Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

>lany good and strong things were said in be half of MISSIONS During the Session of the Southern jgaptist Convention. Subscribe to Christian Index, if you would ESTABLISkA^IB2I. _ ©he J. c. McMichael, proprietor. Organ of the Baptist Denomination in • Georgia. Published Every Thursday at Atlanta, Ga. Subscription Price : One copy, ono year * 2.00 One copy, six months 1.00 One copy, thrpe months 50 Obituaries.—One hundred words free of charge. For each extra word, one cent per word, cash with copy. To Correspondents.—Do not use abrcvia tions; be extra careful in writingproper names; write with ink, on one side of paper; Do not write copy intended for the editor and busi ness items on same sheet. Leave off personal ities; condense. Business.—Write all names, and post offices distinctly. In ordering a change give the old as well as the new address. The date of label Kidicatesthe time your subscription expires, you do not wish it continued, order it stop ped a week before. We consider each sub scriber permanent, until he orders his paper discontinued. When you order it stopped pay up to date. Remittances by check preferred; orregis tered letter, money order, postal note. THE CONVENTION, The Southern Baptist Convention which closed its 37th session in this city last w eek was many degrees and in several respects above the aver age. 1. The spirituality that manifest ed itself from the very beginning was most gratifying to witness. Countenances beaming with good humor, hearty hand grasps, cheering and Christian greet ings, songs of praise and tri umph that reached down into the depths of the soul, making melody and arousing enthusiasm, prayers that were truly sincere, that knit all hearts into fellowship-sermofis and addresses that indicated divout study, humility and godliness—all combin ed to make the spiritual tone one that begat brotherly love, nearest to Go d and Christlikeness. Now this may be easily accounted for; for several years the constitu ency of the Convention has been sharply divided upon the question of Sunday-school literature and kindred issues; this division has caused dis cussion, at times acrimonious, and constant friction which things are inimical to spirituality and unction. Thanks to our Heavenly Father this question has been settled and we heard not the most remote reference to it. We do not remember to have witnessed so harmonious a meeting as the one just passed. There was no bone of contention. 2. The absence of anything like her esy aihong the Baptists of the South is a cause of devout thankfulness. Again and again did we hear from the speakers the most earnest insis tance upon the audience and all to rigidly adhere to the truth of the old gospel and to walk in the old paths. While other denominations are being rent with discensions and trou bled with advocates of “Advanced Thought,” “The New Theology,” “Briggsism” and such, the Southern Baptists can congratulate themselves that our brethren are sound in the faith and will boldly stand for the defense of the truths that were dear to Boyce, Jeter, Pendleton, Jess* Mercer, the Furman’s and Manly’s and the fathers of long ago. With out boasting we may say, that no other body of Christians in the world can show such faithful adherence to pure Pauline Theology as the Bap tists of the South. Not simply the pastors of Atlanta, but all the pas tors of the Southern Baptist Conven tion agreed that it is not expedient to admit defenders of Briggsism into our pulpits. 8. The themes discussed in the meeting are worthy of mention—no time was lost on side issues, no breath spent in quibbling or stick ling: Missions which are the heart and life of the church, claimed tho major part of tho time and discus sions—truly might the meeting have been called a Missionary Conference, and that of very high order. Concerning such subjects, there might be difference of opinion as to methods and minor details, but as the great issue of “Go ye” all were agreed and all ready to bid God •peed. The interest manifested in the discussions was marked and con tinuous, the speakers indicated thor ough acquaintance with their sub jects, and surely the addresses of Dr’s. Carter, Greene, Broadus and Mabie reached “high water marks.” From this standpoint the Conven tion occupied vantage-ground over many preceding ones. Very much are we indebted to Dr. T. T. Eaton, his Committee and his able speakers. Seldom has our heart been stirred as (Cljrisfian Shite it was while we listened to these im passioned appeals. 