Newspaper Page Text
ESTABLISHED 1821.
WChristianlndex
Publisher Every Thursday
By BELL & VAN NESS
Address Christian Index. Atlanta, (fa.
Organ of the Baptist Denomination in
Georgia
Subscription Pkicx:
One copy, one year 12.00
One copy, six months 1.00
About Our Advertisers.— We propose
hereafter to very carefully Investigate our
advertisers. We shall exerclseevery cnre to
allow only reliable parties to use our col
nmns.
Obituaries.—One hundred words free of
charge. For each extra word, one cent per
word, cash with copy.
To Correspondents—Do 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 business items on same sheet. Leave
off personalities, condense.
Business.—Write all names, and post
officesdlstlnctly. In ordering achange 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
•topped pay up to date.
Remittances by registered letter, money
order, postal note
For the Index.
“The Lost Found.’ -Lesson for
April 19.—Luke 15:11 24
BY S. G. HILLYER.
We have in this lesson the par
able of the Prodigal Son. It fol
lows in close connection the par
ables of the lost sheep and the
lost coin. There are two ideas
common to them all, viz: God's
earnest desire to save the lost,
and that all Heaven sympathizes
in this desire; for “there»is joy
in the presence of the angels of
God over one sinner that re
pents.”
But while the parable of the
prodigal evidently includes these
two ideas, it teaches us much
more. In the first two parables
the lost sheep of the one and the
lost coin of the other, repre
sent to us the sinner as uncon
scious of his lost condition, and
as ignorant of the solicitude
which his condition has excited
in the bosom of God. And is
not this the actual stale of mind
of the unconverted sinner? He
is lost, but he doesn’t know it.
All Heaven is anxious for his
yalvatipn: but he is not conscious
of any such solicitude in his be
half, so long as he continues to
be absorbed in the pursuit of only
earthly things.
Thence it was necessary to
supplement those two parables
with another, to show to us that
lost sinner in a state of penitence.
This is the aim of the parable of
the prodigal son. God's dispo
sition towards the sinner, and
his active efforts for his recovery
from his lost condition were
strikingly set forth in the first
two parables. But they leave the
sinner as only the passive recip
ient of the grace that serves him.
But the story of the prodigal
shows us the sinner awak
ened. He has come to himself.
He has discovered his true con
dition, and accordingly, he re
solves to seek the face of his
long-neglected Father in Heaven.
In this view of it, the story of
the prodigal is an allegorical ep
itome of the Christian’s expe
rience. And it describes, in
striking terms, the struggles of
an awakened sinner to make his
way back to God. Such a sinner
is not a mere recipient of God's
saving grace, as if he were only
a sheep that had accidentally
wandeied from the fold; but he
is an intelligent, conscious agent,
who, under the invisible influ
ences of the Holy Spirit, discov
ers how utterly he has been
wasting the moral wealth of his
spiritual nature, upon the unsat
isfying allurements of a carnal
life. In the discovery he sees
his moral ruin. Thus enlight
ened, he comes with a broken
and contrite heart to his Father’s
feet, and with full contession of
all his sins, throws himself on
his Father’s mercy.
In the light of these explana
tions, we may learn that all men
are, by nature, prodigals. By
nature, we all commit the folly
of the younger son in the para
ble. But all do not, like him,
come to themselves and seek their
Father’s face. When Jesus
spoke the parable, perhaps, only
a very few perceived its full sig
nificance. The Pharisees, the
Scribes, and rulers, with all who
moved in the higher walks of
social life, hardly dreamed that
the young fool in the parable was
designed to represent t/iem. They
were, no doubt, willing that he
should represent the publicans
and harlots; but 1 hemselves, O
never! Their self-appreciation
and worldlymindedness made
them invulnerable against the
arrows of divine truth shot
among them from the bended bow
of a single parable.
In these modern times, there
are many thousands of people
whom the parable of the prod-
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
igal son can never reach. And
yet, like the prodigal, they are
wasting their rich endowments
in vain efforts to satisfy their
spiritual longings with the mere
baubles of time and sense. Men
and women know that by nature
they have a capacity for happi
ness; and they long to obtain it.
