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2 “fetish.” Under that teaching we multiplied members, and yet our effectiveness was not commensurate with our numerical force. And to day our doctrine of a regenerated membership does not put more mon ey into the missionary box than our neighbors, who do not altogether teach this doctrine. Nor, perhaps, is our Christian life better or more general than theirs. But it ought to he, with our claim of a better doctrine. I do not discredit doctrine nor government, but if we emphasize a system above the life, we shall make better churchmen than Christians. The best church is that where men are attracted to each other by a genuine interest in human beings as such, and with a sincere desire to save souls. When a church loses this bond the sooner it desolves the better. The local churches may fail, but the kingdom will move on. Sar dis and Thyatira and Loadicca and Philadelphia are no more, but the leaven moves in thp mass to-day. We have often gone to work from the outside wrongly. Christianity is more than a reformation. It is in tensive and so expansive its progress is from the center outwards. The leaven is in the meal, not rubbed on the outside of the tray. Put fire in the engine and not on the outside of the boiler, if you mean to carry pas sengers. Progress is first by groups—a lit. tie leaven. Two or three are suffi cient as a beginning. Two or three reproducing Christ may leaven a whole congregation. They fulfill the conditions of a Christ with them only when they reproduce the life of Christ. We are in Christ’s name met really only when we are in His life. Christ’s name and life are one. I am the Way, the Truth, the Life- I am the resurrection and the Life. You cannot convert the world by a committee, nor by a wine-flushed subscription nor by organizatian. Put in Christ the leaven; each or ganization will take care of itself. Healthy life will develop healthy or gans. But organs stuck on will never make a living thing. They are waxen figures at least. Wo do not need new machinery, but life in in the old. Not a new lamp, but oil in it; not meal, but leaven put in. The leaven and the meal are given. We do not have to create them. Our part is- <4 introduce the leaven into the mass. When there it will do the rest—work till the whole is leavening. Again we have emphasized the showy side of Christianity in excess of the humbler, the passive virtues. If’a church can raise money she is heralded as a success. You can scarce ly discipline the man who pays even when the money is won by a Louis iana lottery, or lost in cotton futures. We must emphasize the Christ be fore. When you have Him you shall have all the money you need. Ho saysi Without mo ye can do noth ing. A church that is silently growing in grace is most intensive and ex. tensive in this sin-smitten world of ours. It is better to endow one man or one church with the grace of Christ working as leaven, than 100 missionary societies that go as mere external charities. The leaven goes from atom to atom, from molecule to mass. So the kingdom of Christ moves Christ into A, from A into B until the whole world is brought to Christ and the wholte church is as similated to her great head. We shall reach the masses slowly, but surely and effectually. They mnst be reacbc4 from without by an influence that penetrates within. There is no regenerative in the mass itself. As the churches and the masses imbibe the spirit of Christ, so shall they throw off the evils that afflict them, as the budding trees of spring taking up the rising sap, throw off the dead leaves of the autumn time. The kingdom comes. The leaven works. The history of the world is the manifestation of the eternal pur pose of God, which He proposed Himself. The consummation of this purpose advances. It shall be ushered in by the tramp and tread of the archangel. Then God shall bo all in all. The mysteries and contradic tions of human history shall pass away. We shall become all obedient to Christ and assimilated in charac ter to Him, of whom and thro’ whom and to whom arc all things; to whom be glory forever. May we not offer a prayer to this end ? O. God! Come In the «lory of thine excellence, Rive the dense gloom with wing of clear light, And let the glimmer of thy chariot wheels Burn through the cracks of night—-so slowly, Lord. To lift myseU to Theo with hands of toil, Climbing the elippory leliff of uuheard pray er. Lift up a hand among my idle days— One beckoning finder, I will cast aside The clogs of earthly circumstance and run Up the broad highways, where the countless worlds Sit ripening in the summer of thy love. —Birmingham Baptist. ASKED AND ANSWERED. . BY C. E. W. DOBBS. At the recent annual meeting of our local Bible Society, the Secreta ry for Georgia said that out of more than three thousand languages spo ken on earth, only two hundred had the Bible, and he urged the import ance of sustaining the American Bi ble Society in