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Many good and strong things were said In be
half of
MISSIONS
During the Session of tho
Southern Baptist Convention.
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if you would keep informed.
ESTABLISHED 1821.
©fte (jHxristutn Index
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FROM OUR NORTH CHINA MISSION.
A suggestion, in a recent letter
from a friend at home, has moved
me to make something of a study of
the character and life of a number
of our native Christians in this field
Sketches of some of them may be
interesting to the readers of the
Index.
This time I will make Sister Chin
Ta Sao the subject:
Mrs. Chin lives in tho village of
Tao-to, about twenty miles south
east of Tung Chow. Herself, her
husband and one son, compose the
family. They are not rich, but have
enough to give them a comfortable
living.
It was in 1877, the year of the
great famine, that Mrs. Chin first
saw foreigners and became acquaint
ed with the religion of Jesus Christ.
In that year she came to Tung Chow
to see about some law-suit she had
on hand, and there met Mrs. Craw
ford. The city was filled with fam
ine refugees who were pulling every
string which gave the least promise
of leading to money; and this wo
man, poorly dressed and rough in ap
pearance, only seemed to be one of
the crowd. Though little attention
was paid to her, more than to others
she would come day after day and
from morning till evening would sit
and listen to the talk, or study over
the few lines she had learned to read.
She remained in the city for about
two months, at her own expense, for
no other purpose than to “learn this
new doctrine.”
Next year she applied for baptism;
but it was still feared she might not
be moved by the right motive. Mrs.
Holmes, however, took her for two or
three months, into her girl’s school
which was then operating: Here
she studied with avidity by day and
by night, so that before leaving, she
had finished the reading of the Gos
pels. Later in the year Mrs. Craw
ford and Mrs. Holmes visited her
home at Tao-to, and there saw
what filled them with joy. All
idolatry had been swept clean from
the house and she was teaching her
husband and family the truths she
had learned at Tung Chow. The
next year she was received into the
Tung Chow church and baptized.
Her husband was afterwards bap
tized ; but her son does not yet pro
fess to trust Jesus. They daily have
family prayers; the New Testament
they study without tiring; they love
to sing tho hymns they have been
taught. They have suffered much
bitter persecutions, and to-day are
disenfranchised by their village. But
this father and mother have a faith
in God which is stronger than tho
powers of earth.
Mrs. Chin has naturally a religious
nature. She bad been a devotee,
and when she came to Tung Chow
that time, was one of a society whose
members were seeking to make them
-Belves better. She was prepared
aforetime by the Holy Spirit, so that
upon hearing the Gospel it was at
once believed.
Now she is so full of joy in her
faith in the Sryiour, that she is talk
ing about it all the while. No one
can talk with her for five minutes
without hearing about it. Neither
is she content with telling those
whom she happens to meet, for she
makes regular preaching trips; visit
ing the homes of her friends and ac
quaintances in various villages; and
telling out what is in her heart of
the old, old story. Friends of an
other denomination have asked:
•‘Why don’t you engage her as a Bi
ble woman ? ” And the reply was
made, “What more could she do than
lljc (L'ljristiaii Slndcr.
she is doing now r ujuv j
offered money by another denomina-1
tion to enter into their service ; but |
her reply is, that she doesn’t want
money for doing the Lord’s service.
She does not content herself with
preaching to the heathen, but also
exhorts Christians to follow her ex
ample. She is doing a work of scat
tering seed. Her life is manifesting
the life of Christ all about her, and
is an inspiration to the missionary.
Her husband is not so earnest as she,
but he does much preaching.
I have tried to tell this story just
as it is, without giving it the least
coloring beyond what truth gives it.
Does it not preach its own sermon ?
Shall we stop to count our dollars
and cents, or even to consider our
lives, when, spent, they may help to
give to the world, such Christians as
this ?
At another time I will tell about
Mrs. Wong, a rich sister of the vil
lage of Buhgo. Wm. D. King.
Hwanghien, China, (P. O. Chefoo).
Jan. 2, 1893.
For the Index.
