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4 ©he ©hrietian Citdcx J. C. McMICHAEL,:: Proprietor. I. R. BRANHAM, D. D., Editor. Thirty-seventh session of the Southern Baptist Convention, Wel come to Atlanta! The city bids you welcome. The homes of all denom inations are opened and welcome you. The. Baptists of Atlanta, with all their hearts, welcome you. The Christian Index would fain speak for every Baptist in Georgia, and Lid you welcome. God grant you health and comfort while you sojourn with us. May the Holy Spirit abide with you; cause every breast to glow with Christian love; make every heart burn with zeal for God; fill your minds with wise schemes for His glory; make one in your midst, direct all your delib erations. overrule all your conclu sions and crown all your efforts with abundant success in the salvation of men and the extension of the King dom of Christ. ♦ * ■» David was glad when they said unto him, “Let us go unto the house of the Lord.” So we are glad that so many are saying at this forty-sev enth Anniversary of the Southern Baptist Convention, “Let us go up to the house of the Lord.” It is a glad season. Our hearts bound with joy as we think of the glorious achieve ments of the past, of the precious fruits that are being gathered in the present, and of the large promises and enlarging prospects that invite us to the future. We are glad be cause “Jerusalem from above,” like that of which David sang of old,” is budded as a city that is compact to gether.” Os the same material, “liv ing stones,” each tribe building “over against its own house,” the walls ex tend East and West, North and South, meet and firmly stand, ce mented by Christian love. , We are glad that the tribes send ing'up their representatives stand for about seventeen thousand tabernacles, while the dwellers therein number, at least, one million, three hundred thousand! What a mighty host this gathering represents! For what do they come ? They “have come to make known the testimony of the Lord.” They are his witnesses. Witnesses to llis truth ; witnesses to his faithfulness > witnesses trt 11 is love; witnesses to His mercy ; witnesses to His grace in Christ Jesus. They have come to make known “the testimony of the Lord concern ing His Son Jesus.” To tell, over and over again, the same “Old story” to those who have heard it all their lives. They have come to lift up their voices loud and strong, through the heralds they shall send out, near and far, bearing this testimony to the ears of those who have never heard it. e • ♦ They have come “to give, thanks unto the name of the 1.0 rd.” To give thanks that so many who were at Birmingham last year, are spared to come come to Atlanta this year. To thank God that though we have sown in tears during the past year, yet now wo come rejoicing, bearing our sheaves with us. To thank him for the thousands gathered from The Home Fields, and for the thousands gathered from The Fields beyond. To thank Him that the offerings which have been sent into His store house are almost, if not quite, suffi cient to relieve the anxious hearts of those who have been waiting for them, and to meet the wants of the self-denying laborers who are fed from its supplies. To thank Him for the sweet privi lege of once more grasping brother ly hands, and of uniting hearts and voices in prayer and praise. To thank Him for the exalted privilege of being co-workers with him in the salvation of our fallen fel lowmen. * • * - # They have come to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” That she may not be disturbed by enemies without- Her foes would tear down her walls, lay waste the fair city itself, and, if possible, forever bury its ruins out of eight. To pray that as the “mountains were round about Jerusalem,” so may the Lord be round about His people even forever. To pray that “peace may be within her walls, and that prosperity may be within her palaces.” That there may be no dissensions among brethren, no differences and quarrels about the Lord’s business that shall drive them apart. To pray that no personal interests, nor selfish motives, nor pride of spir it may lead any to magnify their own schemes above the interests of Christ’s Kingdom. To pray that none may orget that “they are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God;” “that they are builded to gether for an habitation of God, thro’ the Spirit.” That we are “to pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” not only for our own sakes, but “for the sake of our brethren and our companions.” “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory ; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other bet ter than themselves. Look not ev ery man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Let each one as he bows his head in