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4 {The (£hri stunt &xd£3t J. C. McMICIIAEL,:: Proprietor ‘‘CHRIST GLORIFIED BAPTISM.” In a recent meeting a good brother remarked that “Christ glorified bap tism.” Whether he used just the best word may be a question, but that he gave utterance to an im portant truth is undeniable. Our Lord certainly did greatly honor baptism. The fact needs frequent emphasis. . So many are disposed to regard the ordinance too lightly, even as others have gone too far in the other dicection. The pendu lum swings to two extremes; but the very swinging makes the clock keep time. Perhaps it is well that some have made too much of bap tism, elevating it into a sacrament conveying grace to the soul, and making the recipient “the child of God, a member of Christ’s church, an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.” In the rebound of a more spiritual faith it is but natural that some should deny even its proper dignity to the rite. Yet baptism is far from being of the trivial impor tance seem to accord it. It is no “mere non-essential cere mony.” The gospel knows nothing of non-essential requirements. Every word of Jesus is to be received and obeyed by those who claim to be his disciples. Baptism is a part of the obedience he commands. Note how our Lord honored baptism. First in taking a common act and solemnly setting it apart as a reli gious rite. So far as the mere act is concerned, divested of its gospel significance, there is no special dignity attached to baptism. If we knew not that significence, there would be no special impressiveness in being immersed in water—no more than in an ordinary bath. But Jesus takes this common act, as did his forerunner John, by inspiration from heaven, and elevates it into the glory of an ordinance of this gos pel. Then Jesus honored baptism by his own personal example. Coming to Jordan unto John he demands the heaven-ordained rite, and silences all the lingering scruples of the Bap tist by his assuring word, “thus it be cometh us to fulfill all righteous ness.” With’what sublime dignity was this sacred act invested as the sinless son of Mary bowed his holy head beneath the parting waters of Jordan I No wonder the heaven was opened by the descending Spirit dove, while the approving word from the Father proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son, in whom 1 am well pleased.” Thus we have the Divine Trinity honoring baptism. In no other act of our Lord’s life was ther6 so signal a manifestation of his en tire acceptability in the sight of God. Thus he left ns an “example that wc should follow his steps.” Jesus also placed special honor on baptism in making that ordinance so impressive in its doctrine. Bap tism is more than a rite; it is an in spired symbol, ever proclaiming the fundamental facts upon which our salvation is based. The ordinance is the appointed preacher of gospel truth. The element and the action are equally essential to its teaching. What is the fundamental gospel? Let Paul answer: “Now 1 make known to you, brethren, the gospel which 1 preached unto you * * • * how that Christ died for our sin, and that he was buried, and that he was raised again the third day.” (1 Cor. 15:1-3). The whole procla mation of saving grace centers in the dying, buried, risen Christ. That precious blood cleanset h from sin. Only through that death and resur rection do we rise from our death in. sin to the new life in Christ. Emi. nently fitting was it that Jesus should leave to his followers an ordi nance symbolically setting forth these glorious things. In the water of baptism we declare our cleansing from sin by his grace; in the action of baptism we show forth our trust in him as dying and buried, but ris ing again for our justification. “There fore we were buried with him by baptism into death; that like ns Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life,’’ (Rom. 6:4). Thus has Jesus “glorified baptism.” An ordinance so honored by our Lord should not be lightly esteemed by his deciples. In the light of his holy example and divine teaching every >child of God should reverently accept baptism as a precious privi lege., He honors us in permitting us to honor him before men in this sacred symbol. Dear reader, have you followed your Lord in this ordi nance so honored by him ? "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE." •The guinea-pig is not a pig, nor is it from Guinea. So Christian sci ence is not Christian, for it denies the only Christ, who came into the world to save sinners, and it is not in any sense scientific. It denies all entities. It rejects the evidence of all the senses. It declares that there is no such thing as a tree, for exam ple ; but that there is an impression on the brain that the tree is. lam told that what I feel when I put my hand on a tree, or a chair or table is no evidence of the existence of