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Many good and stroncr things were said In be half of MISSIONS During the Session of the Southern Baptist Convention. Subscribe to and read the Christian Index, If you would keep informed. ESTABLISHED 1821. ®hc ffiliristian 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 t 2.00 One copy, six months 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 ;bo extra careful in writing proper names; write with ink, on one side of paper; Do not write copy intended for the editor and bust .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: The dateof laber indicates the 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 unto date. Remittances by check preferred; or regis ered letter, money order, postal note. He who persistently commits any sin thereby sanctions the prin cipleth at underlies all sins, dis regard of conscience and disobedience to God, and in this way sanctions the sins themselves,sanctions even the worst, even those most repugnant to himself, even those which most directly assail and most ruthlessly injure and wrong himself. It has been estimated that for the con struction of the tabernacle and its furni ture, the Isrealites in the wilderness contributed, in silver $176,000, and in gold $750,000. Out of their poverty as former slaves, and amid the privations of a migratory life, this looks like a good ly sum. Are we in our bettered circum stances doing as well? Are we doing half so well? Leo the XIII is credited with the re mark that Gladstone and ho are the two oldest leaders of the age, they are also the two with the youngest ideas. The Pope did not mean that the ideas are young through any leaven of the recent childhood which comes with great age, and no foeman worthy of their steal can for a moment so far mistake these two “grand old men” (grand alike if judged by their personality alone) as to rest in that persuasion. Certain women of the Jews, when con tributions were asked for the construc tion of the tabernacle, “did spin with their hands,and brought that which they had spun, the blue, the purple, the scar let, and the tine linen,” Ex. 35:25. “Wise hearted” the sacred y rocord stylos them; wise-hearted in having trained their hands to the skill in working: wise-heart ed, too, in bringing this work of their hands to tho hon<e of tho .Lord, nay, to the Lord of the House. Woman’s love, woman’s zeal, and woman’s agency, in things spiritual, then, are much older than “woman’s right” and in no wise de pendent on them. No one can question the earnest and uncompromising purpose of the Wash ington legislature, who reads its enact ments “making it unlawful in that State to manufacture, or buy, or sell, or give away, or have in one’s possession, either cigarettes, or cigarette papers.” This sounds like a very war-whoop, and means that all possibilities of peace have passed by. Such, so definite, and so unsparing, should be the stand taken by the Chris tian against all iniquity, and all occasions and means of Iniquity, when tho parlia ment of the soul fixes the attitude of its own parts and powers with regard to civil things. Out of every hundred men employed in the English merchant marine service, there are twenty-one unable to swim. Men given to a life spent on the sea, amid all the sea’s mischances and the sea’s treacheries, and yet, in every acci dent that lurks for mortals “in tho stormy main” or “in tho angry flood,” without tho swimmer's resource, of their own choice, without it! Is it, then, that they count not their lives dear to them selves? Nay, it is human want of wise care, human imprudence, human heed less running of risks. What interest of the body or of the soul is there what vital interest, which men will not put to peril for lack of tho slightest forethought or at the impulse of the most trivial motives? Byway of figure it may be said that we are all unablo to swim, where nevertheless wo expose ourselves to the hazard of drowning. O the wrecked lives, O the lost souls, that come of this deficiency in caution and in common sense! It appears that the Apostolic Delegate, Monsignor Satolli is not having an easy time of it in settling difficulties with re fractory Catholics in the U. S. In addi tion to his trouble with Bishop Wiggcrs, of New Jersey, another has arisen with a priest and his congregation, at Swedes boro, near Philadelphia. Satolli under took to remove a priest from his pastor ate. When tho order came, tho church was locked, and in the hands of the court, while tho priest and a large part of his congregation were holding services in another place. Tho priest has been excommunicated and forbidden to officiate, and tho peo ple are forbidden to attend upon his ministry under tho threat of oxcommuni cation, and no church burial. Tho priest and congregation do not seem to bo much alarmed. This is a free country. Not only civil, but religious, liberty is guaranteed to every citizen. Even Catholics are beginning to learn that one man has no God-given right to bind the conscious of another, but that each may worship unmolested by human authority, under his own vine