response to the first call of prayer, repeat the words of David, uttered when he probably entered, for the first time, the permanent house of God, “I-will now say, Peace within thy walls. OHAPEL BUILDING IN THE SOUTH. Next to the preacher in import ance is a house of worship. Even when Israel dwelt in tents there was a movable tabernacle provided to which the tribes gathered. It has been an item essential to the permanence and prosperity of every organized church from the march through the wilderness down to the present day. Except the preaching of the gos pel itself, no more important matter engages the attention of Christians, t han that of building house of wor ship. One point to which the efforts of Southern Baptists is to be directed during this centenary year is the raising of 1250,000 as a permanent fund to be used for this purpose Os course the committee appointed at Birmingham last year will include this feature in their plan for the work of this year. A committee was appointed by the State convention, during its late ses sion at LaGrange, to confer and co operate with the committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. We trust that the State Committee will emphasize this matter of chapel build ing in the South. More especially do we urge the State Committee to look well to the needs of Georgia. The contracts for houses already existing must be faithfully kept. But we are opposed to entering into any new contracts until the pressing needs at home are fairly met. The increased efficiency of our home churches depends, in a large measure, upon the aid extended to them in providing for themselves decent and comfortable houses. Almost every mail brings to the Index office ap peals for help to build new houses, or to complete those already begun. 'There are a half dozen churches in Atlanta, located in important posi tions that need help. Besides churches already existing, mission stations are multiplying in various parts of the city, that will soon re quire houses of worship. What is true of Atlanta is likewise true of Macon, Savannah, Augusta,Columbus Rome, Griffin, Americus, Brunswick, and other growing towns in Georgia. Then, there are many waste places in the country where no houses of worship exist, and where very little regular preaching is heard. Cries for help from all these quarters at home reach our ears. While we are not deaf to the calls that come from more distant regions we insist that the absolute necessi ties pressing upon us right at our very doors, should be met first. We ould not let charity stay at home, but it must begin there. We urge upon Baptist churches ! in Georgia, while taking a large view of the great field spread out before them, that they do not look so high, or so far, as to overlook the i needs that lie within reach of their [ hands. Let them set apart, special ly for chapel building in Georgia, a liberal part of the money given for this purpose during this year. The weak churches within the bounds of the state are part of our owq house hold, so to speak, and we dare not neglect them. We know what the Book says of those who do not provide for their own, specially for their own house. THE CUBAN MISSION. The reply of Dr. Tichenor to Dr. Goodwin contained in the last issue of the Richmond Herald seems to be complete. The three points embracing the School, the Cemetery, and lionizing Diaz make a thorough vindication of the management of the Home Board. THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY, MAY 5. 1892. - • - • But for the length of the article we should reprint it in the Index. However, the forthcoming report of the Corresponding Secretary will doubtless embody the main facts connected with this matter, and will be made accessible to all who feel a special interest in it. THE BOARDS AND THEIR DEBTS. How shall our Boards avoid debt and, at the same time, not only not curtail the work already in hand, but advance along the line marked out by the centennial movement ? It is a question hard to answer. It is suggested that the present number of contributors enlarge their contributions and the number of con tributors be increased. This would go far towards meet ing the case. How is it to be done? The Corresponding Secretary of the State Mission Board of Georgia, tells us that only one-third of Geor gia Baptists give any thing. This third has contributed, during the past year, about SBO,OOO to mis sions alone. He, likewise says that the other two-thirds could, with equal ease, each, contribute a like amount. This would aggregate $240,000. Suppose that the states included within the bounds of the Southern Baptist Convention shall contribute in the same proportion as is indicated for Georgia, it would not only enable the Boards to avoid the debts that now accumulate under the