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OUR SUPREME PROBLEM.
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By Dr. J. B. GAMBRELL, President Mercer University.
'I his discussion will be of the S< utli
mainly, and may be applied specially to
our .state toward the close. All social
and religious problems should be studied
with reference, both to the elements in
volved. and the environments. A true
estimate of these precede, in logical
order, the solution of the problem. It
will help us to understand our where
abouts to take
A BACKWARD LOOK.
The present situation is one in a series
of evolutions. What now is has come
from past sowings. .Southern Baptists
are what they are, as the result of causes,
acting according to their nature.
The tea incident in Boston harbor did
not make the war of Independence; it
was only a match setting on lire the
widely scattered elements of revolt
against autocratic oppression. Prepara
tions to, the Revolution had been going
on for a long time. Preacher whipping
Puritains had taught the colonists to
hate tyranny. The strokes that fell on
Holmes and others in Massachusetts
were heard from ('ape Coil to Charles
ton harbor; from the salt water, west
ward to where the thin fringe of civili
zation frazled out into the backwoods.
This rising tide of honest hatred of op
pression was tremendously augmented
by the conduct of the fox-hunting Par
sons of the English establishment in
Virginia, not a whit less bigoted and
hateful than the Puritains.
During this preparatory stage, Bap
tists were the agitators and the teachers
of the people in the principles of liberty.
Their steadfastness, heroism and suffer
ings drew all generous hearts to them,
so that it may be, truly said they'anade
the war of independence. And that war
was a struggle for Baptist, pinciples,
though not under the Baptist name.
Throughout the war, Baptists, to a man,
were for independence. Gen. Washing
ton was pleased to bear testimony to
this effect.
But, the war over, they continued
their work for liberty, and kept on the
crest of the wave of popular favor.
They were then, one in one hundred of
the population or less. The oppressing
churches were smashed and everything
made for Baptists growth, except numer
ous acts of Baptist folly.
Methodism was then just rising in the
new States, and was not burdened with
the opprobrium which nearly destroyed
Episcopacy, especially in the South.
Under powerful and aggressive leaders,
Baptists made rapid progress. They
turned all their artillery on “the hireling
ministry” of the English church, and
well nigh obliterated it. But the recoil
of their guns, displaced, in large meas
ure, the Bible doctrine of giving from
Baptist churches. Preachers supported
themselves and boasted that they asked
nothing for preaching. This served a
temporary purpose, but left ll permanent
bad effect, as was seen when the rise of
the missionary enterprise brought us to
practical test, Then began those strug
gles which resulted in the split. And
calamitous as was the split, it was as
nothing compared to the failure to split
in many cases. By consent, the Hard
shell element remained in many church
es to obstruct, and it is there yet, in
many places, to our hurt.
ENVIRONMENT.
But we have been favored marvelously
in our environments. There is some
thing about country life, its simplicity,
its freedom, its running streams and
glassy ponds, that helps Baptists along.
John the Baptist was a country man, far
back, (rod works his purposes among
men, through men and in reasonable
ways. As things go, John would have
been spoilt had lie grown up in the
city. His clear spiritual vision would
have been clouded, his rugged zeal
tamed; his courage toned down to com
placency. And Jesus was a villager.
In the back districts of Judea, Christi
anity first found friends. It was no ac
cident. Baptists have a simple faith,
and it suits a simple-hearted, honest
people. 1 pray God to save us from the
contagion of worldliness and shame.
Not long after the Revolutionary war,
through climatic causes, the negroes
were shifted, by degrees, from the North
to the South, The North became a
manufacturing section; we grew and
multiplied as the finest agricultural
people the world ever saw. The negroes
kept foreign immigration from us, while
it has, decade after decade, poured into
the North. The simple-hearted negroes
—a blessing on their kinky heads
learned our religion as well as our lan
guage and arts. A succession of noble
ministers preached the gospel to a rural,
freedom loving, Bible reading people,
shut in for more than a hundred years,
with the result that there ' are in the
South, with less than one-third the pop
ulation of the entire country; largely
over two-thirds of the Baptists in the
country, white and black.
