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HKNKY H.TUCKER, Kditor
INFIDELITY.
All theories, doctrines and isms have
their ebb and flow. To-day the tide
rises with one of them, and the pros
pect is that the world is to be over
whelmed with it; to-morr.iw the tide
falls, and the refluent wave recedes
until it is lost sight of, and the pros
pect is that we shall never see it more.
But in course of time, it may be in a
decade, or in ten decades or in a hun
dred, it comes in sight again, and its
former history is repeated. This is the
case with the true no less than with
the false; with this difference, however,
that truth never disappears entirely,
even for a moment; however much it
may subside, there is always some of
it left; and with this further differ
ence, that its periods of rise and sub
sidence are not so far apart. The
result is, that in the struggle between
truth and falsehood for the supremacy,
truth, in long periods, always gains
ground. The unlearned are apt to
despond when they see truth appar
ently failing and error making head
way ; but those who stand on higher
eminences, whence they can take
broader views, never feel uneasy. They
know that all this has happened be
fore, and that when truth recedes it is
only to gather strength, as it were,
from the great ocean, wherewith it will
return with more force than ever.
Just at this time, there is an incom
ing flood of infidelity, which threatens
to engulf the Christian world; and
some pious, but inexperienced, and
therefore timid, disciples are trembling
for the result. They need give them
selves no concern as to the result; God
Almighty will take care of that; their
only concern should be, to see that
they use their utmost endeavors to sus
tain the truth, for it is by the blessing
of God on these endeavors, that He
upholds His cause. He could do it
without them ; He needs no help ; but
it is not the divine economy to work
by miracle when miracle is needless.
It is by human instrumentalities that
He carries out His purposes with re
gard to truth. Hence there is. more
encouragement to labor for this than
for anything else. Other enterprises
may fail, but this we know will not
fail; we labor with no uncertain pros
pect ; success is assured ; we have only
to labor and wait. We shall certainly
die before all will have been accom
plished, but when it has been accom
plished, it will be a grand sight for
glorified spirits to behold, when they
look back and see that their lives and
labors were part and parcel of the
means whereby the glory of the Lord
came to fill the whole earth.
The infidels are the obstructionists.
They are doing what they can against
the cause of God and truth. They
are encouraged just now with what
they suppose to be coming success.
But there is a time coming when they,
too, will look back and see what they
have done. It would be well for them
to look in advance now, and see what
the effect of their work would be, if
they should succeed in their purposes.
Supposing them to do what they have
set out to do, they will convince a cer
tain number of unfortunates that the
Bible is not wholly to be trusted as
the word of God ; that certain parts of
it may indeed be relied on, and these
parts are to be selected, either by each
man for himself —in which case there
would be as many different Bibles as
there are readers of that book —or that
the mass of the people should allow
the selections to be made for them by
“scholars’’—that is, by the “Leaders
of Advanced Thought;” and as there
are many of these Leaders, and as no
two of them lead the same way, there
would be as many Bibles as there are
Leaders. Whichever alternative we
take, the Bible is practically elimi
nated, and is virtually a blank book,
in which each “ scholar,” or other per
son, may write what he pleases. It is
easy to make converts to this view;
for human nature eagerly seizes upon
anything which tends to undermine
the word of God; and the prince of
the power of the air comes in, with
strong battalions from the kingdom of
darkness, to aid the cause.
When the Bible is reduced to the
level of a book of fables, Christ disap
pears from human view, except as a
mythical personage, such as Hercules
or Vulcan, or drops to the plane of
Socrates or Plato, or perhaps to that of
Mahomet or Joe Smith; the gospel
becomes a fanciful theory, like that of
Emanuel Swedenborg, or a wild dream
like that of Andrew Jackson Davis;
the Evil One becomes a mere hobgoblin
wherewith to scare naughty children ;
the wrath of God, as manifested in
the eternal punishment of the wicked,
is nothing but a horrible nightmare,
to be shaken off by the waking race;
God himself ceases to be a person, glo
rious in holiness, fearful in praises,
doing wonders, and is displaced by
matter; and force seizing matter,
moulds it into the myriad shapes of
the universe, and without either intelli
gence or feeling, reigns supreme, and
that impersonally. In other words,
and fewer, Christianity is exchanged
for Paganism.
Now what good will come of this?
