The Christian index and southern Baptist. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1881-1892, December 15, 1881, Page 2, Image 2

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

2 PARTING WORDS TO THE BAPTISTS OF GEORGIA. Drab Brethren : I bid you adieu I I be lieve in a divine call to the ministry, and divine guidance in tbe ministry. I have been satisfied as to the duty of accepting the invitation of the Coliseum Place Bqitist church. New Orleans, and of the Home Mission Board, to b-come the pastor of said church. Twice before n>y return to Georgia this church called me but the way did not seem clear, at that time, for entering the service. Now I think tbe time has come. I believe God made me a pastor, and I know the work is dearer to me than any employ ment on earth can be. I hope to be of use in organizing and laying the foundations ol future churches in our largest S rnthern citv, where we have b it little strength and nil tence. The territory of Georgia once reached the Mississippi river, and 1 do nut feel, in these days of rapid transit, that I shall be far from my brethren in this State, or that I shall be severed in sympathy from their enterprises L t me have, dear brethren, your favor and your prayers I The few months in which I have labored exclusively for Mercer University has in creased my love for my Alma Mater, and mv sense of her importance to the Baptists and people of the Commonwealth. We cannot have our needs met as a Christian people without Mercer University, It is fundamental to the best education of our sons and the rising ministry. The State can never do the work in education which we, as Baptists, are riqiired to do. Thetenden cy of higher education in our day is antago nistic to tbe kingdom of Christ. There is great need of Christian colleges to resist this tendency, and to exercise a conservative influence on the State colleges These State institutions are controlled by trustees, many of whom are politicians, and sustained by legislators, many of whom are demagogues In such hands there is less security in the character and teaching of a professor, than in the hands of a Board of Trustees elected by the Georgia Baptist Convention. With the most munificent means under the con trol of the L-gislature, tbe success of the State colleges is not satisfactory. 1 lie Agri cultural colleges, instead of being feeders to the State University, or Mercer and Emory, are really sappers. At Thomasville I was told that not probably more than three students would go to any college from that school the next year. In the school at Mil ledgeville, where the first year there were four hundred pupils (as I was told), there are now only about two hundred and seven ty five. And from this school very few will go to college. After a pupil has been in the school—at one of these Agricultural schools —from tbe primary school, through the 'studies of a Sophomore cla s, he is weary of school. When the course here is finished, and the Chancellor of the University has conferred the certificate of graduation there is an end of school days. They study medi cine or law, or go into business. So it is that, practically, these schools hurt the State University end the other colleges There are fewer men going to college any where. Many half-educated men, but too few thoroughly trained men. Too few prepared, as natives of the South, for leadership of our civilize tion. I believe in special taxation to give free education to all trie people, so far as primary education is concerned. I have spoken much for common school education, and served on tbe Board of. Education in Savan nah, but I do not believe in taxation to give free tuition in colleges and Universities The State is interested deeply in having in telligent voters, and hence should support primary schools, even by taxation, but there her work in this direction should end. Higher education is a luxury for which the individual, the community, or the Christian denomination, should pay. If made free, it should be by endowments in some of the various forms This is the method of the best institutions in America I speak of the i nexpediency of free tuition by- taxation in Universities, not in primary education. I am not res|>onsible lor the obtuseness of those who cannot make this distinction. In my work for Mercer, I have found the farmers, as e rule, poor, and unable to give large amounts for endowment. The Bap tists of the South are largely agriculturists. Toe one practicable way to keep Mercer abreast of the best institutions of the times, is for the churches to give annually to sup S lenient the deficiency of income until en owment may come from the rich. Let the month of December in each year be the time for all the churches to make their an nual collections for Christian and ministerial education in Mercer University. Let the names of individuals aud churches making contributions be kept by the President and Treasurer of the University and published quarterly. In view of the short crops, and other ob stacles, Mercer University is in a pr- sperous condition. It has nearly one hundred stu dents in the four college classes, and an unusually large proportion of paying stu dents There is also an increase of ministe rial students, and some of them are men of great promise. In leaving, I may add that my native State is dear to me, and that I returned to it. two years ago, fully expecting to finish my life-work on her