Newspaper Page Text
4
KKNRY H.TUCKER, Kdltor.
DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT.
At thirty-five minutes past ten
o’clock at right, on Monday the nine
teenth day of the present month of
September, 1881, James A. Garfield,
President of the United States, depart
ed this life, in consequence of a gun
shot wound inflicted by an assassin,
on the second day of July last. The
event, though not unexpected, has
overwhelmed the American people
with profound sorrow. The members
of the late President’s family have the
tendered sympathy of millions. As
we write the bells are solemnly tolling,
and innumerable houses in our city are
clothed with the emblems of mourn
ing. Our Legislature being in session,
assembled at ten o’clock this morning,
and on being officially informed of the
sad event, adjourned till noon to hold
memorial services. God’s providence
is inscrutable, but our faith is firm
that some grand purpose of mercy and
goodness is to be subserved by this af
flictive dispensation. Our paper is
about going to press, and we can say
no more.
DIC TA TORI A L PR A YER.
The words contradict each other.
Dictation proceeds from the superior to
the inferior; prayer is addressed by
the inferior to the superior; the one is
imperious and mandatory, the other
submissive and supplicatory. Is it
possible that the spirits represented by
these two words can ever co exist in
the same breast at the same time?
Can there be such a thing as dictatori
al prayer? The antagonism of the facts
is as great as the paradox in the words
which describe them. Yet, the out
ward forms of prayer have been com
plied with, and prayer has appeared to
be made, when the spirit that animat
ed the speaker was one of self will, and
not one of submission to the divine
will. Os course, there is no reality in
such seeming prayer. True, some oi
the elements of prayer are in it; there
is strong desire, and an acknowledg
ment of the divine power, and also of
God’s willingness to confer favors when
requested. Thus far all is well; but
there is a lack of confidence in the
wisdom of God who knows what to
give, as well as when to give it; a dis
position to substitute human judgment
for his, as to what is best; and not on
ly so, but a desire, conscious or uncon
scious, to make the human will su
preme, and the divine will subordi
nate. Surely, if we come to God prac
tically denying his wisdom, and prac
tically seeking to avail ourselves of his
power to carry out our own purposes,
irrespective of his authority, our address
can not be called prayer. The spir
it of such an appeal is at the very op
posite pole from the spirit of prayer.
Yet, though the two things are so ut
terly apart, so wholly unlike, incon
gruous, incompatible and antagonistic,
one is often mistaken for the other.
One often says, “I have prayed earn
estly for thus and so, but the Lord has
not heard me.” There is often no
truth in the statement. Prayer has
not been made, but impious desire to
make a convenience of the Almighty
and to rule him has been clothed in
its garb.. If the spirit is not on its
knees before the body assumes that at
titude, prayer is impossible. Hence, if
what we suppose to have been prayers
remain unanswered, it is well to in
quire, whether we have ever really
prayed for the thing which we would
have. A soul erect, making its de
mands, is sure to be disappointed ; a
soul prostrate, humbly preferring its
request, is sure to meet with great re
ward. If the blessing does not come
to the praying soul in the specific form
and manner desired, it comes in some
better form, which the petitioner him
self would have selected, if he had
possessed the wisdom of him to whom
his prayer is addressed ; and with this
he is There may be those
who doubt that prayer is always thus
answered, and who think that if the
specific favor sought is not granted,
nothing is granted. These are desti
tute of the faith which alone can make
prayer availing. The least want of
confidence in God, in any respect
whatever, reduces what may seem to
be prayer to a mere formality, and
empties it of all there is of value.
Sometimes, those who with peremp
tory spirit seek that which nothing
but the divine power can bestow, re
ceive the penalty of their presumption,
in the bestowal of that which they ask.
God gives them what they ask, but his
curse is wrapped up in the gift. A
story which we read many years ago,
in childhood perhaps, may show what
we mean. A boy was apparently dy
wg; his mother’s prayer was in sub
stance this: “0 God, save my boy! I
can not give him up; I will not give
him up; he must not die; he shall net I
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1881.
die; O God, spare him ; grant me this,
and I ask for nothing else.” The
prayer was answered; the boy was
spared, and grew up to be a profligate
and a debauchee, and ended his days
in shame. The mother lived to see
that mercy would have been shown in
not answering her prayer, and that the
answer was an answer of wrath. The
story is perhaps not true, but whether
true or false is immaterial; it illus
trates the point.. We may set our
hearts on this thing or on that, and
persistently and pertinaciously seek it,
without the spirit of holy acquies
cencein the will of God, and God in his
displeasure may give us exactly what
we ask, in order that our sin may re
ceive its most appropriate punishment.
