehave no one to send. I unite my appeal with those who stood up in the congregation after I preached, and said, Send us help !’ Send it soon, or it will be too late. If they could stand before you as they stood before us, you would feel as we feel. We have four young men who might go to this village and other villages if they were trained. Many others might be found. But who will train them? Send us two or three white missionaries. These young men could act as interpreters, and, at the same time, be receiving instruc tion and experience to labor themselves. We are in profound earnestness. Cannot the Board make a great effort, and send us at least two men of health, zeal, piety, and some experience? There are hundreds of towns in the Yoruba country, not aflected by the war, which would gladly receive the gospel. Will the Board send it ?’’ GAUN. In March brother S. L. Milton located in this town, on the Ogun river. He has six children who come to him daily for instruc tion, and a Sunday-school of twenty pupils. He preaches also in the neighboring farm towns. Brother David baptized a man fifty years old, and a woman about thirty years old “as the first fruits of the station.” Three others have given up their idols anil asked baptism. A small chapel is needed here. ABBEOKUTA. This is the largest town and the oldest mission station in the Yorubancountry. At one time our religion had made so much impression that it was called “Christian Abbeokuta.” “But such has been the de cline from the mighty works of the past,” says brother David, “that we fear the words of Christ concerning Capernaum may prove true of Abbeokuta. The kidnapping war continues. All we can do is to hold our our own. Good seed sown will yield a bar vest yet.” OGBOMOSHO. This is our most encouraging station. Twenty have been baptized this year. There are fifteen catechumens. Brother Stone preaches also in the neighboring towns. He has two boys, from whom he expects, in time, to receive some aid. He desires them to go to brother David for instruction. Our missionary himself, brother Stone, whose longing for knowledge has been intense ever since his conversion, is anxious to be taught bv brother David. Brother David writes: “If the Board does not send a man—so much needed—l must devise some plan for brother Stone to come and spend a year with me. He thinks hard of me because I have not consented to his coming to study under my direction.” WHITE MEN FOR AFRICA. In a letter just received from brother Da vid be reiterates: “Send us two white men as soon as possi ble. We need them to push our work. There are four white men rn the Wesleyan Mission house here, and others are expected. The English Church has four men and their wives, and another man and wife are expec ted soon. The Catholics have five priests and five nuns. European traders send Eu ropeans to manage their business. The Colonial Government has Europeans to manage the responsible offices of the Gov ernment. The reed shows which way the wind blows. Send two good men of some experience—men of education—to prepare native help, and books for their use in their language. Other missionary bodies have men and presses here for this purpose. The Wesleyans have a SIO,OOO house, and a full faculty for this purpose. The English Church has a $5,000 house, with a full faculty, and has almost completed a $12,000 addition to it I give these facts to show you that lam not alone in the opinion that this country must be evangelized by natives, trained in this country, and under the supervision of white men. This is not a strange doctrine; I am sure it is practiced in all other mis sionary fields. I wish to divert the minds of the Board from depending upon colored laborers from the South too much. In equal proportions, it will do well I hope, but it will not do to let the colored force prepon derate. If lam regarded an enthusiast, it is in a cause to the welfare of which my life, energy, and most earnest prayers are given. “Again I say, may God direct the Boardin this case.” “There shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains, the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon. Psalm 72:16. AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARY UNION. The Burmese Mission commenced in 1813, has 21 Burman and 431 Karen churches. The number of native Ch-istians is about 60 000 : communicants, 21,594. The Assam Mission was commenced in 1837. There are now six missionaries, and II ordained native preachers. The native Christian community exceeds 4,500; com municants, 1,933. The Telugu Mission commenced in 1840. Stations now occupied, 7; missionaries, 12; native preachers ordained, 40; schools, 166 ; pupils, 2,891; baptisms for the year 1880, 3,027 ; native Christians, 17,020. Notice the increase of native preachers. CLIPPINGS FROM GOSPEL IN ALL LANDS. It is proposed to form a United Jewish Colony in the District of Gilead and Moab, the Sultan having gradted 1,500,000 acres of land for this purpose, in consideration of a large amount of money to be advanced by Jewish capitalists. The Colony is to be subs ject to a prince of Jewish race and religion, though tributary to the Porte. There are said to be 14,000 Chinese on the Hawaiian Islands. Mr. Sit Moon, the pas tor of the Christian Chinese Church at Hon • olulu, reports that 248 of his countrymen at the Islands are Christians. The Native Christians of Japan have a Japanese Home Missionary Society. The annual meeting has lately been held and is said to have been characterized by earnest ness and a spirit of consecration. The number of German immigrants in 1880 was 106,000. Their arrivals on our shores are much more numerous than those of any other nation. They constitute the largest part of the population in some of our cities, and at various points in the country. DROWNING THE BABY. As a missionary was walking by the river Ganges, in India, one day, he noticed a Brahmiau woman and her two sons,a beau tiful boy of twelve years, and a little baby a few months old, with two female servants, going toward the river. By their appearance he knew that the child was to be drowned to please the goddess Gunga. When they reached the principal bathing-place four priests came up to them; and when the mother saw them she gave a loud cry and fell senseless to the ground. She was carried by her servants to the water's edge, where there was a great crowd of