Newspaper Page Text
ASKED AND ANSWERED.
[ln this column only such ques
tions as are of general interest will
find place. All that is of a strictly
personal nature will be excluded.
We have secured Rev. C. E. W
Dobbs, D. D., to edit the column.]
What is the general custom of the
Baptists as to immersions in other
denominations? L. E. G.
The inquirer probably wishes to
known the custom of Baptist church
es as to receiving to membership per
sons who have been immersed in other
communions. Custom varies. In the
the northern churches and in England,
such persons are received on proses
sion of faith without rebaptism the
validity of the ordinance being based
on the fitness of the candidate at the
time of receiving it, rather than on
ecclesiastical qualifications of the ad
ministrator. Our churches in the
South treat such baptisms as irregu
lar and invalid, and require such per
sons to be rebaptized by a proper
administrator. In the north nine
teen-twentieths of the churches re
ceive such baptisms without ques
tions; in the South probably a larger
proportion of the churches reject
them.
A methodist preacher, whom I
heard last Sunday, said that it was
a mischievous mistake to say per
sons must be converted before join
ing the church. He said the Bible
plan was first to join and then work
out salvation. Give me a little light
on that passage. M. H. J.
M. H. J. heard only what is very
commonly heard from Methodist and
other pulpits. The Episcopal bishops
of Georgia, recently emphasized the
same thing in an Atlanta pulpit. It
seems strange that one can read the
history of the first churches in the
Acte of the apostles, and fail to see
that only those were baptized and
added to the churches who had glad
ly received the word of life. Every
where the chftrches are recognized
as bodies of believers, saints, children
of God, the saved, (see among others
these passages viz: Acts 2:41, 8:12,
10:47; Rom. 1:7; I Cor. 1:1-3; Eph.
1:1, Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2 1 Thes. 1:1.)
These references are sufficient to
show that the Apostolic churches
were composed only of professed be
lievers. But M. H. J. probably re
fers more especially to the text in
Phil, 2.12, in which Paul exhorte:
“Work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling.” The context
shows that the apostle is urging his
Philippian brethren to faithfulness
in Christian living, and he uses a
verb in the twelfth verse which is
quite suggestive. The original word
for “work out” (katergazomai) does
not necessarily, nor even generally
mean to work for an object so as to
attain it. Rather it has the sense of
practicing, doing, living out. The
verb is found in the following places:
Rom. 1:27; 2:9; 7:15-18; 1 Cor. 5:3;
Eph. 6:13,J1 Pet. 4:3. These passages
show the sense of the word as used
by Paul in the text. He does not
say, “Labor and to effect your
salvation.” He does not exhort
them to work to secure sal
vation as an uncertain prize yet in
the future; but, to live in harmony
with a salvation, that is, to “walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye
are called.” They were now in a
saved state by God’s grace, and hav
ing ceased to work out the will of
the Gentiles, they come to work out
the will of God.
What is the meaning of Luke
12:10? Was Christ speaking to his
disciples or to unregeneratc persons?
C. T. N.
The question of what is the sin
against the Holy Ghost has often
been asked, and many efforts have
been made with more or less success
to answer it satisfactorily. We have
a clue to the meaning which is now
generally accepted, in the parallel
passage, Matt. 12:24-31. The Phari
sees attributed Christ’s miracles to
the power of Satan. They said he
was in league with Beelzebub. As
the power was the power of the
Holy Spirit, their speaking of it as
Satanic was blasphemy against the
third Person of the Holy Trinity.
That sin Christ said, would not be
forgiven. It may be supposed to in
dicate a perversity so deep-seated in
the man uttering it, that he would be
proof against the influence which
leads men to repentance. Whether
the sin can be committed in our day
is doubtful, but that man comes per
ilously near it who declares the
Word of God, the conversion of sin
ners, or any other work of the Spirit
to be product of the evil one. Many
persons have feared that they have
committed the sin and have
Buffered much distress in conse
quence. Such fear is groundless. If
one has committed this sin, the heart
is callons and unconcerned, and feels
no distress. Whoever mourns his
sin may know that he is within mer
cy’s pale, and may find forgiveness.
MERCER UNIVERSITY.
Receipts From March 26th to April
26th 1892.
