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TheChristianlndex
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10.000 CIRCULATION.
During' the past two years the
Index has rapidly increased in
circulation. Last year the in
crease was twenty five per cent.
This year thus far.we have given
orders for the printing of a
larger edition each week. Thi s
week we reach the TEN THOUSAND
mark. In the past three and a
half years we have more than
doubled the issue, notwithstand
ing the stringency of the times.
To-day we issue the paper in
brand new type and circulate 10,
000 copies. How long before we
shall be issuing 15,000? If each
subscriber will make a little el
fort to get us a new name we can
have 15.0ne by January Ist next.
Brethren, let us do this and thus
make the Index do half as much
more, for God and man, as it is
now doing.
THE CITIES OF REFUGE.
For the benefit of many
readers of the Index who
do not ha ve access to our Sunday
school literature, we propose to
otter a few thoughts on the
“Cities of Refuge" provided in
the land of Israel for any one
who might unwittingly slay his
neighbor.
A full account of these cities is
found in.losl.ua I?': 1, 11. Moses,
in his life tilin', had informed
the people of Israel, that when
they were settled ill their own
land, such cities should lie pro
ided. And he had also set fort h
■he purpose for which they
should be appointed. and the
laws which should regulate their
use -See Num. 35: !> 35.)
Joshua followed the instruc
lions of Moses (o the letter.
Turn lo Joshua L’O; I U, and you
vil tind a full account of I lie
selectiim and appi>intment of the
cities of refuge. They consti
tid>'da most interesting feature
in ifie national polity of Israel.
Under that polity a large indul
gence was given to the exercise
of revenge on account of per
sonal injuries. And in case of
murder, the next of kin might
slay the homicide whenever lie
met him. Murder was deemed
so great a crime, that he who
committed it was virtually out
lawed. in so much, that the near
kinsmen, at least, were allowed
and expected to avenge the blood
of their relative.
Now. it is obvious that such a
privilege of private vengence
would be sure to be often and
greatly abused in any communi
ty. unless held in check' by wise
and prudent regulations. Just
such a check the cities of refuge
were designed to provide.
The problem that the inspired
Lawgiver had to solve, in regard
to the shedding of blood, was
this: To insure, as far as possi
ble. the condign punishment of
the murderer. And at the same
time to protect a blameless homi
cide from the precipitate and im
pulsive wrath of the “avenger of
blood." And we tirml.y believe
that Moses' method of solving
Ibis great problem in criminal
law. will bear comparison with
.'he statutes of the most civilized
nations. In support of this
opinion we may notice the fol
lowing facts:
The cities wen* not designed
to protect the murderer, but to
’mitigate the rigor of the “Lex
talionis," which, at that day.
■was accepted as an established
‘common law" principle among
all nations. The code of Israel
so far recognized it as to instruct
the judges to give to the plaintiff
in all cases of personal injury
“an eye for an eye, a tooth for a
tooth, a limb for a limb, etc."
But in cases of murder, the aven
ger of blood was not required to
wait for the sentence of the
judge; out, as already stated,
was allowed to slay the murder
er of his kinsman wherever he
might meet him. The effect of
such a rule as this was to make
it a very dangerous thing for one
man. in any way. to kill another.
The killing might be entirely
without malice, and not inten
tional. and yet it exposes the
homicide to the hasty and incon
siderate wrath of the avenger of
blood, who. in his excitement,
might wholly misjudge the facts
of the case, and thus wreak his
vengence upon an innocent man.
Verily the rule made even a
blameless homicide a dangerous
thing
It was to guard against this
abuse of the lex talionis that
cities of refuge were provided.
The man who had accidentally
slain another, knew his danger.
He knew the avenger of blood
would seek his life. But not far
away was a city of refuge. With
what joy would he seek its
friendly shelter! But he must
stop at the gate till the elders of
the city meet him there. To
them he must make his state
ment, setting forth the facts
about the killing. If the elders
were satisfied with his story,
they would admit him to the
city and there for the present
he would bo safe.
But the case did not end there.
He was protected only from the
personal violence of the avenger,
who still had the right to ar
raign the refugee before “the
congregation,” to be tried on an
indictment for murder. The
avenger became only a prosecu
tor. Before that court witnesses
were heard on both sides, and
the judges, or “congregation"
gave the case a fair and impar
tial hearing. If the killing is
proved to have been uninten
tional and without malice, he is
set at liberty and the avenger of
blood dared not hurt him. But
if found guilty of murder, he
was sentenced to death, and the
avenger of blood <must lead in
the execution of the sentence.