present plan, but would place in their hands several hundred thousand dol lars beyond their present obligations, and enable them to extend their op erations both at home and abroad. ♦ * * Another suggestion is, that all the givers make one-tenth of their net incomes the measure of their gifts. If this could be done it, also, would accomplish the end, and our mission treasuries would be filled to overflow ing. The constantly recurring cries, the State Board is in debt, the Home Bon rd is in debt, the Foreign Board is in debt, would be no longer heard. The harrowing appeals that come from our corresponding secretaries during the last three or four months of our conventional years, telling us how individual credit is jeopardized, how their hearts are burdened with anxiety, how the honor of the de nomination is involved, and how the missionaries are likely to suffer would no longer be needed to move us to the performance of duty. But how are the givers to be in duced to adopt the tenth as the measure of their gifts ? These suggestions have been made many times, and if they could be put into practice by even two-thirds of the one million, three hundred thous and Baptists composing the constitu ency of the Convention, the difficulty would vanish at once. ♦ # • Here is another suggestion, based upon the practice of the Apostolic churches, and which has quietly grown in practice, to a considerable extent, in these latter days. It is to throw the support of mis sionaries, as far as practicable, direct ly upon individual churches. Sev eral churches, within our bounds, are already doing this very thing. We feel confident, that if a proper effort were made during this centen nial year, the number of churches working on this line could be large ly increased. Not only so, but doubtless there are many individuals of large means, who, if rightly approached, would consecrate a portion of their wealth to this special object. A few are al ready doing so. Where one church is not sufficient ly strong to support a missionary alone, others in the same town, or immediate vicinity, might unite with it. This is possible, not only with churches located in the same town, but with those located in the same, county. Neither time nor space will allow us to work out the fullness of detail that must be considered in such a plan. * • « It has been said that if this idea should be extensively adopted there would be no need for the boards But it seems to us that they would be as much needed then as now. Pastors of churches have as much as they can do to watch over their im mediate flocks. They would not have time to survey and to ascertain the general needs of the various mis sion fields. The business of the Boards, in this particular matter, would be to gath er information, to give it to pastors and churches, to receive notice from those who feel called to missionary work, to examine into and decide upon their fitness, and to assign them, if they have chosen no particu lar field, to posts whfere they are needed and to which they are adapt ed. Then let the Boards make known to the churches that missionaries are ready and waiting to 1a sent to their work. It would next be in order for the churches, desiring special representa tives, \ > select their missionaries to raise the money requisite for their support, to pledge themselves to con tinue to do so, as long as they re main their representatives, and to notify the Board of their action. The Boards would still be needed to receive and to disburse funds, and to make provision for such destitution as was not provided for by particular churches. We believe that a few year’s earn est effort in this direction, making the changes necessary in a gradual manner, would place, to a large ex tent, our missionary operations upon a cash basis. /* * * Our present plans have been oper ated by men conspicuous for their wisdom, for (heir piety, for their in tegrity, for their untiring zeal, for their self-denial, and for their busi ness ability. We can not afford to dispense with the wisdom gained by their experience. The pay they receive is well earn ed and richly deserved. It is not money wasted, but well invested, that has paid, and that will continue to pay, a large per cent, upon the amount expended. The informa tion they have already gathered, and which they are now disseminating through the Foreign Mission Journal the Home Field, and the mission tracts issued by Baptist publishing houses in Baltimore and Louisville, are of incalculable value. Give the Boards generously, all the help they need to carry on the great work committeed to their hands. Let us keep our eyes on them, not to criticise captiously, but to point out mistakes when made, and to en courage with words of commenda tion when their work is well and faithfully