Mrs M J Estes $5, J W Minter 5,
W C Faulk 2, G W Faulk 1, W L
Solomon 1, F D Wimberly 1, R E
Lee 5,1 D Gloer 20, Mrs M E Rod
gers 10, G F Orr 5, G A Riviere 2,
(The following per A E Freeman
and Dr Gibson) Mrs M E Long 5,
Miss Helen Long 1, Miss M E Free
man 2, Miss J Cates 2, Irwin Wal
ker 2.50, J H Russell 10, R D Cole,
Sr 50, A D Freeman 20, P D Pol
lock 5. J A Hunter 10, D Walker
5, W C Snead 2.50,1 N Orr 10, Mrs
H Arnoll 10, A J Lyndon 5, II A
Hall 10. J H Hall 10, T G Farmer
10, Mrs M Cole 10, F B Cole 5, E M
Cole 5, R H Hardaway 10.
F S Bartow 1, J D Bartow 1, J A
Hill, 1, C W Jennings 1, J M Pat
terson 1, W H Richardson 1, R P
Salter 1, W D Wilier 1, J W Wells
2, E C Benton 1, W D Cornwell 1.
M D Ezell 1, Miss O L Green 1, Mrs
JP Hardy 1, Miss M Newton 1, Miss
L Swanson 1, Mrs R Talmage 1, J
Farrell 2, Miss Nora Ennis 2, Ft
Gaines ch 10, RE L Harris 10, RE
D Harris 10, B M Pack 5, J J Far
mer 1, V A Ham 5, A E McGarity 5,
J II Evans 2, J C Key 5, Lee Holmes
1 K and L Averete 1, J D Miller 5,
M L Cason 5, T Gibson 1, Mrs II M
Hall I,J F Long 5, J A Fulghum
25, T W Glover 25, Lime Br ch 3.58,
i Friendship ch 1.72, additional 6, D
M Cason 1.
Previously reported ..... $7538
Received since 416
Receipts to April 26th .... §7954
mercer’s little needs.
Previous reported vols 24.
* “ cash $30.00
V E Orr, Atlanta, vol. 1
Mrs J M Kelly, Jeffer
sonville. “ 1
Miss Sallie Render
Greensville. “ 4
S G Hillyer Washing
ton DC. “1
1 W L Haws .... “1
J H Kilpatrick, catalo-
gues
J T Smith Belton SC “1
J O Sessoms Madison “ 2
J A Carswell Midwell
Ga. cash 1.00
1 A J Spalding Atlanta “ 1.00
T B Palmer NY “ 1.00
W S West Valdosta “ 1.00
R E Lester Savannah “ 20.00
Vols. received to date 36 cash $54.00
G. A. Nunnally.
BAPTIST MINISTER’S CONFERENCE,
COLUMBUS.
Eld. O. W. How'ard, president.
Pastor L. M. Bradley, Clerk; open
ing prayer, by Pastor G. D. Benton.
First Church Columbus.—Pas
tor Harris reported large prayer
meeting, Thursday night. Two ac
cessions. Fine Sunday school and
growing interest. Excellent Sunday
morning congregation, Interfered
with by rain, at night. Interesting
young peoples meeting in the after
noon.
Fist Church, Phenix City.—
Pastor Bradley reported good meet
ing, continued during the week. Sev
eral accessions. Preached commence
ment sermon, Phenix City public
school Sunday morning. Fine con
gregation. Interfered with, at night
by rain. Meeting to be continued
1 during this week.
First Church Girand.—Pastor
Carter reported good prayer meet
ing, last Wednesday night. Larger
Sunday school. Fine morning con
gregation, small at night, on account
of rain, but good meeting and one ac
cession.
First Church Columbus.—Pas
tor Cobbs reported protracted meet
ing during the week, preaching by
Dr. F. C. David. Good congrega
tions, some interest and two acces
sions. Good congregation Sunday
morning. Small at night, on ac
count of rain. Meeting continues
for some days.
Ladonia. —Pastor G. E Benton
reported a good congregation and
profitable service, at Bethel, yester
day. Elder C. C. Willis was present
Very feeble, but made a pleasant
talk, which his people greatly enjoy
ed. God has blessed this dear old
man with the love and confidence of
all who know him.
Eleventh avenue Columbus and
Mount Olive, Phenix City, not re
ported, visited by Elder T. A.
Threadgill, Phenix City.
The following resolution was un
animously adopted:
Resolved, That we, the Baptist |
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1892.
ministers of Columbus, Ga., do here
by declare the individual, calling
himself Rev. W P Lewis and hereto
fore recognized as a Baptist minister
to be a person in our opinion, utterly
unworthy of confidence or respect,
as a minister and as a man.
Closing prayer by Pastor W. T<
Cobbs.
"HARD TMIES."
I do not wish to discuss the ques
tion, ought Christians to pay the
tenth of their income to the
cause of Christ, but ought they to al
low the “hard times” to prevent them
from meeting their obligations to
God. I know Christian men and
women too who pay the tenth of
their entire income into the Lord’s
treasury, and they say that they have
had more ease and success financial
ly than for years before. Christians
may differ in their ideas about the
amount or the per cent, of income
which is due their Lord, but none
can doubt the duty to sustain the
gospel at home, and to send it abroad.