Let each one ask what would be the
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST! THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1881.
effect of such an exchange upon his
own soul. Would he be the happier
for it? Would he enjoy life more to
think that there is no Giver of good,
and that the pleasant things of life
came from no person, and from no
thing, but are fated by some inexplica
ble influence of force which comes
from nowhere, or matter which always
existed? Should it comfort him to
think that there is no Being full of
goodness, and wisdom, and power, who
cares for him and loves him? Would
he be glad to know that the trials and
sorrows of life are unmitigated evils,
and that no good can come from them?
Would it refresh his spirit to think
that his well-being for the long future,
depends on what he can do, and that
there is none to help him? Would he
rejoice to know that there is no Sa
viour?
Would he be a better man if he felt
sure that there is no God to whom he
is responsible? Would he be more
restrained from wrong-doing without
the fear of penalty than with it? Would
he be more inspired with zeal for truth
and rectitude, without the prospect of
heaven than with it? Would he be
more inclined to walk in the way of
true wisdom, if there were no certain
law of right, and no Lawgiver to en
force it?
Leaving out all view of the future,
how would he feel with regard to his
present surroundings? Would he feel
more confidence in his wife, if he
knew that she were as lawless as him
self? Would he have brighter hopes
for his children, in a world of moral
] anarchy, than in a Christian world,
i deluded with the brlief that the Bible
is the word of God, and that its teach
ings are true? Would he feel safer in
the enjoyment of his rights than now?
Would he be less liable to trespass
from his neighbors? Would he be glad
to know that everybody had thrown
off restraint; that everybody was
laughing at what we call Revelation,
and that all men were saying of mat
ter and force, These be our gods?
The effect of infidelity on the indi
vidual soul is what it would be on
communities, on nations, and on the
race. Suppose that its promulgators
should look back from an etc: nrl
world, and see that they had involved
the whole human family in the ruin,
which, though not above described
has been sufficiently suggested. What
a frightful spectacle! But this they
will never see. This hell is not in re
serve for them. It will be enough for
them to see the effect of their influence
so far as it has gone.
But no one who is likely to read
these lines, will admit that he is an
infidel, or that he has any proclivities
which could possibly lead him to, or
even towards infidelity. Brother! are
you sure?
A Sad Bereavement.—On Tuesday
morning, the 15th inst., at about half
past three o’clock, a little daughter of
our brother, A. T. Spalding, breathed
her last. She was about eleven years
old and had been sick with typhoid
fever about four weeks. Young as she
was, she had made a credible -proses
sion of her faith in Jesus Christ several
years ago, and had desired baptism at
her father’s hands, but in view of her
extreme youth he had delayed the dis
charge of that duty, (wisely as we
think,) and now she has passed away.
It is matter of rejoicing that she had
received the better baptism of the
Spirit. Our brother is just about
leaving the community where he has
long been known and loved, to go to
another where he is a stranger, and
where it will, of course, be impossible
for him to receive the same sympathy
that he would have among his old
friends, and especially from those who
were near to him in his affliction, and
who shared his burdens and his sor
rows during the trying scenes of the
last few weeks.* His chastening has
been sore, but we doubt not that divine
compensation will be made him, and
that he will yet be made glad accord
ing to the days wherein he has been
afflicted, and to the years wherein he
has seen evil. With all the saints the
depth of their grief will meet with
grand antithesis in the height of their
joy-
The Cotton Exposition.—A most
magnificentdisplay of the resourcesand
industries of the country, and particu
larly of the South, is now on exhibition
at Atlanta. The sight of it would
amply repay for the time, trouble and
expense of a trip of some hundreds of
miles. It not merely gratifies a lauda
ble curiosity, but it,supplies a large
amount of valuable information, which
could not possibly be obtained in any
other way without far greater expendi
ture, Really, the Exposition is a civi
lizer, a teacher, and an educator, and
will do much towards expanding the
minds and elevating the conceptions
of all who visit it. No one can see it
without pleasure and profit. The rail
roads in the State have reduced the
fare to one cent per mile, each way,
and hence our citizens have the oppor
tunity of much gratification and much
benefit at small expense.
—A writer in the Alabama Baptist
says: •* There are, I believe, fifty-two
white Baptist Associations in this
State; some of them numerically small
and quite inefficient. If there were
only half that number, thoroughly or
ganized and united, double the work
for Christ would be done.” Is not the
same thing true, in part, of Georgia?