The war broke down the barrier to
immigration and laid the foundations
for a new era in the South. Although
the new order has been delayed by re
construction, it is certain that the be
ginning is here, and that nothing can
stay it. Atlanta is put in proof. The
new civilization must be wide, more in-
tense, more complete, more trying, more
dangerous; but more powerful for good,
if we make it so, as I think we can.
What, therefore, in view of the facts, is
OUli HUI'IiEME PROBLEM
to-day? 1 answer. Gather in and dom
inate all the forces in this widening,
intensifying, complex civilization, by a
masterful spirit of evangelism. The
battle for supremacy, between truth and
error, in the South, for a whole cycle;
till our civilization culminates and some
catastrophe makes a new beginning will
be fought practically to a finish in the
life time of people now living. We live
in a formative period, a time of destiny.
It is the time of opportunity, such as we
never saw before, such as will not wait
on our sluggishness.
The new war is on us. Already the
pickets are firing all along the line, and
now and then there is the sound of ar
tillery. We must fight or surrender.
But how are we to dominate the new
forces by gospel influences? I answer:
1. We must take up the old war with
Ilardshellism and fight it out; win or
conquer those who yet insist that they
can live in good fellowship in Baptist
churches, while they persistently re
fuse to obey the head of the churches.
They must be made, by a kind of holy
vehemence of insistence, to come in or
go out. (lamp followers are a hinder
ance to any army.
2. We must bring in a reign of com
mon sense along with the reign of
grace and be done entirely with the idea
that the Lord is to glorify himself
through our foolishness. After we have
used our best in carrying for
ward the work committed to us, there
will b# left a vast field for the display
of divine wisdom. There is a stream
of common sense running through the
Bible, from Genesis to Revelations, of
which the consummate tact of Jacob in
preparing to meet Esau, is a fair speci
men. We are to be wise in our genera
tion. Simple conditions require simple
methods; complex conditions, methods
to suit. The country brother, dear soul,
thinks he could run a city church with
country methods, but he is simply mis
taken. To study the situation, to act
with reference to its needs, has the
sanction of common sense and Script
ure. Let it be written large, doctrines
ARE FIXED; METHODS CHANGE with
cIiict’MSTANCES, and this miny excel
lent brethren need to learn by heart,
3. Applying what has just been said,
with emphasis, I would urge that we
must find methods to reach and utilize
our vast numbers. According to a law
of grace, resources unused become a
burden. How are we burdened? Look
at our numbers and then look at our
doing. In Georgia we have approxi
mately 150,000 white Baptists. 1 risk
nothing in saying that there are 1,500
among us who might give more for mis
sions and education than all of us are
doing and never miss a comfort. Is this
because our churches are full of uncon
verted people? Ido not believe it. It
is because of a lack of correct teaching,
and mainly because we have no reasona
ble method of reaching them. We ob
viously need organization and system,
and steady driving at it. Nothing can
be done with great bodies of men with
out organization and method. Take
some of our city churches with 500, 000,
maybe, 1,000 members, what can the
pastor do with them, except, through
trained leaders? In most of them a few
do all that is done, to the great detri
ment of the many. Any church can be
organized, so that, practically, every
member will be brought into action.
The term Bishop implies, in common
sense, just tins. He oversees the work.
To tell the people to work and lay out no
work to suit the experience and strength
of workers and appoint no leaders, is
just what the common run of Southern
preachers do, but they’ ought to quit it.
Nothing so urgently’ demands the at
tention of Southern Baptists, of Geor
gia Baptists, as to devise some way to
utilize our real strength. How it would
solidify the churches, revive the per
sonal piety of now lukewarm, and. in
many cases, disorderly members, and
fill the treasury’ of all the Hoards with
money. It is an interesting topic, but 1
must turn from it.