4. We may legitimately forecast the future—since this meeting is largely educative in its influence, we shall expect that the strides made in understanding the great question and putting our obligations into practi cal operation will be marked, rapid, gratifying. Really many of us are just waking up to realize the tre mendous sweep of this missionary enterprise, and shall it not grow on us till we are filled with the spirit of Yates, Powell and Judson? We conceive of no subject better calcu lated to broaden and enlarge the in tellectual and moral horizon than the constant, prayerful considera tion of our duty to our fellow-man as set forth in the work of Foreign Missions. If, as said the Psalmist, it is in God’s hands to make great, in what other way, than that of duty to others, does He so often enlarge our faculties and multiply us for useful ness? We are truly sorry for him, who, often hearing discussed the Moral-Basis of Missions, doesnot have a loftier conception of life, both relative and personal, and who will not count sacrifices and cross-bear ings a joy and delight. Both for immediate effect and for remote influence will the meeting mark an era in our history—we will not prophesy, but trust that a year hence the whole of the Centennial fund shall have been raised, together with increased contributions to the boards, so that ugly feature of debt may not any more be reported. It was the one spot in our feast of charity, but we will [not speak of it. 5. Lastly we gladly saw a general disposition to support -our Boards and their worthy Secretaries. From some quarters, mutterings of discontent had been heard, but these seem to be confined to a few the great heart of the Southern Baptists in touch and sym pathy with all our Boards and their self-sacrificing would ' not have been prised had “Mission Methods” claim ed and obtained a dignified hearing. But no, the time of the Convention is limited, these matters have been considered at sufficient length in one of our leading journals—let that suffice—so said, if not in words, set in actions, the late meeting. ’Tis an easy thing to find fault, a captious spirit can be fed on the slim mest diet, but how much better, no bler to strengthen the things that re main, that have given proof of their abillity, and have shared in the smile of the Lord, as success has crowned them. There are spots on the sun, we admit, but let us look at the sun, not the spots. We had a great Convention— thank God. The meetings of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, May 27th and 28th will be of unusual in terest. The President, Hon. E. Nel son Blake, of Massachusetts, will de liver an address. Dr. Guild, of Brown University, will throw new light on Roger Williams as the great pioneer missionary to the North American Indians. Rev. J. S. Mur row, for thirty-three years missionary in Indian Territory, will tell what has been wrought there. Dr. J. B. Hartwell of California will deal with a question of tho time: “The Chi nese in America.” Dr. 0. A. Will iams of Nebraska will speak on “The West of 1792; of 1832; of 1892.” Dr. E. B. Hulbert, of the Divinity School of the University of Chicago, will speak on the relation of Home Mission to the stability and per petuity of our Institutions. Dis cussion will follow. The centenary of the Separation of Church and State will be observed on Friday evening, when Dr. H. S. Burrage of Maine will speak on Re ligious Liberty in the 16th Century; Dr. J. C. Long, of Crozer Seminary, on Baptist contention for this princi ple in America; and Dr. MacArthur of New York on the Benefits of Separation and what remains to be done. Saturday afternoon, after brief consideration of work among foreign populations, there will be a free field for discussion of the So ciety’s thirty years work for the col ored people, with a consideration of its future policy. Dr. A. H. Strong, of Rochester Theological Seminary, will preach the Annual Sermon on Sunday the 29th. “The Christian World In ~ ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY. MAY 19, 1892. 1492 and the Christian World in 1892, with American Christianity as a new factor therein: or, the pro gress of the Kingdom in the last 40C years. Jinny complimentary things have been said, and deservingly so, aboul our zealous, efficient and consecrated Corresponding Secretary, Dr. J. G Gibson. Perhaps none have been more appreciated by him than, thi resolution adopted by th late State Convention in LaGrange. This is official as we give it: Resolved, That the liberal contri butions for missions during the past twelve months are largely due, undei the divine blessing, to the ability and zeal of brother J. G. Gibson, Cones ponding Secretary State Board of Missions; and it affords this Conven tion great pleasure to boar witness oi his efficiency and fidelity. We are satisfied that brethren oi Georgia, the rank and file of the min istry, will sustain the Atlanta pastor; in their statement to Rev. Thos. Dix on, of New York, that on account oi his utterances concerning Dr. Briggs and his defense of his heresies, that no pulpit