OHUROH WORK AND LIFE IN
CALIFORNIA-
California is peculiar in one res.
pect at least—it has a Cosmopolitan
population. There are people in
this state and its cities from every
nationality “under the sun-” There
is no state like it in the Union and
probably no where else. We have
the blue-eyed German, the suave
mannered Frenchman, tho Polander
with is frozen mein, the Englishman
with his cockney airs, small cap and
large pipe, the- Spaniard with his
smooth speech, an occasional Irish
man with his florid face and witty
tongue, the keen-sighted Yankee and
full of conceit, the pecular Canadian
with his few friends—others requir
ed to knock before coming in, the
Jew with his shrewd dealing, the
Chinaman with his “pig-tail” and his
mysterious habits, the Jap with his
desire to dress and look like the
'American, the Greasers with their
thriftless customs, the Mexicans ask
ing “for little hero below nor want
ing that little long,” the Red Man
unimproved in looks and habits—
they are all here with many other
representatives which space will not
permit me to mention.
Every political faith has its fol.
lowers in the “Golden State.” Dem
ocrats, Republicans, Populists, Pro
hibitionists,Know-nothingists,Know-
everythingists,Anarachists,Dommun-
ists, Nihilists, Mugwumps and a
modification of any and all of these
together. “You pays your price'
and takes your choice.”
Socially this State is as great a
medley as politically. We have “Up
per Tendom” and the “submerged
tenth,” the Aristocratic and the ple
beian, the miser and the spendthrift 1
the sober man and the drunkard, the
benevolent and the stingy, the Eng
lish Society and Club and the Amer
ican, the black, brown, yellow, red
and white with modifications of all
of these colors. The Yankees run
together, the Canadians seek their
countrymen, the English hunt for
their fellows and the Chinaman
choose Chinamen for their associa
tes. You will find different grades
of these classes. The pecular char
acter of the Californian, sooner or
later, rather sooner, is his great self
ishness. This is a social character
istic that is very noticable. He is
very particular to say in words and
actions to you “I am living for my
self and hope yon are doing tho same
and that you are enjoying the same
state of health.”
The reader may bo able to infer
what church work and life would be
in a country with these people with
their pecular habits,customs,thoughts
opinions and characteristics. One
may doubtless suspect that there
would be a variety of religious opin
ions under such circumstances. The
Mormon is hero with his Josophite
doctrine and one wife whatever his
belief may be concerning more. Tho
Theosphist is hovering in our midst
his Karma and belief in the pro-exis
tence, if not in the transmigration of
the soul. The Spiritualist is herewith
his “Punch and Jundy” show in tip
ping tables and upsetting chairs, with
sheeting for celestial robes and sep
ulchral voices. The Koreshite finds
also a place for his free-love tenden
cy and his absurd heaven. Harris'
Ideal Republic, which is a real hum
bug, is located in the central part of
ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY. MARCH 9,1893.
the State. The communist who
wants an equal distribution of prop
erty because he has none pleads in
our midst a religious reason found
in the Acts of the Apostles.
As church organizations we have
the shouting Methodist, the intellec
tual Presbyterian, the conservative
Congregationalist the water-saving
Disciple, the mystical Swedenbor
gian, the mixt-up Unitarian, the
elastic Universalist, the bowing bead
counting Roman Catholic, and last
but not least, the truth loving Bap
tist—that is what it should bo at
least.
Can the reader imagine what
church life and work would be in
the midst of these various religious
beliefsand denominational teachings?
It might be well for me to describe
the present religious condition among
the churches generally and of the
Baptists particularly. Church mem
bers come into this state to live and
defer bringing their letter from time
to time. Some who have been ac
tive members elsewhere seem to
think, at least act, as though they
ought to have a vacation in this
state. Others bring their letters
with them and run around to differ
ent churches, like tramps, to see
where they can find the softest seat
and easest place to feed without a
promise of doing anything toward
aggressive church work. Some fold
their letters, as tho Arab does his
tent, and sneak them away in their
trunk or bureau drawer. Others
promise to send for their letters af
ter they have tried the country, peo
ple and church. Some have been
trying them for years. Os course no
pastor would object to some of these
flatteringpromises from some of these
persons for theywould be worth very
little to the church.