When we look carefully at
such a trial as the one above
out-lined, we are struck with its
resemblance to our trials by a
jury. The accused was brought
before a court called a “congre
gation," composed no doubt of
the man's fellow citizens—AM
peen. Though composed per
haps of quite a large number of
members, yet it. was in its func
tion, a jury of his peers.
The government of Israel,
though theocratic, was in its
practical workings, largely dem
ocratic. Its citizens enjoyed a
degree of personal freedom ut
terly unknown among the na
tions of that period. And if
Israel had only been true to the
institution of Moses, we can
scarcely imagine what would
have been the extent and bright
ness of her glory.
But let us recur to the cities
of refuge. They were not only
important ami .useful for the ad
ministration of justice; but, like
so many other things found in
the book’s of Moses, they were
the shadows and the types of a
far better ami a more perfect ref
uge yet to be revealed. In the
fulness of time, God hath pre
pared for his people a refuge in
his Son. He is to us a city of
refuge. Th*' type and the anti
type agree on this, that both
were designed to save. Upon
1 his resemblance the typical re
lation stands. Bui in one par
ticular they differ “toto coelo.”
The city ol refuge in the land of
Uanaan was designed to save
only th*' innocent, but the city of
refuge in Christ throws open its
doors to the guilty. He “came
to seek and to save them that are
lost," and “to call not the right
eous but sinners to repentance.”
Ami we hear him calling us to
himself saying: “him that com
eth unto me 1 will in no wise cast
out." Then we read: “There
is therefore, now, no condemna
tion lo them that are in Christ"
—in him as in a city of refuge
they ar*: safe.
No accuser can bring against
them a bill of indictment. “They
have tk'd for refuge, to lay hold
upon the hope set before them."
May we all tind deliverance from
('Very accusing spirit in this God
given refuge.
■w
Praper for the Restoration of the
Former States of the Church to
the Papacy.
Twenty -five years ago the uni
fication of Italy was secured and
Rome was taken from th*' Papa
cy. The Pop* l had been the Tem
poral Sovereign of Rome and
other outlying States. It was
small in extent but gave the glow
and glitter of being an earthly
prince as well as priest to the
occupant of th*' Papacy. It is
not the unsupported opinion of
opposing religionists, but the
verdict of history that the civil
government of Rom*' under th*'
successive popes was an aggre
gation of all the evils of bad
government. Illiteracy, crime,
poverty, intolerance were the
badges of papal rule. The pop
ulation of Rom*' all Catholic—
threw off the despotism. The
rejection of the Pop*' as a tem
poral ruler was by no alien hand.
Th*' arrow was feathered from
his own wing. It was her own
children that made':her desolate
and naked."
Ever since the Roman people
were merged in United Italy, the
Pop*' regarils himself a prisoner
in the Vatican and semis out his
lamentations to all the faithful.
And now when the event of
twenty tive years ago shall be cel
ebrated by th*' rejoicings of the
Italian people, the church all
overtheearth is to offerup pray
er for the restoration of the tem
poral territory. Good Catholics
are to pray that the government
of Italy shall be overthrown and
the Pope once more invested
with despotic power over the
former papal territory—Christ's
kingdom was not of this world,
but the Pope wants his to be of
this world and all the faithful
are to pray for it.
Whether this hope and prayer
of the Catholic heart shall be an
swered. remains to be seen. This
much is apparent, it is urged
that the Pope should not be a
subject of any earthly govern
ment. that he owes no allegiance
to any civil authority, that the
command “let every soul be sub
ject unto the higher powers"
does not hold good in regard to
the Pope. If in order to the ex
ercise of his papal function the.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1895.
Pope should be free from all
civil rule, we want to know why
every cardinal bishop,priest,even
to the humblest layman, should
not also be exempt? If th*' Pope
should be free from all earthly
government in order to command
why should not every Catholic
also reject all civil allegiance in
order to o6e?/ his commands?
