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Many good and strony things were saia m lx. - ballot MISSIONS During the Session of the Southern Baptist Convention. Subscribe to and read the Christian Index, if you would keep informed. ESTABLISHED 1821. ®he (Chi'itian Imlx **> . . . ■ . r- "■ Published Every Thursday at 5* South Broad Street, Atlanta, Ga. J. C. McMICHAEL, Proprietor. Organ of the Baptist Denomination 1 Georgia. Subscription Price : Ono copy, one year-. S 2.00 Ono copy, six months. Obituaries.—One hundred words free of charce. For each extra word, one cent per word, cash with copy. . To Correspondents.—Do not use abrevia tions; be extra careful in writingproper names; write with ink. on one side of paper; Do not write copy intended for the editor and busi ness items on same sheet. Leave off personal ities; condense. _ Business. —Write nil names, and post offices distinctly. In ordering a change give the old as well as the new address. Ihe date of label indicates the time your subscription expires. If you do not wish it continued, order it stop ped a week before. 11 e consider each sub scriber permanent, until ho orders Ins paper discontinued. When you order it stopped pay up to date. , , , , Remittances by check preferred ; or regis tered letter, money order, postal note. A “what” without a “why” is tha fool’s “what,” There is always a reason for the belief or tho hope of the wise. The “Illustrated American” calls the Duke of Argyll “the dreariest proser of the century.” His “Reign of Law” and his/Unity of Nature” are books which tho century can yawu over only to its own discredit. To find these dreary would be to confess ourselves dull. It is not for the sake of the tares that they arc not gathered up aud bound in bundles and burned: it is for the sake of the wheat, lest the wheat also should bo rooted up with the them. Much sparing mercy toward the wicked is, at its core and centre, helping the godly. The lowa State Grange has petitioned Congress to pass a law compelling man ufacturers of oleomargarine, butterine, and other similar compounds, to color their manufactures pink, They fail to explain why the color should bo pink rather than buff or brown or blue, but perhaps they know their own business best, snd have some substantial reason for their preference in color. When Moses and Jethro met, it was with few words that “they asked each other of their welfare;” the chief conver. sation between them was religious. Tho one “told all that tho Lord had done;” the other blessed the name of the Lord and offered sacrifices to Him. (Ex. 18:9- 12.) And should not religion be the most prominent and most frequent theme in the intercourse of believer with be* lie ver ? A Cincinnaitti poet lias rhymed “bon mots” with “Dr. Watts.” This is proba bly an imitation of some of the Doctor's hymns.—Augusta, Ga., Chronicle. Which of the hymns, pray ? Examples would bo quite in order here. Tho Doc tor’s hymns from first to last contain not a single rhyme of crass ignorance, such as tho Cincinnati poet’s manifestly was. The Chronicle’s “bon mot” this time is a failure; its word is too bad in departure from truth to do good in the sphere of wit. Bishop Becher, of Savannah, Ga., in a receut sermon, said that "the drunkard js a beast,” and immediately added: “I beg the beast’s pardon, he is more than a beast.” This has a very familiar sound about it, and we hardly suppose that th 0 Bishop would care to claim it as of his own coinage. Os course, a beast by di vine creation is less abhorrent than a beast by human self-permission; for only jn the latter case is there sin,—free-will enslaving itself to the bondage of pas sion, darkening reason, searing con science, and petrifying sensibility. Men of old might bring free-will offer ings to the Lord; but even these were subject to limitations and regulated by law. They must bring of the herd or of the flock; not swine, oridogs, or boasts of prey, but the bullock, the sheep, or the goat, (Lev. 1:2:) What was useful to himself and good for food—that must he bring; bring what he prized, bring what he needed. It must cost him some thing; giving must be giving up. Is not this still the divine rule of judgment as to what we lay on the altar? How will heaven view a Centennial Fund, gotten up without a sense of sacrifice and a surrender of things wo would like to have nnd from earthly points of view ought to have? Mayor George E. Huguley, of Barnes* ville, makes an executive worthy to pre side over the affairs of any city. He be* Hevea in executing tlie law, and practiceg what he believes. When elected to tho office of Mayor of Barnesville, there wore parties running “blind tigers.’’ He in augurated methods for detecting tho par ties engaging iu violation of law. They were convicted and ho laid a penalty of a thousand dollars. No one can doubt tho result when the law is thus executed. He has demonstrated that if prohibition doos not prohibit—executing the law does prohibit. We could specify other features of importance in connection with Mayor Huguley's administration, but we only Intended to show that tho tiling most needed to prevent crime is not more legislation, but prompt and rigid execution of the laws wo now have. This Mayor Huguley has done and Barnesville is what her citizens have voted her to be several times—a dry town. A series of oppressive laws have been enacted in Russia against the Jews. Be ginning iu May 1882, they are now more than two hundred iu number aud are fljristian Jiiijr?. constantly increasing. Oh the frightful fecundity of evil human passions! They aro never so evil, never so unblushiugly and inventively evil, as when they appro priate to themselves the sanctions of re ligion and of law. Let us watch n arrow ly that neither law nor religion is pervert* ed into a shelter for anything of ovi] within us; for then how shall that evil bo detected and overcome and cast out? We have done what we could to make it immortal against even our own efforts to slay it; and no one can tell us before-hand into what diversities of wrong thoughts, wrong feelings and wiong deeds it may not develop to deteriorate the character and to darken tho life. Havana, Cuba.—As you request I have the pleasure to send you a report on tho Anniversary meeting of the ‘First Baptist church of thi 8 place. In the morning of the 25th iust. the American excursion entered Havana harbor on board the “Mas cotte,” and after shaking hands with many of our Baptist people they were comfortably located at the “Roma” and “Pasage” hotels. On the evening, though it was rainy and muddy, some of the brethren visited my prayer-meeting in the “Pilar.” Dr. Jones addressed them congratu lating the members for their faith and consecration. Dr. Sherrill of Atlanta pronounced also some words on tho same subject and Bro. Gover nor Northen of Georgia was intro duced and greeeted by every mem ber. On the night of the 26th tho ex cursionists attended Bro. Diaz’s pray er-meeting where some of them pray ed and made short addresses. Ou the night of the 28th there was an extra-ordinary meeting at Rev. O’Halleran’s mission and it was visited by a party of the Brethren. At 12 o’clock on last Sunday the 29th the building recently acquired in this city was very well attended by many American residents, among whom was Consul General Williams of the United States, the excursion ists and many of the Cuban Baptists. After some words of congratulation by Dr. I. T. Tichenor, who presided tho services, some hyrtms and Bible reading, Dr. Montgomery of Brook, lin tlie man who baptized Bro.Diaz,oc cupied the platform and made a long address on the subject of Diaz’s bap tism and dedication to the ministry of the Gospel and missionary sue* cess. After him Dr. J. Wm. Jones of the Home Board pronounced an im pressive speech on the occasion, fu ture hopes and outlooks of this mis sionary field. He was heard with great pleasure. Dr. Geo. W. Lasher,of Cincinnati, editor of the “Journal t and Mes senger,” read the fourth chapter of Zachariah emphasizing the sixth verse : “Not by might, nor by pow er, but .by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” He was engifted with po wer from above as he was describing the ways of God’s Spirit with men and people. He was moving and interesting in every respect. Gov. W. J. Northen, of Georgia had the floor after him and made us hear very happy and encouraging words. He was particularly fortu nate in the illustrations he put to his sayings, and was heard both at tentively and interestingly. After that Dr. Tichenor introduc ed to tho American congregation Rev. A. J. Diaz of Havana, the pas tor of the Church and pronounced some moving words about his trials and consecrations. Benediction by Bro. F. 11. Stout of Alabama. At half past seven in the night took place the Cuban service which was. of course in Spanish. Rev. A- J. niaz presided and there was an attendance of about 2,000 personal composed of Bro. Diaz’ members, some commissions of the other churches and visitors. After singing and devotional exercises, every mis sionary and helper iu this place made short addresses on tho occasion. A young lady of Brooklyn sang a nice solo during five minutes and Dr. A. F. Sherrill of Atlanta, addressed the audience congratulating our Bap tist people, praising their conversion and encouraging them for the fu ture. The meeting closed by tho bap tism of a candidate by Bro. Diaz and a shaking of bands between tho Cuban workers and American visi tors. It was half-past ton in the night. On tho next day many of the ex cursionists left Havana, and were ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 1 fi, 1893. greeted and saluted with great en thusiasm by a large deputation of our churches who on board a little steamer escorted them sometime dur ing the starting of the “Mascotte,” waving their hats and handkerchiefs, singing some hyrims and sending tender adieus to those who were to cross the deep after having been so short time with us. Yours affectionately, J. V. Cova. January 31, 