THE BIBLE MAKES BAPTISTS.
We fear that some of our opponents
make the very existence of Baptists in
the world a lamentation; but there
seems to be little reason to promise
them, or their successors, a relief front
their trouble on this score. The Bible,
in spite of the assaults of Anti-inspira
tionists, is sure to maintain its hold on
the head and heart of the race, and
sure to keep on in the future, as in the
past, making Baptists of many among
its readers. That Christian baptism is
simply and only the immersion of be
lievers, stands so luminously on its
pages that men will never cease to see
it there. This work is done, even where
men have never heard that there is
anywhere on the face of the earth such
a people as the Baptists. Take two
cases in point, which we gather from
a New York letter to the National Bap
tist of Philadelphia.
Rev. J. B. Hayguni, a native of
Cappadocia, and a convert under mis
sionary labor, was led by the study of
the Scriptures to recognize the immer
sion of believers as the one only bap
tism. Arguing that question with the
Professor in Robert’s College, Coristan
tinople, he was told that he was a
Baptist, thus ascertaining for the first
time our existence as a people. He
afterward came to the United States to
complete his medical studies, was bap
tized by Rev. Dr. MacArthur, of New
York, and is now a student in our
Theological Seminary at Rochester.
Rev. Garabed Caprielian is an Arme
nian, who was brought to Christ
through the instrumentality of Ameri
can missionaries, and, after education
by them, became a pastor in Constan
tinople. He, too, in searching the
Scriptures, reached the same conclu
sion and embraced our views, though
utterly ignorant until recently of our
denominational existence. He is at
present in this country, and, if nothing
occurred to hinder the consummation
of his purpose, was baptized last Sab
bath by Rev. A. S. Gumbart, of Jersey-
City.
Such instances, we think, give
marked emphasis to the truth, that, if
men wish to get rid of Baptists, they
must first get rid of the Bible. But
they will do neither!
Our esteemed brother of the Journal
and Messenger, whose paper is always
read with pleasure, has been kind
enough to republish one of our para
graphs, which we thought would not
be largely copied in certain quarters.
True, he calls it “silly stuff,” but when
increased circulation is given to obe’s
writings, he is not apt to care much
how they are labelled. A little rude
ness of speech does not diminish our
affection for a worthy brother.
GLIMPSES AND HINTS.
—Most of the hymns used in the
Baptist church at Naples, Italy, were
“written by an Italian Baptist poet, set
to music by an Italian Baptist com
poser, and published by an Italian
Baptist bookseller.” Such facts wake
that song in the heart which God deigns
to hear as melody even to his ear.
—Rev. R, A. Venable requests, as a
favor, the correction of the report that
the old First Baptist church, of Mem
phis, Tenn., of which he is pastor, has
adopted the intercommunion theory
of Dr. Graves, who is one of its mem
bers.
Rev. A. B. Simpson has resigned
the pastorship of the Thirteenth street
Presbyterian church, New York, and
dissolved his connection with that de
nomination, because he no longer be
lieves in the necessity or propriety of
infant baptism. He has been “ buried
in baptism ” by one of our ministers
in that city, but proposes to work apart
from all denominations, as a sort of
evangelical guerilla.
—We regret the ill-health of Rev.
Wm. Ferguson, which constrains him
to suspend for a season his labors as
managing editor of the Central Baptist,
and pass the winter in San Antonio,
Texas.
—The law of Germany no longer
compels parents to have their children
“ baptized.” Last year, in Berlin, the
percentage of “ baptized ” children
was 74 only. The Lutheran Standard
gravely remarks : “ One-fourth of the
children in the city so proud of its
culture grow up as heathens.” How
does this sound, in view of the fact that
when the progenitors of the inhabit
ants of Berlin were heathens, the cus
tom of sprinkling infants prevailed
among them? Are the children hea
then for the lack of a ceremony which
was heathen in its origin and is still
often heathen in its spirit and effect?
—Rev. T. C. M. Golland, pastor of the
First Baptist church, Jackson, La., and
President of Woodside Female Insti
tute, has disappeared. He has not
been heard from since September 22d,
at which date he was in New Orleans.
He was formerly pastor, at Camden,
Ala. ■
—The largest dealer in theological
books in America, according to Dr. T.
T. Eaton, once said that “ Pedobaptists
are far more unwilling to buy Baptist
books than Baptists are to buy Peao
baptist books.” The Christian Visitor,
byway of comment, says: “Truth
does not fear investigation.”