Will any Catholic writer an
swer? The truth is the weary
wailing of the papacy since
shorn of her ill-used temporal
power, shows her heart long
ing for power. She never yet
willingly relinquished any earth
ly power, and in the nature of
tilings must seek with bitter
crying and prayers to regain
what she has lost. Wethink hon
estly it would be a better thing
for the continuation of the pure
ly spiritual power of the Pope,
for him gladly to renounce the
whole claim to the old temporal
things if even they should be of
fered to the church. We think the
Papacy would be the gainer for
the world would have no cause
for alarm from what has been
the shame and the bane of the
Papacy, the unsated lust of domin
ion over Hi*' fp>vernmentx of the
world. The world sees in this
clamor for the flesh pots of earth
ly power in praying to lie restor
ed to the headship of the old
papal territory that the old spir
it still lives in every pope and in
the heart of every follower.
What would we think if the
Queen of England ordered prayer
and humiliation on every fourth
of July for the recovery of her
lost territory in the United
Stales? Would not the world
think’ that old age had made her
daft? Yet millions of Catholics
will devoutly pray for th*' Pope
to become the feared Caesar
and that his wisdom is infallible
in seeking such restoration.
-w
“Whatsoever t hings
Thcßeautyof are true, whalso
Holiness. ever things are
honest, whatsoev
er things ar*; just., whatsovor
things are pure, whatsoever
things ar*' lovely. 'Whatsoever
tilings ar*! of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there
be any praise, think’ on these
things."
A Word for Hard “Trust in the
Tinies. Lord and do
go oil, verily
thou shall be fed." Great dis
honor is put upon our Lord by
the discontent and clamor of his
children. We talk’ like paupers
instead of feeling that we are
princes in the kingdom. Poor
child remember the Shepherd
King “I shall not want."
At the Stone
Who Has Asked Mountain Asso
this at Your ciation some on*'
Hands? had 1 ibe r a 1 ly
sca 11 ere il a 11
this new laugh'd gospel mis
sion literature. A great
deal of this is the literature
of disappointed people who ar*'
bitter against the prevailing
methods of work because they
are no longer employed. A lit
tle mor*' self respect would keep
them from thrusting their liter
ature when it is neither needed
nor desired.
It is amazing
Ministers of the that any in-
Gospel are Preach- telli ge n t
ers, not Priests. Christian Pro
testant ca 11 s
th*' ministry of the N. Testament
a priesthood. They are never
so called in the New Testament.
The ministry of the gospel come
not to thrust themselves as sub
mediators between the souls of
th*> people and God—but to pro
claim an end of all priesthood in
the only perfect and abiding
Priesthood of our Lord. High
church men declare their hunger
for Rome when they so designate
themselves. Bishop Nelson in
the ordination sermon of the rec
tor recently installed in St. Luke
said that when the priest faces
the people it was “to absolve,"
etc. There you have it in this
nineteenth century, a protestant
bishop claiming the right and
power of the rector “to absolve"
that is to forgive sins.
And when the rector turns his
back on the people it is to offer
up his prayers for them as a
priest. The monstrous claim to
absolve!—why not establish the
confessional? • The Catholic
church is much more consistent.
Furthermore, the bishop strikes
at the idea that a rector is in any
way responsible to the laity, in
that being a xfetcard, he can owe
no responsibility to those to
whom he officiates. Wielding
such powers why should they be
responsible to the common souls
that make up the poor laity? The
Apostle of the Gentiles could
say “Ourselves your servants
for Jesus' sake." But the church
es of the New Testament nor the
apostles that found them
knew anything of that modern
thing called High Churchism
with its glitter of ceremonialism
and its mimicry of life.
It is very ques-
And Bishops it tionable whether
Shall be. the opening of all
sorts of gather
ings with prayer is of much val
ue. It is a recognition of God in
a formal way, and it is real diffi
cult to make it a simple, sincere
prayer to him that heareth.
So we thought when our expo
sition is to be opened with all the
pompt and parade befitting the
joyous occasion. The Christian
directors honor the sentiment of
a Christian people by having it
opened with prayer and closed
with a benediction. Bishops Nel
son and Decker are to do this.
The first is the Episcopal bishop
of Georgia and the other the Ro
man Catholic Bishop of the same
diocese. Both are in the direct
line of the Historic Episcopate.
I think that the selection of some
church dignitary that can be dis
tinguised by some sort of eccle
siastical dress is rather appro
priate for such a Stat*' occasion.
