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It was not because he himself was able,
that Moses fasted forty days and forty
nights: it was because God enabled him.
Impossibilities become things of easy
performance with his help. Without
that help the easiest become impossi
ble.
God would not have the blood of the
passover lamb trodden under foot; and,
for this reason, while requiring that it
should be sprinkled on the lintel and the
two side-posts of the door, did not re
quire it to be sprinkled on the thresh
hold—not to require being with him the
same as to forbid. Are we not thus
warned against the guilt of treading un
derfoot the blood of Christ, our Passover,
by unbelief and disobedience? Heb. 10;
29.
It was strength to Amaziah to reduce
his army. To send away one hundred
thousand soldiers meant for him victory.
(2 Chron. 25th ch.) For these soldiers
were hired from the kingdom of Israel
against whom the anger of God was kin
dled by idolatry; and to lose the hun
dred talents of silver paid as their hire
was great gain to Amaziah. The church
suffers by reason of alliance with the
world. The enemies of the Lord cannot
help his people. His people are strong
est when they stand alone: it is only then
that they can stand. Oh that the godly
would purge their ranks of ungodly per
sons and their bosoms of ungodly prin
ciples.
The Charity Organization of New York
City last year, subjected seven hundred
and thirty two applications for relief to
carefid investigation, as coming from un
known parlies; and of ail dial number
only four were found notto befradulent.
If indiscriminate giving at individual im
pulse had been the rule in that city, if
there had been no associate agency for
making inquiry and ascertaining facts,
if the whole question of relief had been
left on the old platform of personal, sen
timental treatment, —you see what mis
chief would have ensued: there would
have been seven hundred and twenty
eight cases in which the dishonest, un
worthy and viscious would have preyed
on the virtuous, worthy and honest.
Every sun that rose in the year's course
would have looked down on two such
instances of plundered excellence and
triumphant infamy, and on many others
doubtless, since success must have great
ly multiplied the number of applying
impostors. Charity needs system, giv
ing needs regulation, generosity needs
common sense: this is the morai point
ed by the fact calling forth this para
graph.
A letter from our missionary at Borne
Itily, Dr. George B. Taylor, in the “West
ern Recorder,” furnishes incidentally
two or three facts of interest on the bap
tismal question. Prof. Geymonat, of the
Waldensean Theological Seminary in
Florence, once expressed to him the opin
ion that one w ing of the old Waldenses
was largely Baptistic—an admission, we
presume, which by and by no one will
hesitate to make. The Catechism pub
lished by the Waldensian Synod, in
French in 1859 and in Italian in 1806, says:
“Baptism, or immersion, comes from the
primitive use of immersing in water
when one was Baptized.” In a late
series of articles on Christian doctrine
for the use of the Waldensian churches,
by Prof, Geymonat as chairman of a
committee appointed by the Synod for
that purpose, one of his utterances is to
this effect: “If. out of respect to the let
ter and to the primitive manner of bap
tizing. any one esteems it his duty to be
baptized, that satisfaction of conscience
is not to be denied him.” These are
straws <jf fact and principle which show
which way the wind of truth blows, and
for long ages has been blowing.
Prof. Noah K. Davis, of the University
of Virginia, in a paper read before the
.Southern Baptist Educational! 'onferrence
at Nashville, said with respect to our de
nominational colleges: "Forgetting or
disregarding their origin, in seeming dis
trust of Baptist sympathy and support,
anil in an eager desire to secure outside
patronage, they rather disclaim their pa
ternity and appeal to the general public,
choosing to stand as educational institu
tions outside the Baptist circle. In one
case, the theological department invited
young preachers of all sects, promising
not to offend by insisting on distinctive
Baptist doctrine.” We wonder what
theological department that could have
been, and what it has grown to in the
lapse of years? It is a striking sample
of the Broad Church spirit which has at
times crept into our brotherhood and
striven to make a home for itself among
us. Doubtless, its lax policy was a fail
ure, as It ought to have been; and per
haps its undisguised and extreme form
was a blessing to our people, and saved
them from the leaven which might have
followed a milder, less manifest and
more insidious laxity—corrupting in
deadlier style because it startled the leas.