aud fig tree. Dr. Lyman Abbott, tho successor to Henry Ward Beecher's Brooklyn pulpit, said not long since that “there is danger in scepticism but greater danger in making believer to believe; God will condemn hypocrisy but not honest doubt.” We are surprised to hear a man of tho Doctor’s perspicacity of intellect speaking in that shallow stylo. Ho knows or ought to know what a bare and groundless assumption it is that there is any special, and still more that there is any exclusive, connection between hy pocrisy and the faith men possess, ns though it cannot and does not connect itself with their profession of scepticism as well. There is perhaps as much “make-doubt” in tho world as “makes believe,” in many circles, and especially Ibe Cljristian Jlntirr. in certain »» P rin.... r .'obe- bly much more. In the last day, we take it, when tho secrets of all hearts are un- V filed, it will be found that there has been much less “honest doubt” among men, doubt in hearts honest with them selves, with God and with man, than we are wont now to claim and to grant. And who shall say how largely that which bears this name among us here, may not be found then ranged on the left hand of the Judge, that it may “go to its own place” in the everlasting darkness? The “Illustrated American” tells this story of President Harrison which we prefer not to believe:— “ When the President read his Thanksgiving Proclamation to the Cabinet, he slyly said, “Gentlemen, I have read this to you because I want your judgment on a certain matter. Since writing it I have re ceived the report of the Secretary of Agriculture, and I am not sure that I onght not to include him with the Almighty! ” This sally, if we may credit the account before us, was re ceived with “loud laughter,” but it savors too strongly of irreverence and makes too near an approach to blasphemy not to repel us. We are amazed that so sincere and enlighten ed a Christian man as the President, could sufficiently forget himself as to have been guilty of it, whether true or false, it points a moral against all habits of jesting about spiritual things. Men cross the line between propriety and impropriety, between right and wrong, when they associ ate anything spiritual with the jest; for all the aspects of the spiritual are solemn, are linked with the most sacred of principles and the most momentous of interests, with the soul and the law and eternity and God. When this line is once crossed, when a diverting and ludicrous air is thrown over aught that is best and highest and holiest and divinest, who shall say how far we may not be righteous ly left to stumble into the deeper mire of irreverence, if not into the slough and stain and stench of blas phemy? Let us be wise, then, and keep our consciences “quick as the ap ple of the eye” to feel how even the mildest’jesting on matters spiritual and Scriptural does violence to all the sanctities wrapt up in such phras es as “the universe and its Sovereign” or “the soul and its Saviour.” In the “ Western Recorder,” the opinion is expressed by a correspond ent, that “tho preponderance of evi dence is on the side of the pre-exist ence of Jewish proselyte baptism to Christian baptism.” We have a very decided impression to the contrary. Years ago, when wo made ourselves acquainted with the literature of the question, the proof seemed to us abundant and conclusive that, in the order of time, Christian baptism went before and Jewish proselyte baptism followed after. And the trend of more recent scholarship, we believe, is to account the Rabbinical chronol ogy as a whole, less authentic and re liable than wo all once assumed or conceded it to be, to regard it more and more in the light of a polemic device employed with little or no scruple to secure the priority of Judaism to Christianity in matters of institution or of doctrine: a trend which can only emphasize the abund. ance and conclusiveness of the proof on this special question. Statistics, if we look at the figures only, may prove very misleading: we need to search out the facts back of the figures. The British government, some years ago, instituted enquiries to ascertain tho rates of mortality among temperance men in the East India troops. From one regiment came the report that fifty per cent, of tho total abstainers had died in tho course of the year. According to these figures, how deadly a thing tho failure to use ardent spirits as a beverage must be, at least in that eastern climate! But what are tho facts back of tho figures ? There] wero in tho regiment, only two total ab stainers, and one of these, tho “fifty per cent.,” had killed by a tiger: ah, thcro is nothing hero to bolster the use of ardent spirits as a bever age—nothing to clotho tho rates of mortality among temperance soldiers with an unpropitious aspect. Learn then, gentle reader, the wise lesson to sift your statistics, not in this oaso only, but everywhere. Rov. B. G. Manard, a well known Baptist minister of Arkansas, has been recalled to tho church at Holden, Mo., and has returned with, his family to that place. /.AwrW. ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY. MARCH 30,1893. ON TO DAWSON. Our Convention meets for the first time in the enterprising little city of Dawson, away down in South-west Georgia. A right good distance away it is from most of us, 200 miles or more from Rome, Gainesville, Athens, Augusta or Savannah. In the present stress of hard times it will be hard for many poor pastors to make the trip unless their church es do the right and proper thing by furnishing tickets. Some will feel that in a financial way, they can’t af ford to go. But upon a higher ground they should consider it and conclude that they cannot afford to stay away- The approaching session may not for any marked reason be more impor tant than those of other years. But every meeting is of sufficient impor tance to require the attendance of our representative men from every section of the State. Every one who goes in a spirit of sympathy and co-operation for our varied denomi national enterprises will be benefited by it, and his presence will be a help to the work. It is hoped that but few will go who have axes to grind, or grudges to air, or fights to make, and that these few will be blessed with a sore disappointment. ORGANIZATION. According to announcement the convention will be organized at 9 o’clock on Tuesday morning. Every messenger should endeavor faithful ly to be present the first hour and remain till the close. To reach there by the opening hour many will have to leave their homes very early Mon day morning, or be subject to the annoyance of tedious delays in the night. As to the OFFICERS of the convention, nobody expects that there wifi be any change, or suggestion of change. Our President has proven himself efficient and faith ful, and his enlarged acquaintance and experience will enable him even moie fuily to meet every reasonable demand of his office. He may not please everybody in the appointment of committees. Let us not expect quite that much. A fact not to be forgotten is that not every man can write a report, if that report is to have any force or meaning, if it is to be more than a stereotyped form or string of platitudes. You may think some names occur too often on com mittees, while others are slighted, that some persons put on committees are incompetent to write or defend a report or that they occupy an un favorable attitude to the matter en trusted to them. You may at various points dissent from the wisdom of the President, but if you are very much wiser than he it will be a great misfortune that the convention did not find it out and elect you in his stead. Our honored SECRETARIES have harder work than many know of and deserve a higher appreciation and warmer sympathy. But they might, probably, add something to the honor in which they are held by a little more care in some details of their work. For instance: Did our last convention hold 5 days as indi cated on the title page of the minutes? Can any one explain tho distribution of titles among the names of those who compose the State Mission Board and Board of Trustees, pages 3-5? Was the manner of electing officeYs of too little consequence to even mention? Would Dr. Tucker have thought so? Why should per. sons who present important reports or claims or resolutions bo nameless? Were the speeches upon the various reports so poor as to bo unworthy of mention? As to getting all the names right, particularly in the list of min isters, it is exceedingly difficut. Care is needed. Most any one thinks there is enough in a name, if it bo his own name, to warrent its being spelled right. But some will think these matters are trifles. Well, others might say that tho matter of any minute at all is a trifle. So, if wo are to have minutes, a somewhat fuller statement and greater accura cy would be highly appreciated by many who would not at all be will ing themselves to undertake the re sponsibilities, or undergo the pains incident to such a work. ORDER OF BUSINESS. Could there be a wise committee to assign to tho diflierent subjects for consideration certain hours, and thereby secure dispatch as well as allow each matter something like the time which its relative importance demands? Such a plan would have to be flexible of course, and would require much discretion in its adjust ment. It is hoped that the good sense of the body will not again tole rate such a prolonged, useless, un worthy debate over place of next meeting as we have sometimes had. The matter of appointing correspond ents, a rather formal custom of doubt ful value, might be much simplified by allowing any who attend other conventions, to bear a copy of our minutes as their proper credentials. Our president has shown a commend able disposition to abbreviate wel come addresses and responses, not unmindful of fitting courtesies, but wisely considerate of the many im portant interests to receive attention in the short space of three days. A fault complained of in some direc tions has not become common in the Georgia Convention, and that is of allowing every brother who has an “interest to be present” to consume tho time of the convention whose in terests are quite different. May we