The pastor in this country, as a
general rule, is expected to do most
of the praying, all tho preaching
lead most, if not all, the regular meet
ings, raise money for all purposes, do
the visiting and carry the church in
the main. lie must be a man of
Herculean strength or else his pas
torate will be very short as they
usually are in this state. It is said
the average length of California pas
torates is two and one fourth years.
Hence the preacher is found fre
quently on wheels if not in nettles.
He can sing “I’m a pilgrim, I’m a
stranger, do not detain me” and I
can assure you that the action of the
church is such usually that they say
we wont. These things are true and
applicable to many churches. Not
many pastors can surely feel that
they are thoroughly and heartily
wrapped up in their people. This is
particularly true in this country.
1> is my desire to say a few things
about the Baptists in this state. They
are the fourth or fifth strongest“folk”
among the denominations. They
have had many backsets and much
trouble from bad men and renegade
preachers. But Kallockism has
nearly died out and the men among
us, as a rule, are true to their profes
sion and to their Saviour. The
churches are growing and their is en
couragement all along the line.
There are some difficulties, that are
peculiar to this country that militate
against strong churches and the
Christian life. There are four things
that I will mention and briefly ela
borate.
1. Heterogeneous elements In
one Baptist church you may find
Canadians—who are clannish—and
who have their peculiar ideas of
church government. You may fre
quently hear it said “That is not as
wc did it back home” and when they
are strong enough in numbers they
take the reigns of government in
their hands Then the Yankee from
New England witii his “idea” of the
way they did it back East which
ought to be assurance enough of suc
cess for this country of strange cli
mate and strange people. The
“Land-marker” conics bobbing up se
renely with his “hew to tho line”
policy. Then tho “open communion
Baptist” is found in tho same church.
The pastor has to have at least “one
blind eye and one deaf ear” and
sometimes two if he wants to get
along with such elements in his
church.
No one that has never been here
has an idea of the various and varied
opinions and beliefs that flourish here
in the same church. Some of these
elements may be found in every
shurch. This heterogenous condi
tion must be made homogenous or
the Baptist churches will have trou
ble in the future. I only suggest
theso few things which are only a
sample of the many which are pres
ent in the church work and life in
this state.
2. Loosness in practice. This dif
ficulty covers a large field inasmuch
as it is the result ?f external condi
tions rather than of the internal spir
it. The Methodist comes preaching
and practicing an accommodational
system which is very honoring to the
flesh at least. As' v -a result people
drop in easily and wonder why every
other church is not so liberal.
Men and women are received into
that church of probation if they are
converted or not. Knowing as Ido
some of the workings of this plan of
increasing church membership I can
say it is an innovation and an abom
ination to Christendom as at present
practised in the Methodist church-
So liberal are the Methodists in this
state, and probably everywhere else
in this age, that thoyXvill pour, sprin
kle, immerse and Invite tho uncon
verted to the Lord's table. This
looseness makes a mockery of Scrip
tural teaching and makes the church
a mere club. Anything fiiay bo be
lieved and their motto-,seems to be
“anything for members.” It will be
no surprise if the history of Metho
dism would close with the word
4‘lchabod.”
The Presbyterians who bavo so
often prided themselves on their cul
ture and social standing and strict
theology are relaxing their hold on
these things and are entering to the
people so that they shah not fall so
far behind in members. In order to
hold some of their members they of
fer to immerse them rather than let
them come to tho Baptists. Some
of the members o* that church in
our place go to gtr tugor* who come
here to make thei fc ijti.is and say,
“We are the besbe.’en th?Uuud be
long to the Lnd you
must join with us.” Anything for
members.
The Congregationalists whilst ac
cepting any persons from other
churches are still quite conservative
and some recent developments will,
if possible, make them still more so.
A number of their ministers are
tinctured with Unitarianism and
some members have already gone
over to that free and easy faith and
no faith and others are getting ready
to go. The Disciples who are so
strict on baptism are exceedingly
lax on the communion and they
realize as we do that when they
preach faith in Christ who only can
save and not put so much stress on
baptism which is only representa
tive that there would be no place
for them outside of the Baptist
church.
