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Many good and strong things were said In be half of MISSIONS During the Session of tho Southern Baptist Convention. Subscribe to and read tho Christian Index, if you would keep informed. ESTABLISHED 1821. ©fte (jHxristutn Index Published Every Thursday at 57 South Broad Street. Atlanta. Ga. j. c. McMichael, proprietor. Organ of the Baptist Denomination in Georgia. Subscription Price: One copy. one year- $ 2.00 One copy, six mouths 1.00 Obituaries.—One hundred words free of charge. For each extra word, one cent per word, cash with copy. . To Correspondents.—Do not use abrevia tions; be extra careful in writing proper names; write with ink, on one side of paper; Do not write copy intended for tho editor and busi ness items on same sheet. Leave off personal ities; condense. Business.—Write all names, and post offices distinctly. In ordering a change give the old as well as the new address. The date of labor indicates tho time your subscription expires. If you do not wish it continued, order it stop ped a week before. We 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 regi s tered letter, money order, postal note. 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