soil. Man proposes, but God disposes I go very cheerfully and hopefully to labor at the mouth of the " Father of Waters ” Ou its banks rest the bodies of my father, my brother, and my two sons. The great valley has, for me, very sacred associations. Affectionately, Sylvasus Landrum. REV. IF. B. BENNETT. Your readers remember, perhaps, the let ter I wrote them in your columns begging for aid to assist in building a church at this place. No one but sister Everitt—widow of Rev. 8. D Everitt —replied. God raised us help in a different way, not with means to build a church, but by sending us a preacher and it is of him, his preaching and its results, lam going to write. Not many Sabbaths after my letter appeared, I received a card from our dear brother, Rev. W. B. Bennett, of Quitman, Ga , telling me he would make us an appointment, if it was desired. Ac cordingly, my husband, whois only half brother—his heart being in the church though bis name is not saw our Methodist brethren and obtained permission to occupy their church. The appointment was made known generally and when brother Bennett came he met a large congregation and preached one of his clear, plain, practical sermonswhicb delighted his attentive hearers In the afternoon the few members of the Baptist church met at brother C. A. Smith's residence and earnestly requested brother Bennett to give us a monthly appointment, which be kindly consented to do aud which promise be has since kept. At his August appointment be bad the pleasure of re.'eiv ingtwo members, postponing their baptism until the 3rd Sabbath in October, which day was one of pleasure to those who followed Cbe candidates to the water's edge, believing that Christ led the example. The sun threw • mellow caste over nature's autumn drapery, all was still.and the greatest solem nity prevailed, which made the ordinance, so gracefully and earnestly performed, doubly impressive. The questions asked by THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1881. the minister and replied to from the Bible failed to draw comment from our Pedobap tist brethren, the act was sustained Accord ing to appointment, brother B preached at night and tbe Spirit of the Lord was with him. The exercises of the afternoon gave him renewed vim and he preached a sermon full of earnest, persuasive truths. His text: "Son and daughter give me thy heart.” ad niitted lender solicitations and his pictures of what tbe consequences would be if they complied, were so beautiful, so gloriously grand that at theclose of bis sermon he dis covered the effect, invited mourners for prayer, and to tbe utter gratification of pa rents, brothers and sisters, siveral presented themselves. Tbe Lord was with us Now brethren, you are all convinced of this being a broad field, that much good can be done, that Baptist doctrine can live and fl mrish here. It is rooting firmly, but needs a shelter. The Methodists may tire of us in the near future and we must have a house of our own. Can't you aid us? We will see. Alice Pannal Tomlinson. Homerville, Ga , Nov. 1881. POPERY. There is more Popery in our country than most of us are apprised of. It is planting itself with powt>r in our large ci ties, the seat of power. As may be expected the immigrated foreigner heartily accepts it as his mother religion and exerts himself to waft it upon the breeze of progress. And, strange to say, many of our own native inhabitants are a-cepting it. Nor is the Roman Catholic Church the only place where Popery exists. We take the position that it is found in every church or denomination opposed toa free government The Episcopal Church is governed by tbe counsel and direction of her Rector or Dean. Here free government is opposed, which is a form of Popery. In the Presbyterian Church we find a similar example. Here the c mncil chamber is vested in her Presbytery It (the Presbytery) is the Presbyterian Church. It is Pope or monarch of tbe Church. The Methodist Episcopal Church presents another branch ot Popery. The Bishop, who is thir chief counsel, makes and gives tbe laws to his subordinate officers, wh< se duty it is to see that they are carried out. Perhaps these so called Protestant denominations will deny the relationship to Catholicism, but the analogy is tooapparent to every observer to be denied. Nor does it stop here. I am constrained to say that it has crept into our stylish Bap tist Church, who claim to be advocates of free government. Some of our assuming preachershave, in taking the "care” of the churches, assumed consulship, and taken from them their freedom. We see them on re ceiving a candidate to membership, give the right hand ot fellowship in the “name of the church.” Again, theapostles in all of their writings, used the pronouns, "We,” "Us,” • Our,” “Them,” etc We take up one of our [religious papers and read an ac count of a meeting somewhere, and it be gins “I” commenced a meeting, “I” bap tiz'd so many, "I” did thus and so at “my” church. The truth of the matter is they want to be seen and applauded by men and exercise dominion over them. R-cently a case occurred on this wis-: A gentleman wishing to unite with the church, told his experience to the pastor, who pre sented his application (while moderating the conference) and moved his reception. The church stated that it was customary in Baptist churches to have candidates relate their experience, and as tbe applicant was present thej’ preferred to hear from