'lhese hard times will try men’s
souls, they will test their allegiance
to Christ. Will Christian men sacri
fice their own comforts and pleas
ures for the kingdom of Christ. The
times are hard, will they buy less
costly clothing, will they do away
with their own self indulgences?
W ill they smoke fewer cigars, chew
less tobacco, spend less money in lux
uries, and thereby save more for the
cause of Christ. God only knows.
Where do men usually begin to
economize in hard times? Doubt
less in the things they deem less im
portant, and which they care less for.
Usually they let go their religious
newspaper; then put smaller contri
butions into the treasury of the Lord.
V hat a shame on Christians. The
cause of Christ is left to bear the
first results of economy. The church
buildings are beautified and adorned,
even if the pastor’s salary is behind.
Personal pride must be gratified at
all cost.
Asking a pastor why he failed to
attend the meeting of the State Con
veniion; he replied, “hard times” On
being asked to explain he stated, that
his salary of last year was over a
hundred dollars short, and for this
year he had received but little. There
were some small accounts on last
year unpaid by him and all he could
command must go to them.
Doubtless that pastors’ people will
be praying the Lord to open for them
the windows of heaven and pour
them out a blessing. Yet there is uo
meat in the house of this servant,
their pastor. The Lord cares for the
poor servant, who setteth his heart
upon his hire—it is his living, and if
it be held back by fraud, and he cry
unto the Lord, he will hear him, and
require it of your hands. The Lord
cares even for the ox that treadeth
out the corn, and commands that he
shall not be muzzled. Does he not
much more care for his own servants,
who preach his word, and labor to
build up his kingdom.
Has the Lord called, and qualified
them, and given them to the churches
for their special building up, and
blessing, and docs the Lord their
Master not care for them? Are their
sighes and groans under the weight
of unpaid accounts for last years
bread, of no interest to their Lord?
They may not cry to God against
you, but their burdened hearts, and
the privations are all open to the
eyes of the Lord your God. Bring
ye all the tithes into the store house,
that there may be meat in mine
house (for the use of his ministers)
and prove me now herewith, saith
the Lord of hosts, if I will not open
you the windows of heaven, and
pour you out a blessing that there
shall not be room enough to receive
it. Prayer is a good thing in its
place, but it takes something else be
sides prayer to open the windows of
heaven.
It seems to me that some churches
might pray ten thousand years, and
never see a window open, unless they
begin to bring in the Lord’s tithes.
Pay up back salary,or as much as pos
sible,see that there is something to eat
in the Lord’s store house. Be obedient
to the Lord’s commands. • Make an
honest effort to do the entire will of
the Lord. Return unto the Lord,
and he will return unto you. Read
er, is it your pastor who is unpaid ?
Do you want the windows of heaven
opened unto your church ? Bring ye
all the tithes into the store house.
Then let us hear of the blessing.
“Hard Times.
Harvest Bells round, and shape
notes, and words only 364 good
songs. A Baptist song book, 200,000
have been sold, and increasing. Send
for circulars giving price to
W. E. Penn,
St Louis, Mo.
IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.
The P. <fc O. steamer, Khedive, is
bound for China and we have on
board but few passengers, but these
are social and entertaining and we
are having quite a pleasant time. An
English major who has just been re
tired on a pension, is on his way to
Australia with his family, and a Cath
olic priest quite social and jolly, with
a few scattering passengers, make up
our party and the Catholic priest and
myself have a great time discussing
politics and religion and playing
checkers and chess. I get the better
of him in the games and I think I al
so do the same in the discussion.
Our route is almost due south from
Bombay and we skirt along the coast
of lower India for four days when we
swing across the strait and reach
CEYLON, THE BEAUTIFUL.
This island is said to be the ancient
Ophir of the Bible and is now con
sidered the holy isle of the religion
of Buhda. The island is over a hun
dred miles across and abounds in
spices, cinnamon trees, precious
stones and tea plantations. Coffee
was once largely cultivated but this
has given place to tea which is more
profitable. The interior is moun
tainous and salubrious but the sea
coast is intensely hot even in Janua
ry. The principal sea-port is Co
lumbo, a city of 120,000 inhabitants,
within seven degrees of the equator
and is connected with the interior by
railroad. This is the great depot of
ships passing from Europe to Aus
tralia, China and Japan, and we saw
vessels from almost everywhere but
America. Here we saw, for the first
time, the novel boat called the Cata
maran, not more than a foot wide
and prevented from overturning by
an outrigger of wood fastened to the
boat with poles and floating in the
water about ten feet from the boat.
