The Christian index. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1892-current, February 02, 1893, Image 1

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— j tartood and were said in be- MISSIONS During the Session of the Southern Baptist Convention. Subscribe to and read the Christian Index. if you would keep informed. . ESTABLISHED 1821. (£4xri«tian Qn&ex Published Every Thursday at 57 South Broad Street, Atlanta, Ga, J. c. McMichael, pbofbibtob. Organ of the Baptist Denomination in Georgia. Subscription Pbicb: One copy, one year $ 2.00 One copy, six mouths 1.00 Obituaries.—Ono hundred words free of charge. For each extra word, one cent per word, cash with copy. To Correspondents.—Do not use abrovia tione; 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 oil personal ities; condense. Business.—Write all names, and post offices distinctly. In ordering a change give the old as well as the new address. Tn# date of label indicates the time your subscription expires. If you do not wish it continued, order it stop ped a week before. Wo consider each sub scriber permanent, until he orders his paper discontinued. When you order it stopped pay up to date. Remittances by check preferred; or regis tered letter, money order, postal note. Review of the Week. Lottery Gambling.— Tho Louisiana Lottery Company, after being permitted to debauch public sentiment for years, has been finally compelled to leave. It will be a happy riddance, but the ne farious thing refuses to die. It has been granted a charter by the little Re public of Honduras, in Central America, and will doubtless attempt from there to do business in the Southern States of our Union. In this case tho “general welfare” clause in the federal constitu tion should be invoked to prevent it We have vices enough of our own with out adopting those indigenous to our Satin American neighbors. Manifestation of the “Unknowable. 1 , —One day last week, as cold as it was, a lady was trying to get some grease spots off her Brussels carpet with gasoline- While rubbing at one of the spots the cloth suddenly ignited without appar rent cause. The only explanation sug. gested was that,“the friction ignited the gasoline." But there was no suggestion as to whether that was caused by rais ing the temperature, as in ordinary fric tion, or whether the ilame was otherwise produced. Such explanations are easily made, but require explanation in return. On any ordinary cold morning, in a dry atmosphere, shuffle your feet rapidly »ver the carpet without taking them from the surface, and you will produce a crackling noise and then electrical sparks. The experiment is very simple and may be successfully made at any time when the Ustupc.'iUm is degrees and the atmosphere dry. Now, if while the sparks are Hying about your toes, you will drop a little gasoline near them you will have a tire- It was elec tricity, produced by the rubbing,that ig nited the gasolind on the lady’s carpet. But just what “electricity” is, in its ul timates, nobody knows anymore than we know the ultimate particles of mat ter. The Japanese Dissatisfied.—The new Commercial Code of Japan was to have gone into operation January Ist, 1890 but was postponed till January Ist 1893. The present session of the diet however, has postponed the operation of; the Code until December 1890. But as the post ponement still lacks the assent of the Emperor, the pending decision of the new Cabinet will be awaited with inter* est. Aside from this, the Treaty ques tion, now being considered by the new Cabinet, is a momentous one. It effects not only the United States, but every commercial power of Europe. Tho younger and mors progressive of the Japanese Statesmen are restive under the ex-territorial clause of the existing treaties. Their argument is, that it is derogatory to the dignity of a civilized power to have alien courts of justice within her territory. This is not a mat. ter of surprise when we consider the in ordinate pride of that people. It is but natural that, conscious of their national strength, they should like to get rid of this badge of inferiority and assert their full sovereignty within their own territory. Is The Moon Inhabited?—Perhaps the ordinary wood or coal Are was one of the first objects to awaken tho in stinct of scientific investigation. At first thro were many crude notions one the subject of combustion, but the dis covery of oxygen seemed to settle the matter on a firm basis. Recent expert meats, however have made it quite clear that the presence of aqueous vapor has more to do with combustion than oxy. gen. It has been shown that if oxygen be rendered perfectly dry, combustion is impossible. Carbon, sulphur or phos phorus may bo strongely heated in an atmosphere of perfectly dry oxygen without taking fire. In fact the sulphur and phosphorus may be distilled in it. But the presence of a trace of moisture at once brings about the combustion. This seems to furnish another reason against the probability of tho moon's be ing Inhabited; since, owing to tlie ab sence of aqueous vapor, fire would not be possible there. Possibly, however, the Lunatics may be so constituted physically as to have no necessity for either fire or water. No one knows. The Situaton In France.