4. A mighty factor in our evangelism,
is, or should be, our schools of all
sorts. There is a tendency always
and a danger lurking in even Baptist
colleges and universities to go into the
dry rot of unsympathetic scholasticism.
Religion comes to be secondary, and
the real purposes for which the' insti
tution was founded, fades out of view.
I have no opinion of that institution
which lags behind and begs patronage
on the plea of some vague sort of good
ness. A college, Christian to the mar
row and Baptistic, can give a better
and broader culture than any other
kind of institution, provided it have
the means, and it is our duty, as it is to
our interest to furnish the means. But
with that, the college ought to be the
training place for the leaders of the
people in all great evangelistic move
ments. There is a greater demand on
our colleges than ever before in this
line, greater by the measure of our
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22,1894.
widening opportunities, growing re
sources and impending dangers. What
appears to me plain is, that the Bap
tist College or University as It may be
culled should have in it a vigorous re
ligious and missionary spirit, should be
in touch, close and sympathetic, with
all the movements of the denomination
and through its plans, work and forces
it should lift up all along the line. A
so called Christian college, as good for
one denomination as another, is worth
but little to any, and is clearly not what
is demanded to train a stalwart leader
ship for great movements. I conceive,
also, that the University now demanded
will be adjusted to the broader needs of
our people; especially in training teach
ers and preachers for the masses, as well
as for the better communities. To lie
more specific, I would say that Mercer
ought to devise away to help, through
her Theological department, the hun
dreds of Georgia preachers, every way
worthy men, who have never had any
help extended to them. And In the
new arrangement, that ought to be,
there should be practical teaching in
Christian methods.
Also Mercer ought to give instruc
tion in Pedagogy and thus get under
the schools of the State and lilt them
up. In these two ways, Mercer can prac
tically and immensely help on the great
I undertaking before us,
What has been written is discounted
' in the minds of many excellent breth
i ren by our great growth. They really
i do not see, but that w’e ought to be
i s itibli •(! and go along in the old ineth
j o Is. Look at the South and look at the
North, they say, we beat them two to
I one.
Nothing will mislead like some of the
facts, while all the facts will instruct
uid enlighten. I Slid toward the be
! ginning of this discussion that the
South has had a homogeneous and Bib'e
loving population living in the country
and all these things make for our prog
ress. In two Southern States it is not
so. We have encountered a Catholic
population in cities largely and with
what results?
In the great State of Lousiana we
have 20,928 white Baptists. In New
Orleans with more than a quarter of a
million of people, we have three weak
churches, mission churches two of
them are, and the other may be. It is
said that through our weak policy, or
no policy, in New Orleans we have lost
more Baptists, three times over, than
we now have on our church rolls there.
Maryland is another Southern State
where we have contended against Cath
olics and we have less than 9,000 white
Baptists in that State.
Missouri is not just such a case, but
it is more like the Northern States in
that the Catholic and foreign elements
generally are mainly a recent accretion
1 read in the Index that there is more
destitution in St. Louis alone than in
Hie whole State of Louisiana with only
20,928 white Baptists, and the statement
is correct. There are 800,000 German
in Missouri hardly touched by any evan
gelizing force.
Let these figures awake us from a
dream of false security. If we believe
that the easy, unbusiness methods or
lack of methods which have done well
with an unmethodical, Baptist enclined
country population, will serve us against
the trained and desiplined hosts of
Rome and of other hordes coming into
our borders, we are deceiving ourselves,
as our experience in Louisiana and
Maryland ought to convince us.
The times are momentous and urgent.