—The Southern Pulpit for Novem
ber, contains a sermon on ‘*The Curse
and the Cross,” by Rev. J. L. Burrows,
D.D., pastor of the Freemason street
Baptist church, Norfolk, Va.
—Rev. W. C. Richards, Ph. D., re
tires from the position he has held on
the editorial staff of the Chicago
Standard for five years. We are sorry
to part with him.
—The Baptists of Dakota are estab
lishing a Collegiate Institute at Sioux
Falls.
The Chicago Evangelist says that
the church which Mr. Moody built up
in that city, and in which he holds his
membership, maintains that the apos
tolic baptism is immersion alone. This
doctrine is preached from its pulpit,
and all\ are urged to conform to it.
But immersion is not made an indis
pensable pre-requisite to admission
into the church.
At the Missouri Baptist General As
sociation, the ministers presented an
ivory, gold-headed cane to Dr. W. Pope
Yeaman, as a token of their love and
appreciation of his services to the
cause. He deserved it.
—Rev. W. P. Derrick recently bap
tized at Fellowship church, Tenn., an
entire household—the parents and five
children.
—Rev. E. 7. Simmons, Southern
Baptist missionary at Canton, China,
reports five additions to our church in
that city, by baptism, during the
month of August.
Aitken, in his recent work, “God’s
Everlasting Yea,” has this just and
important thought: “Whatever hum
bles us is of God, but whatever depresses
us is of the devil.”
—Spurgeon said, not long since,
that doubts as to the fundamentals of
the gospel do not come near a warm
hearted church: adding, “ I never saw
a fly alight on a red-hot plate.”
—ln lowa there are 14 county-sites
without a Baptist church, and 180
Baptist churches without a house of
worship.
—Rev. Dr. Cramp, the venerable
author of the History of Baptists, is
now reading the Greek New Testament
through for the sixty-seventh time. He
is making himself more and more
familiar with the beginnings of that
history.
All American coffee—and America
now produces the greater part of the
coffee grown in the world—is said to be
derived from a single plant which
reached the new world about a century
and a half ago. This, amazes us, but
what mind can grasp the marvels of
growth, in either the natural or spirit
ual sphere?
According to a correspondent of
Notes and Queries, October Sth, one of
the four biographies of Charles Wes
ley states that “he was immersed in a
river in Lincolnshire, when a young
man.” And the notices of hymn
writers in 'he “Companion to Gadsby’s
Selection,” mentions without vouching
for a tradition that John Wesley, too,
was immersed. We doubt both state
ments.
The tomb of Professor Clifford, the
English Positivist, at Highgate, bears
this inscription : “I was not, and was
conceived; I lived, and did a little
work; lam not, and grieve not.” If
annihilation were true, (and infidelity
can offer us nothing better,) how cheer
less a thing would human destiny be!
Shall we exchange the joy of Christian
hope for this bitter belief? But, in
spite of the “false marble,” Professor
Clifford is, and grieves. Infidelity can
not give us even annihilation, but
judgment awaits it.
The American Congress, at one
time, felt free to try its hand at theolog
ical denunciations. In its address to
the people of Great Britain, October
21st, 1774, it characterized Romanism
as “a religion that has deluged your
island in blood, and diffused ijnpiety,
bigotry, persecution, murder and rebel
lion throughout every part of the
world.”
Dr. W. P. Harrison, in a series of
newspaper “letters to young preach
ers,” says: “I hope you may never
see the day when you can enter the
pulpit without more or less trepida
tion. ‘A greater than Solomon’ is al
ways there, and in His presence it is
fit that you should be embarrassed.
When you do not feel so, there is some
thing wrong in your heart; and, as a
consequence, your head will bear testi
mony to the fault.”
“The eye of a drone contains four
teen thousand mirrors.” Is that the
reason why church drones see so many
things to find fault with?
Our good brother of the Presbyterian
quotes a sentence from us, which he
says is “foolish.” He ought now to
balance the account by copying some
thing from us which is not foolish. We
set him an example by quoting one of
his own good sayings. Here it is:
“One says ‘ the church is holding her
own ’ —but was the church.ordained to
hold her own? Is a ship created to
ride at anchor? There is no holding
our own except in progress. The di
vine commission, ‘Go ye into all the
world,’ is simply the divine formula for
life as manifested in constant progres
siveness.”