I think furthermore that it was a
considerate thoughtfulness to ap
point bishops of the smaller
church bodies in Georgia. The
Methodist church could lifcve
furnished a real native Bishop in
the person of Dr. Haygood,
who has done for Georgia and
the South more than half a doz
en titular bishops, and as for
Baptists we have more real
bishops in this State than the
churches represented by these
distinguished clergymen have in
all the Americas. Indeed I am
not sure but having a colored or
ator to make an address it might
have been well “to have had one
of the prayers offered by a color
ed man, and Atlanta lias two
able colored Bishops, < laines and
Turner. Bishops.
The speech ma-
Speeches at As- ker is there. The
sociations. Association pre
sents very in-
teresting themes. No wonder
men arc stirred up to speak’ 1 heir
mind —I have no patience with
the ready condemnation of other
men's speeches. But but let
us not make them on every oc
casion that presents itself. Don’t
worry a whole crowd with beat
ing thrashed straw. Give the
other brother a chance, and let
him remember he may think him
self wiser if lie does not use th*'
chance. Again, you have a big
warm heart that takes in every
thing, but don't speak all your
mind, you have too much mind,
hold up. Give a sharp, straight
out, honest, unselfish talk and
put the balance off tor eternity.
H. M* D.
Standing Alone Against the World.
If we follow the Lord Jesus there will
(•onie periods in our lives when we must
Separate ourselves from men. cease to
lean on any human arm, and stand ab
solutely alone. This is a cross which
brave Christian men, determined to be
true at any Cost, must sooner or later
experience. It is by such daring and
self-denial that strong principles are
planted in the soul, that great convic
tions arc nourished and that masterful
energies are developed and disciplined
for the service of truth and righteous
ness.
What are the principles which regu
late the conduct of the average man of
this generation? They are principles
to which he holds merely in deference
to the sentiments of the people whose
favor he covets. They have no stability,
because there is no stability in the
things upon which they rest. Princi
ples wrought into the conscience of a
man when he is alone with God. and
struggling in prayer to find the path of
duty, are divine, and will abide with
him through all the mutations of his
mortal life.
Here is a test, the application of
which will reveal any man to himself
and to the world. If a man will dare
to walk alone in what he believes to be
the path of truth and right and duty
if he will go where everybody about
him refuses to go with him. and where
only the voice of God calls, him- if he
will stay at his post, and be loyal to his
eonvietons when he knows that by so
doing he is sacrificing the dearest friend
ships and cutting himself off from all
human support and favor he has a
character that, is God built, and not
even the gates of hell can prevail
against it.
The victorious men of the church, the
men who have wrought wonders, sub
dued kingdoms, and registered their
names on fame's imperial seat, have
had their periods of retirement from
the world seasons when they lived re
mote from the haunts of men. grappled
with great problems, and night after
night watched the stars out in commu
nion with Him who dwells beyond the
stars in light ineffable and eternal.
These men repudiated the ethics of the
times in which they lived. They would
not compromise with falsehood, wrong
and corruption: they would not barter
their consciences for public favor, and
therefore they had to journey alone in a
path like that the Man of Sorrows trod.
A man can covet nothing better than
the ability to stand alone in support of
what he believes to »be true and right.
We see the lack of this power in every
fashionable social gathering, where
there are men and women consenting
to and participating in things which
they believe to be wrong and mis
chievous. but which they have not the
moral stamina to discountenance. We
see the lack of it in communities where
popular sentiment is supporting some
God-defying and man-destroying in
iquity. In these communities there are
hundreds of men and women whose
convictions are against every social
abomination, but they have not the
courage to step -out and -openly array
themselves against«overwhelming num
bers. Secretly they wish well to the
man who does protest and Nicodemus
like they come to him under cover of
night -and applaud his heroism, but
tlit i ■ craven spirits will make no public
manifestation of the faith that is in
them.
More than all else the world needs
moral heroes. It needs men like Mo
ses, who for a great cause turned his
back upon the richest and proudest
kingdoms of earth. It needs men like
Daniel, who though threatened by an
idolatrous king, and watched by his
detectives, three times a day turned his
face towards Jerusalem, bowed his
knees, and worshipped the God of Israel.
It needs men like Ignatius wAo.dared to
stand against the world. J. B. H
GOSPEL ARROWS.