There is not a day to lose if we are to
make sure of the future. Some years
ago the astute secretary of our Home
Mission Board made a speech before a
convention of which I was then a mem
ber. He spoke of cities to be built and
brethren laughed. Let Birmin gham and
other cities answer that laugh. We
have seen only a beginning. The Nica
ragua Canal will be constructed before
we can get ready for it. The canal emp
tying the great Lakes into the Gulf, via
the Mississippi river giving a water way
from Chicago to New Orleans is nearing
completion. Together these will change
the currents and center of trade for
half the continent. The race question
has passed the acute stage and will
continually subside iu interest. The
tide of immigration lias rolled across
the continent on Northern latitudes and
pressure, climate and interest conspire
to turn it Southward. Our own people
are leaving the country to the negroes
and going to the towns and cities.
Many of them untrained wander off
and are lost to us, and their children
after them, are likewise lost.
This is a tremendous time for us.
The Home Board needs $500,090 a year
to put where one dollar now will be
ten or twenty, ten years from now. And
we are able to give it and would do it if
we could get at the people. Ought we
not to go regularly into the work of en
listing and training a Baptist army to
take the place of tjie Baptist gang
ranging around iu these Southern
States?
I must not weary you, so with one or
two more thoughts I will close. God
has dealt with us in a wonderful manner
iu protecting us from the contagion of
European influences for so long a time,
and giving us our servants to be much
more than servants, brethren iu the
Lord. There must be a great reunion
for us. For one, I cannot believe God
means that we are to concern ourselves
simply to hold our part of the country.
More than two-thirds of the Baptists in
less than one-third of the country, and
that other two-thirds and more is
largely foreign and Catholic. Look at
New England with her 1,005,000 Catho
lics aud 768,000 non Catholics all told.
Every great city iu the North is under
the heels of Rome and many of the
States soon will be. Our brethren hard
pressed are doing nobly, but with *>oo,
000 immigrants every year nearly every
one Catholic, the prospect is threateu
ening for them and tor us. The South
must save the day. That is my pro
foundest conviction shared by many
Northern brethren We ought to send
men by scores to the North, press iu at
every open door and save them and us.
We only need to bring our forces into
the field io do it.
If some of us who have passed the
conflicts of war and seen our fortunes
vanish, our homes desolated; if some of
us who passed through the post bellum
experiences aud saw our colored folks
wander away in gloom and the old
homes broken up; if we should live to
see this great purified host of the liv
ing God aroused aud trained, going
forth to every quarter of the globe to
conquer then could we say, truly has
our God shown us goodness according
to all the days, wherein he caused us to
see trouble.
It is a vision of gloom that passes be
fore my mind. Millions of redeemed
freemen, intelligent, aroused, thought
ful, trained from useful service, going
by their missionaries, some North, some
South, some to the West and some to
the East carrying the words of life
among the babel tongues that throng
our shores, and all shores while this
same word under the assured blessing
of God grows and multiplies beyond all
we have ever known at home. No Bap
tists on earth have such opportunities.
To meet these opportunities prejudices,
narrowness, vain boasting and envying
must be eschewed, and with wisdom,
humility with courage, we must con-
front the task before us. A great histo- !
rian has said: All history is a little less
than an account of opportunities lost. I
1 pray God no future historian may ever
have cause to write that truth against
Southern Baptists.
THE DISCUSSION.
Dr. S. G. Hillyer, in discussing
the paper said it was a very im
portant document. It discusses
a subject of vital importance, to
wit: the relation of our denomina
tion to God and the world. He
could remember when there were
but 20,000 Baptists in Georgia,
white and colored. This was back
in the early twenties ; now we have,
white and colored, nearly 350,000.
It sounds big to say 350,000 Bap
tists. This is a great power and
ought to be. But let us not be de
ceived by only an apparent strength.
More than half this number are
colored. When we look at their
ignorance, their superstition, and
the little they know about the Bi
ble ; how little they know about
church organization and church
development, we will see how our
strength is only apparent. They
are at the bottom stratum of culture
and education. We have no doubt
but they are doing the best they
can. But when we talk of 350,000
Baptists in Georgia, we must re
member that more than half of this
number, are colored Baptists. We
have a great problem here, before
us. Dr. Hillyer said he would like
to see a body of twenty brethren
organized to go and work
as Dr. Brittain, teaching them what
is priper. And beside the colored
Baptists, there are so many white
Baptists in our churches who carry
but little strength.