done. If changes must be made let them not be suddenly radical or violent. We believe that the outline here indi cated could be enlarged and applied to the work done by each of our Boards in a comparatively short time, and that good results would come to them, to the churches, and to the work. • • • It would bring the churches that adopt the plan into much closer re lation to their missionaries, than under the present one. The responsibility of supporting a a m issionary being directly thrown upon them, they would feel its weight more sensibly than they now do. They would be bound together by a kind of sympathetic spiritual nerve, that would make the want of one to be felt by the other. In this way, we believe, that the present givers would cheerfully increase their gifts, that the number of givers would be largely increased, and that a majority might in due time, be brought up to the full measure of giving the tenth. * * • It would make pastors of churches more active in this matter. Thus al lied closely with a brother, preach ing the Gospel, both representatives of the same congregation, would make the pastor feci the pull of the rope by the man who holds the oth er end down in the well. He would keep his church informed in regard to the work and needs of their mis sionary. As a member of the same body, what affected him would affect other members, and bring prompt re lief. • • « Besides it would tend to allay any apprehension about the exercise of undue authority on the part of our conventions and their Boards. A custom, long in force, gradually becomes law. The common law of England is an example. There is cause of some uneasiness on this subject. For nearly half a century the churches have been looking to the conventions and their Boards for suggestions and directions in regard to mission and educational work. While, in theory, Baptists hold to church independence and repudiate any power above a local church, yet, the suggestions from these represent ative bodies received every year and acted on as often, are coming to be regarded as more or less authorita tive. Already there is a call from sever- al sources, for a closer connection be tween the churches, for “consolida tion,” for “centralization.” Slowly the danger may be creep ing ox us. It is well to watch for, and to guard against its approach. REV. J. M. WOOD. This brother, so long known and loved, died in Jonesboro, Ga., on the morning of April 29, 1892. He passed peacefully away sur rounded by those who were near and dear to him. He was one of the oldest Baptist ministers in the State, being seventy-six years of age. From early manhood he had been in the service of the Master. He had serv ed charges during his ministry, and contributed valuable religious arti cles to our periodicals He was, for some time, editor of The Cherokee Baptist & Landmark Banner His advice was constantly sought and much esteemed by our people in all matters pertaining to doctrine and discipline. As pastor, preacher, »B. JZBSE WOOD. teacher and editor, he was success ful, attaining a position of extensive influence and usefulness among his brethren. His health had been declining for sometime, and he waited, with resig nation, the Master's summons, in the quiet city of Jonesboro. A loving wife survives to mourn him, with whom she had lived more than two score years of happiness and devo tion. He also leaves three children —Mr. E. W. Wood, of Atlanta; Mrs. J. M. Jones, of Jonesboro, and Mrs. W. N. Hudson, of Griffin. His body was interred in the fam ily burial ground at Barnesville. We extend sympathy to the bereaved family. It is hoped that some one well ac quainted with Bro. Wood, and who has the requisite material at hand will prepare a more extended notice of his life and work. J. M. B. REV. JOS. WALKER. The Examiner contains an inter esting letter from W. E. H. about Richmond Baptists. Among other things we find the following account of a recent visit of the venerable Joseph Walker to his old charge, the Second Baptist church, and of his preaching at Grace church a few Sundays ago: “In the evening Mr. Walker preach ed. He had a great audience; and all, even the children, seemed to be subdued and hushed by the sight of this saintly and aged servant of God. His appearance is most im pressive. His frame is tall and thin, and not seriously bent by age; his hair is snow-white, but short cut; his eye gleams with a mellow, affec tionate light; his step is slow, and yet there is in it something of the giant’s tread, and his face is constant ly bright with benignancy and con tentment. “The sermon was expository, show ing critical study of the text and an earnest moderation in every state ment. Not one grammatical slip did he make from beginning to end and never for a moment did he falter for lack of the