1891. THE TREE OF LIFE. BY S. G. HILLYER. “To him that ovcrcometh, will I give to eat of the tree of life which stands in tho midst of tho Paradise of God.” Rev. 2 : Having given, in a previous paper, a brief account of the Christian’s lifo time struggle with tho powers of darkness, I now propose to consider the first promise to the victor, —the one sent to tho church at Ephesus. It is in the words above quoted. Notice, the promise is limited to him that ovcrcometh. Notice agaiu, tho central object in the promise is, THE TREE OF LIFE. There was a tree of life in Adam’s garden. And it was a wonderful tree. Its fruit could give to those who fed upon it, perpetual life. The record shows, that God intended Adam and Evo should live as long as they should continue innocent. And it is reasonable to suppose that he intended that Adam’s descendants should live as long as they continued innocent. But the human organism, in common with all other animals 1 was subject to waste, decay, and death. Now it was to counteract this tendency of man’s physical nature to waste and to die, that the tree of life was placed within his reach. It was a literal tree, whose fruit possessed all healing power. The story of this literal tree of life, in the garden of Eden, as given by Moses, is, not only, not contradict ed by science; but it is strikingly corroborated by it. It is a well known facl that there are many essences, scattered through out the mineral and vegetable kingdoms, that do possess most valuable healing properties. None but God himself could have provided these sanatary essences. To search for them, to study their virtues, and to apply them for the relief of suffering hu. inanity, has been the function, for centuries, of the medical profession. In this great work, our physicians have been guided by tho light of science. In their hands, these reme dies have been effective to relievo pain, to heal diseases, and to prolong life. Note the fact, that our physi cians are still learning. They are not yet satisfied with their present “materia medica,” vast and effective as it is. They have won a thousand victories in their struggles with human maladies, but they are not content, —they are pressing on, hop ing for other triumphs which shall eclipse all past achievements. In view of the above facts, even the dream of the old Alchemist did not deserve tho ridicule which was heaped upon it. He was far more scientific than those who laughed at him. He bad found many remedial agents, which varied, by many de grees, in their efliciency. Was it not natural that he should still look for others? And might he not hope to find some far more effective than any yet discovered? Science would certainly justify both his search and his hope. If so, can we blame him for thinking that there might be hidden away, some where in the secret chambers of nature, a drug that would effectually heal all human maladies? Therefore, was not the thought of a universal panacea reas onable, as well as attractive ? True, the alchemist did not find “tho elixir of life.” Ho failed, however, not be cause his thought was unscientific. The thing which he sought, or what was equivolent to it, did once exist- There was a tree, in tho paradise of Eden, whose fruit yielded an essence that was indeed a veritable panacea. That tree was designed to give to man a perpetual life, as long as ho continued innocent. And it was therefore called “the tree of life.” But it c.imo to pass that man sinned, and incurred the sentence of death. Accordingly, ho was driven away from tho tree of lifo, —“lost he should eat thereof and live forever.” And as God had no further use for it, he suffered it to pass away; so that, there might remain on earth, no means whereby man could escape the curse: “dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.” And be cause it had ceased to exist, the al. chemist could not find it, neither have our more enlightened scientists discovered it. But while that literal tree failed to accomplish the primary purpose for which it was designed, yet it did not lose its significance. It was an object lesson that taught the possi bility of man’s immortality. By its instrumentality, God himself stamped tho thought upon the human mind, and it has never been effaced. On the contrary—“A pleasing hope, a fond desire, A longing after immortality,” has ever exercised tho human mind. Whence come these emotions ? Addison says: “’Tis the Divinity that stirs within us ’Tis Heaven itself that points out a hereafter And intimates eternity to mini.” But God works by means. Is it therefore too much to say, that he used the tree of lifo to give to man the hope of immortality ? The mem ory of the tree may have been lost, among the nations, by the lapse of time; but the thought which it in spired has never been forgotten. But that tree was more than an object lesson ; it was also a type of another “Tree of Life” which stands in no earthly garden, but “in the midst of the Paradise of God.” This is the tree refered to in