He did not believe that our church
es had so many unconverted mem
bers. Some were no doubt deceived.
Many he thought were direlict
and not doing their duty. He
thought a majority of these need
but to be aroused from|their lethar
gy. What we nteed is to bring our
actual membership into available
effort. Mercer University is our
great factor in our work. Let
Mercer be made to extend her in
fluence out into these do nothing
elements.
Brother F. C. McConnell said it
was a wonderful paper. He would
like to have the discussion turned
to some method. If any brother
has a method of harmonizing, or
making available the elements re
ferred to, let us have it. He had
been, recently, in all the Southern
States, except Missouri, and was
convinced that we are working un
der no method. Our progress and
prosperity are accidental. We work
or give, because we feel like it. As
soon as method is struck upon Bap
tists quit it.
Every spasmodic effort is detri
mental. He becomes every day
more impressed that we are more
helpless, and more unwieldy as we
grow in numbers. He feels that
we are like a engine with a
full head of steam, and the throttle
loosed with nowhere particularly
to go, and having no means
to stop. Felt as if hs were tied
to some big thing th it is taking him
away. He felt sometimes like he
was on some great planet, gyrating
about in space. If he could die
out of it, there would be relief.
He was not a pessimistic optim
ist. He was optimism soaked in
facts. Georgia and Virginia prac
tically control the policy—no, they
fail to make any policy. Texas
would worry some, but Georgia
and Virginia, together can give us
method.
Dr. Henry McDonald expressed
his pleasure and gave his thanks
for the clear, suggestive paper
which has been read by Dr. Gam
brell.
Upon a very minor point in the
paper he desired to call attention
to the fact that while John was,
in some respects, called and train
ed in the country. It will not do
to make or even intimate anything
like a law, for our Lord chose, at
least, the first four of his apostles
from the busiest town on the lake
shore. Saul of Tarsus was raised
in no mean city and afterwards
finished his education in the most
noted city of the world, Jerusalem.
These things were mentioned that
we might not be misled by the
statement of Dr. Gambrell’s paper.
The Lord calls men from the busy
city as well as from the quiet coun
try. The imoortance of using our
grand opportunity comes to relieve
my mind when it passes into the
shadow of despondency. It is
sometimes forced upon me that
while Baptists are especially adapt
ed for free countries in which
there is an inviting field for the un
restrained spread of our principles ;
but that as men and nations fall
into the world’s way of strong
government and the fashions of
worldliness and wealth that there
is danger of the loss of simple
truth and plain worship. Still I
do not give up the “larger hope”
that Divine Providence wnich has
given such a glorious field will con
tinue to direct and bless us.
Do not yield to gloom and fear.
Do not feel as if you were “pulling
a bell rope on a train that had no
fastening on the other end.” Gath
er up the courage’that comes from
trusting in God ; that our faith and
hope rests upon God. To the
Christian the other end of the rope
is in the hand of God. You need
not feel that you are aimlessly “gy
rating upon a planet” that has
broken away from the starry sister
hood. Let us thank God that we
have such a heritage—lso,ooo
white Baptists. And then such a
wide door, never since the day on
which our Lord hung crucified on
Calvary, have we had such an op
portunity. Let us make the most
of it. We dare not impeach the
Divine wisdom that committeth
his truth in this world to the
churches for its holding and trans
mission to the world.
Not new organizations but work
ing within the organization Christ
gave to the world is the path of
duty and of success. This mighty
“gang” has gathered its numbers
in this way. What shall be done
“to develop, elicit and combine”
their strength? Upon the pastors
of these churches the prime re
sponsibility rests for training, de
veloping their religious activity.
