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Many good and strong things were said in be half of MISSIONS During the Session of the Southern Baptist Convention. Subscribe to and read the Christian Index, If you would keep informed. ESTABLISHED 1821. ©he ©hristian gmlrx j. c. McMichael, proprietor. Organ of the Baptist Denomination in Georgia. Published Every Thursday at Atlanta, Ga. Subscription Price : One copy, one year S 2.00 One copy, iix months 1.00 One copy, three months fio Obituaries.—One hundred words free of charge. For each extra w ord, one cent per word, cash with copy. To Correspondents.—Do not use ahrevia tions;be extracareful 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 indicates tlio time your subscription expires. If you do not wish it continued, order it stop ped a week before. We consider each sub scriber permanent, until ho orders his paper discontinued. When you order it stopped pay up to date. Remittances by check preferred; orregis tered letter, money order, postal note. Rev. C. B. Martin, Ladonia, Texas, has been preaching at his prayer meetings sermons of ten minutes length. He says they seem to take with his people very much, and they insist on his continuing them. Brother N. B. Hogan, the field correspondent and representative of the Central Baptist, has been linger ing in our interesting city for sever al days, since the adjournment of the Convention. He is much pleased with Atlanta and would like to make it his future home. • Rev. W. C. Luther, pastor of the church at Corsicana, Texas, has been holding a series of meetings at his church with Rev. T. S. Potts, of Dallas, doing the preaching. Up to the close of last week there had been thirteen additions to the church and the prospect for a still greater num ber. Rev. T. C. Carleton, of Missouri, attended the Convention, broughfhis family along and since the Conven tion adjourned spent a week with relatives at Elberton. He was in Atlanta at the close of last week looking well and gave u& the parting hand. He will favor the Index with something from Missouri soon. There are 9,000 Roman Catholic Priests in the United States wearing the black dress and white dog collar that indicate their profession. Be side these indications they carry under the arm or in the hand a big ' prayer book called a “Breviary’’ which they read in the cars and in other public places, as a religious duty. They are bound under pain of mortal sin to read the “office” as the portion of the Breviary of each day are called. W. E. 11. in the Religious Herald • says: Atlanta is a beautiful city and displayed superb hospitality. It is pleasant to note that the Baptists are growing rapidly in Atlanta. By far the finest house of worship in the city will be Dr. McDonald’s new church. It will be of white stone, with a very lofty tower and many conveniences. It is pleasant to know that our own McDonald, pure, ear nest and full of love, is to have a house so magnificent and beautiful in which to preach. The Baptist of Baltimore looks at it this way : It strikes us that the tilt between Rev. Thomas Dixon and some of the Atlanta preachers was attributed to a jumble of.indis cretions. If one had not said this and another had not said that, and this one had not written somebody else, and if silence had been put in at another point and if charity had had a half chance and if the folks were wiser than they sometimes are, we believe that unlovely scuffle of the Lord’s big children might have been avoided. The Baptists in other states profit by the munificence of Mr. John D. Rockefeller, besides we in Georgia Besides his donation to Mercer Uni versity and other schools, his latest donation is the placing of 850,000 at the disposal of the Tabernacle Bap tist church of New York, Rev. D, C. Potter, pastor. The interest of this sum is to be applied as the church sees fit, subject to thq advice of the donor. This arrangement is to last for ten years, after which time the members of Mr. Rockefeller’s family for a second ten years may, if they wish, continue to apply it to the same work, or if not needed there, of for any other reason, may use it elsewhere. At the end of the twen- if Ijrtetian 3niw< ty years the fund goes K. the care of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church at New York City. People ‘ differ in matters of economy and extravagance as in other things. The Watchman makes a suggestion that W’ill pay any church adopting it. The writer for several years made it a rule to see that his pastor attended the State Convention and also the Southern Baptist Convention. The worst economy in church finances is to scrimp the minister’s salary. A couple of hundred dollars saved there is poorly saved, for that sum may mean to him all the difference be tween an easy mind and elastic spirits and a sense of anxiety and depression