Who would dare to say to the Al
mighty, “0, God, let me have my
own way!” How much better to say,
“Not my will, but thine be done!’
Few would dare to formulate in words
the audacious prayer; but if under a
better prayer there lurks, unexpressed
the spirit of insubmission, we are in
great danger of having the desire of our
hearts granted ; and what greater curse
could be inflicted on us? Few per
haps would fail to utter the words,
“Not my will, but thine be done,” but
so deceitful are our hearts that we may
mistake the use of holy words for the
possession of the holy sentiment which
they express. Prayer seems to be a
dangerous thing. Indeed it requires
perpetual watchfulness to guard
against the snares of the Adversary.
An overwhelming sense of our unwor
thiness and helplessness is our best
protection. The trembling of our
lips may be the sign of our strength
and of our safety. But if prayer is
dangerous, its neglect is death. The
man who ignores the Almighty by re
fusing to ask his blessing, may expect
the Almighty to ignore him, and to
leave him to his fate. All we can do,
is to trust to our weakness for strength,
and approach the throne of grace in
the spirit of that homely, but heartful
old song of Zion,
“Perhaps he will admit my plea,
Perhaps will hear my prayer,
But Iflperishl will pray.
And perish only there f"
The paradox may be more in the
words than in the thought, when we
say, that sometimes the wisest thing
that we could do, would be to pray
that our prayer should not be granted.
Most certainly it is wise, and right, and
dutiful, to pray that our desires should
not be complied with, unless they are
in accordance with our real welfare as
God sees it, and not as we see it. It is
said of Israel, that on one occasion,
God “gave them their request, but sent
leanness into their soul.” Ps. 106 : 15.
Perhaps if the request had been made
in all humility, and with readiness to
accept denial as lovingly as assent,
their desire might have been gratified,
and increased prosperity of spirit
might have been sent with it. Cer
tainly if what they asked had been
withheld, it would have been withheld
for their good, and not for their disap
pointment ; and the smile of God
would have lighted their path, and giv
en them strength for their burden.
The true doctrine is tersely expressed
in one of our sacred lyrics:
Not what we wish, but what we want,
Let mercy still supply,
The good we ask not, Father grant,
Theill we ask. deny.
“Are baptized children real mem
bers of the church?” asks a corres
pondent of the Richmond Christian
Advocate. He thinks that Methodist
“practice” largely answers, No, thus
contradicting Methodist “theology.”
“In many places,” he says, “are found
ministers who will plead eloquently
for the right of infants to become
members of God’s church, and yet
make no record of the names even of
those they baptize.” He complains
that not one of the catechisms of his
denomination “teaches the child in
plain English to say that by its bap
tism it was made a member of the
church.” “Parents have their children
baptized,” he tells us, “and talk about
the ‘glorious privilege] of dedicating
them to the Lord’ when they recog
nize in no way their visible church
membership, which is, in fact, the very
soul and sifbstance of the ‘dedication’.”
We are glad to know that infant bap
tism is in this comatose state among
Southern Methodists; and we hope
they may have wisdom and grace
enough practically, to obey the maxim,
“Never wake a sleeping dog,” lest it
bite and rend! Vitalize infant baptism,
by making the church membership
it is supposed to confer a real thing,
and you have cleared the most direct
and shortest path to formalism, “sacra
mentalism” and “sacerdotalism.” By
that path Rome reached her depth of
error and her height of power.
The Independent shows that it has
not lost the faculty of believing, by quot
ing the prayer of Chunder Sen for the
dead Dean Stanley, and adding: “To
which we say, Amen. May his soul
rest in peace.” This is as wild theo
logically, as the statement of the same
paper, that immersion is a novelty
among Baptists, not older probably
than the seventeenth century, is his
torically. These things are signifi
cant, as disclosing what tbe type of
mind is which cannot believe the
plenary inspiration of Holy Scrip
ture! The traits and tendencies
which make men greatly sceptical as
to,well-founded truths, are precisely the
traits and tendencies which make
them greatly credulous as to fancies
without foundation.