"He calleth thee.” Who is he that he
should call? Whatever the world may
think of him, however lowly and mean
they regard him, he is none other than
the Son of God.
You go with the wise men of the east,
and enter that humble home in Bethle
ham, and you see an infant lying all un
conscious of the stirring scenes about it;
for Herod is troubled and all Jerusalem
with him. Twelve years later, you go
up to the Holy City to the great feast of
the Passover, and’ lingering after the
vast multitudes have well nigh gone,
yon see a lad in the temple confounding
the Doctors of the law with his ques
tions and answers. Twelve years and
half that number more, pass, and you
see a mature man plying his trade as a
carpenter in the mean city of Nazareth.
But in all these instances you have seen
infinitely more than a babe, a lad, a
carpenter, you have seen "Emmanuel,
Goa with us.”
Before his appearance on earth, he
had from eternity possessed all the per
sections of Deity. As the Father is God.
so also Jesus of Nazareth is God. This
is a great mystery, but it is a great
trutq. "I and my Fatherare one.” said
he to the Jews in Jerusalem. "He that
hath seen me hath seen the Father,”
said he to P hilip. He is therefore per
fect in wisdom, and power, and good
ness. There is nothing that he cannot
accomplish; and being unchangeable,
he will never be unfaithful to his prom
ise. He can render you all the help of
every kind that yon need. He it is that
"calleth thee," heed his call.
If you needed a protector from some
impending danger, you would seek him,
who you had reason to believe, was
greater, and could therefore control the
forces which threatened you harm. If
you were utterly lacking in power to
perform some task that had to be per
formed, else ruin would result, you
would seek his assistance, who you had
reason to believe. was qualified to com
plete the task. Such an one is Jesus
Christ. He it is that "calleth thee
Heed his call In him are hid all the
threasures of wisdom and knowledge.
He is infinitely higher than all created
beings. He is the great God. mighty to
save. All things were made by him and
for him. “He calls thee."
When the Scriptures would enjoin
humility upon Christians they say:
Let this mind be in you which was
Christ Jesus, who being in the form of
God. thought it not robbery to be equal
with God but made himself of no rep
utation; ami took upon him theform of
a Servant, and was made in the likeness
of men and being found in fashion as a
man. he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of
t he cross
He was foretold as "a man of sor
rows." and frequently styb-d himself
the Son of man. He became man in ol
der to obey the law. that man had
broken, and to suffer the punishment,
that we justly merited. Because no one
can see (rod, he lived among us as man
that from his spirit and conduct, we
might have a clearer idea of what God
is. "He that hath seen me. hath seen
the Father.” In his life yon see the Fa
ther's love, and pity, goodness and mer
cy exemplified.
By actual experience he is entirely
acquainted with all the ills of the hu
man heart. sin excepted. "In that he
himself hath suffered, being tempted,
he is able to succor them that are ten*])
ted.” "He was in all points tempted
like as we are, yet without sin. Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne
of gr> t-e. that we may obtain mercy and
find grace to help m time of need.
This is "he" who "calleth thee," God
and man. As man he knows your
weaknesses, and infirmities, as a man he
knows the power and suffering of temp
tation; as God he can, and will supply
all your needed help. Listen to his
call.
"He thee." How does he call?
Do yon pay no attention to God s prov
idences? Oh! sinner do you despise the
riches of his goodness, and forbearance,
and longsuffering, not knowing that
the goodness of God leadeth thee to re
pentance? The longsuffering of God.
you are taught to regard as salvation;
that is. God is longsuffering to you. that
you may be saved. That Christ has not
come the second time without sin unto
salvation is, sinner, that you may repent
and believe the gospel Will you de
spise this goodness, will you spurn this
mercy? Read Rom. 2:4: 2 Pet. 3:1(1.
God tells you that he does "not will
ing afflict the children of men. ' What
ever of suffering therefore to which yon
have been subject was designed for
your good. Have yon despised God s
call in sorrow? Why count his punish
ments? You cannot endure them: you
are not a match for the Almighty. Read
Amos 4th chapter.
"He calleth thee." Why does he call?
Ah! sinner not to rebuke, though yon
richly deserve it. Does an unfaithful
servant merit rebuke? Does ingratitude
in those who are the constant recipients
of blessings, deserve rebuke ? Then you
ought to be con red with it, so that you
might never hold up your head. But
singular as it may seem. God calls you
not that he may rebuke you.
