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ESTABLISHED 1821. The Christian Index Published Every Thursday By BELL Al VAN NEWS Address Christian Indkx,Atlanta, G«. Organ of the Baptht Denomination in Georgia. Subscription Prick: One copy, one year f 2.00 One copy, six months 1.00 About Our Advertisers.—W«* propose hereafter to v**ry carefully Investigate our advertisers. We shall exercise every care to allow only reliable parties to use our col utnns. Obi rt ariks.—One hundred words fret o charge. For each extra word, one cent per word cash with copy. To 'orkksuondknts—D<» not use abbrevi ations; be extra careful in writing proper names; write with ink. on one side of paper. Do not write copy intended for the editor and b islness items on same sheet. Lease oIT personalities, condense. Business.—Write all names, and post oflices distinctly. 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 his paper discontinued. When you order it stopped pay up to date. Remittances by registered letter, money order, postal note. For the Index. True Love to One’s Neighbor.—Sun day-School Lesson for March 8 Luke 10:25-:!7. BY S. G. HILLYER. We learn from the record that on a certain occasion, a young lawyer stood up to tempi Jesus, by putting to him a most impor tant question: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” The question, however, was notasked with a good and honest pur pose to learn the way of life, but to tempt —to make trial of Jesus. The Lord perceived his duplicity, and very adroitly made the lawyer answer his own ques tion. Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? How readest thou ?” Being a lawyer, he was well versed in the books of Moses; he answered promptly; “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” Jesus said in reply: “Thou hast answered right; this do and thou shalt live.” Whoever truly ful fills these two precepts will fulfill every command of the Decalogue and every other precept of Bible morality. And it is written: “He that doeth these things shall live by them.” The lawyer was answered; but he was not satisfied. The Sav iour’s words seemed to have touched his conscience. He had woven a cord for his own neck. He may have imagined, as thou sands of deceived souls do irnag ine, that he did love God su premely. So his conscience did not trouble him about his affec tions toward God. How little he knew of himself! And it is won derful how many of the present day are fatally blinded by a like self-ignorance. But the lawyer was not quite satisfied with his relations to his neighbor. Hence he asked an other question: “And who is my neighbor?” In one view of this question, it might seem very silly. He knew, as well as we do, the literal meaning of the word. Why then should he ask, Who is thy neighbor? Luke tells us why. He did it to “justify himself.” This means that he felt just then that he needed jus tification, because he knew that there were people whom he did not love. Perhaps there were some whom he had treated un kindly; and, as above stated, his conscience was touched. But if he could only be sure that those parties were not his neighbors, then he had not violated the terms of the Law, and his con science would be relieved. Thence his question was intended to jus tify himself. In reply to the ques ion, the Saviour first told him the story of the good Samaritan. A man, on his way to Jericho, was at tacked by robbers, severely wounded and left in a helpless condition on the roalside. Pres ently a priest cams by,but passed the poor sufferer without a word of sympathy or a look of kind ness; then a Levite passed with equal indifference. The priest; and the Levite belonged to that tribe of Israel which God had chosen and consecrated to be his servants; to preside over and perform all the religious rites of the tabernacle, and to teach the people His laws. The sufferer was a Jew of another tribe, and therefore entitled, in a very im pressive sense, to their sympa thy and assistance. Yet both passed him unnoticed. At length a Samaritan —a stranger, of a people whom the Jews despised—came along the road. He looked upon the suf ferer and had compassion on him and kindly took care of him and provided for his wants. When Jesus had finished this story, he THE CHRISTIAN INDEX. > V* Fir Y«*«, - t 2.00. I h .NISTERS, 1.00.1 turned to the lawyer and said: “Which of these three, thinkest thou was neighbor unto him who fell among thieves?” And he said: “He that showed mercy on him.” Then said Jesus unto him: “Go thou and do likewise." it i> worthy of special notice that the word neighbor is a rela tive term, whose correlative hap pens to be the same word. Gen erally, relatives and correlatives are different words, as in the case of parent and child, hus band and wife. If lam another man’s neighbor he is also my neighbor. Therefore when Je sus asked the lawyer which of the three was neighbor to the suf ferer he might just as well have asked which of the three should claim the sufferer to be his neigh bor. The answer would have been the same. All which means that the Samaritan and sufferer were, each, the other's neighbor. Therefore, the Samaritan was as truly “under command” to love the sufferer as himself, as the sufferer was to love the Samari tan. That the Samaritan did love the poor wounded Jew, was proved by his kindness to him. He aid not love the Jew because he had been aforetime his bene factor. No hint of such a thing is given in the record. He loved