him I’he pastor replied. "Brethren,! will have you to know that lam Bishop of thischurch and will exercise that authority and receive him.” Another instance occurred under the writer's own observation, as follows : The subj-ctof foot washing was brought up and discussed before the church. The pastor opposed the subject. Seeing it was highly probable that the church would vote for it, he arose, and before taking the vote, threat ened to give up the care of tbe church if they voted for the subject. Thus you see, by his Popish threats, be' endeavored to de-- prive the church of her liberty and lead her captive at his will. These are drills that are dangerous, and, to say the least, they are hostile to the liberty and independence of the Baptist Church. Yahoo. ORDINATION, AND THOUGHTS ON MIS SIONS. In response to the invitation of the Baptist church at Monroe, Walton county, Georgia, the following Presbytery assembled for the purpose of setting apart to the full work of the Gospel mirystry, W. Stokes Walker, a member of the above named church : H D I). Straton, J. A. Harris, J M. Brittain and J. F. Edens, the pastor of the church. At eleven o’clock on Saturday morning. J A. Harris preached an instructive sermon on •'Walking in the Truth.” As all the Pres bytery had notarrived.theordination services were not begun until night At seven o’clock a sermon was preached by J M. Brittain on "Paul’s Faithful Say ing,” after which the Presbytery was organ ized by electing J F Edens, Moderator,and J. M. Brittain,Clerk The following order fortbe evening was observed: 1. Presentation of the candidate in behalf of the church, by G C Selman. 2. The examination of the can didate as to his Christian experience, by J. A. Harris. 3 His call to the ministry, by J M Brittain, 4 His doctrinal views, by H. I). D. Straton. Other services were post poned until next day. At eleven o'clock on Sabbath morning the services were coutined as follows : 1. An excellent ordination sermon, by H. D. D Straton, on "The Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God Committed to our Trust.” 2 Ordaining prayer by J F. Edens. 3 Laying on of hands, by Presbytery. 4. Charge and presentation of the Bible, by J. M. Brittain. 5 Charge to the church, by J. A. Harris. 6. Right hand of Fellowship, by the Pres bytery and church. 7. Benediction, by the candida’e. At night W. Stokes Walker preached an interesting sermon on ‘Where is your Faith.’ And thep closed one of the most solemn and impressive ordinations we have ever wit nessed. The fact that the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention had appointed the brother ordained, as missionary to China, added much to the seriousness of the occasion. Young, man ly. and vigorous, pious and enthusiastic, our new missionary goes to the far east with promising usefulness He had spent nearly four years at the Semi ary at Louisville, Kentucky, in profitable preparation for min isterial service. Will not the heart of the immortal Yates beat with new joy at the early prospect of needed help in the evening of bis useful life? Our ardent prayer is that the cloak of this venerable servant of the Lord, may fall on our young brother. In a few days, two young ministers are expected to leave their native land, for far olf China. What an arduous work lies be fore them 1 Did man ever embark on a nobler mission ? To tell the world of "Jesus and his love” is surely the sweetest work of man. Baptists of the South I Lay upon your consecrated altar, close beside the names of those al reaiiy in the field, the names of W. Stokes Walker, and C. W. Pruitt, our young missionaries to Shanghai and Tung Chow. China. To praise God best, let us see to it that our alms accompany our prayers. Let us, as churches, move forward in the great work committed to us. and a rich reward will await us here and hereaf-er. J. M. Brittain. Covington, Ga., Dec. Sth, 1881. PEN DROPPINGS. BY L L V. Our Legislature has decreed that tuition in our State University shall be free. We ini p tgn not the motives of those who voted for this measure, but we feel quite sure that they c immitted an error. We know not the line of reasoning by which they sustained their action. But to our thinking, nothing strong er, nor indeed, half so strong, can be urzed on this side of the question as upou the otb er. Douh'less it was claimed that wiihout aid, a.sufficient number of boys could not go to college to supply the demand for edu cated men. If this be. true, the aid offered is not commensurate. As we all know tui tion is a small, though not insignificant item of the expenses of collegiate education. Board, clothing, books, travel, foot up an amount whicn few can pay who would think an additional fifty or eighty dollars insup portable. Our people in the olden time had a pri le which would have been hurt at the proffer of State, or any aid in educating their sons, when they felt able to pay in full. This pride is so much of a virtue, that we should rather stimulate it than seek to crush it. But we think it a mistake to suppose this aid needed. There have been tor some years between five and six hundred young men at college in our State, exclusive of those from Georgia who are attending collego else where. This number is sufficient for the demand. Our high schools furnish young men with training to fit them for trades What is asked of colleges is that they should prepare them for engaging iq the learned professions, in