Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by R.J. Taylor, Jr. Foundation.
About The Christian index. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1892-current | View Entire Issue (May 5, 1892)
t WATHAN&.CO., | MANUFACTURERS OF ■AGraiite and Marble gB . Tombstone Wort. M All cemetery work neatly execut- and estimates furnished upon SJBjßg&j application. Local agents “ = * = * “ SOLICITED. No. 169 Whitehall St. - - - Atlanta, Ga. 21ISS MARY E. WRIGHT, - - - Editkbss MISSION REPORT. Report of 4th District of Georgia, read by Mrs. R. G. Louis, Vice-pres ident before the Woman's Missionary Union of Georgia at LaGrange. In attempting a report of the work in the Fourth District of Georgia. I do so with great reluctance. Hav ing been your servant for only two months, I am not yet fully acquaint ed with the details in all portions of the field. Yet with the hope of en listing a deeper interest in our por tion of the state, therefore the pray ers and aid of the Woman’s Mission ary Union, I present this to you. First of all, I would have you know that notwithstanding the desti tution that prevails our people are kindhearted, generous and hospita ble in the extreme. I think that but few of you, my dear sisters realize the destitution of religion in South Georgia, that of nearly eighty per cent, of the state. Yet how much more have you done to alleviate the destitution in other portions. What few 'societies we had last year struggled, and that gladly, to aid in the support of our dear sister Walker, yet how sadly we realized the need of a missionary in our own field. But thanks to a a kind Heavenly Father, who over looketh all things, our South, Ga. brethren appreciated need, and in or der to help us in a beginning, paid a missionary’s salary for two months, hoping that the union would port her after that time. This sister will tell you how suc cessful has been her mission, in or ganizing our women and teaching them away to work for Jesus; how delighted are these noble Christians to learn of the work which they had nover thought of as belonging to wo yvjn, J can jiut.comjwre Miss Mor gan, our missionary’s experience with that of a dear sister who has for years past struggled to organize so cieties in her association, traveling many miles, talking, reasoning and teaching, meeting w ith such little en couragement as to become almost disheartened. While the women were ready and willing, the pastors and laymen were found weighing the subject of women’s work—(not preaching) —woman’s work. Even now in these same localities that is our greatest hindrance, though as a general thing thing we have not that hindrance to such a degree as our sisters in north and middle Georgia. Our churches are awaking from the lethargy that has bound them, our wdiole section from one end to the other, is stirred as never before on the subject of work. The anti-mis sionary ideas once so prevalent are gradually fading away and the spir it of work pervades the churches. !So then both as men and women the cry is, “Lord what wilt thou have us to do?” The grain is riper. The women are ready but stand waiting to be led, not knowing w’here or how to be gin. The prospect is very bright be cause of this earnest desire to do, but the lack of information is one great hindrance. In several places societies were organized but failed to prosper for need of one woman to lead the meeting. In woman’s work we find the pastors are “the power behind th<? throne” and without their cooperation very little can be ac complished; for the masses depend almost entirely upon them. Our pastor’s need to be convinced that women are for something and can do something and that they as pastors are responsible if their wo men do nothing. Our sisters need information as to the real wants of the home field. South, Ga., Home Board etc., to say nothing of their ignorance concerning the heathen world. Our greatest necessity is consecrated intelligence. Ignorance, as in all things, is our strongest foe, But the prospect brightens with the building of several colleges, and in many places fine schools. One of the most gratifying evidences of progress and improvement in th Wiregrass region is the disposition of the people to educate their children. Our Woman’s Missionary Union has a column in the Baptist Watch man, published at Abbeville. May God bless that paper for the help it renders our work. It has been a power for good in advancing the cause of Christ, in whom we all as men and women are one. I would love for every society in the union to learn through its columns the prospect, possibilities needs of our field. The last thing I shall present as a hindrance to the work, is the lack of means to support missionaries both male and female. Lady missionaries we must have to teach our plans and ways of working which to many seem incomprehensible. There are places which woman’s work cannot reach these should be visited in or der that the people may be instruct ed as to the way of life. In por tions of Ware Clinch and Echols counties south of the 8. F. & W. Railway, preaching is never heard. Those whom we have as officers there and the ministers themselves are not financially able to reach those people, but are pleading and begging us for help. It is workers they need, Sunday school workers, missionaries and means to support them. Our field is very large cover ing one-third of the State, our labor ers so few and means so limited. 