A WONDERPUL DISCOVERY.
In June last a subterranean cavern
was discovered in Egypt, about thirty
feet below the surface, and two hun
dred feet long. To say nothingof innu
merable objects of interest, this gallery
contained the embalmed remains of
no less than thirty of the ancient kings
of Egypt. In the coffins, and on them
and about them, were various
writings giving the names of the kings,
and much information concerning
them. The oldest of these mummies
is supposed to be that of a king who
reigned in Egypt 1700 years before
Christ—a hundred years before Moses
was born ; the latest of them was a king
about 1000 years before Christ—about
the time when David flourished. Very
minute accounts of all the particulars
of this discovery have been given in
many of the papers, but, as some doubts
have been expressed as to the accuracy
of these accounts, we forbear to give
them at present. That the coffins, or
mummy-cases are what they seem to
be, and that the papers (papyri) and
other relics found with them are
genuine, we suppose is beyond ques
tion. The only doubt is whether the
bodies contained in these cases are
those which were originally put in
them. It is suggested, that the bodies
of the kings may have been taken out
of the coffins and others put in their
places. This is possible; but, so far as
we can judge from what has been pub
lished, the indications are very strong,
if not fully convincing, that the bodies
of the Pharaohs who reigned before
and after the time of Moses, are actu
ally brought to light. Whether the
Pharaoh of the Exode is among them
is not settled. The Bible does not
distinctly say that Pharaoh w’as
drowned in the Red Sea with his host,
and it is possible that his body may be
one of those discovered. But we in
cline to the opinion, from Psalms 106.
11 and 136. 15, that Pharaoh was
drowned with his host,and that a care
ful examination of the papyri will
establish the fact. Whether the bodies
contained in the coffins are those of
the persons named in the inscriptions,
is comparatively a small matter. The
relics and the records, we certainly
have, and of their genuineness there
is not the shadow of doubt; and the
amount of light which they will throw,
when fully understood, on Egyptian
history cannot be estimated. We have
the veritable original accounts, written
three thousand and six hundred years
ago, of what took place in Egypt at
that time! We have certainly the
burial outfit of thirty Egyptian kings.
We have certainly countless relics
representing the times when Israel
was in Egypt, and from then until the
time when David reigned in Judea.
We have probably the identical bodies
of the great kings of the earth, whose
souls have been in eternity from
twenty-five hundred to thirty-six hun
dred years. The discovery is, perhaps,
the most wonderful that has ever been
made.
We have always had a sort of under
current of faith, that other discoveries,
of things which took place at a much
later date, will be made. It is not im
possible, that the original manuscripts
of some of the New Testament Scrip
tures will be found and identified. Cer
tainly it is not impossible, that patristic
literature may be found of an earlier
date than any we have. We have
always hoped and half-way believed,
that some such discovery will one day
be made, which will settle some of the
disputed points (which have so long
divided the Christian world; and then
a happy time will we Baptists have!
But this is our day-dream ; the recent
discovery of Egyptian antiquities is a
fact.
more~froaTtyndale.
The following extracts from Tyndale’s
“Address to the Reader,” published in
connection with his version of the New
Testament, explains itself, and alludes
delicately, and for that reason the more
touchingly to the persecutions he en
dured while engaged in the work.
His well-expressed and manly apology
for the imperfection of his work, which
one can scarcely read without mois
tened eyes, seems to bring us into ten
der sympathy with the great Reformer,
and we bless God that a spirit so pure
and so brave ever lived. It strengthens
the evidence on which our own hope
is based, that we feel ourselves to be in
fellowship with this man of God.
Geve diligence Reder (I exhorte the)
that thou come with a pure mynde, and
as the scripture sayth with a syngle eye,
vnto the wordes of health, and of eternall
lyfe: by the which (if we repent and be
leve them) we are borne a newe, created
1 a fresshe, and enjoye the frutes off the
bloud of Christ.
Marke the playne and manyfest places
of the scriptures, and in doutfull places,se
thou adde no interpretation contrary to
them : but (as Paul sayth) let all be con
formable and agreynge to the fay th.