needed word. His voice was clear, natural, and penetrating— fully strong enough to be heard by thousands of people at one time. When he left the church it was with a hand sore from the effects of two vigorous grasping*, but with heart made glad by the tokens of love and reverence. For the rest of his davs (which heaven grant may be many) Mr. Walker will make his home in Manchester, and will be in constant request for service in Richmond pul pits, for the people hear him gladly.” He celebrated his eighty eighth birthday, Sunday, April 10, 1892. He has been preaching the gospel sixty years, and has done pastoral work in Georgia, Missouri, Maryland, and Virginia. He was editor of the Christian Index from 1857 to 1859, during w hich time the paper was the prop erty of the Baptist convention of the State of Georgia. His work as edi tor of the Index is regarded by many as perhaps, the best work of his life, having been successfully per formed under very trying circum stances. The Index sends congratulations to Bro. Walker upon the happy re turn of his last birthday, and wishes that he live to see many more, with a continuance of the good health and vigor he enjoyed on his eighty eighth. We append the following lines from Hon. Horatio King to Senator Morrill, of Vermont, recently sent him on his 82nd birthday. Mr. King is also an octogenarian : "What matters it though eighty years, or more, Crowd close upon us, if in mind and strength We hold our own intact in active life ? And then, what matter,when our work isdone, If summons sudden come to call us home'? It is not Death, though bearing that dread name. But Birth, since real life begins, not ends, When darkness shrouds the silent tomb. Doubt not, But trust implicit in a love Divine.” DESTITUTION IN LOUISIANA. From a report made by the spe cial Committee appointed at the ses sion of the Louisiana Baptist Con vention held at Mansfield, La., July 31, 1891, we gather the following facts in regard to the destitution in that state. Total population, . . . 1,150,000 Os this number 50 per cent are negroes. Os other races about . . 575,000 Included in this number there are, of Baptists, 25,000 Os the fifty-nine parishes in the State, twenty-one have no Baptist church. Population of these parishes is 307,341. Os the fifteen towns and cities hav ing a population over 2,000, only five have white Baptist churches. New Or leans, with a population of 250,000, is the only city that has more than one. It has three. Os the towns of the State having between 1,000 and 2,000 inhabitants, only six have Baptist churches. Os the 27 towns having between 500 and 1,000 inhabitants, less than one-third have Baptist churches. Os the 59 court-house towns, about 30 have Baptist churches. The number of Baptist preachers in the State is about 200, which gives one to every 2.875 of the white pop ulation. There are 50,000 Catholics in New Orleans. Os all other denominations, Bap. tist and Protestant, there are 12,000 About 20 per cent of the popula tion is under no church influence whatever. The committee estimates that ful ly one-third of the white population of the State is without the gospel. Here is missionary work right at home which calls loudly for the at tention of the Southern Baptist Con vention, and for help from the Home Boards Let it be observed that the forego ing facts show destitution among the whites. The picture is sadly dark ened when the fact that 66 J per cent of the entire population consists of negroes. The report of the special commit tee shows the fact, also, that a large proportion of the Baptists in the State are not awake to the situation- They need help from abroad, but most of all do they need a thorough arousing to their duty as Christians. DR. B, H. OARROLL. By special request the brother named above will deliver a lecture at the Second Baptist Church Taberna cle, Cor. Mitchell and Lloyd streets, Atlanta, Ga., on Thursday evening, May sth. His theme is “Personal Liberty.” The lecture is given for the benefit of the Capitol Avenue Baptist Mission. Bro. Carroll is widely known as a man of ability, and his lecture will, no doubt, interest and instruct all who hear it It is earnestly desired that dele gates and visitors to the Conven tion, as well as resident Baptists, will give him a full house and help a w’or thy cause. THE LORD DOTH MAGNIFY LITTLE THINGS. He commanded the ravens to feed Elijah : and the poor widow of Zere phath in obedience to the Lord's command sustained his prophet Eli jah for many days drawing her sup ply of food from . a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruse, and yet the barrel of meal did not waste, nor did the oil fail. The little cloud rising out of the sea like a man’s hand (as reported by Elijah's servant) covered the heavens with black clouds and