—The Pana ma Canal scandal has been tlie occa sion (but not the cause) of a Royalist conspiracy to overthrow the French Re. public. Tlie conspiracy seems to have been hatched in London and Madrid- The plan appears to be to overthrow sljr ttljrisfian Siffirr. the Republic by fomenting popular dis content in the hope that the masses will turn to the Count of Paris or the Buko of Orleans for reusoue and protection. The fact that the extreme Socialists are again in the ascendent suits the royalist plotters exactly. Tho more Dynamite, rioting and terrorism, the more desire of the great middle classes for safety rather than liberty, which the French people have so often confounded with license; and those who have anything to lose will yearn for the peace and order which the Royalists promise to bring. This will be a mere repetition of history however. Universal suffrage has been a danger to France from the very first, and is so still. It has been and is a standing menace to Republican govern ment since its inauguration. How in deed could it be otherwise? A republic of universal suffrage requires that the nation be composed of citizens who look upon public affairs as their own affairs! “one for all, all for one." When this is not the case, it sometimes becomes nec essary to chose a master (no matter by what name) in order to preserve civili zation. The same is true elsewhere than in France. Half the Republics in Central and South America are to-day, and for the same reason, Republics is nothing but name. The Money Power. —A writer in a re cent issue of one of our leading Maga zines puts forth the assertion that “there are more toadies to the kneeling yard in America than in any country of the world.” If this is true, which is per haps open to question, tlie fact is due to neither climate, geography or to tho ‘•congenital bent,” Hero wealth is wor shipped excessively only because it is - more powerful than in older countric 8 where “society has had time to adjust itself. In other words, wealth buys more here than in Europe. There peo ple are born to rank, the supposed equiv alent of which here is to be had by simple purchase. Titles, decorations, social position, do not come to tho Euro pean because he has made a fortune. A Gould or a Vanderbilt in England, would still be many steps below the so cial summit. A millionaire brewer is sometimes ennobled, but his newly ac quired title is a jest with the nobility and commoners alike; and vulgar up starts with nothing but money, are made painfully conscious that there are many desirable things which money cannot buy, It is somewhat different with us. Lota man, however vulgar, rak together a pile of money and stand on top of it and he receives (at least in appearance) every serial adv»uk»<r«,*b.’ , » a.ni»<vtry Cf brains or title confer* iu England and Franco. The truth is, we are intensely material as yet, in all our ideas. This is natural, and even praiseworthy when wo concern ourselves with “the meat and bread question aloue.”But there is dan. ger of carrying the idea too far. When we errry into tlie social domain that overwhelming sense of the value and im. portanceof money (inevitable and pruiso woithyin the business sphere,) we win for ourselves the unenviable distinction of being the vulgarist of nations. Mabocracy in Colorado.— The increas. iug prevalency of mob rule in the United State's is an alarming sign of the times. The substitution of mob rule (or lynch law as it is Sometimes called) for a reign of law, is usually the first step towards anarchy; and anarchy means not only the destruc tion of order and personal security, but the loss of civilization as well. Tho latest incident of this kind occurred out in Denver, Colorado. A clergyman of tho Episcopal church had been preach* ing against Sunday evening amusements. His efforts finally led to the arrest of the managers and performers in all the theatres of the city. A mob of some five hundred people gathered, and after some very incendiary speeches, moved to wards the residence of tho preacher, where they proceeded to smash win dows and doors. The preacher had barely time to escape with the aid of a fast horse, and thus save hi* life. Bis flight merely increased tlie anger of the mob, who proceeded to wreck their veugence on fences and out buildings. Then the police appeared for the first time and a pitched battle ensued