Not impossible, the time is coming when
we will be called as a people to decide
whether we shall or shall not be ruled by
the spirit of Broad Churchism, and
whether the offence of destinctive Bap
tist doctrine shall or shall not cease
among us. Let us not mistake: as we
decide that question we decide the fur
ther question, whether we ourselves
shall or shall not cease. ’
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
REV. T- P- CRAWFORD. THE VETER-
AN NORTH CHINA MISSIONARY.
BY WM. B. MCGABTTY.
This consecrated servant of God, first
saw the light, May, 1821. in the State of
Kentucky. From a child he showed
considerable wit, selecting as his own
name the euphonious combination,
“Tarlton Perry.” He was converted
when sixteen years old; went to Union
University, Murfreesboro, Tenn., and
graduated with first honor in 1851. About
this time he decided to spend his life
among the heathen, and has ever since
manifested the same earnest and perse
vering spirit that characterized his col
lege work.
At this time, missionary work was
new, and very little was being done any
where except in China. He applied and
became the eleventh male missionary
appointed by our Board, at this time
only sixteen years old. The general
opinion of the Board and older mission
aries is that men should not enter the
work unmarried. Bro. Crawford was
single when appointed, and not even en
gaged. So he set himself to find a helper.
About the time of his appointment, Dr.
.1. B. Taylor, Secretary of the Boaid at
that time, received a letter from Ala
bama, asking if an unmarried lady could
be sent to China, and commending Miss
Martha Foster. This was a providential
indication to young Crawford that Miss
Foster should be his wife, so he started
to Alabama, won her anil was married
March, 1851. To those who have fol
lowed the work of Dr. and Mrs. Craw
ford, none doubt the fitness of the one
for the other. For over forty years they
have shared one anothers toils and joys,
and it is hard to say which is the better
preacher.
They sailed in 1852, and foi ten years
worked in and around Shanghai. In
1803 they began their life work in the
Shantung province. It seems that he
and Dr. Hartwell had different ideas
about the work, soon Dr. Hartwell's re
turn, two years later. Dr. Crawford
turned the old work over to him and
organized a new one. A few years later,
Dr. Hartwell was forced to leave China
on account of the sickness of his wife,
and his church became disorganized and
finally disbanded. Thus we see the
present mission in Tung Chow, in large
part, is due the thirty years work of Dr.
and Mrs. Crawford.
From the first, Dr. Crawford has op
posed employing native assistants, and
building line churches and school houses.
Even in the sixties we see the germ of
the recent movement known as the “Gos
pel mission.” His motto text has al
ways been, “Preach the Gospel directly
to the people and leave the results to
God.” Much of his time has been de
voted to street preaching. He and one
of the young missionaries go out on the
streets and engage in conversation.
Presently a Chinaman through curiosity
stops to see what the “Foreign Devils”
are talking about. Then others are at
tracted until there is a small sized crow d.
The conversation is on some topic of the
day, and some Chinamen are gradually
brought into the discussion Then Dr,
• rawford with consummate tact, changqs
the topic and introduces religious sub
jects. This enables him to present
Christ, and before they know it, he has
preached them a sermon.
Thirty years devoted to this work can
not fail in results; the whole section is
permeated with his teaching. The na
tives look on him as a great teacher, and
some have gone so far asto compare him
with the great Confucius.
As we have seen, our veterans in Cen
tral and South China, were great Chinese
linguests. Dr Crawford Ims never at
tained the scholarship of Yates or
Graves, but has done more direct preach
ing than either. At the Missionary
Convention held in Shanghai, in 1877,
Drs. Graves, Yates and Crawford were
the leading lights, each having met with
great success in his line of work. Though
Dr. Crawford is opposed to hired native
assistance, he encourages the natives to
do Christian work and support their
churches, In his report. 1877, he says:
“The native members have resolved to
devote an hour every Sabbath to bearing
witness for the Lord.” Should we not
learn a lesson from this? In addition to
his regular preaching in Tung Chow, he
frequently makes long preaching tours.