in Atlanta would welconu him. So far as we know they might have said with equal truth, no pul pit in Georgia. Excuse us from Briggsism if you please. FROM CHINA. Hong Kong is a city of over tw< hundred thousand people, built on ai island with the harbor between it and the main land. The island recedes like an amphitheatre, rapidly fron the shore and the city is built witl one street above another, overlook ing the bay and presenting a beauti ful and picturesque appearance About one-half the city consists of beautiful European houses with fin< public buildings and splendid man sions and villas, while the other hal is inhabited by Chinese. At night the city is especially beautiful when seen from the bay and lighted bi electricity as the lighted streets tow er one above anomer receding and rising at the same time and present ing a panorama of sea, land and mountain rarely to be met with. Hong Kong is under English control as China was forced to concede the Island to the English government foi the purposes of trade. Our two young lawyers mounted their bicycles and we took jinrichas and we did the city quite thoroughly. Late in the afternoon another steamer goes up the river 100 miles to Canton, a sure enough Chinese city, and we engage passage and ride by night arriving very early in the morning at the wharf in Canton. Thousands oi Small boats lie all around us in the water. These hold the people who live on the water. Their boat is their home and their means of mak ing a living, and while they transport persons and freight for hire, they are born, eat, sleep, live and die in then boats. Almost every boat is man aged by a woman with a baby strap ped on her back and two or three children around her. The boat peo ple are almost a race to themselves and are considered an inferior class. Among the better classes the women do not mingle with the public but are kept in seclusion. We went to the hotel in the for eign concession, and got breakfast, my wife riding in a sedon chair for the first time, for the streets of Can ton are entirely too narrow to admit of anything like a wheeled vehicle. The foreign concession is outside the walls of the city and is laid off and built up like a small European city. Foreigners arc not permitted to live inside the city walls. We were told that it was not safe to walk around in the city as the natives would jeer at us and might throw stones at us, but we wanted to see as much as possi ble and the only way to do this welj is to walk, and besides, I did not like to be cooped up in a covered sedon chair and this was the only means of conveyance to be had. Breakfast over, we hired a Chinese as guide who knew a little English, and my two young friends, myself and wife, set out to do the city. Just outside the gates is the celebrated temple of the five hundred Geni which we went through and then through the silk factories and tho numerous shops where jewelry is manufactured, when passing through the massive walls of the city we were in Canton, founded more than two thousand years ago and containing a population of a mil lion and a half of people. The streets are very narrow—a should say from three to six feet wide—and the shops and houses stretch along in almost endless rows, while the crowds of people made it ilmost impossible at times to get along. After being in Canton a little while •me can easily believe that China holds four hundred and fifty millions of people. We visited the temples, the Pagodas, the water clock, the public buildings, stores and shops un til we were w r ell tired out, when we turned toward the river and made tor the houses of our Baptist mission tries. No violence had been offered is and if they jeered at us we did not understand what they said and so it did not matter. Passing out thro’ the gates we wended our way along through narrow alleys and jostling crowds until we came to the house of Dr. R. 11. Graves, beautifully located m the bank of the great river. A knock and Mrs. Graves came to the loor and gave us a hearty welcome. Dr. Graves, who was out attending a neeting, soon came in and lunch was spread and an hour or two spent piite pleasantly. Mrs. Graves is a laughter of Gen. Lowry,of Mississip >i, and Dr. Graves is Wvetcran of 35 years in China. Adjoining his house is the girl’s school and next to that the house of Bro. E. Z. Simmons. Our mission property is well located nd the work seems to be going along -moothly. A small boat takes us back to our -teamer and as the sun sets we drop town the river and leave behind us Canton with its tall pagodas, its queer people and its hundred different <mells, glad to breathe again the breeze that swept in frym the sea. Another day in Hong Kong and then for Japan. The Chinese we lave in America do not fairly repre sent China. They are usually from the lowest classes, while