in which heads were freely broken. Final ly, the police succeeded in dispersing tlie mob, but strange to say no arrests wore made. In extenuation of their lawless conduct, tho rioters assert that the preacher is a British subject, who has never been naturalized. This does not alter the merits of tho case at all. It merely aggravates the offense. If such an outrage against an American protostant preacher were to occur in one of tho Spanish-American republics, our State Department would be Hooded with letters by indignant Am oi lcan citi zens. Our foreign representative* would be Instructed to “investigate and report" all tho circumstances of tho case. The probabilities ail are there would bo a demand of promise for future security if not for pecuniary indemnizutiou to the victim. And it's a mighty poor rule that wont work both way* in it* appli cation to international relations. The Canadian Question.— During tho past twenty-five year* there have been repeated movements in (ho Dominion of Canada towards casting its lot with the continent to which it belongs; but none of them ever became so general as tho one now claiming attention, and none over reached such a magnitude in so short a time of renewed agitation, This has received its stimulous, perhaps, ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 2,1893. from our present discriminating Tariff duties; and the probabilities all are that the Tariff will be very materially altered by the next Congress. Still there are other and less ephemeral causes for the drift of public sentiment iu Canada in the direction of annexation to the United States: and in view of its gathering strength, American Statesmen are se riously considering what should bo our attitude in regprd to the matter. Con sidered from a purely selfish point Os view the advantage to us of annexation would be enormous. Nearly all tho ara ble public laud within our borders has been taken up; tho comparatively little that remains can be utilized only by ex* pensive irrigation. The area of Canada is about three and a half million square miles. Os this, nearly one and a half million is suitable for wheat and the other cereals. Then there are about one hundred and thirty thousand square miles of coal lauds, to say nothing of vast areas of forest, and of iron and other mineral deposits. The climate is health ful, ami the natural facilities for exterior and interior commerce are excellent. The population is nearly live million of white people; descendants for the most part of tho hardy Briton and sturdy Teuton—the saving elements in our civ. ilization. The Belgian officials in Congo are dis cussing a proposition for the importation of Chinese coolies to do the work of common laborers. The reason urged in its favor is, that the native Africans are too lazy to work. That may be; but the English, who know more of both races, and have tried the expiriment of mixing Chinese and Negroes, say it will not be a success. The expiriment has been tried also in Guayana. The two races will not work peacably together, and generally the Chinamen are tho mischief makers. Iu his own country, “John” is a hard working and frugal fellow; but place him in a foreign country among other dark races, and he becomes trouble some. The Hindu coolies do better in so far as the experament has boon tried in some of the British West Indies; but there is generally more or less friction between them and the Negroes in Trini dad and Barbadoes. The Chinese get along very well with the Indians of Peru; but when they come into contact with tlie Jamaica Negroes on the Isthmus of Panama, there is usually an explosion. Possible revolution in Belgium.— There seems to be popular distress and discontent among tho sturdy Belgians. A few days ago, a large body of men variously estimated at from one to two luu.dieG, limiing it irtq>osslt»h> to procure work, marched i-t a body to the capital through miles of deep snow. Their com ing was announced several days, in ad vance,and upon their arrival were greeted and cheered by hundreds of idle work men of Brussels. The two crowds joined and paraded the streets, calling attention to their miserable clothing and half-star ved appearance. A significant feature of the parade was the chanting of revo lutionary songs. Finally, after tramping through the streets to the terror of the citizens, the crowd stopped before the Ministry of Public Works, and sent in a committee to tell the Minister that they and their families were absolutely starv ing, and through no fault of their dwn. They were willing and anxious to work, they said, but could not find employ ment. The Minister took in tho situation and promised them employment. Tho crowd then proceeded to tho Chamber of Deputies, and demanded that perma nent work be given to the unemployed, and that universal suffrage be estab lished! The “Progressist" members promised everything; the “Conserva tives” were dumbfounded. An imme diate crisis was finally averted; but the situation is still very disquieting. A Painful Conjecture.