His life has really been one of seed-sow
ing. Others will gather the rich har
vest. As he sits in his study, with door
opening on the street, many drop in
through idle curiosity, interest or for
other reasons, but always hear the Gos
pel.
In 1879 he was attacked by paralysis
and granted a twelve month's leave of
absence. A fortunate investment en
abled him to pay part of his expenses.
This investment has enabled him to sup
port himself and wife now for several
years.
In the past few years our North China
Mission|has not flourished as we would
wish. The report for 91-92, showes 141
church members, and nine baptisms.
For several years previous, Dr. Craw
ford had labored at his own expense,
but his name appealed among the names
of other missionaries. He is no longer
connected w ith the Board, but none the
less interested in our work. He has been
in China so long that he thinks like a
Chinaman, and but for his long, gray
beard, would look like one. His sym
pathies are with the Chinese. He and
his helpers have sought in nearly every
way to carry the knowledge of salvation
to the ears of the people. He trusts that
God may open their hearts. Though
not as strong a character as Yates or
Graves, Dr. ('rawfotd is truly a great
man.
A CHINAMAN 8 DEVOTION TO
OHRIBT.
Laugh Fook, a member of Dr. Graves’
church in Canton, China, went to British
Guiana, in 1861, and became a slave that
he might preach ('hrist to his fellow
countrymen. In 1879 he had an organ
ized church with I’3 members. Before
his death, in 1884, the church had 200
members, and had organized several
missions, and contributed annually,
about. $2,000.
Dr. Graves says, in speaking of his
deatli, “There has passed away one of
the brightest jewels that. Christ, has re
covered from the dust-heaps of China.
He is a proof of what the grace of God
can do for a Chinaman, and what a Chi
naman can do when renewed by the
grace of God."
Nicholson.—Grove-level church,
Banks county, closed her annual
meeting on Friday morning—five
baptized, received two by letter;
church revived and unified. The
services were conducted by Rev.
A. 11. Stapler the pastor, assisted by
Elder I N. Dowdy.
ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 7, 1893.
DOXOLIGIES-
BY REV. S. G. HILI.YER, D. D.
A doxology is a form of words
designed to render thanksgiving
and praise to the Almighty. God
has given to us an emotional na
ture, and also the powers of speech.
Between these two endowments
He has established the most inti
mate connection. We are so con
stituted, that our emotions find ex
pression. naturally, in vocal sounds.
Among these emotions stand pre
eminent the emotions of gratitude,
of reverence, of admiration, of
adoration and of love.
It is in these affections that we
find the source of our doxoligies.
When any one, or more, of these
are brought into exercise, they in
variably impart pleasure to the
oul; and that pleasure increases, in
®ts intensity, in proportion to the
'worthiness and exaltation of the
object which excites them and also
the clearness of our knowledge
ot that object. Now, as God is the
most worthy, and the most exalted
of all beings, the soul that has learn
ed to know him in all the perfec
tions of his nature, and in all his
tender relations to us as our Fath
er, and our great Redeemer, who
gives to us eternal life through our
Lord Jesus Christ, —that soul, —
swells with the feelings above men
tioned, and they spontaneously find
expression in praise and thanksgiv
ing, that is, in doxoligies.
In view of these facts, it is not
surprising that the Bible abounds
with doxoligies. Witness the songs
of Moses and Miriam, we find
them constantly recurring in the
Psalms of David. When the an
gels announced to the shepherds
the birth of Jesus, they celebrated
the glad tidings, with the words, —
“glory to God in the highest.”
And sublime doxoligies, uttered by
the heavenly hosts, were often
mingled with the visions which
were revealed to John in the isle of
Patmos. And it is worthy of spe
cial notice, that the Lord’s prayers
begin with a doxology.