these things, but, impressions only of my own mind. A lady who had em braced the errors of Christian sci ence, falsely so called, said to her Baptist pastor, “Did you hear that I lost my watch and chain? The thief stole them.” His reply was; “It is only in your imagination, you had no,watch. You had no chain. What you took for a watch and chain was only an impression on your brain. And if you will only assure yourself that you really have your watch and chain, it will be so.” This was only an application to the case, of her own foolish, alleged faith. Yet it was an offense to her. If the existence of entities can be successfully denied, then can also be denied the fact of sin. And if there is no sin, there is of course no Sa vior. For it is only from our sins that Jesus came to save us. It is just here that the demand comes in for Christian science. The fact of sin must be denied, that there may come the consequent denial of the Savior. And yet the existence— the life and work of the Son of God is too deeply imbedded in the popu lar faith, for him to .be entirely ig nored. Hence he is the great heal er. His services of merciful healing are declared to be the chief end of his life. As in the olden time, thou sands wore found ready to use the Lord Jesus as a free physician, neg lecting entirely the great work of redemption he came to accomplish, so now there are throngs ready to accept “this Jesus” as a great healer, and the more especially, if they may declare themselves as healers also, and be allowed to charge for the healing. It has sometimes seemed to the writer that this fad, this sin gular fad, is allowed in this last por tion of the l'Jth century, to illustrate the inanity and gullibility of the children of men. But already the delusion seems to be in its decad ence. MERCER COMMENCEMENT. Some things never grow old or stale. This is strangely true of our average commencement occasions. Attend the exercises of one of these and you get a fair sample of what they have been for many years in the past, and of what they are likely to be for some time to come. The perennial freshness retained by speeches so often repeated is a mat ter of constant surprise. Perhaps the interest lies not mainly in the speeches, however, exalted in thought or style. The young men them selves regardless in some measure of the character of their speeches, are the objects of our chief concern. We listen and are thrilled, but it is not so much by the thoughts contained in the words spoken, as by our own thoughts of the possibilities, the pros pects, the promise of the life of him who stands before us in the vigor and glory of his Youth. This interest in young men will never fail or grow dull so long as re mains before an unaccomplished any lofty ideal, any benevolent purpose. Sacred is the trust that is commit ted to Mercer in the developing .of these bright buds of promise. Intense is the concern with which we look when opportunity>ffers to see any indications of what the flowers are to be. Many turn with confidence to this commencement to find such unfolding as will bring new cheer and new courage. While some ex pectations may fall short, and in some affairs of the college as in all things earthly, some human frailties may appear, there will be much to stimulate hope and encourage earnest endeavor for the future. The exercises wore opened on Friday night by THE ANNUAL CHAMPION DEBATE between the two Literary Societies. The question for discussion was: “Resolved that there should be a free and unlimited coinage of silver’” and a close victory was won by the Neg ativs side. The speakers of the Phi Delta Society representing the af firmative were S. G. Orr, of Coweta county, E. J. Smith, of Hancock county and B. F. Hill, of Monroe county. The negative speakers from the Ciceronian Society were J. B. Hicks, of Johnson county, G. W. THE CHRISTIAN INPEX: THURSDAY, JUNE 9. 1892 -j—T"" 1 --- ; > Tribble, of Franklin county, and C. W. Minor, of Hancock county. An abler committee of judges could hot have been found than Washington Dessau, D. D, Abbott and C. B. Willingham, a prominent lawyer, 4 prominent educator, a prom inent business man. The debate was of a high order. The speeches were all good. The efforts of J. B. Hickg, E. J. Smith and B. F. Hill were quite highly commended by many. ON SATURDAY NIGHT CAME THE FBESHMAN EXHIBITION. This exercise consisted of declama tions by fourteen selected members of the class. This is the second year the Freshmen have been allowed to appear, and their speeches were quite creditable. The medal for excellence in de clamation in the Freshman class is offered through the generosity of J. W. Cabaniss, Esq., of Macon. SUNDAY SERVICES. The preacher of the commence ment sermon this year was Rev. S- A. Goodwin, D. D., recently called from Richmond, Va., to be a pastor at Savannah. An excellent congrega tion crowded the college chapel