—The Pana ma Canal Scandal is still spreading. As tlie investigation proceeds, facts are being developed which will probably result in a scandal at Washington. It is now known that the canal people, who have been engaged in a wholesale business of shameless corruption, sent 52.J00.000 to this country. This is admitted in tlie testimony of Charles de Lesseps him self. A small portion of this fund was used in paying the salaries of the so called American “agents." That may have been proper enough, although no one ever knew what those “agenta" were expected to do. Ono of them received SI,OOO a year, and tlie other $25,000; making less than $30,000 a year for three years, or say, a total of less than SIOO.- 000. What became of the little balance of $2-400.000? It is not known; but there arc some startling conjectures. Old man do Lesseps camo to this coun try, it will bo remembered, soon after the 40th, Congress of tlie United States began discussing tho re-affirmation o f tlie Monroe Doctrine in connection witli tlie Canal project. Tho discussion had seriously embarrassed the French pro. jectors iu their efforts to float their se curities. Soon after M. do Lesseps’ arrival, tho agitation in Congress ceased. Certain “groat newspapers,” hitherto hostile to the French scheme, suddenly became silent on the subject. This may have been a mere co-incidence. Let us hope that it was only that. But it would boa satisfaction to all honest American citizens to see that $2,400,000 accounted for; and under tho circumstances, a rigid investigation by Congress would bo in order. The Pension Abuse.—lt Is now pro posed in Congress, as a measure of econ omy, and a« a means of correcting abuses, to abolish all pension agencies. This is “beginning at the little end.” There is little or no economy in it, and would probably increase rather than diminish abuses. It is essential that the Pension office at Washington bo kept informed of the decease of pensioners in their re mote districts. To do this it would have to emply an increased clerical force and a horde of traveling agents. It would, besides, involve loss to the recipients of pensions without diminishing tlie out put from the Treasury: for, in many in stances, pensioners would have to sub mit to discounts in, order to get their quarterly chocks cashed. Tho only true economy in this business, as well as the only rational meaus of reforming abuses, is in purging tho pension roll. Strike off tho millions who are in no way justly entitled to a pension. Tho demagogues iu the past Congress misjudged the tem per and intelligence of the American people when the present pension laws wore enacted. The average American citizen is not destitute of eit her common sense or common honesty. Ho would like to see tho maimed and disabled sol dier properly, provided for: but he does not relish political bribery in the form of wholesale pensions. Situation in Mexico.—The “border trouble in Mexico is, in its last analysis, a Mexican quarrel with the United States. Availing them selves of the law* of “neutrality,” a disreputable lot of disaffected Mexi cans living in the border countries of Texas, have organized themselves into an army of “i volutionists” for the avowed purpose of overthrowing the present Mexican administration. The leader of this band is one Garza. After his unsuccessful raid into Mex ico, some twelve months ago, he suddenly appeared in Now York, and sailed thence under an assumed name for Venezuela, joined the army of General Crespo and won distinc tion. Fi-ona thence he went to Par is to secure backing for the purpose of renewing his revolutionary pro ject in Mexico. Receiving pecunia ry assistance from wealthy Spanish Americans living in Paris, be pro ceeded to Mexico by w: y of Liver pool and Tampico. Disguising him self, and still passing under an assum ed name, he proceeded through the interior cities of the Mexican Repub lic. Finally his identity was detec ted and he escaped to Texas. In some of the border c uni,lies of Tex as fully three-fourths of the popula tion are Mexicans t ‘ are escaped convicts, thieves, cut throats and gamblers, who fall read ily into Garza’s scheme of “revolu tion” and plunder ; and despite the combined efforts of the United States and Mexican governments, this revolutionary band now numbers several hundred more than it did twelve months ago, when they were defeated and driven out of Mexico. Their present force is estimated at about throe thousand men. Strange as it may seem, they are secretly backed by the “Clerical party” in Mexico, who are hostile to the Diaz administration and to the United States. There is not wanting evi dence, also, that the young prince apparent, Don Augustin de Iturbe and his faction are mixed up in this matter. The plan seems to be to overthrow Diaz, re-instate Iturbe on the throne, re-annex Texas if possi ble, and re-establish the priest pow er at all regards. In this wild scheme the plotters are strengthened by a latent sentiment of hostility which still lingers in Mexico. The unity of religious fanaticism with the schemes of an irresponsible horde of hungry polticians with nothing to lose, usually means serious mischief; and under all the circumstances, it behooves our Government to be on the alert if it would avoid possible complications. Obituary.