Wise and intelligent pastors
must lead the people, by preaching,
and formulating plans for church
work. Willing minded and intelli
gent pastors must always be the
leaders in the upward movement
of the churches.
Minister’s Institutes, that discuss
practical methods rather than
wasting time in wrangling over
some remote question, may accom
plish something. Dr. Gambrell’s
plan of trying to help pastors take
a month or two at Mercer com
mends itself. A man who wants
with a great desire, may be very
much helped in this way.
Mercer University ought to have
a much larger endowment and this
not onlv that our own boys and
ministerial students may be train
ed, but that we train our full quota
of the young men of the State.
Let us be hopeful about the fu
ture.” “Our fathers trusted in
God and he delivered,” let us trust
that He will not forsake their sons.
Dr. Gambrell said he was a pes
simistic optimist. In the long run,
he would get through. The God
who had been with us in one set of
circumstances will not desert us
under other circumstances. We
must prepare for the coming. He
was glad of the resources of Geor
gia,and wanted emphasis put on the
situation. This army of Baptists
is something we should be at work
on. There are coming in the South
many sorts of people, aggressive
and strong. They will do in Geor
gia what they have done in Mis
souri and Texas. They will take
charge of Jour country and drive
our people out, and they will go
down under the hard Germans like
corn stalks.
We need to hold to the central
idea of church independance. The
church is the only unit. All other
bodies are only advisory. Empha
size the truth, that we are free.
Baptists have always had the dis
advantages of freedom. Let us
also get the benefit of our advant
ages. We have the disadvantage
of one Baptist breaking away from
all his brethren. He was glad of
this, as enough would do this to
keep us advised that we are free.
We can’t compel obedience, and
would not if we could.
One of our disadvantages is our
liberty. A Baptist fool is a Baptist
at large. No one can control him.
We should take steps to control our
hosts. There should be an earnest
movement inaugurated to utilize
what we have. Every church is
self acting and self controlling.
He would not control any church,
if he could. He would do more
than we are doing. The most
practical way is to do more for our
preachers than we are doing. There
are only about thirty preachers at
Mercer. Scarcely enough to make
an impression. The truth is, here
in Georgia an overwhelming ma
jority are straggling into the minis
try without any sort of prepara
tion. We cannot bring the church
es above these pastors. We must
get into these men. Christ runs
men from the inside. We would
not displace these men, but they
should be gotten together and
given such instruction as is needed.
It was suggested that the pastors
are not allowed to push or advance.
Then take hold of the younger ele
ment and train them. The old
members will die like they are. The
young people will come on.
Dr. Gambrell urged gettingevery
body in the church to do something
and illustrated his position with the
anecdote of a preacher, who had in
one side of his congregation an old
brother who would go to sleep.
On the other side two would go to
sleep. He put the one between
the other two to keep them awake
and thus had three listeners more
than before.
Rev. J. B. S. Davis said he had
been a Baptist for forty-eigh
years. Had been a close observer
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of methods. He had found difli- i
culties. Our people think we have I
got the truth, the truth is mighty >
and will prevail. We have noth
ing to do but sit down and let it <
work its way. Our people pray to '
God, but do nothing to bring re
sults. We need to get rid of these
ideas. Some of our churches
claim to be missionary and yet do
nothing for misssions. TheyalloAV
no committees to be appointed,
and the pastors hands are tied.
Such had been his trials and he
suggested the adoption of a set of
rules and regulations for church
organization and church work.
Rev. E. M. Hooten had had a
great deal of experience in country
pastorates and had found the coun
try brethren inclined to follow the
truth. They took the Bibleastheir ,
guide, and when by its light they ;
were asked to move forward, he 1
found but little trouble to get them I
to fall into line. We have no lead
ers among men, but the truth as it
is in Christ, is what they desired to
follow.
Dr. J. B. Hawthorne wanted the
paper published. It will do good in
the way of inducing discussion.