But they seek for it only in the
things of the present life. On
these things they waste their af
fections and their efforts, for
they never find in them the hap
piness they seek. To be sure,
they may not be coarse, vulgar
and debauched, like a literal
profligate; but every sinner is
trying to seek his happiness
aw’ay from his Father’s house—
that is, apart from God. He is,
therefore, truly represented by
the prodigal in the parable.
But it often comes to pass,that
the sinner, under the influences
of divine grace, and the teach
ings of divine truth, comes to
himself—he discovers the vari
ety of his course—and then, like
the prodigal, he remembers his
Father’s house. He becomes
convinced of his sin, and at once
resolves, in penitence and sorrow,
to seek after God,and with a full
confession of his sin, to throw
himself upon his compassion.
How exactly does the penitent
prodigal described in the para
ble, foreshadow the experience of
the awakened sinner! And how
truly the w’elcome of the poor
prodigal by his loving Father,
celebrated with feasting and
gladness, represent the joy which
is in Heaven over one sinner that
repents!
The view of the parable, above
set forth, is the one which makes
it of such precious value to us.
When it was first given, it may,
perhaps, have been designed to
meet the murmurs of the Scribes
and the Pharisees against him
self because he kept company
with publicans and sinners. Such
an application of it, at the time,
was no doubt appropriate. But
there is no need for that applica
tion of it now.
For many long centuries no
class of people have complained
of Jesus because he has compas
sion on the guilty and the lowly.
But the glory of the parable is,
that, while it may have been de
signed to meet a state of things
that then existed, it was so con
stuupted_a§, to tell, in terms of a
simple allegory,the leading steps
in every Christian experience
from the day of the Pentecost
down to the present time. In
this we find its inexpressible
value.
Except in the cases of very
young converts, whose expe
riences of the world have been,
at their tender age, very limited,
I think it is generally true, that
the parable of the prodigal son
indicates the process whereby
the soul of the awakened sinner
passes out of nature’s darkness
into the light and liberty of a
“new condition of life.” If this
be so, then it teaches by antici
pation, the necessity of the new
birth, and helps to illustrate it.
For the Index.
Pen Droppings.
BY l. l. v.
Those -who reject the re’igion
of the Bible are wont to base their
decision on the allegation that its
acceptance would require too
large a measure of faith. That
it does demand the exercise of
faith its adherents do not pre
tend to deny. But have they who
urge this objection advanced any
hypotheses which do not demar d
quite as much ? We find our
selves here in a state of existence
where little can be absolutely
known. We can by no amount
of inquiry find out how the pres
ent state of things came to exist.
Our own planet and the endless
combination of spheres around
and about us suggest questions
which the profoundest philoso
phers can not answer. In the
Mosaic account of the creation
we are told that God in the be
ginning created the heavens and
the earth. This carries every
thing back to the first great cause.
Can there be any explanation of
fered more logical or sensible
than this? There be those indeed
who find fault with this history
as not reaching far enough back
into the remote past. But has
any one been able to trace the
order of evolution farther back
than “in the beginning”? Say
that it has been six trill’ons in
stead of six thousand years since
the will of the Creator began to
impart to matter something of
its present form. That does not
make its exercise of faith in the
least less necessary. The God
who can overrule all of infinite
number of agencies in such a
way as to bring out definite re
sults after unmeasured ages is
none the less powerful than the
one who orders an instantaneous
arrangement. The evolutionist
cannot dispense with a Creator.
I %-.RI PTION. Pm Y«*». - t 2.00. I
ITO K .NISTERB. 1.00. I
GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION.
Seventy-Fourth Annual Session.
Measuring from Waycross,
where the Convention was held
last year,to Cedartown, the place
of its recent session, and finding
the two places nearly three hun
dred and fifty miles apart, one
gets some idea of the dimensions
of our State. Cedartown being
in an extreme part of the State
a large attendance was not ex
pected from the other extremi
ties. Some who came from
toward the eastern and southern
borders made complaint of hav
ing to leave home Sunday after
noon or night in order to reach
the Convention by Tuesday
noon. But this was due mainly
to imperfect railroad connec
tions.