— Associate Justice La mar, of the United States Supreme Court, died at Macon, Ga., on the 23rd January, of Brights Disease, in the 68th year of his age. He was a Georgian by birth, and a graduate of Emory College. He has been col lege professor, poet, Congressman, Senator and Cabinet minister. He was appointed Associate Justice of the Supremo Court by President Cleveland toward the close of his Administration. Mr. Lamar was less distinguished as a Jurist than as a scholar and orator. James Gillespie Blaine, whoso .death has been h daily expected for * weeks, died at 11 o’clock last Fri . day morning. Ho j was born in Penn sylvania in 1830. |He graduated from Washington r Luki M 7 college when 17 years of age and then removed to Maine. He entered politics, his first office being as a member of the lower house of the Maine legislature, where he served four years. In 1862 he was elected to congress as a Republican where be gave bis full support to the war to preserve the Union. He was three times re-elected, and was speak er of the house during bis last term. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1876. The same year he was a candidate for the presidential nomination but was defeated by R. B. Hayes. Mr. Blaine was secretary of state to President Garfield, to ac cept which office ho resigned his seat in the Senate. In 1884 he was nominated for the Presidency but was defeated by Grover Cleveland. His “Twenty Years in Congress” is an exaustivo work covering tho po litical events of the country from Lincoln to Garfield. He was a mem ber of President Harrison’s cabihet as Secretary of State. Phillips Brooks of Boston, a bish op of the Protestant Episcopal church, died in the seventieth year of his age, of heart failure, on the 23rd of January. Mr. Brooks was of the great preachers of the age, and en joyed a national reputation. He was singularly free from religious big otry ; a man of broad mind and deep piety; a close student and indefati gable worker. He was an attractive and effective pulpit orator. A nat ural impediment of speech caused him to speak with unusual rapidity; but he somehow always managed to rivet the attention of his audience. THE NAME OF JESUS. BY S. G. HILLYER. How shall I signalize this precious name ? It is a theme which might well invite and inspire the genius of the gifted poet. Long ages before the star of Bethlehem, shed its mild lustre above the lowly manger, the royal Psalmist of Israel, moved by the Spirit, had sung the glories of the coming King. It was the lofty theme that kindled Isaiah’s seraphic fire. It was the hope which com forted the heart of Jeremiah, the weeping Prophet, amidst the desola tions of Jerusalem; and it was the glorious sun of Righteousness with healing in his wings, that evoked the exultant shout of him who was the last of the Prophets. Then, in after years, when Jesus had actually come, and achieved his mighty work of human redemption, bis name contin* ued to be celebrated in sacred song* At mid-night, in Phillip’s gloomy prison, Paul and Silas sang the prais es of our great Redeemer. And from that hour to this, praise has been a part of Chrisiipn woryhin. at th*. ■ the name of Jesus, on the waves of sacred song, has been wafted round the world. But alas! lam no poet, and therefore I cannot celebrate his name in verse. Again, the name of Jesus might well engage the most profound thoughts of the historian and phil osopher. This name has a history. It has been associated with the pro gress of human events, through the centuries, as a most efficient power. But to recite its history, and to ex plain its power, would far exceed the limits of a newspaper article. Nay, it would require volumes to do it completely. And yet may I not say something to signalize the name of Jesus? At least let me try. Leaving the realm of poetry for those who feel its in* spiration, and tlie realm of history for those who have the wisdom and the time to unfold it; I propose to myself the more humble, but, I trust, not the less useful task, of explaining the relations of this blessed name to the individual Christian