Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

ESTABLISHED 1821. TheChristianlridex FublUbed Kvery Tburgduy, Cor. Ivy Street and Kdgewoud Avenue. J.c. MCMICHAEL, (Estate.) Organ of the Baptist lhnomination in Georgia. SUBSCRIPTION PRICK: On« copy, one year On* copy, six months LW’ OBITUARIES.—One hundred words free of charge. For each extra word, one cent pet word, cash with copy. To Cohkkhhondents.—Do not use abrevl •tlons: be extra careful in writing proper names; write with Ink. on one side of paper. Do not write copy intended for the editor ■nd business items on same sheet. Leave off personalities, condense. Business.—Write all names, and post offlcesdlstlnctly. In ordering a change give the old as well as the new address. The date of label indicates the time your subscription expires. If you do not wish it continued, or der it stopped a week before. We consider each subscriber permanent until he orders bis paper discontinued. When you order it •topped pay up to date. ' Remittances by registered letter, money or ler. postal note. Important Notce Brother J. C. McMichael gave the best years of his life to build ing up the Index, and in collat eral lines of work for the church and humanity. In the prime of his life, the Master caUed him up higher just when he was about to reap some financial reward for his labors on the paper. He left a widow and four bright sons. Over the home in which they live, there hangs a debt. Will not every reader who is indebted to the Index remit the amount due at once by money order or other wise? Please do this. It will be a timely act. According to our time honored custom we will issue no paper during Christmas week. This issue will therefore be the last paper during 1895 During the year we have seen many changes and many of those who were with us at the beginning of the yeir are with us uo more, hav ing gone to there eternal reward. We feel assured that the week ly visits of the Index the thous ands of homes all over Georgia and the south are hailed with de light and gladness by all. Its .S.eJx 1 of usefulness is ajarge one and its many silent messages of love and instruction, have be come an important factor in shaping and direct ng our de nominational interest. Our next issue will bear date Jan. 2nd, 1896 and with thejnew year we hope to begin with the blessings of God resting upon us. Many have asked that we give our readers our picture in the In dex that all may know us better but we must modestly decline for the present. Perhaps in some future issue we will comply. We wish all our readers and friends the compliments of the season and send forth a prayer that the blessings of CGod will rest upon each and every one. • For the Index. A Campaign of Education for Educa tion. No one who has carefully read the Scriptures has fai 'ed to note the time element in the plan of divine providences. Christ was the Lamb slain before the foun dation of the world; but it was not till the due time that he died for the ungodly. The time element is eq tally well marked in all history. Ne poleon could not have done his mighty d-ieds,except at that par ticular time. The slow decay of the old order was necessary to the new order. All history is a succession of evolutions, each ef fect having its cause back of it in an order just past away. One who has studied the growth of Mercer University from its first planting to the present, will be able to trace the unfolding of a series of provi dences, which bring us to an au spicious hour and into the pres ence of great opportunities. Mercer was founded against great opposition. The rank and file of the denomination did not believe in it and had small toler ation for it. The beginnings were tentative and timid. A few’ and compara tively very few brethren took a broad view of the situation and amid misconceptions and severe criticisms went forward. Their wisdom has been abundantly jus tified by results. But it has been slow work to open all the State to the influ ences of Mercer, which has stood foremost for higher education among Georgia Baptists. Every advance has been attended with pain. This is according to the common law of human progress. At the end of three score years, through all mistakes, such as at tend human effort, through all opposition and lethargy, the rounded results are such as ought to make all of our hearts glad. More than 700 men have gradu ated from Mercer and these will rank with the Alumni of any in stitution in the South. Thou- Till' CHRISTIAN INDEX. sands of others have been taught and have been greatly helped, who have come short of gradua tion. To day, through all these and others, who know and ap preciate the work done, Mercer is strong in the State. We are entering on a new era in Georgia and in the whole South. Not less than a thousand millions of dollars, represented ia railroads and commercial bod ies of various sorts are in use now to develop© the South. Be fore me are two letters, one from Cincinnati, the other from Chi cago, each from a paper seeking means of spreading information about the South. We could not stop all this if we would. The people are coming by the tens and the hundreds of