its work of translat ing the Bible into the remaining lan guages. Can you give me fuller facts about this matter. e. b. l. We do not know that we can al together gratify our inquirer. When it is said that there are “three thou sand languages spoken” by men, the figures include all the various dia lects, more or less distinct, of the differing tongues. Wo have no means of knowing how accurate the figures are, though they seem to us to be an exaggeration of the facts. Still, even if strictly accurate, it is encouraging to know, that, in the two hundred languages into which the holy volume has been translated, it is accessible to fully two-thirds of our race. Those two hundred lan guages are spoken by 1,000,000,000 of the supposed billion and a half of earth’s inhabitants. In a statement recently published, it is stated by the Society that the Mandarin Chinese af fords communication to 200,000,000 souls ; the English to 120,000,000 ; the Hindustani to 82,000,000 ; the German to 54,000,000 ; the Arabic to 50,000,000. It appears however, that there are still 500,000,000 souls who have no Bible in their own tongue. The English people have translated most of the versions that now exist. From the relationship existing be tween Mary and Elizabeth, are we to infer that Jesus was of the tribe of Levi ? His cousin, John the Baptist was of that priestly tribe, and so was Jesus presumably. Is this the ground of his priesthood ? A. j. v. From Hob. 7 :14, we learn that Jesus was of the tribe of Judah. The whole argument of that epistle is based upon the fact that the priest hood of our Lord was not based up oiktbo Levitical law. Ho was a priest after the order of Melchizi dek, by the direct appointment of God, and not according to the ritual or ceremonial law of Moses. We have two genealogies of Jesus, one in Matthew and one in Luke. There are two explanations offered. Some able men believe that both of the tables give the genealogy of Jo seph, the reputed father of Jesus, that of Matthew being the line of succession to the throne of David, while Luke gives the private gener ogy of Joseph as a descendant of David by a younger line. The other explanation seems to be more plausible. Matthew gives the gene alogy of Joseph, while Luke really gives that of Alary, but puts her hus band's name, instead of her’s, in the table, because it was not customa ry for a woman’s name to appear in these lists, the husband’s name be ing usually substituted. Wo have not a sufficient knowledge of all the facts to decide between these two explanations, nor is it necessary to to do so. Either view is sufficiently probable to set aside any objection to the credibility of the evangelists on the ground of discrepancy. Jus tin Martyr, the earliest of the post apostolic Christian writers, says that Alary was herself a lineal descend ant of David. The angel’s word to Alary (Luke 1 :80*32) seems to im ply as much. Seo also Acts 2 :80 ; Rom. 1:8 ; 2 Tim. 2:8. As the hu man nature of Jesus was holy de rived from Alary, it is reasonable to suppose that she was thus descended. True, Alary was the kinswoman of Elizabeth, the wife of a priest, who was of the tribo of Levi, but inter marriage between the tribes was not only not forbidden; it was frequent. A priest was at liberty to marry a woman of Judah if ho chose so to do. From Ex. 6:23, compared with Num. 2 :8, it appears that the first Elizabeth in Israel’s history, the high.priest Aaron’s wife, was of Ju dah. It is true that an ancient docu ment written by the apostles has been discovered, which says that pouring is baptism ? Don't laugh at me for asking this question. The Methodist preacher on this circuit made the statement in his first ser mon hero. baptist sister. Our Baptist Sister may possess her soul in patience. The circuit ri der simply aired his ignorance. He THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 10. l«yz. probably had heard something of the manuscript discovered some years ago by the Greek Bishop Briennios, in Constantinople, known to schol ars as “The Didache, or Teaching, of the Apostles.” But no scholar believes the Didache was from the pen of any apostle. It originated probably in the third century ; the date of the present copy of the man uscript is several centuries later. We quote what it says about baptism : “Touching baptism, thus baptize : having first declared all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit in living water. But if thou have not living water, baptize in other water ; and if thou canst not in cold, then in warm. But if thou have neither, pour water thrice on the head, into the name of the Fath er, and Son, and Holy Spirit.” By “living water” is meant “run ning water,” as in a stream. There is also a command that the persons to be baptized shall “fast for two or three days before.” Certainly they knew only the baptism of those old enough to confess the “things” of Christian doctrine, and capable of fasting. Infant baptism was