in his religious experience. Every saint is conscious, that in the days of bis early faith, the name of Jesus filled his heart. He may not have been able at that time to anyalize the emotions which agitated his soul, or even to state them in their proper connections; but there, in the midst of his struggles, was the name of Jesus. It was emblazoned, like the bow of promise, in sevenfold beauty upon the now receding cloud of guilt which so recently had cover ed his soul with gloom and terror. It was not long before he discovered that this name is fundamental in that great scheme of mercy which availed for bis salvation. Hence, be knows what Peter meant when ho said: “There is no other name given under Heaven, amongst men, whereby we must be saved.” And ho realizes also the truth of another scripture, from tho same source: “To you that believe lie is precious.” And then he finds the truth of Paul's words when ho said; “ Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Thus, enough has been said to show how inexpressibly dear to tho saint, ought to bo the name of Jesus in the days of his early experience. But the experience of the Chris tian must continue through all his' life. Therefore, through all his years, whether tow or many, the name of | Jesus should fill the heart of the saint, in all the fervor of his first love. The union between Jesus and the true believer is very close. It is presented to us under most striking figures of speech, such as the relation between the shepherd and his flock, the teacher and his pupils, the leader and his followers, the master and his servant, and tho husband and his bride. Diverse as these figures are, there are two ideas common to them all, —profound subordination of the saint to Jesus as his ruler, and com. plete dependence upon him for all that he hopes for in this life, and in that which is to come. And here, it is worthy of notice, that this state of subordination and dependence is not servile nor degrading, but elevating and ennobling; for we must not for get, that the believer, though humble and dependent, is a child of God, and joint heir with Christ, of an everlasting inheritance ; “and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but this we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” So true it is, that “the humble shall be exalted.’’ Such is the name of Jesus in these departments of one’s religious ex perience. But the Christian’s'; experience in cludes more than a sense of pardoned sin, of peace with God and the hope of Heaven. It includes supreme love to God, a sincere desire to do his will, to glorify his name, and to enjoy his presence. But to exercise these holy affections, he feels that he needs help. He is weak, he is frail; his surroundings are unfavorable, so that, when he would do good evil is present with him. lie needs to be “strengthened by might in the inner man.” He discovers, as ho never felt it before, the value of prayer and his need of it. He may have learned to pray at his mother’s knee, but it was only a form of words. It was not till the Holy Spirit bad con. vinped him of his guilt and condem nation, that he really began to pray. I «jrns then tyjwtthp n o-. of Jesus stands to the Christian’s ex perience in the matter of prayer: Jesus said to his disciples: “What soever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you, * * * * for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me.” Again, we read in Hebrews: “Seeing then, that we have a groat High Priest, that is passed into the Heavens Jesus tho Son of God, let us hold fast our profession, * * * £ e t us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” These words of scripture utter no uncertain sound. They telj us plainly that it is the name of Jes us, by virtue of his High Priesthood, that gives efficacy to human prayer, is precious.” It is in harmony with the script ures above quoted, and others that might be quoted, that the phrase “for Jesus’ sake,” is so often repeat’ ed in Christian prayer. The Chris tian knows the precious name. See how it works: The Father loves the Son with infinite love; therefore, upon the principle of transferred af fection, he loves even the sinner, who seeks hits mercy in the name of Jesus. When therefore you go to the throne of grace, “Take the name of Jesus with you, in full assurance of faith,” then your prayer shall not be lost. But the name of Jesus has a reflex influence. While it moves the Al mighty to open for us the fountains of his grace, it is, at the same time, the sublime and holy motive which impels the true believer to bis great est efforts for the glory of God and for the good of man. This motive should be kept constantly in view in every step of our Christian endeavor. Jesus has come very close to us. He took upon himself our nature; and in