him because he saw in that wounded Jew a suffering fellow man. There we see the Samari tan’s broad fellowship with all mankind. It embraced a suffer ing stranger, though he belonged to a race that scorned the Sa maritans. Here surely we be hold a case of broad, unselfish philanthropy. To confirm this conclusion, no tice another fact. The Samari tan stands forth as the loro of the story. It recites his compas sion, his kind acts and equally kind words; while not a syllable is given as concerning the feel ings or the sayings of the suf serer. Surely he must have felt some gratitude; very likely he expressed it warmly. But it is not even alluded to. Why this dead silence? If the parable were designed to teach us, only, that we should love our ''benefac tors" as ourselves, then this si lence is wholly unaccountable. But if the parable was designed to illustrate, in the person of the Samaritan, a world-wide philan thropy, then the silence is ex plained—there was no need to allude to the gratitude of the suf ferer. In view of what has been said, the common interpretation of the parable is the right one. It answers the question of the Rul er, “Who is my neighbor?” It teaches us that every human be ing has for his neighbor every other human being, whom he is bound to love as he loves himself. The relation is reciprocal, and the obligation, which it im poses, is to help one another as we may have ability and oppor tunity. Upon the precept, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” is founded the great law of reciproc ity, which finds expression in the Golden Rule: “Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye also unto them.” This is the ideal of Christianity in its social power over mankind. Could this ideal be only realized it would not be necessary for one to die in order to be in Heav en. Then, dear brethren, let us all try to make our lives at least re fleet this sublime ideal. To this end let us cherish the thought that every man is our neighbor and let that thought make us love him and do him good as we have opportunity. If we cannot fulfill this pre cepb in all its height and depth, let us try to the full extent of our spiritual strength to do so, looking for aid to Him whose kind office it is “to help our infirmities.” For the Ikdkx. A Home Talk. by o. c. P. How countless are the bless ings God is showering into your life and mine! We have a meas ure, at least, of health and strength. Food and raiment are within reach through the earnest labor God has wisely decreed that we should put forth in se curing them. We live in a Bible land —a land illumined by the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hallowed Christian as sociations have been ours. We were reared in a Godly home. Our parents were servants of Christ and we grew up under the influence of their Godly example. The close of every day was hal lowed by the gathering of the family, visitors and servants to hear God's word read and, then, dear father knelt and prayed. Ah! can you ever forgetit—the earnest expression of deep grati tude for God’s blessings and the humble pleading for a contin uance of favors. That old home was a blessing; life has brought no richer gilt from God. Amid all the trials and vicissitudes of life the memory of the old homo and the family altar has been sa cred and sweet. That memory has been an anchor to the soul. In darkness, recalling the old home scene has brought light. In the surging of temptation, the cherished memory has brought strength. And what blessings are ours today. The bonds that bind us to our loved ones, the sa cred atmospheres of our homes, the kind words that are spoken to us, the loving deeds that are wrought for us. All these are truly blessings! Think of the privileges of the house of God. It is ours to hear the gospel, and its offers of mercy and favor in Jesus Christ are made to us again and again. These are blessings of great value. We do not ap preciate them as we should. But, think of some of the minor bless ings of life—those that we accept and enjoy as a mere matter of course. Did you ever stop to think of how much of the pleas ure of life comes through your eyes, your ears, your tongue ? What a blessing to have a sound active mind in a body that teems with the glow of vigorous health. Your life and my life are both full of blessings. The very air we breathe is fragrant with God’s loving kindness and tender mer cy. Everything about us that con tributes to our comfort and hap piness has come to us directly from His hand. Now, I want to ask you and ask myself one question: Are we as grateful as we should be for all these countless blessings of life? We surely do not deserve them. Had God have dealt justly with us we would have long ago been suffering the punishment so justly due us for our transgres sions. Nor does He measure His mercies to us by our gratitude to Him, but, on the contrary, he richly blesses us even when we are rebellious, sinful, ungrateful. Let us think of all God has done and is doing for us and let us lift up our hearts in earnest, sincere gratitude. It is possible for us to cultivate the habit of being thankful and then, by a law of our human nature, we will enjoy far more the blessings God bestows. You know by expe rience that when a gift is pre sented to you and you receive it with any true sentiment and suit able expression of you thankful ness, the reaction of your grati tude very largely increases your enjoyment of the gift. “In ev erything