thousands. Growth, development, progress are words of honor. There is no longer the slightest question as to the vast material development of the South. At such an hour as this, the Baptists of the State need to lay some obvious truths to heart. Let me mention some of them. We have a great Baptist popu lation. We are rich in material for the greatest Baptist force the w orld has ever known. But it is evident that this material is largely untaught. We are poor ly prepared in this respect to meet the conflicts that are inevi table in the near future as I be lieve, as good as can be found, but they have not had as good opportunities as many others. They are to-day at a great disad vantage as they enter upon the new era. I take it that no thoughtful man will question this. There is in Georgia now a ris ing spirit of education. It has reached almost every neighbor hood, and it cannot be stayed. It should not be. It is true that much of the thinking is chaotic; but it is taking form and will in the next score of years round out into a form that will be fixed. Two things strongly charac terize the dominant spirit of the times. First, there is the gross mate rialism, which reasons every thing by It has invaded its realm of education, and hence the talk’ of practical education, the education that makes a man ar instrument for making money. And then there is the spirit of economy, which seeks by com pact organization to make the most of every force. This is ra tional and right. Waste of force is as sinful as burning bread in the presence ofchildren crying of hunger. Now, the danger that threat ens our civilization is a gross materialism, enthroned and made supreme by compact organiza tion. There never was a time when there was a greater need for the spirit and the principles of the New Testament to become dominant in the life of the peo ple. Baptists have led the civil ization of the world. This gov ernment is the product of their doctrines. A thorough Baptist is the highest possible evolution of the race. Baptist principles teach the only formula of civili zation. Liberty limited by law. The y underlie our civil liberties and are a sure guarantee of hu man happiness and progress wherever they are uppermost among a people. These things being true, there is laid on the Baptists of Geor gia a heavy responsibility as to the future of this State. And if the State shall be right, then to a great extent the South will be right, for such is the position and strength of Georgia that she cannot fail to greatly influence the whole country. What is our need and our duty ? The answer is clear: a State wide educational campaign for education. The whole doctrine of denominational education needs to be discussed from the great centers out to the remotest back districts. Our own people need this discussion and the State meds it. The Baptist lines of thought need to be relaid, and laid to suit our present condition. The younger generation needs the instruction and young and old need zeal for Christian edu cation kindled. We need to get back, all of us, to the high think ing and heroic doing of Jesse Mercer and the noble men and w’omen who, with him, laid the foundations of our success in Mercer. Nothing but a great uplift will save us from going to the rear when all the new forces coming among us get fairly a field. This campaign ought to be well organized, and wisely di rected. Sporadic moves in these days of organized forces amount to but little. Time and thought should be given to the organiza tion of the campaign. The mat ters to be put into the campaign ought to be well considered and fully agreed upon. And they ought to be true things and (SUBSCRIPTION, PtnYiAH.- -.52.00. j Ito MINISTERS. 1-OO.f ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1895. things that concern our prosper ity as a denomination. The move ought o be entered upon in a spirit of large liberal ity. And this- spirit should characterize our thinking and our giving. The brother who is intolerant of all opinions as to the scope and details, the plans and purposes of any part of the work in which Baptists are en gaged, if these opinions do not harmonize with his own. cannot be useful in Georgia. Castiron men must give place to men of sympathy and adjustability. And in this great campaign the apostles rule must be our rule of action. Forgetting the things that are behind, we must press forward to the things in the fu ture. No matter what has oc cured in the past, it is gone, and it is for us, in the love and fear of God to unitedly strive to make the future glorious. For the success of such a cam paign, happily many things fa vor us. There is to-day no se rious division among us. Let God be praised for that. The State is prosperous, thanks to the giver of all .good. Every part of the State is open and ac cessible to the missionaries of Christian culture, and Mercer University is in favor with the people. We have at least 100 men, yes, 200, who can do efficient work in such a campaign. The move has been initiated in our chief city, the most enterprising city in the South and this is fortunate. Our people are able to give in the aggregate SIOO,OOO to estab lish their