Note the difference of the lawe, and of
the gospell. The one axeth and requyreth,
the wother perdoneth and forgeveth.
The ote threateneth, the wother prom
yseth all good thynges, to them thatt sett
their trust in Christ only. The gospel!
signifieth gladde tydynges, and is noth
ynge butt the promyses off good thynges.
All is not gospell that is written in the
gospell boke: For if the lawe were a
waye, thou couldeet not know what the
gospell meante. Even as thou couldest
not ee perdon, favour, and grace, excepte
the lawe rebuked the, and declared vnto
the thy sinne, mysdede, and treaspase.
Them that are learned Christenly, I
beseche: for as moche as lam sure, and
my conscience beareth me recorde, that
of a pure entent, singilly and faythfully
I have interpreted itt, as farre forth as
god gave me the gyfte of knowledge and
vnderstondynge: that the rudnes oS
the worke nowe at the fyrst tyme, of
fende them not: but that they uonsyder
howe that I nad no man to counterfet,
nether was holpe with englysshe of eny
that had interpreted the same, or soehe
lyke thinge in the scripture before tyme.
Moreover, even very necessitie and
combrauuce (God is recorde) above
strengths, which I will not rehearce, lest
we shulde seme to bost oure selves,
caused that many thynges are lackynge,
which necessaryly are requyred. Count
it as a thynge not havynge his full shape,
but as it were borne afore hystyme, even
as a tiling begunne rather then fynnessh
ed. In tyme to come (yf god have
apoynted vs there vnto) we will geve it
his full shape: and putt out yf ought be
added superfluity: and adde to yff
ought be oversene thorowe negligence:
and will enfoarce to brynge io compen
deousnes, that which is nowe translated
at the lengths, and to geve lyght where
it is requyred, and to seke in certayne
places more proper englysshe, and with
a table to expounde the wordes which
are nott commenly vsed, and shewe howe
the scripture vseth many wordes, which
are wother wyse vnderstonde of the com
men people: and to helpe with a decla
racion where one tonge taketh nolt an
other. And will endever oureselves, as
it were to sethe it better, and to make it
more apte for the weake stomakes:
desyrynge them that are learned, and
able, to remember their duetie, and to
helpe there vnto: and to be stowe .vnto
the edyfyinge of Christis body (which is
the congregation of them that beleve)
th'ose gyftes whych they have receaved
of god for the same purpose. The grace
that commeth of Christ be with them
that love hym. Praye for vs.
GLIMPSES AND HINTS.
—A correspondent of the Journal and
Messenger writes from Newport. R 1., of
the “liberal” pastors of the Baptist churches
there: “Those who were the persistent
advocates of open communion from their
pulpits, have illustrated the danger of insta
bility and false doctrine. One has gone to
tbe Presbyterians, two have become Congre
gationalists, one an Episcopalian, and an
other is near the ‘open door’ that leads to
Universalism.” There is conclusive logic in
these facts. Open communion is in its own
nature a germ of error, and its legitimate
fruit is—errors worse than itself.
—A Baptist church at Verona, Missouri,
w'th thirty-six members, only nineteen of
whom reside in the vicinity, (and they are
poor,) has given $250 during the year for
foreign missions. They all observe tbe
apostolic rule of laying by something on the
first day of the week!
—The Board of the American Baptist
Home Mission Society, New York, has ap
propriated $4,000, to be expended, in co
operation with the Board of the Texas Bap
tist State Convention, in missionary work
in the western part of that State. This is
progress; but in which direction ?
—Speaking of Northern Baptists, Rev. Dr.
Pritchard, in the Biblical Recorder, says:
"A man is never asked to preach in a vacant
pulpit without getting something for it.
Such a thing as this, which I heard of in
Texas a few w eeks ago—an old minister was
invited to preach by a church on a Sabbath
and they not only gave him nothing, but
allowed him to pay bis railroad fare—does
not occur among Northern Baptists, to their
honor be it spoken.” It is but common
justice to pay “supplies’' as well as pastors,
and the Baptists of the-South ought to know
it.
—The tears that mingle with our words of
testimony for God and Christ, are themselves
words, speaking to the soul thiough the
eye: and often our most eloquent—or, at
least, most persuasive—words.