give thanks.” War trace, Tenn. F >r the Inpex. The Gospel’s “Come” and “Go.” BY J. IL GAMBRELL. No. 3. “Let every one of you lay by Him instore.” The words "Every one of you," need to be empha sized with holy unction and per sistence in all our churches. Let them ring out and ring out till “every one” who has “come” shall “lay by him in store as God has prospered him.” Let all who have “come” be brought into line with the command “go Let there remain no exception, not one in all our churches. There is not one who has “come” but that has been graciously “pros pered”. in some measure. Let the measure of given prosperity be the rule by which “every one” shall obey the word “go.” This is the Lord’s equity. It is right eous altogether, to be sure. Let this equity be observed and pre served. It lays under tribute “everyone” with his purse, small or great. The old saint, sup ported by the church, will “go” under this rule. He is “pros pered” in having friends who care for him. He must “go,” or disobey his Lord and lose great blessing. He is too poor to afford losing the last blessing. The greatly “prospered” — the rich — need to be pressed to honor this divine rule. Among strong, prosperous men there ought to be an end of giv ing by the rule that governs the cares of the less prosperous The brethren, except such of them as are widows indeed, ought to make an end of giving “the widow’s mite.” Such con duct is, truly, unlawful trespass, dishonoring alike to Christian manhood and the Lord. The di vine equity will take out of every dollar received by one who has “come” at least ten cents. It will take out of a thousand dollar in come one hundred dollars, and out of the ten thousand dollar income it will take one thousand dollars. For equity the Lord’s rule is unequaled. “The law of the Lord is perfect. ” It is an unspeakable honor and help to frail humanity to be permitted to work by a perfect rule. Only those who work by the divine ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, MARCH 5,1896. rule know the blessings it yields. He who has been “prospered” to the extent of ono dollar and will only “go” a penny is as near the divine rule as him who has been “prospered” ten thousand dol lars and will only “go” one hun dred dollars. They alike stand only in the twilight of blessing, where they ought to, and might bask in their noontide glory. He who will “go,” according to the di vine rule, knows for himself that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” No others know it. “The secret of the Lord is with them that ever there. It is mowhere else. It is Me real secret of a happy, useful life. To “do" by the di vine rule is to use |skillfully the key that unlocks ‘lthe secret of the Lord.” Woulil that every one who has “comi” nigh “go” to the glory of God; Greensboro, Ga. ; Overtures to and From the B. Y. P U Auxiliary the Southern Baptist Convention. To the brethren assembled in Atlanta, November 21 22, 1895, to organize a Baptist Young Peo ple’s Union Auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention,the Executive Committee of the De partment of the Gijeen B. Y. P. U. A. sent the following paper: To our Brethren Assembled in Atlanta for the purpose of organizing a South ern B. Y P. U. : Since we esteem it highly important that Southern Baptist young people should be a unit in the work they are doing, and that which, in the providence of God, they are destined to do in the years to come; and since there is a con siderable element of our young people who are not only desirous of manifesting their loyalty to the Southern Baptist Convention.’ but also of enjoying the fel lowship of the young people of the Uni ted States and Canada; and since we believe that a platformican be devised upon whi.th all can stand, we, therefore, propose the following basis upon which we may unite to reach those young peo ple who have not been influenced by the Baptist Young People’s Union of Amer ica, and also to hold those that have been reached by that movement: 1. That the Baptist young people of the South organize as a Southern Depart ment of the Baptist Young People’s Union of America. 2. That the affairs of this department be under the absolute control of South ern Baptists-details to be arranged subsequently. 3. That all work done by the union shall be along the lines of local church work, and through the gencies of the Southern Baptist ConvejYon. 4. That the Young t'e*pie's Leader be adopted as the official organ of the Bap tist young people of the Southern States 5. That a general secretary be appoint ed for the Southern States, giving all his time to the work. 6. That each local union be entitled to send delegates to the International convention upon a numerical basis. W. L. Wright. Chairman. W. W. Landrum, George Cooper, Charles M. Ness, Jno. Garland Pollard. The Convention having organ ized and adopted a constitution, referred the above paper to a committee of ten with instruc tions to submit a report thereon to the conventionalChattanojga next May. The committee of ten prepared the following response : Your communication to the Baptist Young People’s Convention in Atlanta, November 21 and 22, 1895, was referred to us, as a committee, with instructions to in ike response in behalf of our B Y. P. U. Auxiliary to the Southern Bap tist Convention. We beg; therefore, to submit the following response to your paper : . , In our judgment, there are conditions existing, the nature of which makes it impossible