Nor does he call now to condemn,
though you deserve nothing else. Ought
open, bold, continuous violators of law
to be condemned? You answer yes.
You are bound to answer yes.
You dare not answer yes. Then read
in your oten sentence what you deserve
from God right noic.
But sinner listen. He calls now to
prevent your eternal condemnation.
■ Yerily, verily I say unto you. he that
beareth my word, and believethon Him
that sent me. hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation." —
John 5:24.
He calls to open your eyes, then you
are blind; to turn you from darkness to
light, then you are in the dark; to free
yon from the bondage of satan, then
you are his slave: to forgive your sins,
then you are sinner against God: to give
you an inheritance in heaven, then you
you have none when this life is over.
What a picture you are sinner, when
truly seen. A blind man. in the dark,
under the control of the devil, a rebel
against God. with no inheritance. 0
listen to the call of the Lord.
• ’Be of good comfort: rise.” You will
do well to consider the difference be
tween what Jesus has done to relieve
you. and what you are commanded to
do to be relieved: between his experience
in coming to yon, and your experience
in going to him. Compare the dying
words of our Savior on the cross, with
those uttered by Stephen while being
stoned to death: "Rise.” Every obstruc
tion to your approach to the Sovereign
of the Universe has been taken out of
the way by the death of his Son. pro
vided only you come in the name of that
Son.
“He calleth thee, rise.” Observe that
blind Bartimeus did one thing as pre
paratory to coming to Jesus: and that
the Evangelist seems to be at pains to
record. It forms a complete sentence,
and constitutes a single verse. Read it
and be instructed, ye blind sinners:
"And he, casting away his garment,
rose and came to Jesus.” His blindness
hindered him not. The crowd was not
in his way. He made no effort to re
cover his sight before he reached Jesus,
nor yet afterward: nor did he ask the
multitude lo withdraw. There was but
one thing in his way. and that he “cart
away." Something there is hurtful to
have in coining to Jesus. Blind though
this man was, beggar as he was. he
willingly, unhesitatingly cast that away
which hindered him in coming at once
to Jesus.
Learn from this ungodly man or wo
man. that your garment of self-right
eousness must be cast away before you
reach Jesus, the Lord our Righteousness.
That garment you must part with, and
the sooner the better.
Have you heard the call of God
through the gospel then you will cast
away your righteousness; for the blessed
Spirit will convince you of a righteous
ness that finds its sanction in Jesus go
ing to his Father. John 10:8-11.
The disciples of Jesus soon learned
that he never called, but to bless; and
so they who just now were discourag
ing the poor blind man. now bid the
beggar rise anil rejoice. And "A* is the
same yesterday, to-day and forever.'
How foolish those disciples are now.
who seem to talk as if they loved sin
ners more than the Lord. They neith
er could nor would comfort any,
though blind and begging, did not the
Lord first stand still, and command
such to be brought to him.
Lord help us love thee with all our
heart—for Christ's sake. Amen.
■w
The Everlasting and Immutable
Gospel.
Christianity is permanent. It is the
<•*•< rlaxting {gospel. It supplies wants of
human nature for which no other pro
vision has been made. We have not
outgrown it: we can never outgrow it;
It will ever be as real a necessity as air,
light and heat.
There can never be a new religion
that is trio:. because there is no need of
it. All attempts at discovering a new
gospel, orat remodelling and improving
the old one. are absurd. A Boston wo
man has projected a religion which she
calls “Christian Science,” but. of all
the travesties upon religion, science and
common sense, it is the most ridiculous.
Whatever is t rite in religion is not
new, and what ever is unr is not true.
It is just as impossible to put any new
truth into the Gospel as it is to put any
new element into earth and air. All
the elements of nature to-day have
been there from the beginning, and are
sufficient for mans needs. If another
element were added he could make no
use of it because he has no need of it.
The same is true of the gospel of Christ.
God has put into it all that man needs
or ever will need for his spiritual wel
fare Paul saw this when he pro
nounceil a curse upon the man who
should ever preach, any other gospel.
The Boston Unitarians have attempted
to make a new gospel by denying the
divinity of Christ anil the inspiration ot
the Scriptures, and by eliminating so
much of the morality of the old gospel
as is incompatible with an ethical code
of their own making.