This looseness of practice in other
churches and these external condi
tions all have influence on the Bap
tist churches and the result no one
can now predict.
Some members of the churches go
about saying we unchristianize them
and people do not see the reasons
for our practice and as a result we
suffer some. The “catch-me-quick”
phrases have an effect on our own
people an cause them in this easy
going climate to relax their grip on
the simple truth and precedent of
tho New Testament. Many in tho
Baptist churches are indifferent as to
the proper action of baptism and if
there were no Baptist church they
would go into any other church with
out any conscientious scruples.
Some Baptist churches have one
half of their membership believing
in “open communion.”
These are only a few things that
will continually lead to looseness in
church practice.
8. Weakness in organization. I
do not refer to the organization of
the church but to the organization
of the forces ol the church. The
people who are members in our
churches do not ask tho pastor for
special work that they may do. And
when the pastor has some work that
they could easily and efficiently do
they will usually suggest brother A.
or sister B. It is so humble to pre
fer another I Tho young people
give great promise of usefulness but
tho body of the church will remain
inert and look at tho toes or one
foot trying to work and wonder why
there is no success. So many church
members got the Californiatious Sab-
baticus, i. e. California Sabbath or
lazy rest. Many get it immediately
after business and work hours on
Saturday—gradually getting it worse
towards morning so that by nine
o’clock they are thoroughly coma
tose or if they do get to the break
fast table they cannot move any
further. They usually get over it
very early on Monday morning. It
is not fatal but it is fateful for persons
who get it several times have their
fate mark on them. Committees
here generally put off until to-mor
row what they ought to do to-day.
Usually deacons don’t have time to
attend to their necessary duties. Un
til the forces in our Baptist churches
are organized and each member feels
that they can do something definite
and must we shall simply drift with
the tide and lose our opportunity o f
taking this state for Christ.
4. Lack of spiritual life and pow
er. This ia probably a universal
lack throughout Christendom but is
especially so on this coast.
The people in this state and par
ticularly in the southern part of it
will in time have a condition of things
that will be peculiarly their own.
The commingling of the people from
different parts of this great country
and from all the nations across the
waters will eventually produce a re
serve and coldness which will prac
tically crush zeal and earnestness.
Jealousies will arise. Intellectual
preaching will bo demanded irres
pective of the heart’s claim. Cold,
critical hearers will fill the pews and
spiritual life and power will be fro
zen out. This tendency is manifest
ed now and this country is only in
its formative condition.
Another condition is prevalent in
our state. Some people that were
consistent church members back
East and elsewhere seem to leave
their religion East or on the Sierra
Nevadas. They somehow become
thoroughly indifferent when tlipy
j»et d< wn in this warm congenial
‘efiniatd. P.talers in' their n|eetiugs
have remarked about this particular
ly. They have felt that backsliders
were nearly as numerous as church
members. It does requite great
spiritual power and life to stem the
influences of these people and the
peculiar conditions which exist here
and the hypocrisy that is so manifest
among many professing Christians.
It will require a Pentecost to keep
the church up to its privilege and
possibilities in this state with these
heterogeneous elements, looseness of
practice, lack of thorough organiza
tion and lack of spiritual power and
life.
The picture is not all dark. There
are strong churches among the Bap
tists and other denominations that are
growing and have the blessing of
God upon them. The first church in
San Francisco has over 600 members
and is pushing forward. The first
church in Oakland has probably 450
members and they are thoroughly
awake. Tho first church of Los An
geles has over 400 members and they
are letting their light shine. The
first church in Riverside has over
400 members and they are pushing
out their lines of work. The first
church of San Diego has nearly 400
members and they are missionary in
spirit. There are a multitude of
other churches which are doing ag
gressive work. There are many things
which I have not oven hinted at
which arc favorable and many other
things are unfavorable to the devel
opment of strong spiritual life and
power in this land of sunshine and
golden glory. Utica.