chief educational insti tution on a basis of power and usefulness equal to the enlarged demauds on us. Such a campaign carried through to a success would be an unspeakable blessing to us. It would enlarge our thinking and our Christian giving. It would revivify the whole denom ination. It would unify us and make us conscious of our great power. Every pastor and every church would receive a new im pulse. It would iu its momen tum bring into activity many who are now doing nothing It would give to our people of thrift and money a higher opinion of Bap tist enterprise and thus tie them on to us. It would enable us to devise plans to make our educa tional work and spirit felt in practically every neighborhood in Georgia. And all these re sults can be achieved, if we en ter upon the undertaking with prayer and faith and zeal and love of the people. In view of such possibilities, who is willing this day to consecrate himself to God. J. B. Gambrell. For the Index. That Regulation Schedule. During the session of the Georgia Baptist Convention at Waycross in April last, a sched ule or plan of service looking to the interests of all our enterpris es that we hold in common was discussed and recommended to the churches generally for adoption. Very many churches have made the adoption and we hear good reports of work done in a systematic and orderly way. The truth is, it is difficult to esti mate the value of concert of ac tion in our work. The children of this world are wiser in this matter than the children of light. When an army moves with a definite end in view, they—the individual soldiers—keep step, march in line. A great trunk line of railway with its branches conducts business under one general head, and regulation methods prevail thoughout. This secures the happiest results. Yes, but it is said: Baptists are only organized into churches, they know nothing beyond— nothing higher. They are not an army. Nor a railway system. All very true; and yet individual churches may unite in associa tional or conventional capacity for prosecution of work in which all are interested. And in all this, concert of action may and does find a place without destruc tion of the sovereignty of church or the principle of religious liberty. Moreover the Scriptures give great support to Regulation Methods. In the creation the Holy Spirit brooded over the whole and wrought all chaos into order. Nothing more orderly and systematic than the Jewish service has ever been seen by man. God gave the Jews the form and arrangement of service. And whatever may have been abolished as to laws and ordinances and letters, we are all sure that the great princi ple securing concert of action in the work of his people abides. Paul declares that God is not the author of confusion; and he says furthermore, that he would have all things done decently and in order. The new year 1896 will soon be upon us. Can not all our churches, by common con- sent, adopt the sch< d lie recom mended by the convention? Sup pose this were done: the month of January would bring some help from every part of the State for some one of the objects of benevolence which Baptists are trying to foster. And so it would be in February and so on to the close of the year. And in that event, everybody would have helped everything, and there would be no lack. Do you think as good results can be ob tained if the schedule is not uni versally adopted? The schedule is not iron-clad. It can be amend ed and altered, and no doubt in many instances this may be done to advantage though we do not think it would be wise in doing so to destroy or cancel any regu lation feature, we mean this: If it is your month by the schedule to help the Orphans’ Home, and for any reason you wish to help something else, do so, but help the orphans, too, and then help them again in some other month if you choose, only let there be some help from you on appoint ed times for certain named ob jects. This insures a continuous stream of aid to all enterprises throughout the year. Oh! but says one, my church has a plan or schedule of its own that fits splendidly. It can not be bettered. Granted. But do you not see that when you take that position you fall out of ranks and destroy that continuity of help that we so much need? It is not only help that we need, it is uniform help, continuous help. Helping by the schedule will soon regulate affairs so that our agents and. boards will know what to count on, when to look for it, and where. Some sort of action is good, but concert of ac tion is better. We feel sure that the ideas of uniform work for the churches and concert of ac tion as embodied in the schedule “have come to stay,”and we are sure that we ought not to retard by failure or neglect that which promises, nay insures the high est good. Baptists are a 1 ; ‘Nrty-loving people. They hav< J j.’ays stood for church sovert Wo are ■glad of ? *idd are p7%.d wi t/ui history in this connection. But you have heard of the Indian’s tree—very upright. So upright that it leaned over. Perhaps there is no danger of our leaning over as to these great doctrines. And yet there is such a thing as making a hobby of a truth, and that