0, sisters, could I but present the situation to you as I should, not one stone would you leave unturned to help us in the salvation of these souls so dear to us as citizens, brothers and sisters in Christ. How my whole soul has gone out after this people and to these there who are toiling, toiling and praying with a hope that this convention will bring them aid! Shall we not answer their prayers? O, sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for this people, is that they might be saved. If they call upon the name of the Lord they shall be saved. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent?” Now follows close upon these words of God this question. How shall they be sent without the means? If Georgia does not this work, who will? It is ours—God given—and how shall we render account in the last day if we neglect thio cry for help? Sisters, let us send them a mis sionary, let us give them of our means accompanied with our daily earnest prayers to God, to turn the hearts of South, Ga., to the Masters work and that they in a little while will aid us and pray with us “Thy kingdom come, ty will be done on ei.li as it is in heaven.” HOW WE MAY HELP IN THE CEN TENNIAL OF MODERN MISSIONS. Read before the Woman’s Missiona ry Union of Georgia by Miss M. E. Wright. As the Master looked upon the Samaritans in their great need of re demption and their eagerness to be saved, he said to his disciples, “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields for they are white already to har vest.” So now, when he looks upon the uttermost parts of the earth in as great darkness and as eager for the light, does he not say to us the same word ? When the fields in India are white to the harvest and the laborers reap abundantly, when Japan is like a “shock of corn fully ripe,” when China pleads for a thousand labor ers, when Ethiopia stretches out her hands unto God, when Mexico and Brazil and Italy out of their blind ness cry out for the light of the world, and when Cuba and the Isles of the Sea, wait for the law of the Lord, listen, do you not hear Him saying to you, “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields for they are white already to harvest.” Are we looking ? Do we try to discover where is the greatest need and there direct our efforts ? Do we pray oftener and more earnestly for Africa and China than for our own favored city or State ? Are we just as willing that our gifts shall go to the far-off lands as to the adornment of the home church? If we make any distinction, unless it be in favor of all the world, have we at all com prehended the fullness of our Savior’s last command? Now that we face this Centennial year we are forced to review the his tory of “Modern Missions” and ask if Christian people have done all in their power these eighteen hundred years to evangelize the world. How indifferent the church has been to the work abroad, failing to see that it is the stronghold and the inspira tion of the work at home. When Cary went out to India, supported by a few earnest souls, fired by His enthusiasm, he was to THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1892. lay the foundation of all that has been accomplished since that day. Beset with difficulties, surrounded by discouragements, with God alone as his refuge, he went out like Abraham of old, “knowing not whither he went” but strong in faith. Looking at the history of Cary, can any one of us say, I have neither talents nor means and my way is hedged in. I cannot attempt great things for Him, no, let us believe that it is our glori ous privilege to do “all things thro’ Christ which strengtheneth us.” Reviewing the years, perhaps we will feel a little discouragement that the kingdoms of this world are no nearer becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ; but the Master Builder has been working through it all, the pioneer -work is done and let us in this day of innu merable opportunities, redouble our efforts until “no man shall say to his neighbor, know the Lord, for all shall known Him from the least unto the greatest.” In the old days when the king was coming, the by-path over the moun tains was transformed into a king’s highway, every valley was exalted and every hill brought low and be fore him came the herald to an nounce his coming. Our King’s her ald said, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Let each one of us stop and