and many are the evidences that the ser mon was heartily enjoyed. From Matt. 20 : 25-28 was chosen the sub ject—“ Service, the True Ideal of Life.” With artistic skill did the pr.eacher fashion a brilliant setting for this rare gem of the gospel. On Sunday night the sermon be fore the MCRCER MISSIONARY SOCIETY was preached by Rev. J. D. Chap man, of Milledgeville, Ga., at the First Baptist church.. Perhaps no Pastor in Georgia has done more faithful or efficient work, or accom plished better results among his peo ple in the missionary cause. For this reason no man was better fitted to speak to the young men on this occasion. The sermon was like the man, full of zeal and unction, charac terized by that devotion to Gospel truth and spirit, that make impress upon the heart and find expussion in the lives of men. It was heard with pleasure by the large congregation and w’ill bring forth fruit in the days to come. A further report of the commence ment will appear next week, which will contain several matters of spec ial interest. SOME SUGGESTIONS TO THB COL LEGE GRADUATE. This is the Annual return of Col lege Commencements and the gradu ate -is quite abundant and evidently he feels his importance as never be fore, and perhaps never will again. We desire to make a few’,simple, com monplace suggestions to the College graduate. Your speech or essay was not the first of its kind that has ever been heard in the earth. The like of it has been very common for serval gen erations,and the freshness and charm of a a graduate’s speech departed, to an alarming extent before you arrived. So doubtless, it impressed you tar more than it did any w’ho heard it, and you need not enter into the night of dispair if compliments come not to you, for the capacity of the listen ers to such speeches has been greatly overtaxed, to devise compliments long before they heard yours in 1892. Your education is not complete, barely begun, and it will require con siderable attention to it in the years to come to keep it up to its present standard. If you' shall neglect to pursue your studies and keep abreast of the times you will soon find your self a graduate without any educa tion, to speak of. You may know ajgreat deal but you do not know it all, and some other people know as much as ybu do, and some of them far more. And you will soon find this out when you come in contao with thinking,reading people. Hence a college graduate has great need to bejnodest less he be rebuked for ignorance by some who never saw a college, and such a rebuke will fill the soul of the college graduate with great confusion. It becomes a college graduate to give special attention to the details and niceties of education. Syntax should not be carelessly handled with pen and tongue. It sounds very badly to hear from the lips of a college graduate sentences disjoined with a plural noun hitched to a sing ular verb. And when he says: “Be tween you and I”, it is too much! It is a shame on his Alma Mater. Then correct pronunciation is a benedic tion on the head of a graduate. It is no sign of a good college to meet its full graduate and hear him (or her) who has a smattering of Latin, Greek, French, German and some idea of mathematics and the sciences,ex press himself in bad, English. The college graduate has need to work. People will care little for his “sheepskin”-they will estimate him according his to capacity for efficient work. Many college graduates, yea, first honor men have been buried in obscurity, and oblivion because they depended on their graduation. Col lege honors are very pice and every student should seek them, but they often prove a snare to those who wear them. Let the college graduate realize that he must go forth and do something. It is a man’s work that makes him, and hence every college graduate’s motto should be: ‘Work, Work, Work.” And graduation only is worth attaining when it helps the graduate in his lifework and adds to his efficiency as a worker. For on ly as such can he be a credit to his college, to his home, to his country, to his church, to his God and Savior- The saddest sight among intelli gent people is the college graduate who is a failure! Alas! alas! Such cases do sometimes come along and they are a reproach to education, to humanity and to our civilization. Then we say to our graduate don’t be a failure-far better die than fail. Be wise, be discreet, be loyal to truth, be true to friends and country and be faithful to God and then work in your God-given field and failure is imopossible. But in seeking success, seek .it only in the way of right and honor, for failure with all its odium is ten thousand times to be preferred to dishonoable success. There is a disposition in the col lege graduate now and then, fresh from the classic shades of his Alma Mater to Jcultivate a spirit of superi ority towards those who never at tended college. But the graduate