that the Baptist Young Peo pie’s Union Auxiliary to {the Southern Baptbt Convention should be a depart ment. There are practical difficulties in the way of the immediate and widespread influence of the Baptist Young People’s Union of America in certain sections, which, we are impressed, can be over cotneat once by the Baptist Young Peo ple’s Union Auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention. While appreciating the spirit of your proposals, we see grave difficulties in working out the details so as to preserve both autonomy and federation ; and, wishing to do everything that sound judgment and good feeling may dictate, we desire to present the following pro posals in answer to your paper, which was referred to this committee by the Baptist Young People’s Union Auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention: 1. In the place of your first proposi tion. we propose this—viz : (1) That the Baptist Young People’s Union Aux iliary to the Southern Baptiit Conven tion shall be recognized by the Baptist Young People’s Union of America, as supplying the place of the “Department of the Green ; ” and although the organ ization we represent is to be a distinct body, and equal in all its functions to the Baptist Young People's Union of America, still there will be cordial and fraternal co-operation between the two bodies in general matters relating to the development of the young people in ev ery section of our country. (2) That there be a joint annual meeting of the executive committees of the't wo general bodies to arrange a joint study, or Chris tian Culture Course, the materials and preparations for these courses to be sup plied by each general body for itself ; and to consider any other matters of common interest to the two bodies; all such questions, however, to be sub mitted to the bodies for their sanction 2. We accept your second, third, and fifth propositions as they stand in your paper. 3. We most heartily accept your sixth proposition—suggesting, however, this in addition: That fraternal delegates shall be appointed by the Baptist Young People’s Union Auxiliary to the South ern Baptist Convention to the general meetings of the Baptist Young People’s Union of America, and fraternal dele gates appointed from the latter to the former body. These propositions are submitted be fore being finally adopted by our com mittee for recommendation to the Chat tanooga meeting, in the hope that we may secure their acceptance by you pre vious to such action. We feel sure, how ever. they will be acceptable to the or ganization we represent. We are devoutly desirous of reaching some common ground upon which we can stand, in order that we may have a union of all those heartily interested in the development of our young people in some organization appealing to the sym pathies of the great masses,of our South ern Baptist people. It is in the interest of this broad efficiency that we ask your cordial consideration, and ask your ac cept nice of these propositions. The paper is signed by B I) Gray, F. C. McConnell, J B Gambrell. J. L. White, T. H. Pritchard J. II Tucker, I. ,1. Van Ness. H. F. Sprites. E J. For rester and P. H. Mell. The writer of this was request ed to bear this response to, and confer with the Executive Com mittee of the Department of the Green in reference to matters contained therein. It was finally arranged to meet the committee in Richfnond at 8 p. m., February 10th. We met at that time, but as two membersof their committee were absent we agreed to meet at Hi o'clock next morning, but had some informal talk and the paper from the r committee and our re sponses were both read. The nextmornirg we met, and their chairman, Dr. Wright, said that it would be well for him to say before we proceeded that since we had organized at Atlanta on the basis we did, they had no au thority to treat with us. To this I expressed my surprise, and re marked that there was nothing before us, and that whilst I was glad to talk informally about matters, I certainly would not have come the long distance if I had known they could not act in the matter. Dr. F. C. McCon nell, of our Committee of Ten, came in and I repeated to him what Dr. Wright had just said of their inability to treat with us. We then had a pleasant infor mal talk about the present status of our young people’s work; and in the course of our talk we asked if they would be willing to recommend the acceptance of our propositions to their constit uency in Milwaukee next July, but they were not wi ling to do so When our Atlanta convention failed to organize as a Depart ment of the Green B. Y P. U A., then the Executive Committee of the Department of the Green were precluded from further ne gotiations with us, according to their own statements. It was a great surprise to me when they took this position in Richmond. They had been invited to meet with our committee of ten in At lanta on Dec. 23d last to confer about this very matter. Then, it would appear, would have been the proper time for them to have announced their inability to treat with us. 1. fter that time and for over a month, and up to within a few days of our meeting in Rich mond, I had had correspondence with them, and had asked them to meet me in Washington City, but accepted their invitation to meet them in Richmond, for the purpose of bearing to them our response and having an official conference with them. It will be seen from the view taken by the Richmond commit tee