Our brother of the Watchman copies
an article from us on its demerits; and
in the same issue he copies another
from us on its merits. The former ar
ticle is a very short one; the latter is
quite a long one; so there is a good
balance to our credit, after all! Some
time, when we catch our Boston broth
er by himself, (if we don’t forget to do
so) we shall defend our little
GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS.
—The death of Rev. Calloway Thornton,
at Hartwell, is deeply lamented.
Rev. C. T. Walker, pastor of the colored
Baptist church In LaGrange, returns thanks
to Mr. Lehman for the donation of a fine
clock for the use of the church.
—West Point Press: Rev. Dr. Roby, the
recently elected pastor of the Baptist church,
will begin his pastoral duties on next Sab
bath morning. Until further notice there
will be preaching on the first and third Sun
days at this church.
Dr. Woolsey is called to preach at Pal
metto next year. ,
—Brother J. F. Reeves writes: Rev. G. R
McCall, one of the successful pastors of
Southern Georgia, has been on a short visit
to Griffin, Georgia While in the city, (the
pastor being absent) by special request he
conducted an informal service at the Baptist
church, Monday night the 7th inst. After
preaching a very forcible and practical ser
mon, he officiated in the baptism of Miss
Sims, who offered herself as a candidate for
membership. Everything passed off so
pleasantly the membership will cherish a
fond remembrance of his short visit.
—The Milner Baptist church, we learn,
has extended a call to their much loved
pastor, Rev. E. M. Hooten. Their late
faithful pastor, Rev. A. L. Moncrief, having
declined to accept the call for the ensuing
year. It is not.yet known whether the
former will accept.
—Rev. G R McCall will probably be
tendered the pastorate of the Griffin church
—The Baptist church at Barnesville, de
siring to secure the valuable services of Rev
R J. Willingham and hive him locate in
their town, has extended to him a call tor
all his time. The Thomaston church, un
willing to give up their efficient and much
loved pastor, has extended to him a unani
mous call and in their liberality proposes to
pay him for all his time, and if necessary, in
order to secure his location in their midst,
to build him a house on the church lot.
—The Athens Baptist church last Sundaj
voted an addition of 25 percent, to the pas
tor's salary. With such substantial sympa
thy manifested, brother Campbell can enter
with renewed courage on his seventh year
of labor with this gro.wing body.
Under the head of “A Deserved Compli
ment,” the Athens Watchman says: “ Th*
Trustees of the Baptist church, at their las
meeting, voluntarily raised Dr. Campbell’,
salary 25 per cent. This is a deserved com
pliment to one of the leading divines of tbr
State.”
—Rev. Robert H Harris, a well-know:
educator of Thomas county, and Bapt.is
minister, died at his home in Cairo recent l.i
—The Baptist church at Brier Creek hat
unanimously called the editor of the Wai
renton Clipper to serve them again as paste:
another year.
—LaGrange Reporter: “Rev. 8. P. Calls
way, editor of the Reporter, has moved bit
family to LaGrange, and occupies the Virg:
Dallis place.
—Rev. M. B. Hardin preached a mo
eloquent sermon at the Baptist church la-
Sunday. He is greatly beloved and appre
ciated by his people.
—Rev. Mr. Roby has entered fully upm
his work as pastor of the Baptist church a
West Point.
—Crawfish item in LaFayette Messenger
“ Rev. T. C. Tucker preached at the Baptis
church on Saturday before the fifth Sunday
in October. He has accepted the call of thi
church for the next year.”
—Sparta Ishmaelite: “Rev. LR. L. Jen
nings, of the Baptist church, administered
the ordinance of baptism to Eddie Burrus
on Sabbath last.”
—Augusta News, November 14th: “Tin
pulpit of the First Baptist church was fil le
af the morning and evening services yester
day by Rev. C. A. Stakely, of Elberton. B
is one of the youngest ministers in the pul
pit, being 22 years old, and is regarded as on,
of the most prominent and brilliant younj.-
preachers of the Baptist Church. Mr.S'takeli
completely won and enthused his audiences
and by his boyish appearance and voice, yei
beautiful manner and expression, made :■
good impression on every one. Indeed, suci
was the effect ot his morning sermon tha,
even the large church was crowded at th,
evening service.