A Dress Reform Association has been
instituted by some ladies of a Freewill Bap
tist church in Auburn, Maine, who pledge
themselves to wear none but calico dresses
in their assemblies for worship.
—The Seventh Day Baptist denomination
in this country has lost its founder and
bead, in the death of Rev. James White —a
direct descendant of Peregrine White, the
first child born among the Pilgrims after
their landing at Plymouth.
—A West Virginia Methodist minister tells
this story : “During a missionary collection
a man said, 'X have no money, but I have a
pair of socks, put on for the first time this
morning; you may have them to help the
gospel on to the heathen.’ The socks were
pulled off and handed in.”
—A Brahmin graduate of Madras Univer
sity, India, is reported as saying: “If I
were a missionary I would never argue. I
would simply give the Bible, and say, ‘Read
that.’ ” But what if he should add byway
of caution, that it is inspired only in part?
—“A chastened spirituality too pure for
earth," is a frequent and infelicitous phrase
for exalted Christian experience and princi
ple. It carries in it a huge and harmful
falsehood. There is no “spirituality,” how
ever “chastened” and heavenly, which is
“too pure” for the needs of the individual
Christian or of tbe Christian church at large
on “earth.” The purest is too little pure for
these needs.
—Sixteen persons were added to Spur
geon’s church on a recent occasion. He
stated that only two of them had been
brought to Christ through his ministry, and
all the rest through the agency of the mem
bers of the church. The pew may be in
many cases more mighty than the pulpit.
Every Christian should work for the salva
tion of souls, and may work successfully.
—The Strawberry Baptist Association,Va.,
at its recent session, the 105th, “appointed
an executive committee to select preachers
to visit the weak churches. As far as possi
ble this committee is to arrange pastorates
and endeavor to induce contiguous churches
to unite in calling and supporting a pastor,
who shall be divorced from secular pursuits
and live among them.” A good end in view,
and the means good.
—The Baltimorean says that “Bryan
Wharton, Esq., of Georgia, received the aps
pointment of American consul to Sonneberg,
Germany;” and the Biblical Recorder ‘ac
cepts the amendment’ in the title given to
Dr. W.
—Furman University, Greenville, S. C. t is
advertised to re open Wednesday, Septem
ber 21st. Rev. Charles Manly, D.D., son of
Dr. Basil Manly, Sr., has been elected Presi
dent. Dr. J. C. Furman and Prof. C. H.
Judson retain the chairs formerly filled by
them, and three young men are to be added
to the faculty.
—The Dan River Baptist Association,
Virginia, has twice as many Sunday schools
as churches—a fact which is a prophecy
present efficiency pointing to future pros
perity.
—Dr. Pritchard, comparing the North and
the South, in tbe Biblical Recorder, says:
“Tbe church members up here are more
generally at work than with us, and they
certainly give more systematically than in
the South. In the country and in the towns,
Christians of the same means contribute
more liberally to thesupport of theministry
and to missions than we.”
—To the secent session of the Bethel Asso
ciation, held in Jeffersonville. Indiana, there
were as many women appointed messengers
as men.
GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS.
The following three items were left
over from last week:
—Rev. J. T. Roberts, LL.D., presi
dent of the Atlanta Baptist Seminary,
with his daughter, Miss Mattie, return
ed to our city on Thursday of last week,
from his summer vacation in Illinois.
He was suddenly and seriously, but
temporarially, ill at the time of his ar
rival.
—On Sabbath night, at the Second
Baptist church, Atlanta, Rev. Dr.
Spalding baptized Miss Neila Chisolm.
—Rev. D. W. Gwin, D.D., after a
brief vacation in Virginia, filled his
pulpit at the First Baptist church,
Atlanta, last Sabbath.
—Brother J. H. Fortson writes: The
Georgia Association will meet this year
with the Sharon church, Columbia
county, 12 miles northeast of Thomson,
and 25 east of Washington, on Thurs
day the 6th day of October. The in
troductory sermon is to be preached
by Bro. B. M. Calloway, Bro. W. A.
Overton,alternate. Brethren who wish
to come by railroad will notify Dr. J.
T. Boyd or J. L. Cliatt, Clay Hill, Lin
coln county. They will also state
what day they will be in Thomson,
where they will be met with convey
ance. Those who attend this meeting
will find a hearty welcome.