people. The chief priest then took the lovely babe from his brother's arms, covered its little body with oil, vermillion and saffron, dressed it in red and yellow muslin, aud began to repeat charms over its head. The priests tried to arouse the mother, and at last she opened her eyes. When she re membered what was going onshesauk back, saying: “Is there nothing that will save my child ?” “No,” said the priest, who expected a large sum of money for performing the ceremony; “no. You have vowed to give him up, and you must do it. But the gods want you to be willing to do it. Are you willing ? Say so, and let the goddess take her own.” “No, no!” cried the mother; “I am not willing. If I break my vow I can only be cursed. Let the curse come. I would rather die than do it.” “Yes,” said the angry priest, “the curse shall come, but not on you. It shall come on that lad there,” pointing to the elder boy, “on the darling of your heart. You shall go home to morrow, taking your worthless babe with you, it is true, but leav ing your noble boy, the hope of your house. Do you still refuse? The poor mother could not speak, and the priest added: “Then wave your hand as a sign that I may throw your babe into the river.” The sign was given ; the child was thrown. One little splash was heard; but the next moment the mother had it safe in her arms once more. Wild with grief she had plunged in and saved it. "No, no; Gunga shall not have him 1” she cried. “I was mad. quite mad, when I made that vow. If it were a daughter perhaps I could give it tip; but I cannot see my baby boy drowned before my’ eyes.” The priest threatened her with still more dreadful things. She was made to say again she was willing; aud the priest was just ready to throw the child into the water, when his arm was drawn back by the mis sionary, and he was thrown down bv a sol dier who was close behind. You know that Queen Victoria is Empress of India as well as Queen of England ; and Englishmen have made a law that children shall not be drowned in this way. When the missionary found what was going on, be went in great haste for some soldiers to stop the priest, and arrived just in time to save the baby's life. The frightened priest got away as well as he could, the crowd fled after him, and the missionary and the soldiers and the now happy family were left alone. The mother fell at the feet of the missionary, crying: “Thank you, thank you a thousand times, sir! You have saved my darling. You have made my mother’s heart rejoice. O how could I have lived without my baby ! I can do nothing for you, sir, but the God of the universe will reward you. I will always prav to our gods to send you their blessings.” Relieved and happy, the mother said to her servants: "Come, Dasee and Tara, let us go to our boats and leave this dreadful place. The gods grant I may never see it again !” Since the gospel has been carried to India thesa dreadful things very seldom happen ; and if all Christian people would do what they could to send missionaries there, the time would soon come when they would never happen. What can you do ?—Gospel in all Lands. FROM THE PALMETTO STATE. A few weekss since I received an invi-> tation from Rev. Lucius Cuthbert, of Aikin, S. C., to assist him in a series of meetings with his churches on the South Carolina Railroad- I joined him in Aikin Saturday morning before the first Sunday in Aug-, ust. At eleven o’clock the same day we began a meeting with the Rosemary church. As the custom of this church is to have one service a day. and as it is only three miles from Williston, we carried on a meeting also in Williston at the same time, preaching at Rosemary in the morning, and in Williston at night. With Rosemary, church we labored eight days, during which time seven were immersed and the church greatly revived. After preaching in Williston one week at night, we continued the meeting another week with both morn-- ing and night services. The Master was with us. On the last day of the meeting sixteen happy converts were immersed. From Williston we went to Graham’s. Here we realized the convicting power of God. Many were deeply impressed with the need of salvation. But on account of sickness we were unable to labor with these dear people longer than four days. Mrs. Cuthbert was taken quite ill, and by exces sive labor my own health was broken down. At this writing, my good wife is dangerous ly ill. J. A. Monday. Athens, Ga., September 1, 1881. A GOOD MEETING. We have been in the background so long we think we ought to let others know we have had a great blessing from the Lord. On Saturday August 27th, brother Woot en, of Norcross, met brother Lankford, the pastor at this place. They commenced preaching, praying, singing and exhorting. They did good work for eleven days, after which brother Wooten left. Brother Lank ford continued to the close of the sixteenth day. The result of the meeting was: Fifi. teen joined by experience and baptism, all young persons, one eleven, one twelve, one a little over twenty, the balance in their teens, eight by letter, and three under the watchcare of the church. Lumpkin. Dahlonega, Ga., September 12, 1881. A WORK OF GRACE. I returned yesterday from Union church, where I had been engaged for a while in a meeting. Seven were received for baptism, and one was restored to the fellowship of the church. As far as I could see there was no objectionable excitement. Tuesday night we had a delightful meeting. The Lord was in the place. Our Association convenes this year at Hollonville where, doubtless, a pleasant session will be had. Last evening, our regular monthly confer ence occasion, I stated that I could ne longer preach to the church. W. J. Mitchell. Griffin, Ga., September Bth, 1881. Obdination.—On the fourth Sabbath in July, 1881, the Hephzibah Baptist church set apart to the gospel ministry our young brother Rufus E. Murrow. The presbytery consisted of Revs. W. L. Kilpatrick, Edmund Morris and J. H. Carswell, the pastor. Tbe services were impressive. The ordination sermon, by Rev. W. L. Kilpatrick, was very fine, and was listened to with marked attention by the large audience. His text: 2 Cor. second chapter, latter clause of the 16th verse—“ And who is sufficient for these things ? ” In one of our Missions the Chinese have given at least a fifth of their income during the past year to the cause of Christ.—Com. on Chinese Mission.