Mrs. Eddy rises up in that same city,
so prolific of new religions, and offers a
gospel which says that sin. disease.pain
and death are unreal. This latest of the
new religions is not apt to make much
progress so long as the world can pro
duce three witnesses a man with a
conscience, a man with a toothucln . and
a man in a coffin. J. B. H.
The Importance of Right Concep
tions of Christian Rectitude.
It is only the lefty ideal that is help
ful to character. If you believe it to
be consistent with Christian obligation
for a church member to engage in
amusements which encourage the
grossest forms of sensuality, your own
Christian life will be a hideous deform
ity. and the influence of it as deadly as
the breath of pestilence. If you believe
it to be computable with Christian in
tegrity for one professing to be a child
of God and an heir of heaven to go in
to a barroom or club house and drink
liquor and play cards, your own life
will be so barren of moral beauty that
the most credulous anil charitable ob
servers will never suspect you of hav
ing a Godward impulse.
If you believe that a man professing
to be a servant of Christ can consist
ently withhold himself from all the
spiritual activities of his church, your
own life will be projected on a plane
so low that no one will ever think of
you as a man claiming to be a subject
of Christ's kingdom.
No one was ever better than his ideal.
If we would be true and successful ex
emplars of the living word of the living
God if we would be luminaries in the
world's firmament, shedding upon be
nighted men a light in which they may
see the way of truth and duty, we must
elevate our conceptions of Christian
character and observation to the level
of Paul's thought, when he wrote. “For
me to live is Christ" and "Whether
therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever
ve do, do all to the glorv of God.
J. B. H.
CHARACTER.
The most valuable possession which
any man can have is character —pure,
solid, stalwart, luminous God like char
acter. Having this it matters very lit
tle whether he be rich or poor, whether
he live in a palace or a cottage, whether
he be surrounded by an admiring mul
titude or hid away in some country
alms-house. It is what is in him —what
he ts —and not what he has, and what
surrounds him. that gives color to his
skies and quality to the music which
vibrates the air about him.
A heart rich and peaceful in the love
of God sees stars of promise on the
brow of every storm, and hears strains
of sweetest melody even amid lamenta
tions and wailing. But a dark heart of
unbelief, full of resentment, bitterness
and discontent, sees spots on the sun.
specks on the rarest fruits, imperfection
on God's most perfect work, and hears
discords in the sweetest and divinest
music that mortals ever make.
What we shall be in old age will be
determined by our conduct in the years
that precede it. The old man like the
snail carries his house on his back. He
may change habitations, scenes and
companions, but he cannot get away
from himself and his past life.
Let us live wisely. Let us fear God
and keep his commandments, and in the
last days of our voyage home all tokens
on the sea beneath and in the sky above
will be tokens of peace. J. B. H.
There are some men whose opposi
tion would provoke us if their weakness
was less pitiable. When we are tempt
ed to smite them, the thought of their
bitterness and cowardice intervenes
and we feel that it would be incompat
ible with manhood even to administer
a mild rebuke. We take pleasure in
meeting a manly critic, but cannot af
ford to notice the senseless carping of
men who are simply mad with the
world because they have too little force
to make an impression upon it.
J. B. H
FIELD NOTES.
Brother Moderator: Please urge broth
er clerk to send the Index one of his
new minutes of the association.
Brother Clerk: Be sure to give the
nearest railroad station to the next meet
ing place of the association in the min
utes.
Beginning with this issue of the In
dex. brother McMichael says the week-
Iv issue will be ten thousand. We are
the happiest man in Georgia.
The Floyd County Association gave
three thousand dollars to missions last
year, instead of three dollars. The
types were wrong last week.
Brethren and sisters, be sure and send
your renewals to the association. Some
one will be there to receive and receipt
for it. Be sure and get the receipt.
Brother Moderator be sure to appoint
some one to represent ns if we are not
there.
Brother Preston, of Broughtonville.
and brother Moore, of Ceres, remind us
of Ca'sar. who entertained thirty thous
and at one time. They are royal enter
tainers.
THE COLUMBUS ASSOCIATION.
The sixty-seventh session of this body
met with Valley Grove church, Talbot
county, lust Tuesday, brother J. Y.
Allen, of Thomaston, being pastor.