The general welcome given by
Cedartown was worth going some
distance to receive. The meet
ing was seized upon as quite an
event in the history of the plucky
little city by all the inhabitants,
and for a few days everything
was surrendered up to the Bap
tists. It was a surprise to many
of the visitors to find the place
bearing so many airs of a real
city, having public water works,
electric lights, telephones, and
numerous elegant homes and
business blocks that gave evi
dence of thrift and enterprise.
The elegant brick house of wor
ship owned by the Baptists,
modern in design and thor
oughly convenient in all its ap
pointments, was a joy to >us all.
Pastor W. H. Cooper, always ge
nial far beyond the average of
his fellows, seemed to be in his
happiest vein. His generous
smiles spoke an undoubted wel
come to every heart. When the
Convention assembled every
feature of the surroundings be
tokened a pleasant meeting.
THE OPENING PRAYER MEETING.
Two years ago Brother Ber
nard made the suggesion that
one hour be given to a prayer
meeting at the opening of the
Convention. The spontaneous
and favorable reception given to
this suggestion was no mere mo
mentary impulse, as has been
shown by the way in which this
hour of devotional service has
now come to be regarded as an
indispensable feature One-hour
the first day and one half hour
each succeeding day of the re
cent meeting was spent in praise
and prayer, and the spiritual ele
ment of the whole Convention
was prominent and uplifting.
Brother P. A Jessup, of Tif
ton, led the meeting at the open
ing hour. A brother in whose
spirit there is no guile, his every
word and purpose are serious
and earnest. After appropriate
Scriptures and words from Br?.
Jessup, Brethren E. Y. Mallary,
J. J. Whitfield andß. E. L. Harris
made earnest talks. The hour
was spent in away to become a
fine preparation for a speedy and
harmonious organization of the
Convention.
ORGANIZATION.
Dr. Lansing Burrows, Vice-
President of the Convention,
called the house to order. He
called attention to the fact that
he was the only officer of the
Convention present. President
J. H. Kilpatrick was detained at
home by sickness. Secretary
G. R. McCall and Treasurer S. A.
Burney have ceased their labors
and entered upon their rest.
Other officers were late in arriv
ing or kept away altogether
through various causes. The
words spoken by Dr Burrows in
reference to the sickness of our
President and the decease of our
Secretary and Treasurer quieted
all hearts into a tender sadness.
The sense of loss occasioned by
the absence of these faithful and
well beloved brethren was deep
and universal.
The action of the Executive
Committe some months ago in
appointing B. D. Ragsdale tern
porary Secretary of the Conven
tion was ratified by the Conven
tion, and he announced the
names of delegates enrolled.
The number shown to be present
at the opening was about 125.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The election of the officers of
the Convention could scarcely
have been more speedy or
hearty. A lot of blank ballots
provided by the Secretary were
found to be of no use, for the en
tire election was by acclamation.
Hon. W. J. Northen was chosen
President, Dr. Lansing Burrows,
Dr. W. L. Kilpatrick, Hon. A. D.
Freeman and Dr. W. H. Cooper
Vice Presidents,,Dr. B. D. Rags
dale Secretary, and Mr. J. E.
Chiles assistant Secretary. Rev.
H. R. Bernard was elected Treas
urer.
A communication from the for
mer President, Dr. Kilpatrick
was read, in which he expressed
his regrets at not being able to
be present, and asked the prayers
of the Convention in his behalf.
ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY, APRIL 16,1896.
Brethren Jessup, Hawthorne and
Gwin were appointed a commit
tee to send a message of sympa
thy from the Convention to
Brother Kilpatrick.
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
Something of a new departure
was taken at the last Convention
in the appointment of a commit
tee on Order of Business, a sort
of schedule or steerage commit
tee to give to the various reports
and interests a proper place and
time on the program. No new
departure has much of a showing
on its first experiment, and the
results last year were .-not the
happiest. So this year the Con
vention simply adopted its Order
of Business, and from time to
time subjects of special interest
were made special orders, and
perhaps the time of no Conven
tion was ever, upon the whole,
better alloted among the many
interests requiring attention.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Perhaps the easiest task in all
the work of the President was
the appointment of the Finance
Committee. He simply named
the committee of last year, con
sisting of E. Y. Mallary, F. J.