—Rev. S. T. Fuller is conducting a
revival at the Baptist church in Ham
ilton.
—Brother Robert H. Harris, pastor
of Mount Pleasant church writes : “The
Bowen Association will convene with
Mt. Pleasant church, fifteen miles
north of Bainbridge, on Saturday
before the second Sunday in October.
Messengers who expect to go by rail,
and ministering brethren who will
favor us with their attendance as visi
tors, may secure comfortable transpor
tation, by writing immediately to either
of the following named gentlemen : Mr.
James Burnside, Mr. A. B. Cliett, or
Rev. R. L. Rachals, Bainbridge post
office, or Mr. Field Adams, Mr. Jos.
Dollar, or Rev. W. H. Hoggard,
Camilla post-office.
Arrivals at Bainbridge should be
timed for Friday morning, October 7th.
—Harrisonville correspondent La-
Grange Reporter: Our protracted meet
ing closed Sunday evening. Eighteen
accessions were made to the church,
fifteen by experience and two by letter,
and one was restored. We saw thir
teen of the converts buried in baptism
last Sunday morning. The remaining
two stand over for baptism till our next
meeting day.
—Early County News: The rain pre
vented services at the Baptist church
on Sunday last, but Bro. Corley has
preached every night this week, and
we hope he will continue to do so, for
if there is a town in Georgia that needs
much earnest preaching it is Blakely.
Our town can’t be said to be wicked
above other towns, but for years the
churches here have been in the
condition of the Laodiceans when the
Savior said of them, “Because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
will spew thee out of my mouth.”
—Rev G. F. Howard, will connect
with the Sunday-school of the First Bap
tist church of Atlanta, a class for young
men, devoted to the study of the Bible,
in its largest sense and connections.
The whole school is in a flourishing
condition, and is under the efficient
superintendency of Mr. John M. Green,
—An amount has been raised suf
ficient to supply the choir of the First
Baptist church of Atlanta with a grand
organ. It is said that this organ will
be the finest in the city.
Rev. R. J. Willingham, Talbotton,
assisted by Rev. Young Allen, of
Thomaston, is conducting quite an in
teresting series of meetings at Valley
Grove church. Up to Thursday last
there had been twelve accessions to the
church.
Columbus Times: The open air
meeting was largely attended Sunday
evening, notwithstanding threatening
weather. Rev. J. H. Campbell preach
ed a most interesting sermon, and the
singing was unusually good. These
meetings have been conducted during
the summer months for the last four
years, but at no time have they been
more interesting than during the pres
ent summer. There is no telling the
amount of good they have accom
plished, for their influence has been
wide-spread. To Dr. Campbell is due
their success; however, he has enlisted
the interest of the other ministers of
our city and many of the leading
church members. There are a large
number of people who attend these
services, but who never go inside a
church, and it is that the Gospel may
reach them that the meetings were in
augurated.
The Georgia Association will meet
with the Sharon church, Columbia
county, twelve miles from Thomson.
Messengers and visiting brethren who
desire to come on the railroad will be
met at Thomson, but such brethren
must notify brethren Dr. J. T. Boyd or
J. L. Cliatt, Clay Hill, Lincoln county,
stating what day they will be in Thom
son.
Fairburn News. Letter: There was a
big revival meeting at Friendship
(colored) Baptist church, at Camp
bellton, the first of last week and the
week before. It was conducted by
Rev. James Baker of Atlanta, pastor
of the church, assisted by Rev. Robin
son, of Augusta. A large number were
added to the church.
Rev. J. G. Norris, the blind preach
er of Liberty county, lost his dwelling,
kitchen and their contents by fire re
cently. His house was set on fire by
some villainous incendiary while Bro.
Norris was absent preaching. He is
an excellent and worthy preacher, and
any aid given him by our denomina
tion will be worthily bestowed. Send
your donation direct to him at Taylor’s
Creek, Liberty Co., or hand it to your
pastor with the request that he send it.
Barnesville Gazette: We had ti e
pleasure of meeting last week, Mr. J.