that nature, through his vicarious sufferings, he hath achieved our re demption, that he might bring ns to God. Therefore “we love him be cause he first loved us.” Hence, “the love of Christ constrained! us, * * * * to live not for ourselves, but lor him who died for us and rose again.” bo that, what ever we do for the glory of God, we truly do for tho sake of Jesus. Again, so close is the union of Jesus with the Father, in the mystery of his divine nature, that he and the Father are one; so that, whatsoever wo do for Jesus sake, we truly do for the glory Brother Minister, Working Layman, HnH Zealous Shw|||| We are striving to make Tlie the best of its kind. Help us by securing new subscriber. f VOL. 70—NO. 5. of God. And this accords with the ’ divine will; for Jesus himself tell ß us, that “we should honor the Son’ even as we boner the Father.” Now we often ask our Father in Heaven to do us good, for Jesus sake. Should we not work by the same rule ? What are we doing, for Jesus sake, to glorify the Father? Here is the mighty motive that should dominate every Christian heart. When ever this motive ex erts its legitimate power, we find the most perfect examples of the true Christian character. Its first effect is upon the private life of the be liever. It enables him to hunger and thirst after righteousness, to crucify the llesh with its affections and lusts, and to seek after holiness, whose end is everlasting life. For Jesus sake, the Apostles labor ed, for his sake the martyrs died, and for his sake, heroic men and women have gone through all the nations of the globe to give them the Gospel of salvation. And to-day the name of Jesus is still the hope, and the only hope of the world. 73 Wheat Street, Atlanta, Ga. THE SPIRIT OF OHRISTANITY SUPERIOR TO FORMS. Christian Worship, as presented in the Now Testament, is remarkable iu many respects. Its wonderful plainness, simplicity and beauty, is abundant and conclusive Boos of its divine origin. Itis stripped of that display and colored ostentation, which mark human productions and recitations. Unlike human tradi tions and human creeds, it needs no flowery inscriptions nor striking sym. bolisms to locate its origin, make its pathway or demonstrate its power. Yo shall no longer worship in Jeru salem, but in spirit and truth” was the command of the Anointed Ono; and the wisdom and glory of this command, has been proven on every field of conquest, where the Christian religion has boon planted for more than eighteen hundred years; and will, no doubt, be the crowning gk> ry of the . < aster’s reign til the cud of time. “Written not on tables of stone, but on the flesnly tables of the heart, seen and read of all men,” is the watchword, and tho secret of success and power of the gospel of the son of God, in all the ages, and in all nations of the earth. The great lodges of brotherhood> throughout the world, must have t'their secret sessions, their mysteri ous symbols, their appointed grips “their friendly tokens and their com* plicated robes and paraphernalia;” Custom and tradition say all these are valuable in binding men of sim ilar brotherhood closer to each other as wßll as to gain the attention of the uninitiated. In striking and beautiful contrast with all these symbols and ceremo nies, is the simple and sublime wor ship of God as it is seen in most of our churches on each Sabbath day. The doors stand wide open and invi ting. “There is no darkened cham ber or secret department, where the lowest are excluded or the greatest promoted.” But one Sanctum- sanc torum” where earnest souls brought under the dominion and power of God’s Holy Spirit, without any mark or badge of distinction, except their good works and hallowed influence bow humbly in the presence and sun light of the one Triune God, pay their heartfelt vows in Spirit and not in form to the one High Priest of their profession. Every heartfelt emotion in such worship, has its plain, simple and natural meaning— all parade of every kind is here out of place. Every attempt to change the wor ship of the Christian religion, as giv en to us by the Divine Master, has but dwarfed and weakened its pow er. Every attempt to mold it into forms or carve it on column, or write it on material domes and pavilions, has cheated the sculptor and deceiv ed tho worshipers. Its proudest victories and grandest achievements, have been predicated upon God’s unchangeable deorce “I will put my law iu their hearts and in their minds will I write my precepts.” “The preparation of tho heart, and the an swer of the tongue,” can never be measured in feet or recorded in gold; They are both the gifts of God's DL vine Spirit, and are held, alone, in his omnipotent hand. “In Christ Je sus, neither circumcision or uncir cuiucision availeth anything, but a | (Continued on third paged)