The Baptists of Georgia are not
second to any body in power and in
fluence for good. Let us continue
this power and even advance it to
greater height than now. One of
tho ways to do this is to increase
the circulation and influence of the
Index. Tho Pacific Baptist says:
There is no other single agency to
which the denomination in any
state owes so much for its growth
and prosperity as tho denomination
al paper.
Ex-Governor John P. St. John
writes the following to a Kansas
newspaper;—“ln the midst of all
that is being published against Jay
Gould, please allow me space to say
that, in 1880, when settlers in
Western Kansas were penniless,and
threatened with starvation, I wrote
to this muchabusod man about it. Ho
promptly sent me iff,ooo, which was
invested in bread and meat for their
relief.”
For the Christian Index.
FROM ST. LOUIS.
Probably the material prosperity
of the city was never so great. Her
population has passed the half mil
lion mark. Tho foundations of a
new million dollar Hotel are being
laid. What will certainly be the
greatest Union Depot in the world,is
now in course of construction and
the cost will reach two millions.
The new water works will cost the
city three millions. And besides,
there are numerous great commer
cial buildings going up, each of which
will involve an out lay of 'hundreds
. of thousands. The city has a cres
ent shaped river front, eighteen miles
in length, and runs back from the
middle point a distance of seven
miles. Evidently there is room in
this vast corporation for the million
souls confidently anticipated in the
near future. Signs of business awak
ening attract even the notice of the
pastors of our Churches. Last Sun
day morning, ten or twelve men, in
a body, came into our Church a trifle
late. After service I learned that
they were merchants from Western
Texas, who had como to St. Louis,
for goods.
We have had something of a relig
ious movement since Jan. Ist, which
has not realized the expectations of
its promoters. Many Churches and
pastors entered into an alliance, for
the month of Jan. Union services
were held in ten districts, into which
the city had been divided. So earn
est were some of our ministers, that
they held two all-night prayer-meet
ings, a thing unknown among them
heretofore. Doubtless, good has been
done, but the revival which was
devoutly sought, has not come, and
there is a feeling of keen disappoint,
ment in many hearts. However, a
few churches have turned their atten
tion from union effort, to their own
special work, and have been blessed.
My own and three other Baptist
yhnrche« be'ong to that number. ;
■ Rev. S. H. Pratt of Springfield ‘Mass.,
has just concluded a four weeks work
in the Third Church. He comes as
near to the ideal evangelist as any
man I ever heard. During the whole
month I had great pleasure, and per
fect satisfaction in his preaching and
in his methods. He has no eagerness
to count converts; no violent meas
ures. His work was just what you
would expect from a strong sensible
consecrated pastor. About one hun
dred and twenty-five persons pro
fessed faith. My Church is toned
and drilled for still greater work in
days to come. The evangelist left
us to-day, to begin work in Albany,
N. Y., with Dr. Elder.
Pastors M. L. Thomas of La Fay
etta Park Church, Anderson of
Grand Avenue, and Mathews of Tay
lor Avenue Church, have each en
joyed a similar season of refreshing
and ingathering. The growth and
prosperity of our cause in this city
is gratifying and encouraging. For
this state of things, no man deserves
so much credit, as iny beloved friend,
and predecessor, Dr. J. P. Greene
now I’res. of William Jewell Col
lege.
During this week, we expect a
convention of Missouri Baptist educa
tors representing all the institutions
of the state. Tho meetings will be
held in pastor Cook’s Church. There
is a feeling among our people, that
our educational interests are in dan
ger from the competition arising from
tho existence of too many schools.
Some wise adjustments, and fraternal
agreements seetn to bo demanded,
and this coming together of the lead
ers is another hopeful sign of denom
ination progress. Missouri is won
derfully free from tho spirit of
division and strife. One of tho most
cheering and reassuring facts in the
State Association, is the evident
deference of brethren for each other,
and readiness to yield without bit
terness to tho views of tho majority.