In the light of such examples,
we may well conclude,'that doxolo
gies are no artificial’means to round
a period, or to grace a ritual. No
verily, as already stated, they have
their source in the affections, —yes,
in the deepest and most holy affec
tions of the humrn heart. They
point towards our Father God, and
are designed to voice that worship
which is “in Spirit and in Truth.”
The world may not appreciate
these thoughts. Some are profane
enough to say that our doxoligies
are words of tlattery offered to God
that we may thereby win his favor.
Others again seem to think that it
is unworthy of the Almighty to
suppose that he should take delight
in human praises. All such
thoughts betray a most incorrect
conception of the whole case.
True, the Almighty does not
need our praises ; and he does not
require them of us, for the sake of
any benefit that they can confer on
himself, or apart from the highest
well being of his intelligent crea
tures; for it hath pleased him to
associate with his own most exalt
ed glory, the highest happiness of
all who love him. When therefore,
this love has really inspired a hu
man soul to give utterance to
words of praise and thanksgiving,
there can be no flattery in those
words, and noseverity in that mode
of worship. Nor does the Al
mighty condescend to listen to the
doxoligies that rise from human
lips up to his throne in Heaven,
because they add anything to his
own self complaicency, hut because
he takes delight in the happiness
of his creatures, and, of course, in
the words of praise which express
that happiness.
The theory of doxologies suggests
some important thoughts.
As already stated, they must
have their source in right affections
towards God. If they do not, they
are worse than useless, —they be
come actually offensive. This is
evident when we consider that
those who worship the Father,
must worship him “in Spirit and in
Truth.” Hence a doxology which
does not come from the heart is not
praise, but mockery. It violates
the third commandment, for it takes
the name of God in vain. This
was the charge which God gave to
the Prophet against Isreal, when
He said : “This people draw nigh
to me with their lips but their
hearts are far from inc.” These
facts certainly invest our subject
with great solemmity. We may
draw from what has been sai’d this
caution, not to let our words of
praise degenerate into empty
sounds and thoughtless utterances.
On the other hand, when our
words do voice the feelings of our
hearts thqn even angels may listen
to our songs with joy and God
hitnself is pleased, while the soul
of the worshiper realizes, in some
measure that rapture, which in
spires the hallelujahs of Heaven.
But doxoligies are not limited to
songs, or even to poetry. They
often find expsession in the most
simple and common forms of speech.
I have no doubt that thousands of
pious Christians are often, in their
secret devotions, and at their fami
ly alters so impressed with a sense
of the perfecti-ms of God that their
humble supplications are almost
forgotten amidst words of thanks
giving, of reverence, of adoration
and of love. On such occasions
the saint is happy, and his devotions
are interspersed with simple doxol
igies that come right up from the
affections of the heart. In our
public assemblies for worship, the
audible expression of one’s emo
tions is, for the most part suppress
ed, out of regard for the proprieties
of the occasion; but no doubt,
many a pious saint in the house of
God, is so moved by the preacher’s
words, that his thoughts become
doxoligies, which, though only
whispered in the secret chamber of
his soul, yet are heard in Heaven.
Such cases, clearly illustrate the
presence of the great “Comforter,”
according to the Saviour’s promise.
Under his influence, the believer
beholds, by the ye of faith, “the
beauty of the F tig.” No wonder
his soul is filled with rapture, which
must find expression,—sometimes,
when propriety allows it, in audible
words, and sometimes in silent
thought.
I feel no special sympathy for
that loud “shoutbig” which has of
ten changed our worshiping assem
blies into scenes of disorder and
confusion, such scenes are virtually
forbidden by Paul, —see I Cor. 14:
26—40. And experience shows that
they are liable to great abuse. And
therefore they should not be en
couraged. But after all, Ido verily
think, that the man or the woman
is to be pitied, who does not some
times feel an impulsive desire to cry
“glory to God !” Glory to God I
It has already been said, that the
Bible abounds with doxoligies. It
may be well to close this paper
with a more particular notice of
one or two of them. Jesus him
self shall furnish the first example.