consider how we can help in this work of prepara tion for His coming. Can we an swer His call “whom shall I send and who will go for me, with, “Here am I, send me.” Can we send some one else ? Can we enlarge our gifts and by “systematic self-denial” increase our offerings to missions ? Can we pray daily for the laborers in these fields and seek to interest others in giving the gospel to all the world ? There is something for each one of us to do, let us find out just what it is and; "Think not if thou art not called to work In mission Helds of some far distant clime, That thine is no grand mission. Every deed That conies to thee in God’s allotted time Is just the greatest deed that thine could be, Since God’s high will appointed it to thee.” The appeals from the Home and Foreign Boards bring this matter very practically before us in their call for a chapel fund of 1250,000. And how is this fund to be raised ? Principally by the women and chil dren of the South. We must not oniy take these cards ourselves, fcut distribute them that there may be not a Baptist woman in the South who has not had the opportunity to take one. Let every member of your church be offered one, every child in the Sunday-school. In a Mission Band, the leader suggested that the Band take one card, but the children demurred—each one wanted a card, and while all the children may not raise five dollars a piece, the aggre gate will be far more than $5. But there is another practical way to help in this work and that is by distributing missionary literature, do not hesitate about handing a friend a tract or missionary paper, it is not your message but God’s command. Speak a word for missions, let it often be the theme of your conversa tion, study to make the subject inter esting to others, and in this take for your example the messenger of old, “O, Jerusalem that bringest good ti dings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid.” Lose sight of self in all missionary enterprise, seek to realize that you are one with Him, and that He said when on earth, “I am among you as He that serveth.” Let us not shrink from any service, however humble, when we hear His voice bidding us go forward. Heaven will be full of surprises, for perhaps there will come to meet us, souls won from China and Africa and India, the fruit of self-denial or prayer or humble ef fort. These are the roses that bloom on the other side of the wall. Our Lord does not measure our efforts by their success, but by their faithful ness. He did not commend the wo man for doing what some one else thought she ought to do, or what she thought she had time, talent or op portunity for, but for doing “what she could.” Our Lord has prepared the end for us, shall we not faithfully prepare the way for him ?” taking for our ex ample those forty noble men of the Julian legion, the flower of the Ro man army, who when the decree came from Rome to far away Gaul that every Christian in the army should die, stood out bravely when the decree was read to suffer the penalty. Upon the ice in the lake they placed them that they might perish miserably, but as they floated off, there came back the words, “for ty wrestlers wrestling for thee, O, Christ, claim for thee the victory and from thee the crown.” and far ther down the river, floating back like an echo, they heard them chant ing, “forty wrestlers wrestling for Thee, O, Christ, claim for thee the victory and from Thee the crown,” until in the rush of waters the voices ceased. Shall these men of old be more faithful, more consecrated than we. To us the Lord says, as to them, “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.” MEMORIALTDAYr Perhaps Memorial Day was never more generally observed in Georgia than on the 26th ult. The Constitu tion gives the following in reference to the origin of the day: “Memorial Day, with all its sadly sacred memories, has no counterpart in the world’s written history. Na tions have set apart days for decora tions to some deity, profane or holy, days for offering thanks for victories, holding feasts for blessings or fasts to induce them, for the successful ac complishment of some great work, for the celebration of a distinguished countryman's birth or the observance of his death, but the south stands alone as a people who solemnly ded icate a day for strewing with beauti ful flowers the graves of heroes who died following an unsuccessful flag in defense of their country. From a noble woman’s heart came this day, when the soldiers’ graves are the southern Mecca to whoso shrine the sorrowing daughters, like pil grims, “annually bring their greatful hearts and floral offerings.” 