that detracts from all his ■work. That last hundred or two is the oil that makes the machinery run without friction. It is not a bad thing, either, to give the minister a little more than has been agreed upon. The school elections in Illinois re cently, in which the women were al lowed to vote, brought out some pe culiar results. The question of sex seems not to have governed them ih voting. In some of the towns two tickets were out and one having a majority of women. The women divided and in some cases defeated the womens ticket by their own votes. And it is said the women have come to understand thoroughly the ordinary methods employed in elections. They are said to have displayed as much skill and did as much “full work” as even the veteran politicians. In one or more instances they remained from the polls till near the close, when they come down like an avalanche and carried the election by storm. In some cases it appears that they cared nothing for the privilege and did not vote. The Baltimore Baptist gets after the daily papers of that city with a sharp stick for noi giving any re port of the Convention lately held in Atlanta. We are glad to say that the Atlanta daily press did the prop er thing by the Convention. The Baptist says: The immense Baptist Convention in Atlanta, Ga., has beeu poorly reported by our daily papers, except the American. There are over three millions of Baptists in this country. It is the strongest de nomination in America, but a little too much opposed to Rome for a cer tain Baltimore daily. It is time our people are taking notice of the long continued omission on the part of this paper to do the Baptists justice. If a change is not made, and speedi ly, we shall give the great Baptist host throughout the South some in teresting reading on the subject. The success of the Anti-Lottery Democratic ticket, in the recent elec tion in Louisiana demonstrates the fact that it pays for the moral forces of a state to rise up in mass against any great public evil. There has never teen, in the history of this government such a gigantic enemy to society, to good morals and honest government as the Louisiana State Lottery. It was simply death for any one man or few to oppose it. But the religious press backed by the moral clement in the state took hold of it, and like Caesar crossing the Rubicon succeeded. In the late election Mr. M. J. Foster, who has been the leadey of the Anti-Lottery movement from the start, was tri umphantly elected, and thus the public are assured of an administra tion that will not debauch social and political life in that state. In this centennial year w hen our Boards are pushing the work for Christ, we would urge that three elements be constantly watched. We mean in so far as new fields are con cerned and the building of houses of worship. These elements are—the site, the church building and the minister. If you send a missionary to a new field or a town on a new railroad, with a view to establishing a Baptist church, let the best, the most elegible and the most command ing site for a church be secured. It is unnecessary to offer any argument to show why this should be done. Suf fice to say our population is rapidly filling up the towns and cities. At this time you can get such sites as we suggest. Some years hence, you may not be able to get them at all, ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY. MAY 26, 1892. or if at all, at an enormously high price. The site secured, build for the fu ture, and then place in charge, min isters who aro able and will present the truth so as to win souls to God. It has been a question with us whether it was best for a finance committee, or Board of Deacons, as the case may be to move off with their work, till about all the mon ey for church expenses had been subscribed. Experience however causes us to think with the Watch man. It is easy to carry the plan of having all the money for church ex penses during the year subscribed beforehand, and then of cutting the coat according to the cloth, too far. There is room for faith in the expen ditures for Christian work. If it is plain that new opportunity for serv ing Christ in the community is open ing to the church, it is no't always wise to wait till all the necessary money is subscribed before entering the open door. Money will come, and many will give to sustain a work already commenced who will not give a cent to start it, and many more will contribute to a work that is suc cessful whom you could not per suade to give anything but cold wa ter, if they were confronted with the same thing as a project. Men are queer. The first meeting of the trained warriors under the lamented Spur geon have held the first College Con ference, at Newington, since the death of their chief. There was naturally an air of gloom about the meeting to inaugurate the session, says