At Luke 10: 21, we find these
words: “In that hour, Jesus re
joiced in spirit, and said, “I thank
thee, O! Father, Lord of Heaven
and earth, that thou hast hid these
things from the wise and prudent,
and hast revealed them unto babes :
even so, Father, for so it hath seem
ed good in thy sight.”
It is quite possible that many
pious people have read these words
of Jesus without nerceiving that
thej exprc‘f • r yxolog.y at :ip.
But there is hardly a more instruc
tive one in all the Bible. Note,
first, the state of the Saviour’s
mind. The seventy disciples, not
the Apostles, but their less distin
guished brethren, had just returned
from a preaching tour, through
Galilee and Judea. They hail made
their report with joy to the Master.
After speaking to them a few
words of advice and comfort re
membering their humble condition,
and the mighty work to which they
were called, he also “rejoiced in
spirit.” Now, notice the words
which follow. We have, first, a
thanksgiving; then an ascription
to the Father, of absolute domin
ion over the universe. Next comes
a recognition of divine justice in
visiting with judicial blindness the
arrogant and proud, who trusted to
their own wisdom, while he reveal
ed his grace and mercy to the weak
and the lowly. And lastly we find
words of profound submission to
the paramount of his honored and
exalted Father. Hence the text
must be accepted as a doxology;
for, its sense and meaning is “glory
to God in the highest.”
The central thought in this sub
lime doxology is : The absolute
sovereignty of God in the dispen
sation of his grace, according to
his own paramount will. It was
exactly this truth to which Jesus
joyfully gave his sanction, as well
as his submission, in the words:
“Even so Father, for so it hath
seemed good in thy sight.” Jesus
taught the doctrine of election just
as truly as Paul did.
I have not space for another ex
ample ; but many doxoligies are
very important and deserve to be
carefully studied.
73 Wheat Street.
Hwang Hiew P.O. Chefoo,
N. China, July 13, 11893.
Deaii StsTEit.—A few days ago
Miss Barton and I happened upon
a case of severe physical suffering
which also illustrates the sorrow
and misery that these people en
dure because of sin and ignorance.
In a tiny house of a neighboring
village we found a poor woman
seated upon her kong, with crip
pled hands extended stiff and use
less before her. Her face told of
long endured agony. When she
learned of our desire to help her,
she refused to allow us, and would
hardly permit us to examine her
afflicted members, affirming over
anil over again that she had no
money with which to pay for our
attendance. When assured that
we desired no other reward than
that of relieving her sufferings, she
told us her pathetic story. Three
months ago, she and her fifteen
year old daughter had been sitting
upon the kong engaged in the ne
cessary occupation of catching lice,
by the light of a small kerosene
lamp,—a bottle of oil with tube
and wick. One caseless action up
set the lamp and the girl was in
flames. The mother, trying to save
her child received grave injuries on
her hands and arms. After three
days of agony the daughter died.
The mother has done nothing but
endure. Without money to buy
salves or ointments, she sought re
lief by putting mud from the street
upon the wounds. But that dried
and falling oft’ took skin and flesh
with it. Her finger nails dropped
off. Her agonies made her hoodoo
as the Chinese word has it, or de
lirious as we would say. She and
a ten year old daughter are depen
dent upon the grudging charity of
an uncle for a livelihood. All the
care that the helpless woman, or
unusually tidy house, received is
given by this little child, who fur
nishes to her mother the attention
demanded by an infant. The wo
man is not old, scarcely middle
aged, and the prospect of long years
of life as a useless burden toothers
is even harder to bear than the
pain. As she told her tale she
wept pitifully, and we could scarce
refrain from keeping her company.