that they could not act upon our response, and thus the mat ter stands. B. D. Gray. Birmingham, Ala., February 21, 1896 The Executive Committee of the Department of the Green published the following in the Religious Herald of two weeks ago. It gives their view of the situation and was written pre vious to the publication of Dr. Gray’s letter. In view of the fact that the committee of the B. Y. P. U. Auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention and our committee have been unable to come to an agreement as to a basis of the union of our forces, it is deemed well to make the following statement to the constit uency of the Southern Baptist Conven tion : 1. When the Executive Committee of the Department of the Green. B. Y. P. U. A., made propositions 2,3, 4,5, it was not only from a conviction that such an arrangement would help our cause, but wi’h a hope that these propositions would cause our brethren everywhere at the South to be willing to retain an organic relation with the Baptist young people of our continent. 2. It will be seen from the papers above that the brethren representing the B. Y. P. U. Auxiliary to the South ern Baptist Convention are willing to accept all our propositions, except the one in the interest of which the others were made; in other words, they are willing to compromise on a basis of ac cepting all we offer, and refusing the only concession we ask. 3. It will be seen by a comparison of the foregoing papers that the one mat ter that divided the two committees, and at last made their conference nuga tory, was the demand of the committee of the B. Y. P. U. Auxiliary to the South ern Baptist Convention, that there should be swept away the last trace of organic fellowship between the Baptist young people of our Southern land and the Baptist young people of the West, of the North, and of Canada. 4. By comparison of foregoing papers, it will be seen that no organic contact is proposed by us that can, in the slight est degree, endanger the autonomy, per petuation or progress of the Southern Baptist Convention. 5. We can imagine but one objection that can now be urged against such an organic connection as we propose, and that is a feeling, possibly existing in some sections, agains l : our movement because it has a relation to supposed er rors among our Northern brethren. We feel confident such a feeling, if it exists at all. is very exceptional. Further more, we are convinced that to accord it any consideration would be sacrificing the Christian principle of charity. (I We take this opportunity of cor recting again what seems to be a popu lar misapprehension of the source of our appointment as the Executive Commit tee of the Department of the Green. We were elected by the Southern delegates present at the Baltimore convention— aoont 700 in nnmbe-.- —who assembled at the Brantly church on July 21st last We. therefore, represent a body of Southern Baptists larger in number and in the extent of territory from which they came than do our brethren ap pointed from the Atlanta convention. 7. Let not this failure to agree dis courage the friends of the movement. Since the Baltimore convention, the work has rapidly grown in the South, and we cannot believe that the day is distant when all efforts will be joined for the increased spirituality and effec tiveness of our Baptist young people. W. L Wright, George Cooper, W.m. W. Landrum, Chari.es M. Ness, Jno. Garland Pollard. For tin- Index Sacred Music. BY E. H. THORNTON. There is music in everything. “From the ocean’s thunderous roaring to the trolling of the birds.” Could we but catch the music of the stars, it would come to us like the faraway chime of silver bells falling upon the heart as gently as the low, sweet sigh of a lily. When the storm king starts from his slumbers, and “Old Boreas on his huge guitar of thundering forests sweeps a grand march to the gods,”—there is music sublime in its maddening glee. But af ter all there is no music on earth equal to that of the human voice. Dr. Talmage says “we appreciate secular music,” and gives instances of how shattered armies have rallied unde r the influence of its magic power, but asks the question, “Do we appreciate sa cred music?” beautifully adding “nothing inspires me more than a congregation lifted up on the wave of holy melody.” Ana tion's songs touch a nation’s heart. When the crash of a splendid band bursts forth in all Ihe wild music of Dixie, the hot Southern blood leaps in my veins and carries me back to the • scorching days of the sixties.” Once more I hear the blare of bu gles and the long, low, deep growl of the drum, and as the bloody canopy is lifted from the field of carnage by the lurid light of blazing cannon, and Hashing musketry, I see the bat tle-scarred veterans of Lee and Johnston fighting with a despera ton born of despair in defense of the “storm cradled nation which fell.” Those who followed the stare and bars till they went down in gloom and the hopes of our people were buried, cannot be charged with disloyalty to the “lost cause,” in saying there is another song that fills the heart with joy and gladness. When I hear the lofty music of the “Star Spangled Banner” every fibre in my being thrills with love and gratitude to God for this glorious country, and on bended knee I bless His holy name for this land of Bibles, this lai d of Christian homes, and churches, this land of religious liberty. I love the sad, sacred memories that clus ter around every