still have immunity from such. One of the important matters to come before this Convention is the election of TRUSTEES OF MERCER UNIVERSITY. Much interest attaches to this from the fact that the offices of President and Professor of Theology are now vacant. This is indeed a matter of weighty importance, bnt noboJy need to be seriously alarmed about it. There are some who seem to think that a crisis comes in the affairs of Mercer at least once every year, and while they behold its destinies trem ble in the balance, they themselves do exceedingly tremble • with fear. We believe it was Dr. Tucker who said some years ago, that one of the most wonderful things about Mercer was tho way it had wr -»>ered in opitA'ta its itieiiu’s. some of its friends we believe it will con tinue to prosper. We are not among the number of those who, on the slightest pretext are ready to predict its downfall. Nor shall we join in with those who have grave charges to bring against the Trustees in their management of its affairs. The Trustees are not per fect. They make no such claim for themselves. They are liable to make mistakes, but are ever ready to admit any mistakes that become apparent to them, and to use all diligence for their correction. Where are to be found men who would make fewer mistakes? Where are men of riper wisdom, men who will more faithful, ly or conscientiously meet the ob ligations of such a trust? Taking the body of Trustees as a whole, and their work as a whole, with its many serious perplexities and difficulties, wo think it will be hard enough to make much improvement. Concerning the election of a Board of Trustees, one remark seems per tinent. The manner of such elec tion should be such as to allow every member of the convention a free and unembarrassed expression. If a committee of three or five or other numbers be appointed to nominate, their report is of such delicate na ture as practically to allow of no amendment, as everyone will admit. The effect of this is virtually to have that committee and not the con ven. tion select a Board of Trustees. No committee should be willing to as sumo that much responsibility. Trustees ought to desire that their selection bo by the whole conven tion, that they might then have per fect ground to claim tho support of the whole convention. Here is a modest suggestion. Let tho nominating committee furnish to each member of tho convention a ballot upon which aro placed, not thirty tho exact number, but say thirty-six or forty, or forty-two. Thon every man may bo free to amend for himself by striking out all abovo thirty and voting his tick, ot. Will it bo suggested that this is troublesome? Tho trouble would bo very slight with a printing office in roach to print the ballots on an hours notice. And further, is some slight trouble to be considered when freedom and fairness aro aimed at? Or will somebody suggest that it never has been done this way? That will bo an end of all argument and forever clinch the matter. Our plea is for naught else than fairness. It should boa shamo to us all that ru mors, false or true,s hould bo flying about to tho effect that certain par ties have received notice from cer tain other parties that they (the for mer) would have a placo on the next Board of Trustees. This smacks of tho schemer of self-seeking politi tion, and should have no- counten ance from a religious body. Continued on 3rd page. “LAY HANDS HASTILY ON NO MAN” Tho Christian ministry derives its importance from its origin and influ encial prominence. Tho Lord crea ted the office, and it invests its incumbent with potent in fluence. A position of divine insti tution, and fraught with such power for good or evil, should be guarded with unceasing vigilance. Churches and councils in remote sections, feel ing, no doubt, that their action in or daining men is of minor and provin cial significance, should remember that inducting a man into the minis try they give him currency in a great denomination; and if he proves un_ worthy, it brings grief and shame upon the entire brotherhood. Some words of caution, which are but re statements of things known, may be helpful in stirring us up to a faithful guardianship of this high calling. Let churches and ordaining councils consider carefully? First, the character of the men to be ordained. Character is essential. It is what the man is. It consists in the moral material he is made of. A workman would not take pine to make an axle. It is too light and soft. It is not the kind of wood for an axle. It takes hickory. All can didates are not the kind of material for ministers. The fibre of convic tion makes the hickory character. The man behind the preacher is all important. Find out, in the fear of God, the moral make-up of the can, didiue. Remember, it takes a “good\ and “sound” character for a minis ter. Second, let them look carefully into the reputation of candidates. The reputation is what tho people think of the man, the popular esti mate of him. The minister must have “a good report.” A correct Christian life, will secure it. As amin ister is “to persuade men,” he must have influence over