not in their practice of that early day, A. D., 250 or 300. Observe further that the Didache does not know any thing about differing “modes of bap tism.” It uses the Greek word in its specific sense, as the Greek Church has ever since used it. It denotes a definite action, namely, immerse or dip. It says “Baptize”— dip—if the necessary kind and suffi ciency of water can be had. It does not say, in the event such suf ficiency of water is not at hand : “Baptize by pouring water,” etc. It merely says that if “baptizing” is im possible, then “pouring” may be sub stituted for the baptizing. The lan guage is not that of modern sprink lers or affusionists. They talk of “baptizing by sprinkling, pouring, or immersing.” To them baptize is a generic term indicating no specific act, while the Didache clearly dis tinguishes between “baptizing” and “pouring.” Only when “baptizing” is impossible, is “pouring” permitted. The latter was not called “baptism” till some time after the Didache was written. It was confessedly merely a make-shift, a substitute. This is an important point, and should be carefully noted in reading tins an cient document. Dr. Philip Schaff, in his edition of tho Didache practi cally confesses all here claimed. It does indeed permit pouring to be substituted for baptism in an ex ceptional case, namely, where water in sufficient quantity for baptism was not accessible. The Didache origi nated, according to tho critics, either in Syria or in Egypt, and in either country such an emergency might possibly occur. But in the United States, certainly in Georgia, such a case is not likely. There is no Bap tist Church in America that has fail ed to find enough water to baptize converts seeking its fellowship. Therefore, even if the authority of this famous Didache were recogniz ed, in this country at least the per mission of pouring would not apply. The New Testament, however, is our only authority. It knows only immersion, and Baptists cannot ad mit any substitute for it under any circumstances. We say that where any physical conditions, either of candidate or locality, forbid immer sion, God does not require baptism. He does not demand impossibilities. A SECOND TO THE MOTION. I most heartily second the motion of brother Vanghan in the establish ment of a minister’s Institute in North and Northeast Georgia, for the benefit of preachers generally, and especial ly for those in the pastorate of churches. Having knowledge of the section referred to and the wants of our cause there, I am fully of the opinion that no better thing can be done for the furtherance of the king dom of God than to provide means for rudimental education. In many instances a desire for knowledge must be infused into their mind be fore they will make any sacrifice to lay the foundation for general im provement. Nor is it believed that any considerable number of preach ers who mostly need it can take, to advantage, a course of lectures in theology without a better knowledge of the English language. Indeed, uiiless there is a thirst for, and a start to obtain general improvement any attempt at theological training will be fruitless. I have had this matter on my heart for many years ; and the longer it lies the more it is consider ed. The thing needed, it seems to me, is nn Institute combining theo logical training with the rudiments of a literary education. I cannot suggest as to the length of time it should be taught or how conducted. Let those do this who have been en gaged in such work. I would suggest however that the Institute be taught twice a year, in one part of the territory in midwin ter and in another part after crops are made. Or if protracted meetings are in the way it might be better to hold both sessions in the winter of each year closing at one point only to open at another in a few days. These suggestions probably may be improv ed on by wiser, if not by older heads, but let us have the Institute. Their advantages cannot fail to im press every one. One of the most serious difficulties under which this people have formerly labored is their isolation from the great body of bap tists in other parts of the country. Inconvenience forbids their attend dance upon the meetings of the Georgia Baptist Convention and other meetings in its bounds. Shut up to themselves, they have missed the fire and interest that comes from contact with enterprise and progress. And now, I am sorry to say, many of them are content to remain ignor ant.of what they might easily know. To awaken an interest, therefore, among them means of improvement must be carried into their midst and before their doors. I sincerely hope the attention of our Boards will be directed to this subject at once, and an effort be made to supply this great need. No more promising field need be looked for. Aleans spent here will yield a greater return in a few years than any other enterprise now occupying the attention of our people. Some of the ministers in this mountain