to our injury. Possibly some may think that the sched ule could not be adopted without yielding something to the heresy as expressed in the phrase: “ lordingitover God’s heritage.” We are very much opposed to Popery. Very jealous of our in dependency. Just so. But did it ever occur to you that while you are getting rid of one pope— the one in Rome, you may find very many in the Baptist denoin ination? One of which you may be. How far removed from Rome is the man who stlyes him self on his independency and rights, and therefore can never co operate with brethren, nor even receive a suggestion from one or many of them? We think it a great pity that so many recommendations made by our conventions and associations to the churches should be so light ly passed by. H. R. Bernard. Ashburn, Ga., i Nov , 2nd, 1895. i Christian Index.—Allow me space to give a bit of news from Ashburn Baptist church. At our meeting in September Bro. J. J. Hyman tendered his resig nation which was accepted by the church. The reason for Bro. Hyman’s resignation was, he said, that he felt that the Lordhad opened up a new field and he felt that the Lord needed him in the other field of labor. Bro. Hy man served this church for near ly two years and our prayer is that the Lord will greatly bless him in his new field of labor. At an adjourned conference in Sep tember, Bro. Eliam Culpepper was elected to the pastorate of this church, by acclamation, for the text associational year. On the morning of the 4th. Sunday Bro. Culpepper was at his post and accepted our call as pastor for the ensuing year. His sub ject was “A Pastor’s duty. ” He handled the subject as one that has to give an account. One sis ter received under watch care of the church. Re elected the offi cer by acclamation as follows: W. A. Murray, Sunday-school superintendent. R. V. Ayers assistant superintendent and church clerk. Bro. Culpepper’s sermon Sunday night was per fectly grand, his subject being obedience and fidelity. We ex pect to see many precious souls buried with Christ into the church through his instrumentality dur ing this year. Yours in Christ, L. K. Beal. For the Index. Dr. Gambrell on Co education; Con sidering Objections. It appears, from Dr. Gambrell’s last note in the Index, that he is not going to demonstrate the ad vantages of co-education as he led us to hope that he would do when he brought on this discus sion for wnich he holds himself responsible; but as a suitable finish to the discussion upon his part, he will now consider objec tions. I have no idea what to expect, but 1 wish briefly to pre sent some objections to co edu cation in Mercer University and in schools of like grade. Before doing so, however, I wish to thank Dr. Gambrell for the favor he has conferred upon the oppo nents of co-education in demon strating so clearly that co-educa tion is not the thing for Mercer. Hi started out to do one thing, and has done the very opposite. I believe that his articles with the light thrown upon them are calculated to confirm the views of those who are opposed to co education, and that they will set tle any who have been wavering. Indeed, I will venture the asser tion tjiat if Dr. Gambrell will study his own deliverances, with care, he himself will come out and confess that he was wrong. Stranger things than this have happened! Dr. Gambrell is evi dently a strong man, and a skill ed debater, but his position is such a weak one that it has put him at great disadvantage. But 1 know not what is in the future. He may yet rally, warm up to his subject, fulfill his promises and convince us all that the greatest need of Mercer Univer sity to-day is the admission of women. If he does not do this, I think that he ought to come out like a man, confess his mistake and join the ranks of those who are convinced that whatever else Mercer may need most she cer tainly does not need co educa tion. But now’ for some objections: I regard co-education inconsist ent wii h the purposes for w’hich Mercer University was founded. It was never the intention of the orulJv men who saw; the great need for an institution of high grade where Baptist young men, and all others who chose to come might have opportunities not only for intellectful culture, but for moral and religions develop ment as well. They saw’the need of the hour, grasped it, and builded wisely and well. I dare say that, by the very terms of the charter, Mercer University was incorporated as an institu tion for the education of men, and that to admit wcinen would render the charter null and void, unless forsooth there should be some future legislation upon the subject. It might do more than this. The very ground upon which the institution stands may have been donated or purchased with the terms specified that it was to be used for the purposes of establishing an institution for the education of young men, and that when it ceased to be so used, it was to revert to the original owner 1 understand that the city of Macon gave our denomin ation inducements to locate the University there, and I dare say that this was done, with the dis tinct understanding, that it was to be a male school. Now 1 sub mit that to make it