the text, at the head of this' article. It is not, however, a literal tree. “The Tree of Life” in the text is a metaphor, and stands for Jesus. He, then, is the great anti-type of the tree which stood in Adam’s garden. It is well to call him “The Tree of Life,” for he far transcends in healing power, his ancient type. That could per petuate only the life of the body; but Jesus can quicken even the dead soul into new life aud perpetuate it forever. He is the giver, and also the sustainer of. life. The idea of feeding upon Jests is presented often in the Scripture- , lie, himself, says: ‘ I am the b.'ftlu trhicli comoth down from heaven, whereof, if a man eat he shall never die.” Again he says : “Except ye eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man, ye have no life in you.” He is therefore the aliment upon which, the soul, called into spiritual life by his voice, shall subsist. He is therefore most ap. propriately called “The Tree of Life.” Now the promise is: “He that ovcrcometh shall eat of the tree of life; that is, he shall feed on Jesus- When shall this promise bo ful filled? Many, perhaps, would say, when we reach heaven. Well, it may have a more signal fulfillment in the world to come, than in tlie present life; but its fulfillment certainly begins here on earth. Notice the phrase, ‘‘to him that ovcrcometh” is in the present tense. It means that the great battle of the saint with his spiritual foes is now going on. For a more full discussion of this spirit ual conflict, I must refer the reader to a previous paper,—(Jan. 26,1893, Bth page). It is enough to say just here; in that conflict the saint must every day win a victory or sustain a defeat. There are no drawn battles in the spiritual warfare. And he that cvercometh is entitled, by tho promise, “to eat of the tree of life,” —to feed on Christ. And he certainly needs that heavenly food now, that his spiritual life may be sustained, and bis spiritual strength renewed, and prepared for other trials yet to come. It was once said, it my memory is not at fault, of a distinguished Gen eral of Frederick tho Great, that he was never more cautious than after a victory. Some aro often ho elated with victory, that they become self confident and careless; aud hence' in the next conflict, may fail. Some thing like this may happen to tho saint. Ills victories may make him too confident. In his boastful spirit he may neglect the tree of lifo, oven when it is his privilege to eat there of. Hence ho may bo put to the worse before his enemies. Ho may fall like Peter. But lot him not de spair. Let him go out, like Peter, and weep in penitential sorrow over his fault, and throw himself at Jesus’ feet who will receive and forgive him. And then his very fall will qualify him, when restored, all the better “to comfort his brethren.” His right to tho tree of lifo shall be restored to him, and he will continue to feed on Jesus. And by and by, he, with all others w’lio keep his commandments, shall “have right to tho Tree of Life,” forever. One more thought. To my mind it is a most interesting fact: That wo find a tree of lifo very near tho beginning of Genesis, and another tree of lifo very near the end of Revelation; and these two trees so related that the first is evidently typical of the second, while tho sec ond fulfils, on a scale of transcendent grandeur, the significance of tho first. Again, between these two, lies almost the entire Bible, —a book which treats of matters of interest, reaching from the dawn of creation l o the end of time, written by many authors, in different localities, in dif ferent tongues, and at different dates sometimes separated by centuries through an entire period of fifteen hundred years. Aud yet, this book is distinguished by the unity of its subject, and the unity of its design. Its subject is God and his relations to mankind. Its design is to de velop a system of religion adapted to tho moral wants of every human being;—a religion that unfolds to us a scheme of salvation, by tho Son of God, whose central thought is eter nal life for every one who will ac cept it. This thought was suggested by the tree which Adam lost, but confirmed to us by that other tree which stands in the Paradiso of God. Such is the Bible. In view of all the facts above stated, it could not have been the production of mere human invention. It is a standing miracle. We can account for it only upon the hypothesis that its ultimate and responsible Author, W’as the Holy Spirit of the Living God. 73 Wheat St., Atlanta. AMONG THE RICHMOND BAPTISTS- I took occasion immediately after the Florida Baptist Convention to visit my two children who are in school in the historic city on the James. Leaving Florida Tuesday afternoon, Jan. lOtli, my arrival in Richmond Thursday morning was coincident with one of the severest snow-storms that has occurred there in many years. I felt considerable uneasiness at first, not knowing what effect the cold would have, but as the days went by and no incon venience resulted, I