wind and the famine-parched earth was watered by great rain. The little captive maid was God’s messenger to Naaman. THE GIFTS OF THE RICH AND POOR. Read Luke 21:1-4 verses. And he looked, up and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, of a truth, 1 say unto you, that this poor w idow hath cast in more than they all. For all these have of their abun dance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. Thus doth the Lord magnify the little gifts. May God give to his chosen people the wisdom and grace to magnify the little gifts of the poor saints. Then will the Lord’s treas ury te supplied with needed funds. Allow me to commend the follow ing table to the thoughtful consider ation of our Baptist brethren. Sup pose we undertake for the good of our brethren and the glory of God to raise from each Baptist in the bounds of the Southern Baptist Convention small weekly contributions for Home and Foreign Missions, each to give as the Lord may prosper them, but not to fall below the amount pledged so long as in the providence of God they may be able to meet thq pay ments. The weekly savings to ‘be paid into the treasury once a month and promptly remitted to the treas ury of our Boards. We will make our estimates on a basis of very small contributions. We take the mem bership of our denomination in the bounds of the Convention as report ed in 1891. Class. Per Week. Per annum. A. 235,765 at Vi ct. or 13 CtS. $ 30.649 B. 100,000 " " 26 “ 26,000 C. 100,000“ 1 “ 52 " 52,000 D. 100,000“ I’i “ 78 “ 78,000 E. 100,000 “ 2 “ 104 “ 130,000 F. 100,000 “ 2',4 “ 130 “ 130.000 G. 100.000 “ 3 “ 156 " 166,000 H. 100,000 “ 3‘-i " 182 “ 182,000 I. 100.000 “4 " 208 “ 208,000 J. 100,000 “ 4 I J “ 234 " 234,000 K. 100,000 "5 “ 250 " 260.000 $ 1,460,640 This table will serve to show the value of small gifts reserved for the Lord’s cause weekly and paid into the Lord’s treasury monthly. (Month ly payments are suggested because so many churches meet only once a month.) No estimate is made as to larger gifts, the object being to magnify the possibilities of small gifts. It is believed that the religious giving to the Lord of these two mites for a short time, would convince the giver that the blessing to himself and to the cause would be propor tionately increased by increasing his gifts ten to an hundred fold. A compliance with the following Scripture rules for giving, would quickly supply the means for send ing the Gospel to every creature. And of all thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee. Genesis 28:22, And concerning the tithe of the herd or of the flock, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. Leviticus 27:32. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him. 1 Cor. 18:2. A few (a very few) have adopted the rule of giving a tenth of their in come to the Lord. These few, no doubt, are happy and are enjoying the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Is it not for the honor of the Master’s prosperity of his people that each one should give as he hath en joined ? Layman. WW Mm. W. R. FrancU Is the wife of one of the best known phar macists in New Haven, doing business at 141 Dliwell Ave., and cx-presldent of the Connec ticut Pharmaceutical Association He says: "My wife was tor several years In bad health, due to a complication of disorders. Friends persuaded her to take Hood's Sarsa parilla; she took 0 or 8 bottles and is cer tainly a great deal better since, In every way." Mrs. Martha Reed of 1835 Ramsey street, Baltimore, Md., voluntarily says: " For over 2 years I suffered with a Complication of Diseases till the summer found me a confirmed invalid, blood poor, appetite gone, bowels out of order, and I was miserable in mind nnd bndy. I read of such wonderful cures per formed by Hood's Sarsaparilla that, at last, I thought I would try a bottle, as, If it didn’t make me better, It could not make me worse. It did make mo better, and on my third bottle I found myself almost A Now Woman I will «<adly convince any lady, as I hava to myself, that purifying and enrich ing the blood, which Hood’s Sarsaparilla does to perfection, is the best C'nnsiituiianal Treatment, and In many cases, does away With all I.ncal Treatment In the man" dis eases with which women are afflicted.” Try IL HOOD’S Sarsaparilla is es pecially adapted For Ladies and will cure difficulties peculiar to the sex. N. B. Be sure to get Hood’s Sarsaparilla. HOOD’B PILLX cure Uksr Ills, constipation, UUousnoaa, Jaundice, sick headache, Indigestion. WAIVTEDII OLD U. 8. AND CONFEDERATE STATES POST Me Stomps used between iKCand ISK. Xouy are ynluable, aud will bring high prices (fan th» original tnvrU>i ror Irttrr. feud for Illustrated cir culars nnd price list, describing what Is wanted. THOMAS BEMMES, Box 9, Alexandria, Va. • 6uiav6inos