here many >f the people are well educated and wealthy. These live in style and Iress elegantly and whi’e their civil zati 'ai is peculiar it u, ffetcriiieless a civilization, in many respects, of a high order. The. Chinese are quite conservative ind any change in their customs or habits must win its way very slowly. They oppose European ideas and methods and regard all other nations as inferior to themselves. They want no railroads or telegraphs, but are quite content with things as they have them. Ido not think any Eu ropeans .would be allowed in the country were it not for English and American men of war in their har bors. They regard all interference by outsiders in attempts to teach them a different civilization or reli gion as an impertinence which they resent as much as they dare to. They are Buhdists in religion and spare no expense or pains in their worship. Many of them are fine philosophers and well posted in the precepts of Buhda and the subtile reasonings of Confucius! Their icfeas of Christianity are de rived in the main from the Euro peans and Americans whom they meet in the treaty ports and who are only nominally Christians, whose lives are no credit to Christianity; as well as to the treatment which they receive from the English govern ment in forcing the opium trade up on them to their ruin, and from our own government in demanding ac cess to their country and denying them any privileges in our own country. Os this kind of Christiani ty they want none of it and I do not know that we can blame them much from their standpoint. China is not a country that I should care to live in nor is it a very pleasant country even to travel in. To-night we set sail for Japan, of which I hear wondrous stories from the great numbers of globe trotters that I meet. You shall know of it in my next. O. C. Pope. DO YOU WANT A HOME ? You may think this is a cranky no tion at first glance, but think about it awhile and then if you are interest ed write me and you will hear more about it. 1. There are hundreds and thous ands of families who by reason of their isolation from other families and the facilities of railroads, churches and schools arc dragging out a mis erable existence on poor farms in backwoods places, their ehildren growing up in ignorance and with out the numerous advantages to be secured by bringing the people together into villages and towns. The school, if they have one at all, is often presided over by an incom petent teacher, in a rude cabin of logs called a school house. The people go to church once a month, to Sab bath-school seldom or never, and re ceive patiently the harmless haran gues of so-called preachers. These facts are driving the people to the towns and cities, not only for educa tional and religious privileges but also for protection from the numerous and abominable thieves, cut throats, libertines and abandoned classes gen erally. 2. But many who leave their old country homes to secure the ad vantages offered in the towns and cities, find after it is too late, that they have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire, for the towns and cities are full of bar rooms, drunkards, gambling hells, houses of prostitu tion, Sabbath desecration, etc. More than this, they find that they have no means of support, and are forced, after a few months, to abandon the town and go back to their old home, or if they unwisely sold it, to rent a home from somebody else and go back on a farm, poorer but wiser people. 3. “There are temperance towns,” you say well, after a fashion there are, but who owns the property? Any free negro,no matter how low down and abandoned, any white man no matter how vile, can buy a lot down in the edge of some swamp and set up an abominable den of infamy and you cannot help yourself, and be sides, you do not know how soon the abominable rum sellers and suckers will take a notion to’ sell liquor in the place and begin to move negro gamblers and low down white men into the place until they acquire strength enough to carry the town “wet” and then you cannot help yourself, but must submit to be in sulted and taxed by them to their hearts content, while they pile name less tefnptAlion's before yuui» ffitirily and bid defiance to law and order, or sell your hard earned possessions to them for what they are pleased to give you and move somewhere else to be treated the same way. I have a remedy for all these evils, so far as location and town govern ment is concerned. I want to find fifty or a hundred families of people who can produce a first class recommendation as to morals and are willing to join a com pany to build a farm village and a at ree to submit to such rules as are in dispensable to good goverment, to be mutually agreed upon between those forming the company or cummunty. The idea is to purchase as much land