should early learn to appreciate worth, merit and efficiency wherever be may find them. And it is wed for him to remember that many efficient workers are found in all callings who were never college students, and the business of the world to a very large extent is carried on by others than college graduates. Hence the college garduate should esteem highly the man who has risen above and in spite of his disadvantages, and made life a success. For with the superior ad vantages of the college graduate he might have doubtless gone to heights of success that would make the head of the graduate grow’ dizzy. And in many cases the graduate will find himself heavily pressed to keep pace with lots of earnest men who never shared in the college pri vileges of the graduate. Sister Mary I. Robertson, of Par ish, Fla., writes us that the cause of Christ among the Baptist here is en couraging. There are two new houses of worship which have just been fin ished on the Manatee river. One at Palmetto aud one on the opposite side, at Braidentown, which will be dedicated one on the 4th, and the other on the sth, Sunday of this month. Brother Chaudoin, Sec’y of our State Board and others will be present. Our Pastor, Elder R. IL Whitehead is an able and consecrat ed minister, doing a good work. Our Missionary, Eider P. O. Miller, is la boring faithfully in the distant and long neglected parts and is accom plishing much good. While we are praying that the Lord of the harvest shall send more laborers into the harvest, it is just as well to add a petition- that he will open the hearts of his people to ade quately support those already in the field. It is sheer hypocracy to prav for more ministers while neglecting to support those the Master has al ready given us, unless one be moved as was one good brother we wot of, who said if the supply was greater the price would be cheaper ! The Western Recorder knows of a good brother who proposes to give 120,000 as a special contribu tion towards the <250,000 centennial mission fund. He wishes his name kept from the public. His donation is for special work by the Foreign Board. Rev. W. C. Luther, pastor of the church at Corsicana, Texas, has just el >sed a most interesting meeting re sulting in 24 additions to his church Rev. T. S. Potts, of Dallas, did the preaching with great power and sat isfaction. The prospect ahead of thia church is quite flattering. The Index has contributors in every Southern State. Our readers will note these communications as a new feature of the paper. Our pur pose is .to make the Index the equal of any paper of its kind. Help us brethren in Georgia. Rev. J. C. Hiden, the able and be loved pastor of the Church at Eufau la, Ala., has been unanimously called to the pastorate of Grove Avenue Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., and has the call under consideration. Texas seems to be rather hard up on Methodist Preachers. The Texas Baptist and Herald says that 22 Methodist preachers were baptized in the Baptist Churches during the last year. Our Methodist brethren seem to be falling in line with us in some respects. FATHERHOOD OF GOD. BY J. G. EVALS, D. D. Much is being said in late years about the universal fatherhood of God, and the universal brotherhood of man. A recognition of these faiths, it is claimed,, is essential to a progressive Christianity, and a true conception of the great doctrines of the Gospel. If the claim is just it is because the Bible teaches that these relations exist, and not because they have been determined by a mere gush of sentiment. An appeal to Scripture and reason will clearly prove that this doctriue of “a universal fatherhood,” cannot be true in any sense which is assumed to explain the great doctrines of grace. 1. If tfie true Father is ap plied to God from the human analogy of being the author or begetter of being, then He is the father of the creatures of His power, whether animate or inanimate, rational or irriational. An analogy so vague and imperfect, certainly can explain no doctrine of divine grace. 2. If the term be applied to Him from analogy to the human father as begetter of personal bejngs, and . that the love He has for these is therefore pater nal, then He is father of angels, men, and devils, and has for them all the love of a father. The relation is a natural one, and no sin or un worthiness can destroy it, or effect a forfeiture of His love; hence he is father of wicked man and devils and entertains for these Ilis children an inalienable love. The Scriptures teach no such doctrine. 3. If the atonment originates in this universal fatherhood of God, it ought to in clude all the children and be made for devils as well as. men. Those who stress most the universal father hood of God escape the dilemma by denying the existence of personal devils. 