Those boats do not overturn even in
the roughest weather, and are capa
ble of carrying two persons beside
the one who manages the boat. As
the ship floated into the harbor the
passengers amused themselves by
throwing pennies into the sea when
the native boys would dive from
their small boats and invariably bring
up the pennies.
We went ashore, took carriages
and visited the principal places of in
terest. What magnificent tropical
plants, cocoanut trees, palms, etc.
Tlie stores are fiflef with beautiful
goods and curios, the work of the
Ceylonese. The men all wear skirts
and tucking or roach combs in their
hair, and you must see their faces to
tell them from the women. The
Budhist temple is quite pretty and
some of the public buildings quite in
teresting, with good hotels kept in
European style. Everybody in the
city seems to be engaged in the jew
elry business and the show windows
flash with diamonds, saphires, rubies,
etc., both genuine and spurious,
and the shop keepes swarm on the
ship with their rings, bracelets and
brooches, urging you to buy, and
usually asking twice as much as they
intend to take.
Here the ship for Australia came
in and brought quite an accession to
our party in the persons of 20 mis
sionaries bound for China. They
were Episcopalians, Presbyterians,
Plymouth brethren, and one Baptist
young lady going out under Pedo
baptist auspices, all from England,
Ireland and Scotland. Three young
women—sisters—were going at their
own expense to work among the
Chinese. They had very little fel
lowship among themselves and when
one party would hold religious ser
vices in the saloon the others would
stay up on deck. I suggested that
this was a bad example to set before
the heathen crew of the ship, hut
they shrugged their shoulders and
said Mr. B— did not belong to their
’church and they did not enjoy the
services conducted by him. One of
the young lady missionaries succeed
in catching a beau and they were en
gaged to be married before the end
of the voyage.
The weather was intensely hot and
I was glad when we weighed anchor
and started across the Indian Ocean.
The first three days the wind was
strong and the head seas broke over
our bows and swept the deck with
constant floods of water.
This was disagreeable but not dan
gerous. After five days we reached
the city of PenongJ on the western
coast of the Maylay Peninsula in
Southern Asia. This city of 75,000
people is the principal station for Su
matra and Java, and except for the
queer looking people, contained noth
ing of special interest.
We took jinrecashas and did the
town in a few hours, supplying, our
selves with several kinds of tropical
fruits that were new to us. Let me
here describe the mode of convey-
ance called a jinricasha, for we shall
use it frequently in China and Japan.
It is a kind of sulkey on springs with
well finished body and seat and short
shafts. A native between the shafts
takes them in his hands and draws
you along smoothly and swiftly.
There is a folding top to protect you
from the sun or rain and altogether
the conveyance is fully as easy as
one of our best buggies. The cost
is trifling, say five or six cents an
hour, and the speed five to six miles
an hour. The jinrecasha is said to
have been invented by a missionary
in Japan, and it was found to be so
convenient that the invention has
spread around the entire southern
coast of Asia until now there is near
a million of them in use in these eas
tern lands. I like them much better
than a cab or even a street-car drawn
by horses.
We now pass into the straits of
Malaca and running down between
Sumatra and the Maynly Peninsala
we reach Singapore, the most south
ern city in Asia, almost directly un
der the equator, and containing one
hundred and fifty thousand people.
The city is under British control but
the country adjoining is governed by
a native ruler.
The Malays are a stout, strong
race of a rich yellow color, making
good sailqrs and soldiers.
The trade of the place is largely in
the hands of Chinese merchants and
nearly one-half the residents of the
place are Chinese. The city is well
built and quite cool for a climate so
tropical. One of the most beautiful
tropical gardens in the world is seen
here containing over one hundred
acres under charge of a government
superintendent who kindly showed
us throw the garden, taking us even
into the jungle near by where we
saw the wild monkeys scampering
through the branches of the trees.
Here we were joined by two young
American lawyers from Washington,
D. C., who had ridden over five thou
sand miles on bicycles and who pro
posed to travel on with us around the
world. We hope to have many
pleasant days with them in Chima
and Japan.
And now we start through the
China Sea, fifteen hundred miles to
Hong Kong, and after a run of six
days through lovely waters and
by beautiful islands we reach the
great sea- port city of China and drop
anchor in one of the most beautiful
harbors in the world.
For the first time since we left
New York we see the stars and
stripes floating from the mast of an
American ship and are told that the
ship is an American man of war.
We go ashore, but we must wait
for another letter to speak of China.
O. C. Pope.
Hong Kong, Jah. 20, 1892.