literature, and the more ad vanced departments of science. For some of these we need perhaps a higher culture than can be supplied at present by any of our colleges But quite as many have been pay ing to attain tbe grade of scholarship which is now offered as have been finding, or are likely to find, the outlay a proti able invest ment To multiply recklessly the number of educated men far beyond tbe demand will not increase, but lessen thesum of happiness in the country ORDIN A TION. The ordinalion of brother A W- McGaha and brother Willie Y Browning, by order of the Talladega Baptist church, at Talladega Alabama: Elder J. J D Ranfroe, Pastor, on Sabbath. Nov. 27th, 1871 At 11 o’clock, a. m Eider Samud Hender son preached the ordination sermon ; text 2 Cor 215. Theme —Study What was not study, what was, what to study, aud tbe great purpose of study with the minister of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, were discussed with earnestness before a large and attentive audience. The Presbvter.v, composed of Eiders Satn'l Henderson, E T. Smith, J C. Wright J J D. Renfroe and John B Mynatt, was organ ized at. 7 o'clock. P. M , Elder Samuel Hen derson acting as Chairman and Elder John B Mynatt as Secretary The Chairman made a few remarks introducing theservices before the congregation. A hymn sung by the choir and the reading of a few passages of Holy Writ bv the Pastor, commerced the work of tbe Presbyterv. Prayer in behalf of the Presbyterv was offered by the Chairman. The Pastor, Elder Renfroe, announced to the church that, the Presbytery was now rea ly for the work of ordination, whereupon, Dea con John W. Bishop introduced the candi dates in behalf of the church. The Pastor had an extended examination of thecandi dates on their Christian experience, call to the Gospel ministry and upon the leading doctrines of the Bible. Tbeordination prayer by Elder E T. Smith, and tbe imposi tion of bands by tbe Presbytery, were fol lowed by an impressive charge from Elder J C. Wright. The Pastorthen brought forwad two large gill Bibles, stating that they were presented through the Presbytery, by a sister of the church, and that they contained both the old and the new translation of the New Testament. The whole exercises then closed by extending the hands of greeting by the Presbytery aud the church. The bene diction was pronounced by the newly or dained Elder, A W McGaha. Jno B. Mynatt, Sec’y. The Great Exposition Incomplets.— The Exposition, from all nccounts, is truly a wonderful thing. The fruits of the farm and the fruits of the loom are exhibited Would it not be well to exhibit the fruits of the rum seller? Could he not show some fruits in the shape of paupers, lunatics, prisoners, malefactors, heart broken widows and starving children,” that would be not only interesting but also touching and startling? I wish to suggest this to the worthy gentle* men who manage the Exposition that they may make it complete, if it takes all winter. W. A. Overton. Union Point. Ga . Nov 25th, 1881. To the Churches of the Sarepta Asso ciation.—Dear brethren : At the last session of the Association there were pledges made to pay for sister Goss'home, to be sent to your agent within sixty days. The time has expired and your agent is anxious to get this matter settled. It will take every dol lar pledged to pay the debt, as P. W. Davis made a mistake ofs6 50 in his report to me It may be that some of you have forgotten your pledges. Please permit me to name the churches and amounts as found on the list: Buena Vista, $5, Union, $5; Harmony $5; Providence, $5; Crooked Creek. $5; Har mony Grove, $5; Deep Creek, $5. If any church, not named above, has not paid, please respond. The list was made out with {pencil and I may have made some mistake. G. M. Campbell, Agent. E.berton, Ga.. Dec. sth, 1881. HUXLEY ON THE BIBLE. "I have always,” says Professor Huxley, “been strongly in favor of secular education in the setice of education without theology ; but I must confess I have been no less seri ously perplexed to know by what practical measures the religious feeling, which is the essential basis of conduct, was to be kept up in the present utterly chaotic state of opinion on these matters, without the use of the Bi ble. The Pagan moralists lack life and col or, and even the noble Soic, Marcus Anto nius, is too high and refined for an ordinary child. Take the Bible as a whole; make the severest deduction which fair criticism can dictate for short comings and positive errors: eliminate as a sensible lay teacher would do, if left to himself, all that is not desirable for children to occupy themselves with ; and there still rehiaius in this old literature a vast residum of moral grandeur And then consider tne great historical fact that for three centuries this book has been woven into the life of all that is best and nob est in English history ; that it has be come the national epic of Britain, and is familiar to noble and simple, from John O Groat’s House to Land's End, as Dante and Tasso were once to the Italians; that it is written in the noblest and purest English, and abounds in exquisite beauties of a mere ly literary form ; and dually, that it forbids the veriest hind who never left his village, to be ignorant of the existence of other coun tries and other civilizations, and of a great past, stretching back to the fartherest limits ot the oldest nations iu the world. By the study of what