a mixed school, as Dr. Gamorell propos es doing, if I am correct in my supposition, would violate the terms of this agreement. There is a female college m Macon be longing to another denomination, and doubtless the city gave these people inducements to locate in Macon a school of high grade for the education of women. Would not Mercer University and this College both violate the terms upon which they accepted their inducements if the one is opened to women and the other to men, and more than this they would be acting inconsistent with the purposes of the founders. And still more, I think they would have just grounds for complaint against their benefactor, the city of Macon, and that they would do right tocryout the oneagainst the other. Dr. Gambrell’s posi tion is too radical and revolution ary. Carried to its legitimate end, it would overthrow every male and female school in the State of Georgia. Are we pre pared for such results? Are we? I object to cb-education in Mer cer University again for the rea son that it does violence to the purposes of those w’ho contrib uted funds for the buildings and endowment. They gave with the distinct understanding that Mer cer University was an institution founded and to be perpetuated for the education of men. Now to change the character of the institution, and make it a mixed school is to violate the terms of this agreement, and furnishes just grounds for every donor to demand that his contributions be refunded. justly claim that his funds had been misap propriated by those into whose hands they had been committed as a sacred trust. Ido not know a great deal about law, but 1 venture the opinion, as a lay man, that the courts would sus tain such a cause, and instead of building up Mercer University we would find ourselves pulling it down. And who could blame the donors for making such a demand? But another objection is to be found in the fact that those who oppose co education will become indifferent to the best interests of the institution or they may be come alienated. Now I submit that it is not wise at any time to do an unpopular thing when no principle is involved. Can the Baptists of Georgia afford to risk doing what Dr. Gambrell wants done in this instance? I am sure they can not, and I do not believe that they have so far lost the’r heads as to be willing to do it. He has, in two or three instances, referred to the fact that Furman University was coeducational Furman is my Alma Muter, and I have forborne mentioning her name in this discussion; for no loyal son ever loved his cherish ing mother with more intense de votion than I loved her, and I have proven my love again and again since I left her sacred walls, but the day she became a mixed school my interest declin ed, and so long as she remains one I must continue to feel as 1 do. I hoped to educate my boy there, but feeling as I do about the matter, had I a thousand sons I would prefer sending every one of them to some other college I am not the only graduate of this college who feels this way. We are told at the recent session of the Baptist State Convention of South Carolina that it was decid ed unanimously to continue co education in this school. I am informed that the report came up late at night and was adopted. But that does not prevent the feelings to which I refer. The Ha/dist Courier, which strongly favors co-education, and which took advantage of the very first opportunity to shut off discus sion, and Would' not allow a brother to reply to an article by the President which was as open to criticism as any Dr. Gambrell ever wrote, recognizes this state of feeling or its recent editorial comments mean nothing. It say-, “We are glad that the mat ter of co education in Furman University came before the Con vention was discussed and pass ed upon. That there are breth ren who do not believe that this is the wisest thing for the Uni versity, we all know. Their opinions we respect and it is a matter of regret perhaps that we can not see this thing alike. But it is the purpose of the trustees and faculty to so control this matter of co-cducation that we hope and trust the fears and ob jections of those brethren who do not believe in it will vanish away.” And yet for one year all objections were shut out of the Courier, and persons favoring it were allowed to say things in its favor in their communications, and from time to time paragraphs favorable to co-education slipped into its columns. I do not charge the paper with intended unfair ness. I suppose the editor re garded this course the best one to pursue in order to make all of one mind and to allay all objec tions. The excuse given was that the whole matter was to be settled at the next Convention, and so discussion was cut off. We are to settle this matter at our next Convention, and I con gratulate the Index upon the fact that its columns stand open for free and full discussion. As I see it, co-education in Furman University is not in such a hap py state as to be commended to Georgia Baptists as a pattern for them to follow. I here and now ask pardon, in advance, for my seeming criticisms of the course pursued by our brethren across the line. I