section have already begun to develop a spirit of enterprise, and a little help given them would enable them to be of great benefit to others It should be remembered also that the section referred to abounds in strong bodied, bright and brainy peo ple, whose native mental ability is equaled by few and surpassed by none. By all means let us have a Bible Institute taught there and in connec tion with it lessons on English gram mar, orthoepy, etc. A. J. Kelly. GEORGIA FEMALE SEMINARY. While I do not remember that I have ever written a lino for the In dia, except be a short obituary or marriage notice, yet I feel constrain ed to say a word or two in commen dation of the Georgia Female Semi nary which I have recently had the pleasure of visiting. I carried with me to the school three girls, one my own, the other two, the daughters of my special friends. I found the school numbering about 140 pupils in full swing, direc ted by that indomitable, cultured and successful teacher of girls A W. Vanllouse President, assisted by a corps of teachers of which any Institution of learning might be proud. The musical departments* both vocal and instrumental are of the highest order. The boarding department had a homelike appearance, except that the number of children is rather larger than usually falls to the lot of one family, there being seated at the long table about fifty or more girls from every section of the country. Some were coming from that far famed “Hub of the Universe” Bos ton Massachusetts. The writer may have been bewildered by the mul titude of lovely faces, but he was inclined to think that, he never saw a lot of prettier girls in one group in the whole course of his life. There is no city in Georgia more favorably suited for a female college than the little city of Gainsville. Its climate and water unexcelled, its location easy of access from any direction, owing to its Rail Road facilities, make it a desirable locality: I hearti ly commend this Institution to the patronage of all parents who wish to send their girls to a school, in which they will receive the highest order of instruction in every depart ment: but in which their girls will be as safely guarded as in their own homes, located in a section of the country noted for its pure and healthful lweez.es audits cool refresh ing waters. While at Gainsville I called on that earnest worker, clear headed thinker, and successful pastor Broth er F. C. McConnell, whom I found at his desk hard at work, but ever and anon disturbed by the young McC left for the time being m his care by his good wife whdm I failed to see much to my regret. I also had an opportunity to see the good brethren Barrette and Hawkins at Bro. McConnell’s, and grasp their hands in cordial greeting, and enjoy ed an hour of pleasant conversation. Bro. Hawkins was on the eve of his departure for Louisville, and his wife with unshed tears in her eyes was bravely giving him up, that he might better fit himself for the great work of telling the news of salvation to a lost condemned world. But I forbear. With my best wishes for Bro. VanHoose and his splendid Institution and my greatful recollec tions of the friends who made my short stay in Gainsville so pleasant I am Yours in Christ, John F. Cheney. Crawford Ga., Sept. 29th, 1892. SHEEP-SHEARING. Rev. Dr. Gibson, at the meeting of the Hepbizah Association, in an earnest and impressive address on Alissions, which occupied most of the day had something to say on Sheep-Shearing. Aly experience on this subject differs from his rather wndely. In my farm boy days Sheep-Shearing, about the first of Alay, was a grand and joyous holi day. We tolled the sheep up to the shearing place by a tender of salt. Sheep are fond of salt. We were accustomed to salt them once a month and they came running to the appointed place with glad alac rity, like the Lord’s Sheep gathering to the Sanctuary on the day of the monthly meeting, where “every sac rifice is salted with salt.” “Salt is good’ if it do not lose its savor. Alark 9: 49-50. The faithful Pastor “in the spring of the waters casts in salt.” Having thus put the sheep into a pleasant humor we coaxed them down to the clear creek and persua ded them to venture into the cool stream. We went with them, “both went down into the water” The sheep were a little timid about that process, but when “we came up out of the water” they were cleansed refreshed and happy. Then followed the shearing. We laid them gently down upon the platform and putting our hand upon the snow'y fleece, said to the patient annimal; Here is a heavy pile of wool for you to carry through the hot summer. I know where some of this wool would do a great deal of good. I know where it would bring warmth to some frozen heart and life to some dead soul. Have you any objection to my appropri ating some of it to such beneficent purposes. If the poor beast obiild talk it would I am quite sure it would say, “take some of it and wel come. If