the Baptist. The memories of such an occasion were heart-break ing. Mr. James Spurgeon, as acting president, occupied the chair, vacated by a touch of death’s icy finger since last Conference, and performed his part well, though it must have been a desperately trying ordeal. His ad - dress. waJ alternately pathetic and martial in character, while smiles and tears, like sunshine and cloud, successively reflected the deep emo tional experiences of his listeners. The men, loyal to the traditions of their departed leader, bore bravely, as was testified by unmistakable ex pressions of fraternal sympathy, their share of the burden which pressed at such a time in so much unseen force upon the brother who has stepped forward to fill the terrible breach, as well as.upon his official confreres. The great leader is only missed as yet in bodily presence; it will take months ere the blow comes home with anything like full force. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers have been outspoken in their efforts to prevent the Lord’s day being used for work. They passed resolutions in behalf of the railroads observing the Sabbath as a day of rest. Outside of the teach ings of the Bible on this subject, they declare that the Sabbath should be to them because of the greater security to the travelling public, the safety to railroad property, the great est good to themselves and to their fellow employes engaged in train ser vice. In order therefore that they may have the enjoyment and the rest of the Sabbath, and be at home with their families, they passed the foliowing: Resolved, That we are in full sympathy and accord with the aims and work of the American Sabbath Union in its efforts to make forever paramount the American Sabbath as a perpetual rest day, believing, as we do, that “the Sabbath was made for man”—for the railroad man, as well as for the passenger or the ship per : for the employe, as well as for the stockholder—and we claim the Sabbath as a rest day—as a God-giv en right—and when so observed as the one impassable barrier against the encroachments of capital upon the rights of labor. A great baptismal festival is what took place recently in the Timok Valley, in Servia. No fewer than 400 Mohammedan Gipsies, belonging to the tribe of Iroahim Hamil, were baptised. The Baptist says: The men appeared at the ceremony in brand new garments, the women and girls were adorned with real gold and silver ornaments, presents from the wives of the rich merchants in the district, and after the baptism, which was performed by the Bishop of Zaitchar, there wai a great popu lar fete. Sheep were roasted whole at open fires, wine flowed in abun dance, and when the popular dance, the kolo, began iw' l t>-ont of the church the new Servian Christians acquitted themselves nobly. It is evidently easy to convert multi tudes of heathen at a certain price. But surely no better method of ap plying the sorry docyijie of baptis mal regeneration could have been followed if the aim of the missionary bishops and clergy ww,, actually to illustrate the absolute falsity, and corruption upon which that doctrine rests. With the marsh of Divine truth, we may yet see a Baptist com mittee of converts from Mahoinme danism formed in India evangelise Church of England clerics and mem bers at home with a view to purify ing the foreign missionary agencies of that Church at their source. It is a subtle paradox to talk of spreading the regenerating Gospel and extend ing the Christianity of Pentecost by means of the present superstitious system of fonts and sponsors. Centralization seems to be the or der, not only in this country but iu Europe likewise. As one knows the facts, he is forced in serious re flection to ask what does it mean? What is to come of it? The Presi dent of tho Spring Assembly of Baptists in England, in an admira ble paper, pictured the concentra tion of population in the towns and cities. The growth of the towns during the present century has been phenomenal, and the most. conspic uous feature of English life.’ The stream of population has set in one direction. The masses of the people are gathering fast in the centres of industry, and every year lhe rural districts are pouring in the fresh cur rents of their blood and strength. Our cities have become leaser worlds in themselves, with separate territo ries for the villas of tl ~V ,j..wd pie crowded Voltages of thl, a/uPan, in' which there is no rest day or night from the roar of the engine and the anvil and the hurrying feet of the multitude. Perhaps we, do not real ize the volume of life/ until some common purpose sways the myriads, and the surging crowds come forth from the fashionable subtirb and from the purlieus of the poor, and in a single hour we may gaze upon a concourse vaster than that which Xerxes wept over as the hosts of Persia crossed