111 That woman Mrs. Mary Ann Williams, whose jusband, Colonel C. J. Williams, colitmel of the First Georgia regulars, died early in the war from disease contracted in the first Virginia campaign. Others have laid claim to the distinction of origi nating Memorial Day, but the hon or belongs to Georgia’s lamented daughter. After the death of her gallant and brilliant husband, this loyal lady de voted her life and ample fortune to the confederacy. She projected and established from Georgia to Virginia the wayside homes tor soldiers. At her home »n (k&inbftn she established and maintained from her own means a home for sick and wounded pri vates. “Others will take care of the officers,” she used to say. IT ISNOTWHAT WE SAY. But what Hood’s Sarsaparilla does, that makes it sell, and has given it such a firm and lasting hold upon the confidence of the people. The volun tary statements of thousands of peo ple prove beyond question that this preparation possesses wonderful med icinal power. Hood’s Pills cure Constipation by restoring the peristaltic action of the alimentary canal. They are the best family cathartic. FAITH—WHAT IS IT? Justisfying faith is saving faith. But what is it ? There has been much said about, a world of books writ ten about it, and yet in my humble opinion, the mass of Christians do not understand what is the faith that saves the soul. Webster’s definition of belief and faith is primarily the same—the as sent of the mind to the truth of a proposition upon evidence. This is not the Bible meaning of the faith that justifies and saves. Be lief is an element of faith ; an essen tial element, I will say—but it'is not the faith that justifies and saves; not the umbilical cord that unites the new-born soul to Christ. There are'three words in the Greek language, Pistis Peitho Peitharkeo, which have a common root, and that root is Pisma, a ship’s cable. Pistis is faith, Peitharkeo is to obey, Peitho is to persuade. A ship’s cable holds and draws. Peitho per suades, draw's, urges and brings to obedience, and this is the Pistis, the faith that justifies and saves; the faith engrafts the soul upon Christ, the true vine, that by which the soul becomes adhesive to Christ—draws its life from Christ, and by obedience to Christ, bears the fruit of good deeds, of holy living, so that men seeing its fruits glorify God. Even Luther was very much mis understood in his day, and in our day, he is grossly perverted. Yet Luther, while teaching the precious doctrine of justification by faith, de clared in most emphatic language that the sphere of good works was as necessary to the child of God as was the air to the bird or the water to the fish; and he uses this illustration to present objectively the relation of good works to faith. “It is as impossible to separate faith from good works, as it is to separate flame from its burning, shining prop erties.” Meaning that faith and good works were inseparable, as much so, as sugar and sweetness, or vinegar and sourness, or quinine and bitter ness. And sugar without sweetness, is no longer sugar. Christ is an his toric character, historic existence, as Caasar, Alexander and Washington. But belief of the testimony of histo ry, is not faith in Caesar or Washing ton, nor is belief of the Bible as a credible history, nay, even as of di vine authority. Yea, I will say be lief of the Bible as genuine, as au thentic and inspired, is not the faith that justifies and saves the soul. Luther says, “O, this faith is a mighty thing, wrought in the will, in the spirit of a man, by the mighty pow’er of the Divine Spirit.” The faith that saves the soul, is the faith that forsakes all for Christ; forsakes the honors, the riches, the pleasures of the world and the flesh, for Christ. The soul that is born of God, is “sealed by the Holy Spirit of prom ise.” Eph. 1:13. Then is the kingdom of God set up in the soul when the man has re nounced all things for Christ; when there is a conscious self-abnegation for Christ. There is no temporizing, or com promising. It was the faith of Paul, W'hen he cried out, “Lord what wilt thou have me to do ?” As he fell to the ground, his natural eyes being blinded by the brilliance of the actu al presence of the Son of God. The eyes of the inner man beheld the cru cified, the glorified Jesus of' Naza reth, the Son of God; the lightening flash of the Divine presence, that smote him to the earth, smote also to death the evil spirit that animated and controlled him. The faith that saves is that which is visible in good works. Read conclusion of 25th chapter of Mark—a description of the judg ment—and see that those on the right hand are welcomed to the king dom prepared for them, not because of what they had believed, but be cause of what they had done in the way of good works—they had “fed the hungry, given water to the thirs ty, entertained the stranger, clothed the naked, visited the sick and the , i prisoner. • ' 1 Hear Jesus in Matt. 7th: “Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of God, but he that doeth the will of my Father in heaven.” And he says, “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit, wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.” And by