yon should take it all off of me, I should feel the better for it. lam sure Ido not want any of it during the hot summer months. Take it all if you can make it useful. There will plenty grow on again before the next winter comes. So you may have all I have with me now and I will trust Providence to furnish a new supply against it is needed.” Thus a kind, loving and intelligent appeal to a Christian man will bring from him all he has and the prom ise of more when the supply is re newed. Now I suggest that this is a better method of sheep-shearing than roughly hauling the docile beast on to the platform, throwing him down there, tying his four legs together, seating a little “nigger on his head and shearing him so close that the shears will clip away patches of skin dyeing the wool crimson with oozing blood. If an old ram with horns w ere subjected to this kind of treat ment it might be a little dangerous for the little” “nigger” seated on his head. And when this parable of sheep shearing is applied, in its harsher forms to Christian men to induce liberality in giving it is as it seems to me a mistake. J. S. B. • Augusta Ga. In address before the National Teachers’ Association, Dr. O. F. Presbrey makes this statement : “There are 12,728,419 children in the common schools, 758,972 in pri vate schools, and 787,182 in the par ochial schools, now under the in struction of 425,000 teachers. The aggregate number of children of school age is about one fourth the population of the United States. In a few years the duties of home, of religion, and of State will de volve on them. A tremendous re sponsibility rests on the shoulders of the teachers and parents who are preparing them for life. The University of Oxford has ap pliances for printing in 150 different languages. The great value of Hood’s Sar saparilla as a remedy for catarrh is vouched for by thousands of people whom it has cured. ©he dI paul’s first missionary ser mon. Lesson for Nov. 20th, 1892. Scripture Lesson: Acts 13:26-43. Motto Text :—“To you is the word of this salvation sent.” V. 26. INTRODUCTION. There are evidences of rapid movement in this first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. Less than a year perhaps was spent in the island of Cyprus with, its several large cities. Our last lesson left them at Perga in Pamphylia. No account is given of any work there though it was a flourishing city. Leaving Per ga which is near the sea-coast they proceed across the mountains for about one hundred and fifteen miles to Antioch in Pisidia. This place is to be distinguished from the Antioch in Syria, mentioned in former lessons. This was a Roman city, but had a considerable Jewish population who maintained their religion, as is shown by the mention of the synagogue and its services. In a very natural and appropriate manner the missionaries come before the people with their message. They assemble with the worshipers in a quiet, unobtrusive way. The scrip tures are read, and opportunity is given for any to speak who may de sire to do so. Paul speaks in away to conciliate his hearers at first, that he may convict them of sin and lead them to Jesus. EXPLANATIONS. I. Prophecy fulfilled through ignorance. —Vs. 26-29. The many proselytes found assembled with the Jews in all their synagogues attest the fact that.the Jewish religion was missionary in character. How much more so ought the gospel to be. To those who are really Jews, and to those who have become so by cir cumcision, Paul addresses himself, and makes himself one with them. These are familiar with the Old Tes tament scriptures. In these two points Paul has a good basis upon which to proceed. He refers to their opportunity for knowing the scrip tures, how that they are read every Sabbath day. Yet they have failed to understand, and in their ignorance have fulfilled the scriptures in con demning Christ. How strange this ignorance! While'they read and fulfill what they read, they are blind to the meaning of it all, and blind to their guilt in condemning one in whom is no fault. 11. Prophecy made plain in the light of its fulfillment. vs. 30-87. The resurrection of Christ is cited as the great proof of his mission and authority* as the Messiah. Os this resurrection there were over five hundred eye-witnesses. See 1 Cor. 15:6. Paul then refers to several distinct prophecies pointing directly to the resurrection, and shows that it was unto eternal life. “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” Rom. 6 : 9. That Christ is alive forevermore is a message to us of glad tidings, a pledge to us of “the sure mercies of David.” “This day have I begotten thee.” These words seem to refer to his birth, but more probably have refer ence to his resurrection. His resur rection constitutes his “inauguration or public acknowledgment on the part of God as the rightful sovereign of men.” “The resurrection might indeed be styled the birthday of his reign.” The sure mercies of David. The sure promises, the Missianic blessings. 