the Hellespont. The old inhabitant of the city points you to many a densely crowded district where as a boy he played in grew fields and sunny meadows. The Jewish legend ran that the night be fore the destruction of Jerusalem the Gate Beautiful of the Temple opened of its own accord, but no man could tell whether the omen was for good or evil. No thought ful man can look upon this ever-in creasing centralization of human life without concern. Will it be for good or evil ? EEOM JAPAN. Five days sailing almost due north from Hong Kong, and we touch at Nakasaka, the most southern treaty port of Japan and go ashore to see the land of which we have heard so much. The empire of Japan covers four large islands and a great num ber of small ones, and on the large island of Kuisu, in the south, is Na kasaka, one of the free ports, for there are only five or six ports in Japan, where a foreign vessel is per mitted to land. Wo spent the day looking at some temples and going through the stores looking at the innumerable pretty things which the Japanese have for sale. The Baptists have no mission here, but we called on the Congregational missionary, and found him very pleasant. The Methodists also have a missionary here. At night fall we weigh anchor and continue our way and the next day we passed through the strait of Shimonoseki and into the beautiful Inland Sea. This body of water is about two-hundred miles long by from twenty to fifty miles wide, in terspersed with lovely islands and land-locked on every side except a narrow strait at the entrance and exit. I have never seen a more lovely body of water in my life and as the steamer glides along between the islands, and the smoke of volca noes on the shore rises into the heavens, and the little villages dot the green land with white, you feel like you were in enchanted land. At Kobo we proposed to quit our stqamer and make headquarters for awhile as this city is a good base from which to do Southern Japan. When we swung up at the wharf, I step ashore and into a'jinvicasha and ask to be driven to the house of Dr. 11. 11. Rhees, the veteran Baptist missionary in Japan. I asked him to tell me of a good boarding place and find that he has room and ar range to board- with him for awhile, while my two young friends get quarters near by. It is a short job to go back to the steamer and get my wife and the baggage all safely ashore and we find ourselves in a comfortable home, with an American Baptist family. Kobt) and the adjoining city of Hyogs contain about one hundred and twenty-five thousand inhabi tants, and a large export trade in porcelain and silks is done here, several large cities and a very fine agricultural country being tributary to this point. Foreigners are not permitted to live or to trade in Japan as they please. At each treaty point there is a concession in which foreigners may live and hold property and they can travel freely within a radius of about twenty-five miles, but beyond this they cannot go without a special permit from the Japanese government. Even the missionaries must have these permits and they must be renewed every three months and they can only get a permit to live in the interior when employed by a Japanese or for the purpose of teaching school. The permits to travel are only given when the object of the journey is for health or scientific investigation, so the missionaries are very much restricted by these regulations. The reason of this is that all foreign governments except Mexico deny to the Japanese government all of jur’djetion over their citi zens or subjects, for any act com mitted by them in Japan, and so the emperor denies to all but Mexicans the right to travel through the country without a special permit. When Governor Hubbard -was our minister to Japan he negotiated a treaty by which Americans were to have free access to the country and were to become amenable to Ja panese law when they were in the country, but our senate refused to ratify the treaty and the advantage was lost to us. And here let me say that I heard from all parties, both natives and foreigners, the highest praise of Governor Hubbard as a wise diplomatists and a most popuar official. This made me a little proud when I remembered that though Governor Hubbard has won his honors in Texas, yet he is a native of Georgia and a graduate of Mer cer University. His administration of our affairs in Japan was a credit to our nation and had his policy been carried out, our citizens in Japan would have been greatly benefitted. We visited the city of Osaka a place of about two hundred thousand inhabitants and Kioto with over five hundred thousand, going into the factories where magnificent porcelain ware was made and where silk goods are winning a world wilde reputa tion and are exported in large quan tites to Europe and America. I saw a large piece of silk embroidery be ing done for the Chcago exhibition from a pattern said to be over a thousand years old. Japan will have an exhibition at Chicago that will surprise our pe.oplc. The Boston Board and the Rich mond Board both have Baptist Mis sionaries in this part of Japan. I met Dr. 11. 