had a fresh and striking proof of the remedial value of Florida sun-shine. I stood the cold oven to 10 degrees below zero like a thoroughly well man. It had been some twenty years since I left Richmond college and since that time I had had only one or two hur ried glimpses of the dear old city where my whole lifo had been so completely changed from what it was when I first came to it fresh from the mountains six years before. I low things have changed! Tho rollicking, light-hearted boys I work ed with are sedate, gray-haired men, heads of families, bearing their share in the multiform work of tho city and the public burdens of the state Tho old are descending with whitening locks the further side of life. Many are no more of earth. The city has made steady and health ful progress in material growth and prosperity. Electric cars now run where twenty-five years ago the boys used to hunt hares, and the commons on which cows were graz ed are filled with blocks of elegant residences, or, with parks and churches. Richmond is a city of churches. There are 20,000 Bap tists in tho city, as many as we have in the whole state of Florida, and among them are many of the fore most people in tho city. Tho influ ence of this army of noble meu and women is felt in every part of Vir ginia. Every Baptist enterprise in tho state finds ready sympathy and material help in Richmond. If a now church is to bo built anywhere in the Old Dominion and outside aid is really needed, there are generous men and women in Richmond who reach out a helping hand. Os course they aro wide awake to the needs of their own city. Tho Baptist ministers’ conference which meets every monday morning is most helpful and stimulating. It serves to promote tho esprit du corps of tho Richmond Baptists and to keep tho churches in touch with each other. It affords a ready and efli. cient means of bringing before them any matter concerning which con" cert of action is desired. These ministers, some of whom I have known and loved for many years, impressed me as a strong and zeal ous band of men. Their mutual coun sel and advice and suggestions must be exceedingly beneficial. The oldest pastor among them is Rev. J. B. Hudson, whose remarka ble success at Pine street is a shin ing illustration of tho adaption of pastor and people to each other, ne cessary to conspicuous usefulness, lie commenced bis pastorate in the fall of 1872. A young man, then a student in a Richmond college, had spent most of his vacation preaching for the Pine street people, and the new pastor commenced with a series of special services which ran through several weeks and during which there was a great revival, resulting in more than a hundred accessions. Pastor Hudson now has one of the largest churches in the city. He is a brother to the celebrated Virginia evangelist. The next longest pastorate is that of Dr. Hatcher, of Grace Street church. How he manages to cram the vast amount of work he does in a year into 365 days no one knows but himself. He writes books, news paper articles, sketches of news, per sonal notes, keeps up a large and varied correspondence, lectures, de livers special sermons in many places, aids in protracted meetings and still maintains his hold on his great and growing church and seems happy and prosperous in spite of in creasing years. Dr. Landrum whom Georgia lent to Virginia somewhat more than ten years ago, has done a great work in the second church. He has been wrestling with the problem of mov ing up town, but apparently the time for that move is not yet come. His congregations are large and appre ciative, and he has as noble a band of co-laborers as a man need to wish for in this world. The old First church has been | profoundly moved by the death of their former pastor, the loved and venerated Dr. J. L. Burrows. Twen. ty-five years ago Dr. Burrows was at the zenith of his power, and his nfluence was felt throughout Virgi. nia. I place on record here my sense of personal obligation to his unvarying kindness aud sympathy I went to him while a student in Richmond college as to a father. Dr Cooper is leading “the mother church” in every good work. The newest pastor in Richmond is Dr. Hiden, though he was by no means a stranger to the Richmond people when he accepted the Grove Avenue pastorate. His new church is one of the best appointed places of worship in the city, and he is throwing himself into his Work with great energy. His people listen as if they were trained to expect some hing worth hearing. The Clay Street people have hard ly forgiven the Anniston saints for taking away their pastor, the devout and genial Clopton, but they aro going ahead with their work and praying for a leader of the Lord’s own choosing. They have a beau tiful lot on West Grace street on which they will soon begin to build a handsome new church. They de serve the best, and under wise lead ership this church has a great future. It is fortunate in having some of the finest young men and women in Richmond in its membership, and