G. M. Medlock, the traveling agent of
The Christian Index. He was in at
tendance at the meeting here and suc
ceeded in adding several good names
—The First Baptist and the Broad
way Baptist churches of Galveston,
Texas, have dissolved,and have mutual
ly agreed upon a consolidation. This
is now being perfected. A new and
costly building for the conjoined inter
est is to be built at once. They are
already the possessors of a splendid
parsonage and of two church buildings
—one of which, though new and taste
ful, will be sold for the benefit of the
consolidated church. Letters from va
rious parts of Texas express the hope
that Dr. Spalding, of this city, will
respond favorably to the call made to
him from Galveston.
—Sunday, September 11th, Pastor
Spalding, of the Second Baptist church
of this city, gave the hand of fellow
ship to eight persons at the morning
service, and baptized one at the even
ing service. The congregation filled
the church on both occasions. The
Sunday-school room is being supplied
with new sittings and, the main audi
ence room is being newly carpeted
throughout. About one thousand dol
lars are being thus expended.
—Rev. F. M. Daniel, pastor of the
Central Baptist church, Atlanta, is
suffering from his annual attack of
“hay fever.”
—Rev. G. M. Hooten, in a letter to
a friend, Sept. 13th, says: “I closed
one of the most interesting meetings I
ever attended, at Mt. Olive church,”
Pike county, “last night; total num
ber received by experience 63.”
—Early County News: The pro'
traded meeting at the Blakely Bap'
tist church was brought to a close on
Sunday night last. There were two
additions to the church by baptism,
Miss Nannie Mulligan and Miss Jessie
Granberry. The pastor, Rev. J. H.
Corley, delivered several soul-stirring
sermons, from which we hope to see
much more good results than are yet
apparent. He was aided in the clos
ing exercises of his meetings by Rev.
J. P. Wardlaw.
—Hartwell Sun: After a series of
most interesting meetings for two
weeks, the revival at the Baptist church
closed yesterday morning. During the
meeting six persons were converted
and joined the church, viz: Misses
Mollie Moseley, Myrtie Looney, Susie
Allen, Jessie Thornton, and Messrs. J.
T. Baker and Bennie Earle. Mr. Ba
ker and Miss Mosely were baptized
Tuesday morning, and the other can
didates Friday morning, by Rev. L. W.
Stephens, in Dr. Mathew’s pond. The
meeting has done a great deal of good
and the church has been wonderfully
revived.
—Newnan Herald: The Baptist
church at Macedonia made a raid on
the Newman Methodist church on last
Sunday, and captured Miss Annie
Boynton, who told a good Christian ex
perience and afterwards was baptized
in Cedar creek.
—Montezuma Weekly : Rev. A. J.
Cheves has been called to the pastor
ate of the Byronville Baptist church.
Rev. Mr. Parrott will remain with the
people of Beulah, and Rev. Mr. Briggs
will occupy the pulpit of the Travel
ler’s Rest Baptist church.
—Rev. C. C. Willis reports a gra
cious outpouring of the Spirit among
his people, at Bethesda, Harris county.
He writes : “We commenced a meet
ing on Saturday, the 3d inst., and con
tinued day and night for nine days.
We had thirteen additions to the
church, five by letter and eight by bap
tism. Left several others indulging
hope. The church greatly revived, con
gregations were large. The ordinance
of baptism was administered on Sun
day morning the 11th inst., in a beau
tiful pool, before a large crowd of spec
tators. Good order was observed;
after which the people of the surround
ing country assembled in the house
and filled it to overflowing, and I
preached the best I could to a solemn
and attentive audience. Brother Buck,
from Alabama, was with me until
Thursday night, and did some effective
preaching. We raised about $55 00
during the week for the Master’s cause.
The Lord be praised for His goodness
to us.”
—Rev. T. L. Houck, of Cuthbert,
Ga., writes Sept. 17th: “We have a
good meeting going on in the Baptist
church in this place. Rev. E. R. Cars
well is with us. Two have already
joined, one is the wife of Judge W. F.
Clarke. She had been a member of
the Methodist church for several years
but professed faith in Christ last Tues
day night. Pray for us that we may
have a gracious revival.”
—Bro. J. M. G. Medlock writes from
Sparta, Ga., Sept. 19th: “We had a
glorious meeting at Bethel church,
Hancock county, N. B. Binion, pas
tor. Eleven baptized, three awaiting
baptism, and four restored.”