11. Rhees, Rev. T. E. Shoemaker, Bro. Thomson, Bro Wynds and Rev. Baker of the Bos ton Board and Brother J. W. Mc- Collum of the Richmond Board. I was sorry to learn that there had been some friction between the re presentatives of the two boards con cerning fields of labor anti some time and energy lost before the matter was adjusted. Now it is settled I believe that Brother Bronson and McCollum of tho Rich monel Board aro to remove south to the island of Kiusu and tho representatives of tho Boston Board are to leave them in the undisputed possession of that field. I can but think it is unfor tunate for two Baptist Boards to place missionaries iu the same field, V to do the same kind of work. When the Millennium comes these un seemly rivalries may cease. lean but speak in high praise of the mis sionaries I have thus far met in Japan. They are gentlemen and earnest Christians and this is true not only of the Baptists but as well also of the Congregationalists and Presbyteeians whom I have met. . This is a lovely country with a climate about like southern Georgia, where olives, grapes and the tea plant flourish. lam charmed thus far with what I have seen. Tomor row we sail for Yokohama and Tukyu, the capital after having been here two weeks. I shall give you some reflections on Japan in general when I have finished the country. 0. 0. Pope. AN APPEAL. The Centenary Committee has recommended raising $250,000 as a special Centennial Fund; $125,000 for a Chapel Building Fund for the Home Board, and $125,000 as a per manent Fund for the Foreign Board, to be used for “chapel building, Scripture translation and other per manent investment.” It is especial ly for this latter fund that I make an appeal. We can reasonably and confident ly appeal to the churches for a Building Fund: (1) Because we wish only to help our converts to put up chapels. Ido not believe in using foreign money to build chap els in the various towns and villages where we have members. When the number of believers in a place becomes too large to meet comforta bly in a private house they should endeavor to build or secure a house for themselves. But in China our converts are poor and would often feel such an undertaking to be be yond their strength. If, however, we had a fund from which, for in stance, we could appropriate SIOO on condition that they would raise S2OO, it would be an ’yoentivo the native Christians to exert them selves to build. In the large cities, ground is very high in price and a much larger proportion than one third would generally be needed. Thus we should follow the plan pur sued by Education Society in the United States and make a small sum be the means of raising a larger one. This principle of help does not pau perize as a complete gift would tend to do, but would on the contrary be an incentive to develop the grace of giving among our converts. (2) Because chapels for the hea then will be needed in larger towns and cities where foreign missionaries reside. We must distinguish be tween a church-house and a preach ing hall. Tho former should be built and owned by the native Chris tians, while the latter is a part of missionary machinery. A building fund would be helpful in securing such chapels and halls for preaching to the unevangelized masses, and are needed in heathen lands even more than mission halls are required in destitute portions of our cities at home before a church is gathered in the neighborhood. (3) Because our chapels are cheap. The money spent on puttjng a stee ple on some of our churches at home would build several good, substan tial chapels where the Gospel could be proclaimed to the heathen and Christians could gather on the Lord’s day. Brethren who give to the fund may rest assured that none of their money would bo lavished on costly church buildings or expensive adornments. (4) Because our chapels aro used six days in the week. Christians at home arc so accustomed to seeing the churches, or at least the main audience room, opened on Sundays only that they forget the loss of cap ital involved in leaving a largo hall unoccupied for six days in the week. Here, on tho contrary, wo use our chapels every day except Saturday. Thus a sum contributed for a chapel goes six times as far toward accom plishing tho end for which it is given as it would if put into a church building at home. (5) Because missionary dwellings aro needed as well as chapels. Ex. perience has proved that it is the best economy to provide healthful, pleasant homes for missionaries. It is the height pf extravagance to pay tho passage and outfit of a family and their salary for two or three Brother Minister, Working Layman, salons Sister, We aro striving to make Tlie Iridozx: the best of its kind. Help us by securing a new subscriber. VOL. 69.