other books could children be so much humanized, and made to feel that each figure in that vast historical procession Ulla like themselves, but a momentary space in the interval between the two eternities, and earns the blessings or the curses of all time, according to itseff >rt to do good and hate evil even as they are earning their pay ment for their work? " And if Bible reading is not accompanied by constraint and solemnity, as if it were a sacramental operation, I do not believe thtre is anything in which children take more pleasure. At least I know some of the pleas ant rec Elections of my chlidhood are con nected with the voluntary study of an an cient Bible which belonged to my grand mother. There were splendid pictures in it, to be sure, but I recollect but little or nothing about them, save a portrait of the high priest in his vestments. What comes vividiy back to my mind are remembrances of my delight in the histories of Joseph and David, and of my keen appreciation of tbe chivalrous kindness of Abraham in his deal inge with Lot. Like a sudden flish there returns back upon me my utter scorn of the pettyfogging meanness of Jacob, and my sympathetic grief over the heart breaking lamentation of the cheated Esau, “Hast thou not a blessing for me also, O, my father?" And I see as in a cloud, pictures of the grand pbantasmagoria_of the book of Revelation. "I enumerate, as they issue, the childish impressions which come crowdingout of the pigeon holes in my brain, in which they have lain almost undisturbed for forty years. I prize them as an evidence that a child of five or six years old. left to his own devices may bedeeplv interested in the Bible, aud draw sound moral substance from it.”—Con temporary Review.” OLD TRUTHS' There are certain truths which evangeli cal Christians of all ages and nations have professed. Tnese, it may be, are few, but they are fundamental. They are such as a belief in the Creation, the Fall, Inspiration, the divinity of Christ the Atonement. Regen eration, the Resurrection and Future Judg ment. These are tbe essentials of religious belief. They are tried truths. Constitu.ing. as they do, the prominent and central features of the various Creeds they have been the ob ject of continuous assault. All forms of un belief have united in thair rff >Hs to unsettle the common faith of Christendom in these great doctrines- They have stood the intel lectual shocks of centuries. And to-day they have a lodgement as strong and deep and secure in the Christian heart as in the days of the Apostles. S »me of them have become part and parcel of Christian experi ence. They have been attested in the deep est feelings of those who have passed from death unto life, aud in ctiaracteristic-i that are common to those who differ in everthing else. Tnese truths have formed Christian characters and given it that peculiar unifor mity which makes Abraham and Paul and Calvin brethren in moral attributes as well as in profession. They are precious truths. Much as the Christian world of to day values secular truth, and enthusias'ically as it labors in its discovery and application, it would not sur render one of those battle scarred heir looms for all the inventions of Watt, Arkwright, Fulton or Morse. They are dearer than life Thousands would die as thousands have died in their defence. They are living truths. Tbe world has grown old. Innumerable generations have come and gone. V. st changes have marked thehistory of every one of them, and yet these old truths are as fresh and vital, they are as pertinent and timely to day as they ever were. The world cannot outgrow them. Men of this nineteenth century need to know them and believe them as much as our barbarous ancestors. Hence they are powerful truths. Their assertion, their positive and uncompromis mg assertion is the very best corrective and surest antidote of poisonous erros. Rampant unbelief need not be assailed directly. It will bemost effectually combated by an un equivocal utterance of the great truths of Christianity. Says Dr. Darling in the Oc tober number of the Presbyterian Review : "It is a noticeable fact that Christ seldom sought directly to refute error. He very rarely made positive attempts simply to dis lodge false views of truth from the minds of his countrymen. His mode of dealing with wrong views of truth was not so much to expel them by argument as to drive them out by the expulsive power of their own great correlative and antagonistic test. Christ dealt with a wrong creed exactly as he did with a wrong affection. “ Thus should it be with us. The polemics of theology have no comparrison in impor tance with its dogmatics A vehement de nial of error is never so effective as a bold proclamation of truth. “ You cannot shovel out darkness.” said John Newton, "but you can shine it out." Let these old truths then be brought to the front. There is in them a majesty and power which will expel error, as light expels darkness Tney are true, mighty, and en during, for they are the words of God, which liveth and abideth forever. —Associate Re formed Presbyterian. MISSIONARY CLIPPINGS. From The Baptist Missions! y Magazine. South America. —A revival has oc curred among the Americans in and about Santa Barbara, resulting in sev en additions to the Baptist Church, seven to the Methodist Church, and four to the Presbyterian Church. When a man pulls out his penny and gives that, when he is laying by dollars, I can only consider that he forms a pretty accurate measurement of the value of religion. China Open.