Kennedy’s
Medical Dscoveiy
Takes hold in this order:
Bowels,
Liver,
Kidneys,
Inside Skin,
Outside Skin;
Driving everything before it tha
ought to be out.
You know whether you
need it or not.
Sold by every druggist, and manufac
tured by
DONALD KENNEDY
ROXBURY, MASS.
Our |1i.50 Button Boot is made of Oonnlne
French Dongola, nil solid leather, Common-
Sense or Opera Toe. Size, Ito 8, and widths C,
D, E, and EE. Sent on receipt of .I.ZO, all post
age paid by us. Sold by all dealers for 82.50 to
83.00. Sarno ahoo In inis.es’ sizes, n to 2,
spring heeled, SI.2S.
Anthony, Fla., Feb. 13, rSqz.
lam pleased with the good, you send. I must
say that the 81.50 Leader, now uwd by my wife. Is
the equal of any 83.00 shoe she has ever found in
this market. 1 mean It. and 1 intend to continue
saving 81.50 whenever she wants a new shoe.
C. P. Collins,
“Tom Sawyer” of Florida Prots,
Farmers' Alliance Lecturer.
CENTS'CALF, SEWED,
1 "''A. AII Soliil Leather ’ Plall ' or Tip,ieil
BALS, or CONGRESS.
We make these for service, y I /I
They are neat, stylish, and « J
equal to any adver- X
tilled 83-o»shoe. Sizes J
5 to ii. Sent on re
ceipt of SB.OO, all
postage paid by us. Boys' sizes, Itos, *1 .80,
Original “Boston School Shoe."
Extra prime grain leather, sole leather tip. But
ton Boot, rolid as a rock, size, 11 to z. Sent post
paid on receipt of 81.80. All dealers charge
•2.00 lor this shoe.
All Goods Warranted and Hatlafactlon
Guaranteed. Catalogue and Almanac free on
application POSTAL SHOE CO.,
140 Congress St., Boston, Mass.
DO NOT FAIL TO SECURE SOME
OF THE
BARGAINS OFFERED THIS WEEK
IN
Ww, Hats aifl PnmisH Goods
—AT—
BEALL’S, 23 Whitehall St.,Atlanta,Ga.
Premiums For New Subscribers
TO THE
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To any old subscriber whose subscription is paid in advance. sending us
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lowing books:
FOR ONE NEW SUBSCRIBER.
Spurgeon’s Life—by Geo. C. Lorimer D. D., (Postage paid.)
Spurgeon’sLife by Russell H. Conwell, (Postage paid.)
Drummond’s Addresses, Cloth, (Postage paid)
My Point of View.
The Gospel In Enoch—by Dr. H. H. Tucher (Postage paid.)
For 10 newsubscribers and S2O will send the works of Charles Dickens—
-15 Volumes handsomely bound in cloth and gold. Address,
Christian lixdLex,
57£ South Broad Street, Atlanta, Ga.
SHORTER COLLEGE
FOR YOUNG LADIES.
ROME, - - - - GEORGIA.
' A 4
INTERESTING FEATURES.
1. A high and healthful situation. culture.
2. Charming grounds and scenery. 9. An unsurpassed school of Elocution.
3. Magnificent hrick buildings. Moderate charges for these unrivalled ad-
4. Modern improvements. vantages. Apply.
5. Twenty accomplished teachers DR. A. J. BATTLE, President, or
6. A splendid music department, PROF lvy w DU6GANf
7. A famous school of art.
8. A finely equipped deprrtment of physical Business Manager.
[MEW fcRTHE OID
BUY A PIANO
which you know to be worth buying, of a dealer
whom you know to be worth trusting.
There are two mistakes to avoid. One is to save
that hundred dollars or two which must be paid in
order to get a good piano the other is to pay a
hundred or two for nothing.
Where to draw the line ? At the IVERS &
POND. In some respects it has no jqual; in no re
spects has it any superior,
PHILLIPS & CREW.
29 Peachtree Street/ Atlanta, Ga.
Are You Going to Buy a Ginning Outfit This Season?
DO YOU WANT 1 ■
Engines, Boilers, Saw Mills, I |B I
Cotton Gins, Cotton Presses, I I _
Cotton Seed Elevators,Mow- I
ers, Horse Hay Hakes, Cot- ■
ton Seed Crushers, Crist
Mills, Circular Saws, Inspi- / K
rators, Belting, Pulleys,
Shafting, Pipe or Machin-
ists’ Supplies.
Be sure and write us be-
fore buying. W'e can take —dlsSS' "
care of you. ’
MALLARY BROS. & CO..
* MACON, - - GEORGIA.
9