It is the nature of Chinese to be
stocial in real pain and affliction,
and she apologized for her tears
and moans by long days and nights
of sleepless suffering had robbed
her of all self control. Poor wo
man it seemed almost cruel to tell
her that had we known it in time her
henceforth useless hands could have
been saved and most of her suffering
spared. We proposed to send her
salve, cotton and bandages to ease
the pain, and asked “Who will
go fetch the medicine,” The house
and yard were filled with all the
idlers of the village, boys of all
ages, girls, women and here and
there a picture of adult musculine
leisure, smoking his pipe. But
there was no response to my inqui
ry. The woman repeated it, giv
ing it the voice of entreaty, but as
she looked into the faces of rela
tives and neighbors, not one re
sponded. Then she appealed to
her cousin saying “Younger broth
er can’t you go?” Although this
inquisitive young idler had for the
last half hour showed no symptom
of any occupation more important
than that of watching the foreign
ers, at this request he promptly
threw himself out of the room, say
ing “I’m busy.” Because the wo
man was poor and unable to re
ward favors with money, there was
not one to do aught for her. Spite of
all their wasted systems of morals,
at a test time like this, it is not un
common for the Chinese to show
themselves wholly lacking in what
seems to us, common humanity.
These every day occurrences illus
trate the practical ethics which
some advanced minds in America
insist are as good as our own, anil
even more picturesque. Dear Sis
ters pray that the unselfish love of
Christ may be shed abroad in these
hearts. Telling this afflicted wo
man a few words concerning the
love and mercy of the Heavenly I
Father, but uncertain whether in 1
her suffering she could take in even 1
that, we left, with sorrowful ques
tionings asto why this woman, and
three hundred and eighty millions of |
human beings like her in this land, I
have never yet received their inheri- i
lance of comfort and blessing ami |
salvation which Christ purchased I
for “all that labor and are heavy j
laden.” Will you not share with her? I
since to do so will insure to your- I
self a greater abundance of these
same divine gifts? Lovingly,
Anna S. Pruitt.
AMONG THE PEOPLE-
BY I’KEST. J. B. GAMBREL!,,
My early experiences in a conn- !
try home, cut off from much need- I
ed information, has given the
country boy a warm place in my I
heart and the town boy too, if he
happen, as is the case with many,
to be put at a disadvantage with I
regard to an education. It has a
long time seemed to me that every
institution of learning ought to be
the center of a vigorous education
al propaganda. The basis of this
conception lies in another idea i. e.
that institutions of learning exist
not for the teachers, nor for a se
lect few, but for the many. A 1
college should receive only that it
may give out. Ami it ought to j
give out inore-than it receives.
In pursuance of this notion I I
have been out among the people a j
few days preaching and talking to j
them on education. The good I
people of Madison gave me an at
tentive hearing. I was sorry not !
to meet Dr. Candler at this meet- |
ing as was contemplated. Pastor [
Burney had me in charge, and ,
with his family, did me much good. I
Just think of it, he is living in the |
house he was born in 53 year ago! ■
That is an unusual record for a :
preacher. How this would de- I
light Dr. Whitsitt of our Semi- '
nary.
I am deeply indebted to the pas- |
tor for taking inc in his buggy
down to Antioch and putting me
right into a warm, gracious meet
ing. I was greatly in need of the
help of a good meeting. You
know, I reckon you do, that when
a man moves, just after he has ta
ken down pictures, packed books,
pianos and all the belongings of a
house, severed the tender ties
which bind him to neighbors and
dickered with rail roads, draymen
etc., he needs a protracted meeting
to put him in proper tone. We all
need these renewings of grace.
The meeting was full of power.
The people had a mind to work
and preaching was easy. Eleven
was baptized.
This is a delightful community
of intelligent, thrifty farmers.
Four Mercer graduates in one
country church, with a Mercer pas
tor is not a bad showing. And
what troops of handsome, bright
young people ! How I covet them
for our colleges. They heard me
in a most indulgent spirit, talk on
Christian Education for a long
time, but not quite as long as Paul
talked at Traos. A meeting was
called to consider the building of a
school house. I hope it will be a
good one, and the people there will
make the most of all those boys
and girls.