them, and to have influence he must have their confidence. Do not ordain a man on prospective ’reputation. It may never come. Let him first silence detraction, if any there be, and com mand confidence by upright living, before he is ordained. If he be a new and noted convert from the slums or gutters of sin, rejoice over him, but do not ordain him. Wait. Third, let them examine carefully into the call of the candidates. Hold fast the old scriptural doctrine of a divine call to the ministry. Paul held it: “The ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus,” he says What is a call to the ministry? We do not know. It is between the Lord and the man, and they only can know it. Then what is the evidence of it—the distinguishing evidence? Is it dosiro to preach? No. The re stored demoniac desired to preach, but was sent homo to tell his family and friends what had been done for him. Is it love of souls? No. All tho saved have “good will to men.” Is it not ardent love for souls? No. Tho Centurion had ardent love for his servant “beseeching Jesus” in his behalf. Is it not fluency? No. If it is Paul was not called, nor was Mo ses. Then what is it? What is tho distinguishing evidence of a call to the ministry? It is very simple, yet exceedingly profound. It is spiritu al understanding—tho power to dis cern and interpret the mind of tho spirit in the words of scripture. This power distinguishes tho God-anoint ed man. Tho Lord has anointed him to know, that ho may preach. How could ho “feedtho flock” with out the food? How significant tho crowning qualification of apostleship! “Then opened ho their understand ings that they might understand tho sreiptures.” Tho hearers of tho great preacher said: “Ho opened un to us the scriptures.” Finally, they would do well to regard tho age of candidates. “Not a novice,” is a scriptural inhibition The “novice” is not necessarily, but usually youthful. There should not be laxity on this point. If it must be, why let others have all the “prodigies” in boy preachers. No doubt there aro exceptional cases in which early ordination is justifiable. Mercer and Spurgeon wore ordained early. But Richard Fuller was or dained at twenty eight, N. M. Craw fort at thirty-three and P. H. Mell at twenty-eight, John Baptist, the first Christian minister, was thirty years old when he began to preach. He who was greater than all, our Lord, was over thirty when he began his ministry. These examples mean something. Let churches and councils remem ber the injunction: “Lay hands hasti ly on no man.” J. H. Hall. "AVERAGE CONTRIBUTIONS." “The contributions of Georgia Baptists for missions average only cents, per member—the contri butions of Baptists throughout the South, only cents! ” Such state- ments as these we frequently hear in public addresses—we also read them in our papers. They are doubtless made with a sincere desire to do good, and I will not say that good is not sometimes done; but upon the whole, I fear that such utterances are more harmful than helpful. I suppose it is wise for insurance com panies to study the subject of aver ages in order to regulate their rates —perhaps, also, for our boards to do so, when arranging their plans for future work, and forecasting their probable receipts ; but when it comes to the actual raising of money to sus tain our mission work, the thing seems to me out of place. Let us look, now, at the statements above given: 1. We do not know what is the average of the contributions of Geor gia Baptists, or of the Baptists of the South; it is certainly not true that the average is only so many cents. How is this alleged average obtained? Why, by dividing the aggregate of contributions by tho number of Bap tists in the State, or in the South, as the case may be. But this overlooks the fact that a great many give noth ing. To find out the actual average of contributions, we must first find the number of contributors. 2. This so-called average is quite unjust to most of the contributors; for very few, who give anything at all, give as little as this. 8. On the other hand, it gives eredit to many as giving something when we know they give nothing. 4. In thus giving credit to some a 3 giving when they do not give, I es pecially charge it against this “aver age” statement that it takes no ac count of the vast multitude of non givers who are in our ranks. And yet this is the very thing which needs to be made particularly prominent. Here lies the forefront of our trouble. We have too few givers. Let us go to work to get all to give. We may not know just how much one ought to give, bnt we do know he ought to give something. 