—N0. 21. years and then have to pay their pas sagfc home before they can accomplish any work, just because they have been living in an unhealthful house. A comfortable home is needed to enable most missionaries, and espe cially ladies, to stand a trying cli mate and to have vigor sufficient to carry on efficient work. I am not pleading for ease or self-indulgence but simply for a business matter, a matter of dollars and cents. So I say nothing about the Christian love which would lead thoso who are liv ing in pleasant homes in America to furnish a comfortable shelter for those w,ho are bearing the heat aud burden of the day. (6) Because stereotype plates of the Scriptures, printing presses and other “plant” for Christian literature are needed. I need say nothing of the importance of a Christian litera ture, especially among nations like China, India and Japan which have a heathen literature of their own. All know its importance. Mission money cannot be more judiciously expended than in providing books and tracts and especially Scriptures for the people. Let these few facts suffice to call attention to the importance of this “Permanent Fund.” Christians! may we not count on your earnest, liber al help? R. IL Graves. Canton, China. AUGUSTA NOTES. Dr. Lansing Burrows and brethren J. C. C. Black, McKinnie Law, John Phinizy, and Henry Jones of the First church returned from the Conven tion last week full of the spirit that pervaded the great Baptist host in Atlanta. The mid-week meeting ■was given up entirely to “talks” from these brethren, who told of the im pressions made upon their minds during the session of the recent Cogfc vention. And while they talked, wd remembered the fact that this great Association of Baptists had it begin ning in the very church within whose walls their voices sounded. A simple, but impressive ceremony occurred at the First church last Sab bath morning, when nearly fifty per sons received the hand of fellowship, extended by the pastor on behalf of the church. Some few of this num ber united by letter, but the greater part were converted during the re cent meetings, and were “buried with |.Cluibi/m Four more were baptized on Sunday night, and oth ers still are waiting to follow their Saviour in this sacred ordinance. A few weeks ago, an old man, 72 years age, gave his heart and the remnant of his life to Christ, and on Wed nesday night he too went down into the liquid grave, and arose rejoicing in his new-found Lord. Rev. Thomas Walker, pastor of the Second Church, returned last Thursday from the Seminary at Louisville, where he has taken a year’s course in Bible studies. He was met at the Depot by a large del egation of his people, who escorted him to his home. On Sunday night the Second Church was literally packed, the congregation being so large that even standing room was in demand. His few month’s course at the Seminary has been of benefit to Bro. Walker. Much uneasiness was felt among the friends and brethren of Dr. J. L. Burrows when they learned last Thursday that he was confined ta his bed with partial congestion of the brain. But the venerable broth er soon rallied, and in a few days was on the streets again. He preached for his son during the lat ter’s absence from the city last Sab bath week. The prayers of the First Church ascend for Deacon Bothwell and his wife in the critical illness of their little girl. Only a few days ago the Death Angel entered their house hold and took therefrom a bright eyed little boy, and now the life of another loved one hangs as it were only by a thread. May God give them grace to say: “He doeth all things well.” IJon. J. C. C. Black delivered a masterly speech in the Opera House to-night before the Young Men’s Democratic Chib. Mr. Black will undoubtedly Le nominated by the people of this District for Congress, and if he is elected, Georgia will have in the National Legislature one of the ablest statesmen, one of the purest men, one of the most eloquent speakers of which tins country can boast. Tho 24th Anniversary vs Hat mony (colored) Baptist Sunday school was held last Sabbath night in the new church building; Roy. W. J. White is pastor of the churZh and Prof. A. R. Johnson is superin tendent of the Sunday school. They are both devoted worshipers. The writer had the honor and pleasure of delivering the anniversary ad dress. Sunday week 1 also had the pleasure of giving two “layman’s talks” to Dr. Nelson’s people at Aiken, S. Q The work at Berean and Curtis churches is steadily progressing un der Dr. Ivey, ami Rev. J. S. Patter, son, there being more activity in these fields than for many yean past. J. C. S.