"Mr. Stakely visited Augusta and th<
church on the invitation of the pastor, Mr
Landrum, and the reception given theyoung
preacher cannot fail of mutual gratification
It would be impossible to synopsize his dis
courses, for they were in themselves we)
prepared and beautifully expressed efforts
full of animation and poetic thought, and
delivered with thegrace andease which char
acterizes the young speaker. Besides being
a preacher of promise, Mr. Stakely is a poe,
of some reputation, and a book of his poems
has passed through two editions. He is now
in charge of a prosperous church in Elberton,
although he is, we believe, from LaGrange
His impression on our people is so pleasant
that it were needless to add that Mr. Stakely
will always be welcomed to Augusta.”
“On last Saturday evening, at the monthlv
conference of the First Baptist church, the
annual statement of the financial condition
of the church during the past fiscal year was
read by the Treasurer. While the church
had given more than for many years to mis
sions, charitable purposes and internal im
provement in the building, there was left in
the Treasury, at that time, nearly $350
Such an exhibit is generally supposed to be
something unusual in church histories ; $250
of this amount was voted to be given, in
addition to his salary, to their pastor, Rev.
W. W. Landrum, as a slight token of their
appreciation for his faithfulness and success
during the past twelve months. The balance
was given to the poor of the church. This
church, perhaps, has never had larger con
gregations, greater unanimity in its ranks,
better and a larger amount of work done in
its various departments than at present. We
congratulate the church upon its prosperity
and usefulness, for that which is good for
them is good for the community at large.”
—Rev. S. T. Fuller, recently of Hamilton,
Ga., passed through our city with his family
this week, en route for Louisville, where he
proposes to complete the course of studies
necessary to graduation in the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary, and to pursue
a course of post-graduate studies. We hope
that be is lost to Georgia only fora time, and
that he will return to us thoroughly
equipped for service to the Master here.
The Columbus Enquirer Sun says:
“ At the fifty-second annual session of the
Columbus Baptist Association, held about a
year ago, there was a committee appointed
to make a report on colportage to the last
session of that body, which convened on the
24th of September. Rev. A. B. Campbell,
pastor of the First Baptist church in this
city, was chairman of the committee who
deemed it of sufficient importance that the
Association should make liberal provisions
for its prosecution without delay.
“The committee recommended that a fund
of not less than SSOO be raised as grounds
practicable to constitute a permanent capital
for this purpose, and this capital to be kept
intact, all expenses of the business to be
defrayed by the profits accruing from the
sales, unless provided for by special contribu
tion. That, while the Association pledges
itself to raise the above named amount of
SSOO, the committee to be appointed for the
management of the business are hereby au
thorized to begin operations so soon as S3OO
of said amount shall have been obtained.
That a committee of five brethren, membe s
of a church or churches connected with this
Association, to be known as the Colportage
Committee, be annually elected, to have
entire charge and control of this business,
including the control of the funds, selecting,
purchasing and storing the stock, appointing
and dismissing colporters and presenting
their duties, regulating the rates of profits,
and whatever else may be necessary. That
this committee be required to make to the
Association, at the close of each year, a re
port in writing of all their transactions dur*,
ing the year, including all receipts and dis
bursements, all rates of profits, all losses, all
free distributions of books and other printed
matter, also the work of colporters, and
where, and when, or by whom performed,
and any other information in their posses
sion concerning the progress of the work and
the condition of the property and interests
committed to their care. That the said
committee shall rt quire written reports to
be made to them by the colporters on every
Jan’y Ist, every April Ist, July Ist, and every
Tuesday preceding the annual assembling of
the Association, each report to contain
whatever information is necessary to enable
the committee to prepare the report required
in paragraph 5 of this paper, and any colpor
ter failing to comply with this requirement,
shall be so reported by the committee to this
Association. While seeking to offer reading
matter to purchasers at the lowest rates con
sistent with the greatest usefulness of the
fund committed to their management, the
committee may, nevertheless, provide a
margin in the profits, to be devoted to the
gratuitous distribution of such quantity of
reading matter as may, in their judgment,
be advantageous.
“In accordance with the above, Dr. J. S.
Searcy has appointed the committee, con
sisting of Rev. A. B. Campbell, of this city,
Chairman ; Rev. R. J. Willingham, Talbot*
ton ; Rev. S. T. Fuller, of Hamilton ; Dr. E.
C. Hood, of Columbus, and E P. Willis, of
Muscogee county. Yesterday they were
notified of their appointment.