as is necessary so esch man can have a good farm, build the town in the center and make such law r s under charter as will protect the cummuni ty absolutely from objectionable bus iness and characters. It can be done. This plan will not only give all the advantages now posessed by towns but many not in the charter of the towns in existence, and at the same time give every inhabitant a farm and self sustaining home in the midst of a select neighborhood. I feel perfectly safe in saying that such a village will be worth five times what it will cost, the day it is done, so that as an in vestment there is nothing equal to it. Your correspondence will be treated confidentially and when I hear from fifty people I will call a meeting to orgnize. J. A. Scarboro, Eastman, Ga. Augusta.—Our Father’s compen sations are truly wonderful! I had set my heart on being at the recent meeting of tho Southern Bap tist Convention, hut a sudden sick ness laid me aside, and most of that precious time was spent by mo, waarily, on my bed. But what a sweet token of this tender care and loving remember ance, I have just enjoyed! I received a most unexpected mes sage from our dear Brother Hartwell, of California, requesting me to “an nounce a Chinese service for Wed nesday night.” I did not know before, that Dr. Hartwell was in Atlanta; nor how it was that he had been able to turn aside to visit our mission here; but 1 instantly thought of some good women who had gone up to the Con vention, with hearts full of zeal for the blessed work and concluded that they were bringing him along with them as they returned to Augusta (this it proved otherwise); and my heart was full of joy! I was able, from the shortness of the time, only to put a notice in the evening paper, and to send a few messages to our nearest boys—then rise and go to tho meeting, last night, held in the chapel of the First Baptist church, where our Chinese meet every Sunday afternoon. And what a scene it was! Never can I forget it! A crowded room—on the front benches a score or more of our Chinamen well-dressed, attentive and pleased! Most of them recognized in the dear brother before them, one whom they had often met in far-off San Francisco; one always ready to do them a service, and who had come now to preach Jesus to them, in their own wonderful speeth. As the strange language fell upon our ears, many hearts, doubtless> went up in earnest prayer to God, for the descent of the Holy Spirit! I tried to pray that the occasion might indeed prove Pentecostal— that God himself would come down and open these closed hearts, and unseal those blind eyes—that they might receive Jesus, as their ever lasting Lord and Savior! And the audience sat almost spell bound; not a sound was heard among them, this we understood not a word of the fervid utterance of this earn est Ambassador pleading for his King—with these, His revolted and ignorant subjects! ‘■This is my beloved Son!” was his theme ; and my eyes were full of tears as I sat and watched the up turned faces of those who listened! Long and tenderly Brother Hart well plead with them; and they sat and drank it in—those familiar sounds, that recalled to these exiles —home and native land; but which told, in no uncertain tones, of an eter nal home and a better country—a Father divine and a Savior! Yes; let me repeat £-how Sweet are the blessed compensations, we meet by the way! Many of us, who could not “go up to Jerusalem,” enjoyed this sweet sermon—thanked God, and took heart, for the work. Oh! what a blessed thing it is—to “minister,” to serve, to bear the word of life to the perishing. Brethren of the ministry, turn not aside from your full privilege of serving. It is high time to cancel all thought of self or self-seeking; to be immersed in the true work of the ministry. It has seemed to me, sometimes, that the church has al most drifted away from this great sheet-anchor of her mooring to Jesus Christ—to have almost lost the true meaning of the word and as divinely instituted; and I feel, that the world will never be converted, until the great body of the ministry, Peter-like receive again with bowed heads and broken hearts—the same positive but tender command: “Feed my sheep; feed my lambs!” But I started to write no homily; certainly, to utter no harsh words. Let it fall where it is sent, it hurts none who are true! The Chinamen remained after the congregation, for Brother Hartwell to have a personal word with each one, and urge them again—“to talk with Jesus, who alone could make it all plain,” and then we parted, to our several homes, with hearts full of deep joy and gratitude. We did so wish our Brother could have remained a few days to repeat again and again tho “old, old story,” to these heathens in the midst of churches, but duty calls him away, to attend his own anniversaries. It