—The present is a time of unprecedented opportunity for car rying on Christian work amongst the Chinese. The time has passed when the Church could only pray for admis sion. It is now proved that the spirit of toleration amongst the natives is such that missionaries, whose methods are marked by prudence and adapta tion, may settle throughout the coun try. In short, the empire is now open. The Leipsic Missionary Society (Lu theran) has twenty missionaries and twelve thousand native members in the Indies. Last year it received and expended about sixty-five thousand dollars China is Moving.—The mighty forces which are acting upon her are gradually overcoming her inertness and carrying her along. Ere long she will catch the spirit of the age, and aston ish the world with the rapidity of her onward march. The resources of the country are simply inexhaustible, and the Chinese are capable of the highest development.— London Miss'y Herald. A new college has been founded at Cam bridge. England, which is intended especial ly for the training of missionaries, both home and foreign. Its name is to be Selwyn col lege, in honor of the Missionary Bishop of that name. It has already received a sub scription of SIOO 000 toward the erection of a building The idea is a good one, and might be adopted in this country with profit. Dr. Pierce's "Favorite Prescription,” for all those weaknesses peculiar to women, is an unequalled remedy. D stressing back' ache and "bearing-down” sensations yield to jts strength-giving properties. By druggists. Missionary Department. REV. J. H DaVOTIK D.D,,( v ..,„„ REV. C. M. IRWIN, D.D., ( «<»lon. MISSIONARIES STATE BOARD. J. H. DeVotie, Atlanta, Ga.; C. M. Irwin, Mt. Airy, Habersham, Rabun and White counties; V. A. Bell. Ringgold, Whitfield and Chattooga counties; Chas Edwards, Toccoa, Habersham county; T. C. Tucker, Cassandria, Dade and Wal kercounties; W. J. Kina. Nannie; P. A. Jessup, Eastman,DodgeanlTelfalrcountles; A.C. Ward, Brunswick- George A. Blount, Eden, Effingham, nryan and Libert;.- counties, D. G. Daniell, Wal thourville; J. H Campbell, Columbus, Muscogee county; Alfred Corn, Blairsville. Towns county; T. C Boykin, At’anta, State of Georgia; Simeon Maxwell. Talbotton, Talbot county; W. B. Ben net, Quitman; W. V. Perdue, Valdosta; G. H. Washington, col., Albany. Mitchell county; J. C. Biyan.col., Americus, Schley, Lee and Dough erty comities; Frank M. Simmons, col., Stone Mountain ; G. B. Mitchell, col., Forsyth ; S. A. McNeil, col.. Quitman ; M. Brigman, Agusta ; THE MISSIONARY FEMALE DOCTOR. Mr Dear Sister : How would the ladies of Georgia like to help us raise the special f nid for one .’’dv ductor ? So far. only $72 d >!!ars have jb e i received. I hardly know bow money cuuld be better expended just now for our cause, than in this way. Yours, respectfully, H A Tupper Cor. Sec'y. Richmond, Va., Nov. 25th, 1881. The above letter, from our brother Tupper, will be read with interest by the ladies of our Societies, and we doubt not we shall re ceive kind responses by the close of the next quarter, Feb'y Ist, 1882. Dear sisters, let us hear from you. Cannot, each Society send us $lO for this young lady? Mrs. Stainback Wilson, P. C. C. Mrs, A. C Kiddoo, Cor. Sec’y. A PLEASING INCIDENT. BY MRS M T. YATES A S B C , SHANGHAI. As a general rule, our Chinese converts show their faith more by words than by works; which, indeed, is rot surprising, since active faith depends so much upon a knowledge of what the Scriptures teach in reference to individual duty ; and, unfortu nately, a large proportion of our people are so scattered, or so circumstanced, that we are unable to give them minute and regular instruction in Sundav-schools and Bible classes- Hence it comes that few of them have got beyond the one idea of securing good for themselves. The benevolent part of Christianity is yet to be developed, or implanted—a very gradual process, in all ages of the Church. This being the case. I am glad to record an exception to the rule—something that was done whilst I was away last year, in Ameri ca, which pleased me very much, because it shows growth in a few at least. Amongst our church members there is a Mrs. Lear. She belongs to a good family, and can read her own language. Her hus band was a teacher, and kept school in his own house until, unhappily, about two years ago, he lost bis mind As the burden of the family was thus thrown upon Mrs. Lear, she endeavored to keep up the school herself; bat her husband's mad ways fright ened the children* causing one after an other to drop off, till hardly any were left, and she began to be in straits for daily bread Still, she held on bravely, without asking aid of any one. Another of our Christian women, Mrs Tsang, saw the struggle, and feeling that sort of pity which can not rest without doing something to help, she set her mind to work and soon evolved a plan which wa- to secure the assistance that Mrs. Lear so much needed, and also contribute to the furtherance of the Gospel Sue proposed to change the school into a free Christian.school, and asked a number of the Chinese sisters to join her incontribu ting something towards its support. Mrs. Lear would give the use of her school-room, t-be could let the half of her house for two dollars a month, and two more would en able her to provide for herself and her hus band. Seven