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4 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,