1 am writing from Monticello,
where I spent the Lord’s day with
Pastor Beck, another Mercer man.
lie is after the order of the greatest
Baptist preachers of 100 years ago,
preacher and teacher, and a man of
affairs as well. There is an up
grade movement religiously amt
educational all over his field. He
takes an intelligent interest in the
affairs of his people, and his wide
range of information qualifies him
to be of great service to the pub
lic.
Every preacher in Georgia
ought to feel himself called upon
to work for the religious and so
cial betterment of the people. And
this will involve apractical interest
in education.
Your scribe had a good hearing
both in preaching and lecturing at
this place. I leave for the Central
Association this afternoon, where
I hope to be initiated into the wavs
of conducting associations in Geor
gia. And, of course 1 hope for
boys for Mercer.
The session opens Sept, 20.
There is a good outlook fora fine
beginning, if the financial situation
improves. It is greatly to the ad
vantage of students to lie present
at the opening of the sermon.
Monticello, Ga. Aug. 28, 1893.
I- ‘ |
HELP THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
The young people of the South
have been asked by the Home and
Foreign Boards to observe a day
this year, when they will make spe
cial study of Missions and special
contributions to Missions. Indeed it
is hoped that such a day may be ob
served each year, when the younc
people shall honor the Lord by a joy
ful giving to his cause. The Wo
man's Missionary Union, which has
been sn successful in the past in get
ting up interesting and instructive
exercises for the children’s missiona
ry days, has arranged an exception
ally good programme for this one.
The Sunday-school Board will lend
its aid, as well, to the carrying out
of the purpose, rejoicing in the op
potunity to help in interesting the !
Sunday-schools in this greaest of all
works-
I, for one, am glad that this has
been done. I rejoice in every effort
that is made to interest young people
in the work of missions. And I es
pecially rejoice when I see this in
terest quickened by means that, at
the same time, give pleasure to the
little folks. Why should not the do
ing of work for the Lord be a joyous
thing? Why should not the giving
of our money for Lis canse be ac
companied by that which will make
the giving a pleasure and the recol
lection of it a joy? The very
solemn, and sometimes even doleful,
way in which much of the collecting
of money for the Lord’s work is done,
is well calculated to make people
feel that the giving of nickels and
dimes that fall into the plates and
bags is a soul-harrowing sacrifice.
Giving is, or ought to be, a joyous
thing and if by a pleasant exercise
occasionally indulged in, the young
folks can be made to feel this it is
well.
Let the children, large and small,
have a happy day of learning about
the Lord’s work and of giving for its
furtherance' Let them come into
the presence of the Lord with sing
ing and praise, to bring unto him the
offering of their love.
'Die plan is a very simple one. On
the third Sunday in October there
will be an order of exercises, prepar
ed by the Woman's Missionary Un
ion, a part of which will be the dis
tribution of “Mite Pyramids,” which
the Sunday-school scholars and the
teachers too, if they are willing, will
take home with them and keep,
gathering in them such sums as they
can, and on Thanks-giving day or on
the Sunday following, these mite
boxes will bo brought in, either at
a special meeting held for the pur
pose on Thanks-giving day or at the
regular meeting of the Sunday
schools on the Sunday following.
This will give a month for the gath
ering of the offerings.
The object of thia letter is to ap
peal to parents,Sunday-school Super
intendents and teachers to take hold
VOL. 70—NO. 35.
of this thing and help the young
people to make it a great success*
lake hold with enthusiasm, and so
will the children be made enthusias
tic. Don’t chill their ardor by cold
indifference. Give some time to
helping them prepare their parts,
throwing yourselves heartily into it.