It seemed to me, that the most
influential of the body, were the
readiest to waive personal preferen
ces. Unless I totally mistake the
signs of the times, the next ten years
will show a marvellous development
of Baptist interests in Missouri. “Tho
Central Baptist,” “The American
Baptist” and “Ford’s Repository”
are all striving to bring in tho latter
day. All the editors are under my
pastorial charge and I am having a
good time. It strikes mo as being a
little strange, that an obscure Geor
gia boy who early learned to honor
Brother Minister,
Working Layman,
Zealous Sister
We are striving to make
The Index
the best of its kind. Help us by securing a
new subscriber.
VOL. 70—NO. 10.
the distinguished Mrs. Sallie Roch.
ester Ford, should actually, one day
became her pastor ■ Dr. Hatcher once
gave me comfort by confessing that
he sometimes felt that he had gone
higher than his talents would war
rant W. R. L. Smith
Feb. 18th, 1893.
THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION.
From the day on which it was first
proclaimed, until the present, the
doctrine of election, or, which is the
same thing, the doctrine of God’s
sovereignty in the bestowment of
his grace, has encountered bitter op
position in the hearts and conduct of
men. Salvation by grace is bane to
will worship, to the innumerable
forms of meritorious working which
characterize apostate religion. Sal
vation by grace characterizes the re.
ligion of our Lord Jesus Christ, dis
tinguishes it and contra-distinguishes
it, and differentiates it from all sys
tems of religion invented by man,
and which are acceptable to the car
nal heart. Salvation by absolute
grace, cuts up man’s boasting, at the
roots, and prostrates him low in the
dust, and, without the intervention
of infinite mercy, helpless and hope
less. Such humiliation is the last
thing which proud, self-righteous
humanity will acknowledge, and they
have therefore combined almost uni
versally to resist and defeat the doo
trine which strips them of all merit,
all righteousness, all ability.
Strategem, ingenious interpreta
tion, specious logic, the charms of
human philosophy, tho wealth of
learning, the thrusts of keen satire
the ribaldry of low witticism, the
contempt of withering ridicule, have
all been employed to silence its ad
vocates, and to render the doctrine
as unpopular as it is unpalatable to
the carnal heart. “But it is the
singular felicity of the doctrine to
witness all the reproaches with
which it was ever assailed recoil up.
o". the authors wi‘U Rouble ■;<>.
fusion. ’* And when we remember
that their opposition is due originally
to tho fact that “the carnal mind is
enmity against God,” our pity and
our prayers as well, should go out
for those engaged in it.
That wo can fully comprehend the
doctrine, no one claims, who has
earnestly and thoughtfully studied it.
But neither do we fully comprehend
any doctrine that relates to God,
And as our limited understanding of
these other doctrines, does not pre.
vent our studying them, or our
preaching them, in like manner it
ought not to prevent our studying
or preaching this doctrine.
Other doctrines aro objects of our
faith and objects of our preaching
not because we can fully understand
them, but because they form a part
of God’s Word; and wo are com
manded to preach that word. But
the doctrine of election forms a part
of that word. We are therefore
under orders to believe and preach it.
While this doctrine has been op
posed by its aroused enemies, it has
also been abused by many of its pro
fessed friends.
1. By attempting to make it con.
stitute the whole of the gospel. It
is a part, but not the whole of
the gospel; and it should there
fore not form tho great bulk of
our preaching. The doctrines of
Christianity sustain a relation to
each other that is vital. Ono cannot
suffer without all suffering; not one
of them will bear to be honored at
the expense of the honor which be
longs to the others. They consti
tute a perfect system, eaoh essential
in its place, and in that place, re.
quiring to be believed and preached;
otherwise, a well rounded Christian
character, and a sound, healthy, vig
orous church aro impossible. These
doctrines all enter as potent factors
into the formation and growth of
Christian life and character.
2. The doctrine is abused again
by a total neglect of it. While it
does not constitute the whole of the
gospel, it does constitute a part of it,
and a very important part.
The Scriptures in requiring the
preacher of the gospel, rightly to di
vide tho word of truth, milk to the
babes and meat to the strong, do not
require him to be always dishing out
milk; and much less do they so much
as intimate that it is any part of
genuine humility, that the same per
sons continue in babyhood.
Tho Saviour said to Peter, “feed
my sheep.” He also said, “feed nyr