‘ The committee will doubtless organize at
once and begin operations, as the amount of
funds specified has been raised, the First
Baptist church, in this city, raising $l5O
—Elberton New South: The entire
county of Elberton was both shocked and
startled on Monday to learn of the sudden
death on the evening previous of Reverend
Benjamin Calloway Thornton, a Baptist
minister, well known throughout the
bounds of Sarepta Association, and beloved
by ail who knew him for his true piety, his
Christian labors and genial fellowship.
—Americus Recorder: A general meet*
ing was held in the Antioch Baptist church,
Webster county, embracing Friday, Satur
day and the fifth Sunday of October. Rev.
J. B. Deavors presiding and W. M. Sears,
Secretary. Rev. W. W. Mabry is pastor.
The subject: “Duty of pastors to churches
and churches to pastors,” was discussed by
brethren R. A. J. Powell, Mabry, Sears, T.
J. Bell, R. A. Bell and J. W. Tyler. The
subject: "Are Sunday schools authorized by
the Scriptures ?" was passed over. The sub
ject : "To whom was the command given,
go ye into all the world and preach the gos
pel to every creature,” was shared by breth
ren Stephens, Powell and Deavors. Rev. R.
A J. Powell preached on Friday and Suns
day morning. Rev. T. J. Bell on Saturday
morning, and Rev. W. B. Stephens Sun
day afternoon. The weather was favorable
excej t the last day, the attendance good and
the meeting harmonious.
—Warrenton Clipper: The Elim Baptist
church has unanimously called Rev. T. J.
Pilcher to its pastoral charge another year.
This is a most excellent endorsement and
most worthily bestowed. Mr. Pilcher has
been one of the most successful pastors in
the State and we are glad to see his»work so
well appreciated at home and abroad. He
now has charge of three flourishing churches
with offers for the balance of his time.
The members of the colored Baptist
church and their congregation marched in
procession through town Sunday morning,
to perform the beautiful ceremony of bap
tism at Cody’s Pond. The procession was
large and orderly,and as they moved slowly,
singing one of the songs of Zion, they made
a solemn impression.
Barnesville Gazette : The Columbus Em.
quirer Sun speaks of Rev. R J. Willingham,
who was but a few days since called to the
pastorate of the Baptist church here, as a
cultivated and able divine.
Rev. B. F. W. Goss writes from Oreb,
Jefferson county, Kentucky: “The
first religions paper I ever saw was
The Chbistian Index, nearly sixty
years ago. My father, Elder Isham
Goss, was a regular subscriber to it,
and I was quite a child. I took delight
in reading the paper, and remember
to-day pieces that I learned then.”
Brother Goss practices medicine for a
living, and preaches mostly among the
destitute poor, who seldom or never
hear any one else—three-fourths of his
time in Indiana, and one-fourth in
Kentucky. As a minister of the gos
pel, he gives away ten dollars where
he receives one. On the Sabbath be
fore he wrote us he preached at Cane
Run church at 11 a. m. ; attended at
2 p. m. the funeral of Reuben Dewees,
who was said to have been 116 years of
age at the time of his death ; at 4 p. M.,
visited the Sunday-school at Briar
Creek, and preached; and at 7 :30 p. M.
heard a sermon by Rev. W. E. Powers,
at Oreb.
The culture of the voice is the duty
of the public speaker, alike as regards
the preservation of his health and the
attainment of his highest efficiency.
This culture, to secure the best results,
should be intelligent and systematic—
which it can hardly be except in a
competent School of Elocution. With
pleasure, therefore, we refer our read
ers to the advertisement of Rev. W. T.
Cheney, announcing the establishment
of such a school in Augusta, Ga.
One of our Southern Baptist ex
changes, not long since, published an
article, under the heading “Ingersoll
Unmasked,” stating that his famous
speech on Intemperance was “feloni
ously pilfered, word for word, from
‘ Gunn’s Domestic Medicine,’ ” and
characterizing him as ‘a mere jackdaw
strutting before the public in stolen
feathers.’ Strange to say, the same
issue of that paper contains an editorial
article, entitled “ Infant Baptism, or
Perdition,” which was written and
given to the press, five or six years ago,
by Dr. Norman Fox. We withhold
the name of that exchange, but will
give it at its request.
—There are three hundred towns ill
Indiana without Baptist churches,