women were found who agreed to give twenty cents a month for this double purpose; and then Mrs. Tsang told her plan to my husband, ’ and asked if he would not add our daughter's name, and mine, to the list, to make up the desired ten. He did so willingly, knowing we should be glad to help in so good a work. Notice was duly given, as to the new con ditions under which the school was to be carried on, and the number of pupils very soon increased —chiefly new ones, whose parents were too poor to pay for education. Christian books were introduced and Mrs. Tsang, or one of the others, makes weekly visits to encourage the teacuerand help her explain the lessons. When dismissed for the New Year holidays, a small present was provided for each child, byway of reward and encouragement. I have had nothing to do with the management. They tell me from week to week what has been done, but I do not remember that even as much as a suggestion, on my part, has ever been needed. I have not yet been to the school, for I wished these women to feel that it is their own special work. Besides this weekly superintendence,visits are some times made to tbe mother's of tbe scholars, and others in tbe immediate neighborhood, to tell them of the way of salvation. This enterprise is particularly pleasing be cause entirely voluntary, and because it in volves the g ving of monev by those who have very little to give, with one excep tion they are poor women, accustomed to daily toil. Oae (a widow) has only four dollars a month. Two others have six dollars a month, each ; and on these small sums they not only feed and clothe them selves but have something left for contribu ting to the native pastor’s salary, and to the support of an assistant, sent out from our church, who preaches at Soochow, besides helping Mrs. Lear's school and giving fre quently to their sick and needy neighbors. One of these same women came to me a few days ago, holding something in her hand, wrapped in a bit of paper, Apologiz iugfor the smallness of her offering, she beg ged I would receive it to help pay for a new school house we are building. She said "it is very little, but I want to do something towards it: make me happy by accepting this mite.” Unwrapping ner little parcel I found four dollars. Glad to see that she had it in her heart to do this, I thanked her warmly; but said, “we do not need this money for the school-house, and you can find other ways of doing good with it—you must let me give it back to you.” But she could not be persuaded—if we did not need it for the house, she would buy a school room clock with the money—a clock would, of course, be necessary. To this I consented, seeing that her heart was set upon it; and, hereafter, I may have something to tell of the school-hours regulated by her gift. * There are no asylums for the Insane,in China. They are allowed "to do as they please, unless very violent. In that case they are chained. An Indian fakir, having been converted to the gospel, still occupies a position by the side of a great thoroughfare, but instead of standing on one foot, and holding his hand above his head for hours at atime, as before, he has built a little chapel, and dug a well, where he entertains passers-by with a cool ing draught, while he discourses to them of the waters'of eternal life. The English Baptists are not afraid of col lections. Contributions to the various causes were made during the sessions. A collection, for exampple, was taken at the conclusion or the sermon of Mr. Spurgeon. RESULTS OF MISSIONS. "I often wish that some of the cavillers who are forever sneering at Christian mis sions could see something ot their results in these isles. But first they would have to recall the Fiji of ten years ago, when every man's hand was against his neighbor, and the land had no rest from barbarous inter tribal wars, in which the foe, without respect of age or sex, were looked upon only in the light of so much beef; the prisoners deliber ately fattened for the slaughter; dead bodies dug up that had been buried ten or twelve days, and could only be cooked in the form of puddings; limbs cut off from living men and women, and cooked and eaten in the Cresence of tbe victim, who had previously een compelled to dig tbe oven and cut the fire wood for the purpose; and this not only in time of war, when such atrocity might be deemed less inexcusable, but in time of peace, to gratify thq caprice or appetite of the moment. “Think of the sick buried alive; the array of widows who were deliberately strangled on tbe death of any great man ; the living victims wro were buried beside every post of a chief s new house, and must needs stand clasping it while the earth was gradually heaped over their devoted heads; or those who were bound, hand and foot and laid on the ground to act as rollers, when a chief launched a new canoe, and thus doomed to a death of excruciating agony ; a time when there was not the slightest security for life or property, and no man knew how quickly his own hour of doom might come; when whole villages were depopulated simply to supply their neighbors with Iresh meatl "Just think of all this, and of the change that has been wrought, and then just imag ine white men who cau sneer at missionary work in the way they do. Now you may pass from isle to isle, certain everywhere to find the same cordial reception by kindly men and women. Every village in the eighty inhabited isles has built