make this re ference simply as a warning and with the hope that at the close of our next Convention the In dex may have no grounds for expressing any such fears as seem to haunt the good Baptist Courier of South Carolina. Again, I object to co-education for the reason that the tenden cies are to put women out of her scriptural sphere. Just so sure as God created male and female just so sure has he assigned each sex the sphere in which he de signed that it should move. Any system which tends to do away with the purposes of God in this or any other respect is fraught w’ith evil, and must result in the most direful consequences to the human family. Co-education in stead of recognizing -woman as the companion and help mate of man makes her his competitor, and instead of exalting it de grades her. The late Dr. Bran ham said in the Index last year: VOL. 75-NO. 50 “The training which is suited to man must in its efforts make a man of her, as far as it can be done, prepare her for the work and duties of a man, and leave her unprepared for the work and duties of a woman. Having suc ceeded in moving abreast with men in college or university course she is inspired with man ly aspirat ions. She looks to the bar, to the pulpit, the h eture platform or to the political arena, or to the rougher business of life. She has little fondness lor home, for the high and holy offices and relationships of wife, mother or sister. Having been trained in conflicts with men in the schools, she is averse to re linquishing these conflicts in af ter life, or to abandon the idea of becoming a man in other words, she has been trained out of her sphere, for which nature by her sex and pe culiar constitution designed her.” Though dead, may the voice of Dr. Branham reach our hearts and may he continue to speak! Dr. Gambrell being an ardent believer in woman suffrage, an advocate of women speaking be fore mixed assemblies in the churches, going so far as to say. he drew the line only at the pul pit, by which I understand he means that he objects to the or dination of women only, will not be moved by the last objection which I have made to co-educa tion, but I have faith enough m the loyalty of Georgia Baptists to God’s word to feel that they will not move one iota beyond w’hat they conceive to be the teaching of the Scriptures upon this or any other subject. In conclusion, let me say to my friend and brother that while I can not accept his views of the advanced woman, nor of co-edu cation, lam with him for every thing that tends to the building up of the great Baptist Colegv over which he has the honor to» preside. I congratulate him upom having said, in a former article, that if the brotherhood disagyew’ with him about co-education in Mercer University ho had no pride of opinion to make him unhappy. I believe they do dis agree-with him about educa tion, but I believe they are a unit for raising that hundred thousand dollars referred to by Dr. McDonald in a recent issue of the Index, Come, now Doctor, let us shake hands, putour heads and hearts close together, and never rest until it is done. I wint to see you the leader in this enterprise, and no man will rejoice more in your success than I will. And now let me say I am yours to count on in this matter, and in all that I have written I have had but one ob ject in view 7 , and that has been the good of the cause. God bless Mercer University and all our schools. G. W. Gardner- , Jackson, Ga. Mercer Notes. Prof. Mell of Auburn, Aik. sends his life of his illustrious father for our library and some' pamphlets with a promise of other additions We want a picture of Chancellor Mell for our chapel. The purpose of'the Faculty is to secure a picture of all the illustrious men who £ave ever been in any way competed w’ith Mercer and make the- beau tiful chape] a picture gallery - Will not soi contvibv.te nhe. picture of Brother G B. x>ush, of Greens Cut, planted a cotton patsks Sr ' the Lord and Mercer gods' one third of a bale of cottoffi. This is a noble example for otters. Pastor Smith, of Colrratbus, writes: “you brethren may etunt on me for anything I can do !. am with you.” This he saidl concerning the educational move ■ inaugurated by the Atlanta Pas tor’s conference which is to be carried on next year. I recent ly spent a Lord’s day with the saints at Cordele. Pastor Ses soms is on the ground and get ting a hold on the reins. There is a choice band of Baptists in Cordele, and a fine field for the pastor they have. Nearly SIOO cheerfully given to the Current Expense fund of Mercer. The woman’s society is especially ex cellent. They gave $25 to Mer cer. Cordele is in a very grow ■ ing condition. Dt. McDonalds idea of making 1896 an educational year in Geor gia meets the views of almost every progressive brother heard from or seen. Pastor Waller, of Montezuma, with whom, and his people, I spent a day and night, is ready for it and for all there is in him and that is something to count on. Eld. E. R. Carswell, of Texas, contributes three w’orks to the library and says he will have a son for Mercer before long. Let all the earth sing, “Glory to Go<& in the highest,” and peace on earth wilA follow.