their fruits we have seen, they shall be judged and rewarded. An Introduction to the through car service of Wis consin Central Lines and Northern Pacific Railroad is unnecessary. Its advantages and conveniencies have been fully established. It is the only route to the Pacific coast over which both Pulman Vestibuled first class and Pullman Tourist Cars are oper ated from Chicago via St. Paul with out change. Through trains leave Chicago every day at 10:45 p.m. The traveler via this route passes through the most picturesque, inter esting and prosperous belt of county in the Western World. There is scenery with most striking contrasts that range from the rolling prairie and the pine forests level to the wildest mountains in the world. There is a series of the noblest cities, towns and villages of every variety and size, from the hamlet or the tiny farm, upward, the richest mines in the world, the greenest and most lasting pasturage ; the wildest scenery on the continent; hills, can ons as weird as a nightmare ; hills, snows and peaks startling in the magnificence of their beauty, and a perfection of comfort in traveling that has never been surpassed. Fast train via the Wisconsin Cen tral Lines for St. Paul, Minneapolis, Ashland and Duluth leaves Chicago at 5 p. in. daily with Pullman Vesti buled Sleepers and Centrals’ famous dining cars attached. mar!7tf Tickle N The Earth With • Hoe, SOW FERRY'S SEEDS and nature will do the rest. Seeds largely determine the harvest— always plant the best—FERRY’S. A book full of information about Gardens—flow and what to raise,etc., sent free to all who ask for ioyH Ask to-day. D. M. FERRY Zy P. O. Boa 1074 4 CO., MICH. |/ I CURE FITS! When I say cure I do not mean merely to atop them for a time and then hate them return again. I mean a radical cure. 1 bate mode the d.seaee of FITS, EPI LEPSY or FALLING SIGKN ESS a Me-long study. I warrant my remody to euro tho worst oaoaa. Because others have failed it no roaeon for not n w moeiving a cure. Hand at once for a treatise and a Free Bottle of my infallible remody. Giro Ex proas and Poet Office. 11. G. ROOT, M. C.s 18k Pearl N Y. a andtumobT J I |M a Rm D lmlr4 1 . I H Im IV ""* 1 rMrr *‘- N " kß,fr fl I"> ■ W ■■■ ■ HOOK KICKK. Dr-. W wKailual A RQMKIa, Ko. 1U Um au, CUcUaaU, Üblm /SBK . jßlvishmg -1 ■Mg ff /s /•' ! ’ ve washed at the tub, W / tP mW .pUjTtMiW# And the floor, scoured the tin pans V ' .‘-0 wSy 00 ’ an d 'Dust ' Jt in half the time that any ; soap could do. S' • Sold everywhere. Cleans everything, meases everyway. // // i W N* K. Fairbank & Co., / J Jll , ? Sole Manufacturers, / feaJ L IM tj' ’ 1 Chicago, St. Louis, New York, Boston, / l l ' l'l ('"|”V \\ \ Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans, JI I | IIII\ \\\ /? San Francisco, Portland, Me., Portland, i Ore., Pittsburgh and Milwaukee. SEND FOR SAMPLES OF THE NATIONAL BAPTIST SUNDAY-SCHOOL PERIODICALS, NaliOMlßajlislPiMMCo., St. I von ■ Allssouri. Tipped. See Nsme “EVER READY” on Back of Each Stay. Acknowledged the BEST DRESS STAT On the Market Made with <>utta Percha on both aide* of uteol and warranted water-proof. All other Etays art made differently and will rust. Beware of Imitations. Take none but the “JEver Beady.” Manufactured bytho YPSILANTI DRESS STAY MFC. CO., Ypsilanti, Nlloh.j FOR BALE BY ALL JOBBERS AM) BETAILEKS. SPECIAL. 1 MODEL DRESS STEEL CO., 74 Grand St., New York. DEPOTS, 1 BROWN & METZNE** 535 Market Street. San Francisco. , i . "I CTwwa CM CY> LH co « C SBP* ■ £ o -J - ■ c < . • . CfIMM SB 111 ‘ tfc ' tej ■ i> f .«S i fei j p H = b■ ■ L&S.. s \if \ / w » u ijs ksß M V co SE »f M J CO § g g £ a* S a a ■IT WILL COST YOU NOTH3NC. J SEND US YOUR ADDRESS on a postal and you 1 Will RECEIVE the FINEST CATALOGUE OF > "“"v.’... 1 : save Sioo Satisfaction guaranteed before you pay. CUT THIS OL'T 1 and mail it to us. You will be surprised at the result. But you J must do it NOW. Write to J CORNISH & CO., W The leading Southern school of bnsineas training. Open all the year. Student*! may enter at any time Full term beginN September 1 and Spring term January 1. 300 students last year from six different States. Thorough course of study. Full corps of well-trained teache r s. Handsomely Illustrated Catalogue mailed fr<*e. StudHntH in business SI.CUO. a s ■ v v n. . '•-’’.Tenn. (frQ buys a COTTON HOEING MACHINE. A perfect ML 4>O Machine in the cotton fields, does the work of b hands. I’utented Oct. 13,189 L * .7-- jar WA NTE P ‘'” Smith’s Cotton Hoe Co., Atlanta, Ga. t3T* Wi? wiint active ini'ii to get up clubs in eueh settb invntnt o.ic.. i .y v u lorsuo work. Only men well suited to the place accepted. Write at one and mention this paper. 7uprct Bobkht H. Smith, Late of Smit h & Mailury. Chas. H. Hall, Jk. SMITH & HALL, DEALERS Steam Engines, | Saw Mills, Grist Mills, Belting, Lubricating < >llh, iCtv. tr- Special Agcntsforl’erltins’Slihwb-'Miieliincry. Address SMITH A HALL, Mncon, Un. 5