for itself a tidy church, and a good house for its teacher or native minister, for whom tbe village also provides food and clothing. Can you realize that there are nine hundred Wesleyan churches in Fiji, al every one of which the frequent services aie crowded by devout congngations; that the schools are well attended, and that the first sound which greets vour ear at dawn, and the last at night, is that of hfinn-singing and most fervent worship, rising from each dwelling at the hour of family prayer? ” —At Home in Fiji, b. Miss Cummins. THE PSALMS. Tbe Psalms have much of their power in that they are the utterances of real life in its changes The men believed, knew, felt; thereiore they wrote. We see the hand of God and tbe heart of man. Such men have neverceased to be. Names change, life keeps its course. The thoughtful man, whoseyears are many, can sing the psalter through, and set his own name for the pronouns. It has been called the “sacred book of the world.” How old it is, and yet ever young. The churches have worshiped in its inspiring strains, rising in its exultation, bowing in / its confession and lament. The people have ' sung its melodies—merchants, sailors, and ploughmen : sages, soldiers, priests ; moth ers with their children, kings with their peo ple. Cromwell led his men to victory at Dunbar, with the sixty eighth- Psalm ; Lu ther strengthened his heart with the vigor of the Psalms. Wallacehad his psalter bung before him at his execution, and died with his eyes fixed upon it. Polycarp, Hilder brand, Huss, Columbus. Xavier, Melancthon, Jewell, gave their last breath to the words of a Psalm. One Psalm alone has engraved itself on the lives of men. The penitence of the contrite soul has loved to breathe out its miserere. Thomas Arnold had the fifty-first Psalm read to liim when he lay dying, and John Rogers recited itashe went tp the stake Jeremy Taylor transformed it into a prayer Lady Jane Grey repeated its cry for mercy as she ascended to the scaffold and Sir Thomas Moore, as he laid his head upon tbe block. Augustine had written on the wall opposite where he lay sick, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,” and Bernard died with this verse on his lips. We draw these instances from other days. They might be found nearer to our time and in our time. The Hebrew parchment lives in the reverent sentence which looks down from tbe Royal Exchange in London, down on the busy streets and the hurrying throng of men claiming ownership and holding in brief possession in this world : “ Theearth is the Lord’s, and the fullness therof."—Dr. McKenzie. Opium in China.—ln answer to a letter addressed to him by the secretary of the Anglo Oriental Society for the suppression of the Opium Trade, Li Hung Chang, grand secretary and viceory at Tientsin, has writ ten a remarkable letter in which the follow ing sentences occur.: "Opium is a subject in which England and China can never meet on common ground. China views the whole question from amoral stand point; England from a fiscal. England would sustain a source of revenue in India, while China con tends for the lives and prosperity of her people. The single aim of my government in taxing opum will be in the future, as it always has been in the past, to repress the traffic. It should be known that my gov ernment will gladly cut off all such revenue in order to stop the import of opium. My sovereign has never dtsired his empire to thrive upon the lives or infirmitias of his subjects. The present import duty on opium was established, not from choice, but becatis China submitted to the adverse decision arms.” The CHiNESE.-Only let an intelligent Christian spirit once take hold and possess the milions of China, and you shall secure a permanent investment of the highest good for all mankind; for although slower and less docile than the Japanese, harder to win than the soft Islanders of the Pacific, and less sensitive and responsive than the African, the Chinese have vastly more sta bility than any of these. Their endurance of aB climates, ranging from the icebergs of the North to the most malarious countries of the tropics, is superior to that of any other race of men. If the hard work of this world were to be farmed out to the lowest bidder, with political protection and honest, pay, it seems likely that the Chinese would take the contract. —-brom the London Missionary Herald. Bishop Crowther, of the Niger, Africa, reports that he had received a visit from a wealthy chief from Okrika, a town of 10,000 people, forty miles from Bonny, never yet visited by a mission agent. The chief an nounced that the Christianity of the Bonny Mission had extended to the town, that the people had built a church for Christian wor ship accommodating 500 people, which was filled every Sabbath, a school boy from the Brass Mission reading the service. Woman’s Influence.—A missionary writes from Ceylon, "It is a noticeable fact, that, where Christian women are married to hea then husbands, generally the influence in the household is Christian ; whereas, when a Christian man takes a heathen wife, he usually loses his Christian character, and the influencer of the household are on the side of heathenism.” And he infers that the people are to be converted to Christ by the influence of women.—Sabbath Recorder- The Menasha (VVis.) Press says: A. Granger, Esq., of this city, usei St. Ja cob’s Oil on his horses with decided suc cess and profit