4. If the atonement origi nates in the paternal love of the universal Father, and is made for all men but not devils, then it may be asked, why the paternal love which provides a Savior for all does not save all; or, will it be claimed that the wicked in Hell will still be His children and blessed by His love ? 5. There is a fatherhood of God, abundantly’ revealed in the Scriptures, and inseparably connect ed with the plan of redemption. But this fatherhood is not natural but gracious; it does not prove aton ment, but is itself the result of aton ment ; it is not general but limited to the elect of God. This fatherhood illustrates many doctrines of Divine grace. This sentimental idea of a univer sal fatherhood of God originates in the assumption that His love is paternal. This is not true. God’s love is an essential attribute inherent in His nature, and is that in Him which inclines Him to communicate His own blessedness to His sentient creatures. In its manifestations it is wholly independent of external causes. External relations result from it, but it is never ceased by these. As an attribute of God it ex isted in infinite fullness before any creature had being. It can never like justice be put under bonds, but is free and spontaneousln its outflow. Selecting its own objects, and the measure of blessing it bestows. The reason of the selection can never be known, since it exists wholly in God, who has never revealed it. “He hath mercy on whom He will have mercy etc.” Rom. 9:18. The father hood of God springs out of this love, and is a term simply descriptive of the highest manifestation of which it is capable. It lifts to the plane of the godhead to which no angle will ever be exalted. “Behold what manner of love the Father hath be stowed on us that we should be call ed the sons of God.” 1 Jno. 8:1. The relation of father and chil dren, subsisting between God and His people, results from God's intro duction into His family, and adoption as His children, of those, before con demned sinners and children of the Devil. The relation is not a natural one. It is not some original relation of Adam lost by the fall, and re stored by relation ; but a new rela tion to God the Father in Christ the Son, and confercd solely by the Divine grace, because of union with tho Son. It is a higher blessing than justi fication, which, bad it pleased God, would be complete without sonship, justification effects a change of rela tion to law; adoption, a change of re lation to grace. The one has respect to God’s justice, the other to God’s love. The one establishes perfect hamony with the Divine law; the other introducers into the grdat heart of God and secures all which in finite love can suggest or infinite power bestow. The fatherhood, resulting from adoption, is the only one revealed in the Gospel as the culminating out flow of infinite love. There is some thing said about the children of wrath, the children of disobe dience, the children of the Devil, etc., but these have linked to their fatherhood the inexorable curse of death. God’s adopted children alone hive the promise of conformity to the eldest born, with whom they’ are joint heirs, hence, it is declar ed of them that all things are theirs, whether things present or things to come, life, death, heaven, God eter nity, all are theirs. Oh! for the fatherhood resulting from adoption: which says to the children, “He that spared not Ilis own Son, but deliver ed him up for you all, how shall He not with him also freely give you all things. Rom. 8:32. J. G. Ryals. DEAFNESS CANNOT BE CURED by local applications, as they cannot reach the diseased portion of the ear There is only one way to cure • Deaf ness, and that is by constitutional remedies. Deafness is caused by an inflamed conditon of the mucous lining of the Eustachian Tube. When this tube gets inflamed you. have a rumbling sound or imperfect hear ing, and when it is entirely closed Deafness is the result, and unless the inflammation can be taken out and this tube restored to its normal condition, hearing will be destroyed forever; nine cases out of ten are caused by catarrh, which is nothing but an inflamed codition of the mu cous sufaces. We will give One Hundred Dol ars for any case of Deafness (caused by catarrh) that cannot be cured by Hall’s Cure. Send for circulars, free. F. J. Cheney & Co.; Toledo. O. Iler’S old by Druggists, 75c. THE OONVENHONIiNGERfi. An article from Bro. W. E. Pen to be found in another column has some very plain things about the Convention Singers, and calls on the Index to tell what it knows atout them. The first public notice the editor of the Index had of the matter was contained in the Western Recorder issued during the week the Conven tion met, or the week before. The paragraph simply made an nouncement of the fact that Prof. D. B. Towner and wife would lead the singing at the Southern Baptist Convention. The editor of the In dex knew nothing of them, or of their church relations, until a day or