in being compact and harmonious. Leigh Street Church has just been afflicted in the death of one of its oldest and most prominent members, Hon. Miles Turpin, city auditor, a man whom all Richmond delighted to honor. I heard excellent accounts of the work of Pastor Wright whom Richmond has borrowed from Ral eigh. There aro several flourishing young churches in and around tho city which show that tho Baptists of Rich mond are not sleeping on their op portunities. Venable Street has a fine congregation and a good house and I was told they had their eye on a well-known Virginia pastor. In Manchester Thornhill is leading the Baptist hosts with tact aud ability. Time fails me to toll of the work of Hines and Jolly and Williams and Whitfield and Kirk and the rest. The Baptist colleges of Richmond aro its pride and boast. That for girls and young women, tho Rich- Brother Minister, Working Layman, Zealous Sister We are striving to make "Tlie Index the best of its kind. Help us by securing a new subscriber. VOL. 70-NO. 7 mond Female Institute, under the able leadership of Dr. Jas. Nelson, is renewing its youth. Dr. Nelson i s gathering about him a faculty of ex. ceptional ability, and the incidental advantages of Richmond are unsur passed in this country. His manage ment of the Institute impressed me as uncommonly good. It is like a big family of girls—bright, charming ambitious to make the most of their opportunities, and to be useful in tho world. No man in Virginia is doing a greater or more blessed work for the Baptists of that state than Dr. Nelson. His school needs a mil lion dollars of endowment and an other building and newer appliances, and with these it ought to become the Vassar of the south. No doubt the trustees would gladly give it the name of a benefactor who would provide these great things for it. Richmond College has long stood in the very foremost rank of south ern institutions of learning. In some lines, at least, it is doubtful if any better training can be had in this country than is to be obtained here. It has had a hard struggle, and its professors have been poorly paid, but it now has a splendid property, and with some needed additions to its apparatus its outlook for growing usefulness is most hopeful. These schools ought to draw a large pat ronage from all over the south. The climate of Richmond is healthful her people are intelligent and refined the moral tone of the City is uncom monly high, and simply to live in Richmond and mingle freely with her best people for five years, during the formative period in one’s life, is almost of itself a liberal education. In all the progress of the Baptists of Richmond and of Virginia, the Religious Herald has been and still is a mighty factor. The wise, con servative, prudent policy given to that paper in the trying years foliow ing the disaster at Appomattox has given it a stronghold upon the confi dence and affection of the Virginia Baptists. Dr. R. H. Pitt is discov ering the editorial instinct in a marked degree, and the veteran editor, Dr. Dickinson, leans upon his young colleague with implicit confi dence. The Herald was probably never more of a power for good than under its present management. To one whose work is isolated, and to whom the sight of a fellow workman is rare, it seems easy to do great things in a field where enthus iasm of numbers is constant, and where fraternal help and sympathy may be had any day. And yet we all are laborers together with God in the accomplishment of his pur poses of grace to men. S. M. Provence. Monticello, Fla., Jan. 31st, 1893. An Aiostolic Work.—There has recently developed iu Newark, N. J., a Christian work which has impressed those w’lio have become acquainted with it as being striking ly apostolic in character. The work began last summer in tent meetings held in tho midst of the German pop ulation of the city, conducted by Rev. D. von Barchwitz, at that time an immersed Methodist minister The meetings were attended by very large congregations,numbering some times over fifteen hundred. Over two hundred professed conversion. Anumbcr of these desired baptism by immersion. The result was that th® evangelist and a number of tho eon verts became members of the South Baptist church. In October an old hat-factory was secured and fitted up, and the meetiugs have continued almost every night since. Forty five altogether have been baptized, and the work has grown steadily un til there is now a well organized church, with almost every form of Christian work in active operation. Kindergarten,day-nursory, deaconess work among the siok and needy, are among the various means used to bring the gospel of God’s lovo to a needy people. There aro five or six missionaries and workers who in simple faith to God, look to him to supply their needs. These workers orm a family in one house which they call the mission house. Meridian, Miss., has donated |SO~ 000, and 20 acres of land to secure the college whioh tho Cumberland Presbyterians propose to build iu that State.