5. This repeated rehersal of our low average is doubtless meant to stimulate to larger giving, but I fear that it may have tho opposite effect. As all are more or less liable to be influenced by improper motives, it is not unreasonable that some should say, “well, after giving as much as I have out of my hard earnings, if I am to be stigmatized as giving only a few cents, I believe I will make my contributions to accord more nearly with what I have tho credit of giving.” Others may say, “If this is all the people generally aro giving, I have been giving too much; I think I’ll come a little nearer the average I don’t believe in giving more than my share.” Another may say, “If that is all they give, it certainly can not make much difference if I give nothing,” and so nothing ho gives. And still another: “If that is all we aro doing, wo had just as well give it up and quit.” Lot no one misunderstand mo. I do not object to emphasizing the fact that wo are doing, as a people, far too little for tho spread of tho gos pel. In all proper ways let it bo pressed that we are falling immense ly short of our obligations in this great work; but I honestly do not believe that this averaging business is tho way to do it—either to empha size tho fact or to help it. And this prepares tho way to speak of another phase of this same thing. “If Southern Baptists only Brother Minister, Working Layman, Zealous Sister Wearestrlvingto make CChe Index the best of its kind. Help us by securing a new subscriber. VOL. 70—NO. 13. give cents, it would raise twice as much as we aro now spending in giving the gospel to the world. A devoted advocate of missions has recently said in a general appeal, that “an average of cents from each would complete our Centennial offering.” Now this is all doubtless true, but is this the way to get the people to give their money ? Is it a way likely to succeed ? And grant ing that it should, is it the right and Scriptural way? I say to it all, most emphatically, No! 1. It is not likely to succeed. And (1), because it does not take into the calculation the great num ber of non-givers. Why talk about what a large amount would be raised if all would give so many cents, when you know that all are not going to give Much more than the speoi. fied average must be raised from those who do give, in order to make up for the many who don’t give ; and yet, there is absolutely nothing in this average idea to stimulate, or even, to suggest this larger giving, but the contrary. For, (2), many will makejthis average the measure of their duty, and hence do less than they would have done if nothing had been said about it “If this,” say they, “will raise the desired amount, why should I give any more? Let others give. What! Will only so many cents from each raise such a large sum? Why, I thought I should have to give twenty times as much.’ t And so, while some of the present non-givers may be induced to give, because, forsooth, the “average” is so little, quite as many, or perhaps, more of the present givers, will give less for the very same reason. But, 2. Even if this presentation of “averages” were successful in raising money, it should be rejected as fun damentally wrong—wrong in prin ciple. (1). It appeals to a corrupt motive. It is essentially an appeal to covetousness to let go its grip, be xwnsa-the amount,-called is —so; small, it cast be giv en without feeling it. It is possible that some may respond for this very reason, but what shall we say of the motive, and what of its effect on the character? David said that he would not offer to the Lord that which cost him nothing; but this says give because the amount is so little that it will not be felt. Such giving, instead of developing liberality, will dwarf it. (2) It ignores the Script ure standard of giving. God’s word teaches that we are to give accord ing to ability—according as we are prospered. But it is hardly ever true that this Scriptural rule would authorize as little as these designa. ted “averages;” and it is certainly true, that in the great majority of instances, much more would bo re quired. Why, then, talk about them at all? They are, in no sense, the measure of duty—they can have no possible influence in stimulat ing duty, and not once in a hundred are they as much as duty requires. “Bnt oh, the mighty pow er of littles!” Yes but not with God and not for God, except when these “littles’’ are tho measure of duty— otherwise, they aro a curse to us; for they are, essentially, as “the lame and the torn and tho sick ’in sacri fice. I once had the offer, at a nom inal cost, of a number of copies of a celebrated discourse ou the “Power, of Littles,” to bo circulated among my people. I did not accept the of_ fer. I was afraid of the effect. In. stead, therefore, of setting forth be fore the people what wonderful suras might be raised if all would contrib ute some little amount that measures the duty of scarcely any, let us rath er strive to get willing and loving contributions from all according to their ability. J. H. Kilpatrick. Atoka, Ind. Ter., March 13, ’9B. For several months I have been so crowded with work that I have not found time to write a letter to the Index. Yet I know from private letters that there aro many faithful friends in dear old Georgia who de sire to hear from the Indian Mission field. The work in Indian Territory is far different now to what it has bee n. The great influx of whites as renters on farms, as day laborers, as artizans etc., has changed our work. Who own these farms?, and who employ those laborers? Squaw-men chiefly, and some of tho half-breeds and edu-