two before the Convention met. He was very much surprised to learn that they were Northern Meth odists. This fact, of itself, was noth ing to their discredit, but, for the life of us, we could not see the pro priety of having them conduct the singing of a Baptist Convention, es pecially, of a Southern Baptist Con vention. There was lacking a fitnest of things. It was like trying to sing The Austell Lithia Springs Hotel I k 4'l t1 J X ' C ’ -e »-• »■ . , TvNWPraiSjnW Eighteen miles West of Atlanta, at the junction of the East Tennessee and th« Georgia Pacific Railways. ANALYSIS. Ausaell Lithia Water contains, ac cording to analysis by Prof. J. A. Burns, per U. S. gallon : Chloride of Sodium, 137,046. Bromide of sodium, 1,261. lodide of sodium, 72. Bicarbonate of Lithia, 1,902. Bicarbonate of Soda, 10,203. Bicarbonate of Magnesia, 12,791. Bicarbonate of Lime, 10,088. RATES: per week, ♦SO per month. Special rates to families. J. F. BEASELEY & CO., Proprietors. a long metre tune to a short metre hymn. We have heard it tried fre quently, indeed, have made the mis take, several times, ourselves, but could never get through without giv ing the tune or the hymn a very ugly twist. We must have the tune and the hymn of the snme measure. The information wanted is, who appointed Prof. Towner to lead the singing at the late Southern Baptist Convention ? The Index editor does not know Who does ? If any body kn ows let him speak out. Perhaps they were only engineer ed in the business, without any reg gular appointment. If so, who was the engineer? We hope the committee on sing ing will see to it that the tune fits the hymn when the next convention meets at Nashville. I. R. Branham. Correspondents please address me at No. 79 East Pine St., Atlanta, Ga I. R. Branham. Happy Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Rejoice Because Hood’s Sarsaparilla Rescued Their Child from Scrofula. For Scrofula, Salt Rheum, and all other foul humors in the blood of children or adults, Hood’s Sarsaparilla is an unequalled remedy. Read this: “ We are so thankful to Hood’s Sarsapa rilla for what it did for our little girl that wo make this statement for the benefit of other anxious parents and Suffering Children Our girl was a beautiful baby, fair and plump and healthy. But when she was two years old, sores broke out behind her ears and spread rapidly over her’head and forehead down to her eyes, and into her neck. We consulted ono of the best physicians in Brook lyn, but nothing did her any good. The doc tors said it was caused by a scrofula humor In the blood. Her head became Ono Complete Sore offensive to the smell and dreadful to look at. Her general health waned and she would lay in a largo chair all day without anyjife or en ergy. The sores caused great itching and burning, so that at times we had to restrain her hands to prevent scratching. For 3 year* She Suffered Fearfully with this tprrible humor. Being urged to try Hood's Sarsaparilla wo did so. We soon noticed that she had more life and appetite. The medicine seemed to drive out more of the humor for a short time, but it soon began to subside, the itching and haraiag ceased, and in a few months her head became entirely clear of the sore. She Is now perfectly well, has no evidence of the humor, and her skin is clear and healthy. She seems like an en tirely different child,- in health and general appearance, from what she was before taking Hood’s Sarsaparilla I.W. Frederick, 811 Glenmore Ave., Kart New York, Brooklyn, N. Y. This Testimonial Is an illustration of what Hood's Sarsaparilla is doing for the sick and suffering every day, from Maine to California. In the light of these facts who can say that the work of an Immense concern like ours Is not beneficent? HOOD'B PILLB cure liver 111., conttlpatlon, bllloiuueu, ]auudic«, tick headache, Indigestion. breedTTonce. ABORTION, leucorrhia, FAILURE TO BREED, Ji TtW-X nymphomania, o uickly ” cured. f?" PREVORTIO, 81.00; prevent! Abortion. HABORIRI. 81.001 cures Leucorrhtra and Fall wretoßreed. XTXX,SI.OO; caret Nymphomania. EXPI’LSOR. <1.00; remove! Placenta. Medics* tura2scta. Express paid. SO-Page Pamphlet Free. WALLACE BABNES, Box 706 Bristol, Conn. Mr, Wallaoe Barner; Sir-I gave your Prevortio a severe test, it does the business. Please find enclosure fed another bottle, by return mail, and oblige, Yours truly, Geo. Dillon, Macon, Ga, Mr. Wallace Barnes: Dear Sir-Having tried your Haboriri last spring with very satisfactory results, I here with enclose 84.00 for which please send me two bottles of Haboriri. It has done all yotl claimed for it. Very respectfully, W. J.-Mc Michael, Courtney, Pa. lomayst Bicarbonate of Strontia, 990. Bicarbonate of Iren, 851. Sulphate of Potaasa, 2,181. Sulphate of Soda, 1,721. Sulphate of Lime, 7,761. Phosphate of Soda, 301. Alumnia, 105. Silica, 1.492. Carb’c acid gas, 15,939 cubic in. Sulphuretted hydrogen traces.