recalled the time when, a few years ago, wo had with us for a week or more on this same service of love the almost painted graves of Canton the brother-in-law of Dr. Hartwell. But I must stop; only this more; Chistians everywhere, pray for these poor Chinamen in Augusta. We feel our utter inability; God must and will do the work! Mrs. A. Smith Irvine. May 12th 1892. GENERAL MEETING. The Summer Hill Association will hold its meeting with tho church at Richland, Ga., beginning on Friday before the fifth Sunday in May. The introductory sermon will be preached by Rev. J. W. Hamner, tho sublet , being “To Every Man His Work.” The following subjects will bo dis -11 cussed: '‘Encouragement to do tho Brother Minister, Working Layman, Zealous Sister, We are striving to make The Index the best of its kind. Help us by securing a new subscriber. VOL. 69.—N0. 20’ Master’s Work,” “When God Helps in His Work and How.” At night Rev. W. W. Mabry will preach upon the subject “Reward for Christian Work, or tha Reaper and His Rewards.” Saturday morning at 9 o’clock ser vices of prayer will be held, by Rev. Morgan Cleveland and Rev. Daniel Polk. Subject discussed: “God’s use for money in His cause and How to get it.” At 11 o’clock Rev. W. W. Arnold will preach from the “Promised Blessings that Follow Giving.” At 2 o’clock will be discussed ths obligations of a church to its Sunday School. At 3 :30. “When to have a reviv al and how to conduct it.” Sunday morning a mass meeting will be held and several addresses will be delivered. At 11 o’clock there will be a dedi cation service at the new church just completed. The brethren there have just finished a very comfortable house of worship which is an adornment to the town and a credit to the faithful disciples. It cost between fifteen hundred and two thousand dollars. Since the connection of Rev. W. W. Arnold as pastor of the church near ly three hundred dollars have been expended in improvements, besides giving twenty-five hundred dollars to missions, and pastorial support. The membership has increased from 74 to 91, and a good, live Sunday-school, a splendid Prayer Meeting and an interesting teacher’s meeting is held each week. We are glad to note this progress and prosperity under Bro. Arnold’s pastorate. He is an able preacher and a most excellent brother. The Index has a cordial invitation to attend this meeting but arduous duties at home we fear will prevent. A CONDITION OF PEACE. It is quite commonly supposed that one may have peace -with God by simply believing on Christ and thus by faith in him receive salvation and that salvation itself will bring all ths peace that is obtainable. Paul tells us that, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” This is true of course, but it does not, in an amplified way at least, set forth all the conditions of the broad est and fullest peace which is obtain able. Paul’s words refer to what we might call the germinal principle of peace and the fundamental condi tion of securing it. Is is indeed through faith that one obtains peace; but there is something besides faith, as a primary condition and single act, which is necessary to the securing oi largest and deepest peace; and this we find indicated in God’s own words to the Israelites thus: “O that thou hadst hearkened to my command ments ! then had thy peace been as. a river.” (Isa. 48:18.) These words show that had the Israelites obeyed God’s commandments, they would have enjoyed a strong and deep peace; but not doing so, they experienced the reverse of peace. Plainly enough the obeying of God’s commandments is one of the great conditions on which peace with God is secured. And is not one great reason why some Christians do not have a fulness of spiritual peace,because they do not unreservedly and sacrificingly obey God’s commandments ? They obey some of them, but some others are so contrary to their own choices and tastes that they evade them, and ths natural consequence is, they deprive themselves of that degree and depth of peace -which they might have, were they to fulfill the necessary condi tions. God gives peace according to our obedience. C. 11. "WeTHERBE, a’golden wedding. Kev. and Mrs. F. M. Haygood, propose to celebrate the fiftieth anni versary of their marriage on the last day of June. The people generally will be invited to attend, and a most interesting programme will be pre pared for the occasion, which will be announced in due time. The bridal cake Ims been offered already, and will be cut on tho day of the anni versary. It will be so appropriate for the many friends who shall as semble with the happy couple to offer words of cheer, to leave with them substantial tokens of their af fection. As they are drawing nea» to tho evening of life, let the twi light bo radiant with love’s sweetest memorials, J. M. Brittain,