blood stained fold of the “conquered banner,” and I thank God for every star that glitters in the glorious old Hag which 11 jats proudly above the grandest people beneath the skies. Much as I am moved by these there are other songs, sa cred songs, which stir my soul to its very depths, grand old hymns, the music of which hushes into silence all martial airs and sweeps into oblivion all secular strains. There is one dearer to me than all others, it is old but ever new. No sweeter music has fallen upon the ear of mor tils since the angels sang “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to man.” Thou sands of congregations have been lifted upon the wave of its holy melody. It has circled this mighty old earth with the ten der pathos of its heavenly mu sic. Its-every dine is a prayer and every note an inspiration. It swings out the star of hope to the Christian believer, and brings the sobbing sinner in penitential tears to the feet of the Master. Thank God for that grandest of all music, “Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to thy bosom fly; W hile the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high.” May God fill the hearts of His people with a spirit of sacred song that shall flame into glo rious anthems and happy halle- VOL. 76-NO. 10 lujahs in praise to His holy name now and foiever. Atlanta, Ga. For the Index. is Tithe Paying Scriptural ? by a. c. WARD. In the Index dated February 20th there appeared an admira ble article from the able pen of Dr. J. G. Gibson under the title “Pay What Thou Owest” which is more than suggestive. After a careful reading by one seeking light, the question was asked, “Is it Scriptural ?” Our answer is, that there can be no doubt as to the Old Testament teaching on this subject. Abra ham certainly gave tithes of all his property to Melchizedek. Gen. 14:20. Also see Heb. 7:2 6. Notice in passing that here are given passages'both from the Old and New Testament. The original purpose of the tenth was, that the men who ministered to the people in spir itual things, should be supported thereby. It was expected that each would bring a tenth of what was made. In Deut. 14:24 we see that this law was changed, not as to amount, or time of giving but as to the kind of offering. Thus for example the distance might be too great to carry even a tenth of the corn made, in. which event the 24th verse says “Then thou shalt turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose.” Undoubtedly the question of tithing was frequently over looked even by the Old Testa ment saints. Many of the Jew ish kings completely ignored the commands of God upon this very subject. Both Hezekiah and Nehemiah ( after the deliverance from captivity) sought to arouse the people and reform them on tithing. Read 2 Chro. 31:5, 19. Also Neh. 12:44. Now the ques tion, as many other questions of like character, can be decided only on one basis. What is the expressed will of God ? That he has expressed his will, no one can doubt who will take the trouble to read what he says. He has spoken, -and in speaking he names a tenth. Can we, who owe everything to him, off ;/ him less than the specified amount ? Because he does not, as the tax receiver, issue fi. fas. and sell us oit of all we have, shall we therefore take advan tage of his mercy ? Has the law of God in regard to tithing ever been repealed or annulled ? No matter what we as his children may or may not say about tith ing, it certainly must remain as God’s plan of giving until he speaks again to us on the sub ject. Christ did not change the law. It was in vogue when he was on earth. We-read of tithes of mint, anise and cumin. The law did not oblige the Jews to give the tithe of this sort of herbs. It only required it of all that come under the head of in come or revenue. The Phari sees desired to distinguish them selves by 7 a scrupulous observ ance of the law. Christ did not chide them for this, bat for the fact that while they were so scrupulous about keeping the law of tithing they were negligent of the weightier matters of the law. It is as if he said “you do well in the mat ter of tithes, why not do as well in other things ?’’ The subject of giving is really taken for granted in the New Testament. Christ everywhere commends it. In no instance does he condemn it, or speak disparagingly of it. The New Testament may be regarded as a confirmation of the Old Testa ment. If we as Baptists con tend for the faith once delivered to the saints we must certainly come back to the tithing of our increase. I do not believe in church as sessments, nor do I believe any man on earth has the right to specify the amount I shall give. I do not know the amount my self. It is all in the hands of God. If he’gives me much, one tenrh is his; if he gives me little, one-tenth is his portion. Thus each one as he purposeth in his heai t, so let him give. Baptist it- Reflector-. We are glad to see the names of so many good and well-known Baptists among the signatures to the temperance call. We trust that every Bap tist in the State will in this fight be found upon the side of tem perance, of morality and, we be lieve, of Christ. We shall have something more to say upon the subject probably between now and the time of the convention. We have not got into politics. We stand where we always did. We are simply proposing to put our principles into practical op eration. With us it is a question of morality and of Christianity, and not simply of politics.