The introductory sermon was preach
ed by pastor W. H. Smith, of Columbus,
who captured all hearts. He promised
it to us for the Index. Lookout for it
soon.
Pastor W. H. Smith, of Columbus,
was elected moderator and brother J. A.
Clements, clerk. Each filled his office
well. Brother Clements promised the
Index a new minute.
Brother R. H. Smith, of Gainesville,
preached the missionary sermon. The
sermon made a profound impression up
on the packed audience who heard it.
Brother R. H. Smith received a fine
collection for the orphans home at the
Columbus, and a regular standing com
mittee, to report annually on the home,
was appointed.
Brethren H. Hatcher and R H. Smith
made unusually fine addresses in repre
senting their different causes, at the
Columbus.
Pastor J. Y. Allen, the Valley Grove
brethren and the community at large,
gave the association a royal welcome.
Our home was with brother and sister
S. Z. Webster, hard by the synagogue.
All things considered this session of
the Columbus was an extra fine one.
Fine preaching, delightful entertain
ment, a sweet, worshipful spirit filled all
hearts and brotherly love abounding.
CE N TEN NIA L ASSOCIA TION.
This body met with the church at
Ceres. Crawford county, in its 12th ses
sion. last Friday. Brother A. L. Mon
crief, of Macon, pastor.
Thirty minutes devotional exercises
were enjoyed, led by brother J. A. Jack
son.
The opening sermon was preached by
brother W. H. Brown from John 21 17,
"Lovest thou me.”
Brother W. E. Perryclear, of Barnes
ville, was elected moderator, and B H.
Hardy, clerk. Brother Hardy makes a
fine clerk.
The ministerial visitors at the Cen
tennial were J. G. Gibson. M. H. Lane,
R. H. Smith, A. C. Wellons and A. B.
Campbell.
Brother M. H. Lane, of Forsyth be
sides preaching an extraordinary fine
gospel sermon, also represented Monroe
Female College, over which he and Mrs.
Lane preside.
Brother J. G. Gibson preached the
missionary sermon, and also represented
all the boards. The Centennial is not
up on missions, as it might be. We
hope for better things in the future
Two newly constituted churches, one
at Hendrix and the other at Neal, were
received into fellowship, making twen
ty three in all.
Brother R. H. Smith made a fine
speech on Sabbath-schools and the
Southern Baptist Convention S. S. liter
ature. Whereupon the association by a
unanimous vote adopted the Southern
series of publications.
The orphans home, under brother
Smith's efforts, is gaining a strong foot
hold upon Georgia Baptists. A fine col
lection was received at the Centennial.
SCRAPS.
We were compelled to leave both the
Columbus and Centennial Associations
before they closed their work.
Brother D. David, of Cleveland,Tenn.,
was at the Columbus Association. Bro.
David wishes a pastorate in Georgia.
A fine meeting is in progress at De-
Votie church, in Griffin. Twelve have
been received for baptism up to last
Saturday. - T. W. O'Kelley.
Mrs. Undine Lane, joint principal of
the Monroe Female Collegers the grand
est woman that ever sat by a cradle, * r
presided in a school room. —G. A. Nun
nally.
Brother G. A. Nunnally made a cap
tivating speech on education at the Re
hoboth Association, in Thomaston. The
new "Southern Female College” at La-
Grange. has bought the property of the
Cox College in that city, and will im
prove it. So the new school will open
in the old buildings.
Brother Marshall H. Lane preached
a glorious sermon on the last day of the
Rehoboth, in Thomaston. The hearts
of the saints were warmed and sinners
were made to enquire the way of life.
James F." Edens.
Dover. —The Baptist church
at Stillmore is doing well. It is
a large church but is united and
harmonious and is blessed with
earnest, faithful members and
many warm friends, who are not
connected with our denomination.
The church and friends recently
surprised the pastor with a hand
some suit of clothes which was
very highly appreciated both for
its intrinsic worth and as an ex
pression of kindness and fratern
al affection.
Lake Park. —Our church, or
ganized three years ago; is pro]
grossing nicely. We have a
flourishing Sunday School,week
ly prayer meeting and Ladies
Aid Society. M r e have one of the
best pastors, J. P. McHan. He
has just closed a six days meet
ing, resulting in two by expe
rience, two by restoration and
one by letter, God be praised.
Many prayers for the grand old
Index in every Baptist Home
M. 0