In a few statements, he did not
agee. In regard to the liberation
of the negro, he said it >
had not brought immigration
to the South. The better
class North, nor East will ever
come South as long as the negro is
here. There are instances of skilled
labor coming, but never will there
be any general influx from the
North.
He did not agree with Dr. Gam
brell. as to the negro problem dis
appearing. It was never so real as
now, and it becomes more real
everyday. What is to be done?
How are we to live with them is
the great political problem to be
solved. Dr. Curry who has studied
this question, has no idea of its
solution. It lies before me a dark
gulf, with not one ray of light to
show the way.
He heartily agreed with Dr.
Gambrell that we do need some
things we have not got for the
development of our people. We
need more organization, more
classification of work to be done.
He agreed with Dr. McDonald
that allegiance to the church must
be in the church.
The first thing to be considered
and to be secured is the preserva
tion of our distinctive principles as
Baptists. He had great concern
lest through the teachings of some
of our learned men thousands of
our churches may cease to be Bap
tistic. When you see a literary in- I
stitution into which six or seven
million dollars have been put, and
its learned professors teaching that
the Bible story of Adam and Eve
is a myth, or placing it on a par
with Romulus and Remus, and
Jack the Giant Killer, we may well
have fears for our future. He said
he was satisfied president Harper
was just about with Briggs and
Parker. The influence of the
Chicago University upon the Bap
tists is strong. Young men go out
of it impressed with the learning
of Dr. Harper, and the result will
be a wonderful effect upon our
churches.
Hence, he believed in a thorough
and rapid development of our in
stitutions here in the South, by
which we may disseminate the
truth as we hold it.
The Baptists of Georgia should
make Mercer University a great in
stitution and give a it commanding
place among Baptists. It should
be endowed with twenty millions.
We are in great danger, and should
be slow to hitch on organically,
lest we be corrupted by some false
ideas. He would oppose such con
nection as long as his heart beats
the pulsations of life.
Every church, bethought, should
organize its young people and
utilize them. We should not
hitch on to any institution or so
ciety that may give our young peo
ple corrupt ideas. He appreciated
Dr. Gambrell’s position. He has
given an intelligent outline of our
needs.
But our first duty is to remain
Baptists. Let the Bible be the
rock on which we stand and when
men cease to stand upon it, let
them cease to be Baptists. He was
opposed to any connection with
any Baptist organization, in which
he saw departures in doctrine and
truth, or departures from the prac
tices of our fathers.
Dr. Gambrell was thanked by a
rising vote for his excellent paper,
and resolutions were adopted
pledging to support his sug
gestions, and plans for help-
ing our preachers -and pas
tors in better preparing for their
work and recommended the plan as
worthy of the hearty support of
our churches.
rubber
Jr ROOFING nL
Is unequaled lor house, barn, lactory or out
buildings, and costs lull tithe price 01 shingles,
tin or iron. It is ready lor use aud easily ap
plied by any one.
FOR SHED OR HENHOUSE’
On steep or fiat surface, Excellent roof, com
plete
s2.oo—res 100 square feet.— s2.oo
Send stamp for sample and state size of roo
OLD SHINGLE ROOFS.
easily made water tight and fineproof at small
expense, with dayt red slate paint. On decay
ed shingles it fills the pores, and gives a sub
stantial roof, that lasts years. Curled or warp
ed shingles it brings to their places and keeps
them there. Genuine Slate paint requires no
heating, and contains no tar.
ON TIN OR IRON ROOFS
It is acknowledged the best paint, lias a heavy
body is easily applied, expands by heat and
contracts by cola, and never cracks. One coat
equals 4 of any other. Buildings covered with
felt can be made water tight, at small expense.
Write at once for Catalogue and mention
Christian Index.
I NO. RAI NT* ROOF CO-, 42 WEST BROADWAY, N. V.
IfebSm
Harvest Bells.