2 Sam. 7: 13, 16. Ps. 89; 3, 4. 111. Application of the les sons oe prophecy and its fulfil ment. vs. 88-43. First comes the promise. The resurrection of Christ is the basis. Only through him as the ever living Savior can blessings come. How great and precious are the blessings he offers. Remission of sins, and justification. The blood of Christ t.ikdk all our sins away. In him wo shall stand complete, perfectly justi fied in the sight of God the Father. Though their sin had been the mur der of the Son of God, they may se cure forgiveness. Faith in the name of Jesus is the only condition. Here is the very heart of the Gospel,— justification by faith. See Rom. 3: 30-26; 5:1; 8:1; 10:4 ; Gal. 3:lb 22. Next comes a warning. Great guilt has been incurred. Great mor. cy is offered. Fearful will be th e condemnation of those who persist in their evil ways. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salva tion.” Heb. 2:1-5. The sermon takes some hold upon many of the Jews and proselytes. The Gentiles are favorably inclined to the Gospel and ask an opportuni. ty to hear more of it. SUGGESTIVE. (1) Through ignorance the Jews crucified Jesus. Their ignorance is some palliation for their crime, but does not excuse or justify it. They need forgiveness. Christ prayed, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” How great a sin it is to turn away from the light, to neglect the means of knowing the right, so abundantly furnished us. (2) Let every one who studies this lesson work out for himself these three points, (a) In what ways may be shown the necessity of Christ’s resurrection? (b) What are the proofs to the fact that Christ did rise from the dead ? (c) Show as many points as vou can where the truth of the resurrection is to bear upon oui lives as Christians. As Paul makes this doctrine so prominent in this sermon and in all his writings let us try to grasp its meaning as fully aS possible. Sir Henry A. Blake, British Gov ernor of Jamaica, examines afresh the question, “Where did Columbus first land in 1492 ?” His article is published in Nineteenth Century Magazine for October. He has reach ed the conclusion that Watling Is« land, one of the Bahamas, answers to the demands “to the minutest particular, and that on the Coral Strand of Columbus Bight, on the Southeastern coast of that island, the royal standard of Spain was first un furled, and the New World opened to modern civilization.” Telephone communication wag opened between New York and Chi cago, Oct. 18th 1892. The distance between the two cities is 950 miles. Mayor Washburne, of Chicago, ex changed messages with Mayor Grant, of New York. Afterwards, Cornet Solos were played at each end of the line. Manager Mosely arranged so that forty persons could hear the messages and the music at the same time. It was a matter of wonder that words, uttered nearly a thousand miles away in an ordinary tone of voice, were d istinctly heard) BLESS DE LORD Is what a grateful heart of old Cyn thia Ramsey, of Newnan, Ga., spok e when after a severe attack of asth ma had been relieved by one dose of Taylor’s Cherokee Remedy of Sweet Gum and Mullein, the great medi cine for coughs, colds and consump« tion. The managers of the America* Bible Society are making arrange ments for supplying the Bible to the multitudes from many lands who may visit the Exposition. Those desiring to aid in the work may send their contributions to Wm. Faulker Treasurer, A. B. S., Bible House, N. Y. Rev. Dr. S. C. Clopton, late pastol of Clay Street Baptist church, Rich mond, but now pastor of Parker memorial church, Anniston, Ala. was married last week to Miss An nie Jones of Rappahannock county, Va. After the marriage Dr. Clopton with his bride spent several dayi among friends in Richmond.—Bib. Recorder. CURED •• About seven or eight months ago I was attacked by a cough, and at once began to take a medicine much adver tised as an expectorant, and continued using it until I had takeh about six bot tles. Instead of giving me relief, it only made me, worse. I tried several other remedies, but all in vain, and I don’t think I had three whole nights’ rest during my illness. I began to think that Consumption had laid hold of me, and my hopes of recovery were all gone. I was a more skeleton, but a friend of mine, who had been some time away, called to see me. He recommended me to try Ayer's Cherry Pectoral, and kindly sending me a bottle, I took it, but with little hopes of recovery. lam thankful, how. ever, to say that it cured me, and I am to-day enjoying the best of health.” J. Wilmot Payne, Monrovia, Liberia. AYER’S Cherry Pectoral Prepared by Dr. J.C. Ayer A Co., Lowell, Maas. Prompt toact.sure to cure T WATHAN & C0.,~ |||l l MANVFACTVRRM OF Kg&Grnite and Marte gra TmMom Wort If— yffa All cemetery work neatly execut* Fr - and Optiiunt<?a furnished upon MfMMM&applleatiAn. Local AOBNrI tjar-. lx solicited. No. < Capitol Ava. ... Atlanta, Ga,