Give them opportunities for making
money for their pyramids and help
them from your own pockets to fill
them. Talk about it and encourage
them to talk, and help them plan for
it. They will soon be tilled with the
idea and busy with its carrying out,
if only they can get a little encour
agement. Let each one who can see
to it that the children under his or
her influence receive active sympathy
and practical help. The joy that
will come to the young folks will
amply repay you, and the results
achieved will bring gladness to the
Boards and missionaries.
The Lord’s cause needs the help
the young people will bring to it. If
ever there was a time when all
should join hands and hearts to car
ry forward the work of missions, it
is now. The times are hard and
many are making excuses for not
giving. Large sums are in hiding.
Now is the time the litties must be
gathered and the “nickles must make
the muckles” that are needed for the
work. The children deal in cents
nickels and dimes, and this is the day
for these. Encourage them to lay
these at the Saviour's feet.
I have just rend the Foreign Mis
sion Journal and my heart has been
stirred by the appeals coining from
the fields—from all the fields—
for more workers. Everywhere
the missionaries are rejoicing in
the numbers of converts given to
them by the Lord. But when they
haue told of these, in the next breath
they cry for men to help them “gath
er in the sheaves.” Among the
blessings which I see coming from
this “Missionary Day,” one is the
supply, in part at least, of this need,
another is a blessing upon tne young
workers themselves.
Help the young people.
T. P. Bell.
Cor. Sec. S. S. Boord.
KING ASA’S MISTAKE-
King Asa was a man whose char- '
acter as a whole is justly admired
by the many thousands who have
candidly read his history. Consider
ing the times in which he lived he
was a 411:111 of move than oHin 1
nobleness of character, and he com
pares very favorably with many of
the best Christians of the present day.
But, like all other good men, he had
his faults and he made some grave
mistakes. Perhaps the one great
mistake of his life was the course he
persued towards the prophet Hanani,
who rebuked Asa for his special
effort in getting the king of Syria to
break his alliance with the king of
Isreal and then unite with Asa iu
waging war against the king of Is
rael, thus showing particular reliance
upon the Syrian king, rather than
upon God. Hanani went toAsaand
said : “Because thou hast relied on
the king of Syria and not relied on
the Lord thy God, therefore is the
host of the king of Syria escaped
out of thine hand.” This prophet
also said : “Herein thou hath done
foolishly, therefore from henceforth
thou shaft have wars.” Now Asa
should h ive thankfully and humbly
received this reproach from the Lord
through the month of his prophet,
but instead of this he was quite an
gry with Hanani. Thus we read:
“Then Asa was wroth with the seer
and put him in a prison house ; for he
was in a rage with him because of
this thing.” If he acted foolishly
before this, he certainly acted very
foolishly now. Was it possible that
he supposed he could destroy the
force of the truth spoken to him by
the prophet, by shutting him up in
prison? Did Asa think be could
prevent the fulfillment of that pro
phecy by abusing and persecuting
the prophet? If he did, he was
greatly mistaken. It was a great
mistake in him to get angry at and
abuse an innocent prophet, when
Asa ought to have known that Hanani
was simply God’s messenger, faith
fully doing his duty. By wreaking
out his vengeuce on Hanani, the king
showed a gross short-sightedness, as
well as very bad temper. And yet
how like many members of our
churches to-day he was. The preach
er delivers God’s plain truth to them,
which wounds them badly and then
they get angry at him and want him
punished. Is it possible that they think
they make their case any better by
such a couise? Do they think they
can drive away the truth by driving
away their pastor? Do not repeat
Asa’s mistake. C. 11. Wetheube.
Rev. I*. M. McLeod has resigned
the pastorate of the Berlin church,
Wisconsin, to take effect Nov. Ist.
Rev. G- W. Gardner, of Meridian,
Miss.,has been called to the pastorate
of the church at Kissimme, Fla.
The Florida brethren are looking
up a lot in St, Augustine on which
to erect a Baptist house of worship
in that city.
'Die American Baptist Publication
Society has appointed Bro. Carl Lin
dahl, as colporteur |to labor among
the Scandinavians |of South Dakota,