Song book in round and shape notes
and words only, is strongly endorsed by
Drs. Broadus, Manly, Gambrell, A. J.
Frost, and thousands of others, and by
nearly every Baptist paper in the U. 8.,
Canada and England. Let churches and
Sunday-schools write for terms, and they
will see how the middle man can be
knocked out Address,
W. E. PENN,
14dec-ly St. Louis, Mo
Writing Mention Christian Index.
SEEDS, PLANTS
AND VINES.
Mv stock of new crop (1893) Garden Seeds is
coming in all fresh, new and first-class. Send
in your orders early and receive prompt atten
tion. 1 keep a full stock of Standard Garden
and Flower Seeds.
Strawberry Plants, Rasberry Plants, a nd
Blackberry Plants. All the best varieties of
Grapevines from one to two years old (embrac
ing all thetesied varieties suitable to the South
LaFrance, Meteor, Marechai Neil Roses,
and all the new and beautiful Roses to be
found • < >ur plants are two years old, and bloom
and thrive with very little care.
Tube Roses, Sweet Peas. Poppies, Glad
iolus, Lilies, Geraniums, Verbenas, and all
kinds of bedding and pot plauts.
j q BUCHER
19 South Broad St., Atlanta,’Ga.
P, O- Box 187.
ian4-tf
Writing Mention Christian Index.
Mark W. Johnson
Seed Company.
35 S. Pryor Street, Atlanta, Gat*
Oldest and most extensive Sped House
South. Reliable Seeds of every descrip
tion on hand in their season. Wholesale
and Retail.
FOR THE FIELD.
Choice selections Scarlet Clover, Red
Clover, Alfalfa—Lucerne, Rescue Grass,
Blue Grass, Herds Red Top, Orchard
Timothy, Bermuda, Johnston and Lawn
Grass, etc.
Seeds for the Garden.
SPECIALTIES.
Jacksan’s Wonder Bean, Lord Bacon
Jones and White Ivy Water Melon Seeds,
Georgia Collard, Cattail Millet, Spanish
Peanut, Chufas, Ensilage. Corn, etc.
Fertilizers, Davis Swing Churn. Send for
prices.
4jan-4m 4
Writing Mention Christian Index.
The Atlanta & Florida Railway Co.
Time Table No. 1, in effect July 2d, 1893.
SOUTHBOUND. NORTHBOUND.
Local, I Local
F't |No. 1. STATIONS. No. 2. F’t
No. 5. Daily Daily No. 8.
P. M. p. M. A. M, A, M.
345 L V Atlanta ....Ar 955
630 358 .Atlanta Yard. 941 210
! 406 ... Cornell
7 05, 415 ....Haasville... 921 138
7 35; 430 ... Riverdale 905 102
748 435 Selina 900 12 50
8 05, 442 ...Kenwood.... 8511
830 , 455 . Fayetteville •• 8 381 1210
850 508 Inman 825 U 45
9«oi 513 ....Woolsey..•• 818 1135
915 525 ...Lowry 810 H2O
935 ; 535 Kallulah Jun’n 805 11°5
955 5 45; .. .Zetella 755 10 47
10 15 600 ..Williamson.. 746 1020
1100 620 ...Zebulon... 730 945
1126| 631 ...Meansville-- 720 920
11 50 645 ...Piedmont... 708 853
12 15 655 Topeko Junc’n. 657 830
12451 710 ...Yatesville.. 627 800
120 738 ...Culloden... 615 728
155; 750 ... Musella 600 658
230 805 ... Knox ville.. 545 630
....Crawley’s
305 820 ...Gaillard’s... 526 610
.....Paynes
3 30; 832 ...Lee Pope... 514 540
400 ! 8 45iAr.FortValley.Lv 500 515
I IP. M.
„ T. W. GARRET!,
H. M. COTTINGHAM, Gen’l Mgr.
Gen. Fgt& Pass. Agent