Paxon, and J. P. Nichols The
tedious, responsible, and self
sacrificing labors of these breth
ren on this committee cannot be
too highly appreciated. They
have very little opportunity to
share the privileges of the meet
ing.
VISITORS.
The visiting brother was not
numerous but ratherdistinguish
ed. The lack in quantity was
supplied by quality. Dr. E. C.
Dargan made this his first visit
to the Georgia Convention as
the representative of the Semi
nary at Louisville. Dr. R. J.
Willingham came down from
Richmond to tell his Georgia
cousins, brethren and fellow
workers in the Lord about the
great work of Foreign missions.
Dr. J. M. Frost, oi Nashville,
came down, not as from any sort
of urgency or necessity, but sim
ply to greet the Georgia hosts
in the work of the Sunday school
Board, and to tell about its
growing power and success and
its ever enlarging fields of use
fulness. Dr. H. L. Morehouse,
Field Secretary Home
Missionary Societyw Yerk,
came to /nd
joyous heart of the happy results
and happier prospects of work
among the colored people. Dr.
W. P. Harvey, of the Western Re
corder, Kentucky, and Dr. A. E.
Dickinson, of the Religious Her
ald, Virginia, had been to Geor
gia before, and would scarcely
like to be referred to as strangers
or visitors. One visitor to the
Convention, somewhat distin
guished in certain respects, was
Rev. Wm. Cagle, of the Jasper
Association. This was the sec
ond Convention he has attended,
last year having been the first,
and he was certainly distinguish
ed in the joy and gladness that
came into his heart from an or
ganization and a meeting with
which he has all his life had so
little acquaintance or sympathy.
ROUTINE MATTERS.
The reading of reports from
the State Board of Trustees, from
the Treasurer, and from the Ex
ecutive Committee, and their
reference to proper committees
usually constitute the principal
part of the first day’s proceed
ings. All these reports were
encouraging, though no points
of them were especially note
worthy, except it be the already
familiar project of the Trustees
of Mercer University to raise an
additional SIOO,OOO endowment.
In the midst of their routine
work one matter was brought up
that set things a tingling just
a bit. Dr. G. A. Nunnally sub
mitted a proposition from him
self and other citizens of La-
Grange, trustees of certain
school property, offering this
school property to the State
Convention to be controlled and
managed by them for the educa
tion of women. The Convention
was evidently a little embarrass
ed by the'Offer of such a gift.
Every one knows the embarrass
ment of being offered a gift
when he does not understand ex
actly what the gift is, and when
he is not entirely certain that he
either desires or needs the gift.
The matter needed consideration,
and so was referred to a commit
tee consisting of A. A. Marshall,
A. D. Freeman, J. L. White, J.
M. Hurst, J. G. Gibson, G. W.
Gardner and E. M. Hooten, to
be reported upon at a later hour
as a special order.
DR. DARGAN.
From the dullness of routine,
and from the slight disturbance
of equipoise through having
great gifts thrust upon us, things
w’ere restored to a very happy
frame of mind by the introduc
tion of Dr. E. C. Dargan to speak
of the work of the Southern Bap
tist Theological Seminary. He
told of the steadfastness of that
institution to the principles of
our fathers, of its unquestioned
devotion to the integrity and
power of God's Word. He told
of the high water mark of attend
ance. there —316 student s enrolled
the present session. He told of
the vast work of instructing
these by only seven professors
He told of the 175 students need
ing help on their expenses, and
of help being rendered them out
of the Student’s Fund. He told
of Georgia's share in this work,
and modestly asked for S7OO on
the student's fund for the next
year. Responses in the way of
subscription began to come in,
generous and cheerful, and he
could by no means sit down until
$835 had been raised. This
amount was increased later by
private subscriptions. Dr. Dar
gan, for himself and for his in
stitution, got very close to many
hearts.
CONVENTION SERMON.
Rev. J. L. White, of the First
church, Macon, was the preach
er for the Convention sermon.
The text was John 15:5: “I am
the vine, ye are the branches; he
that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much
fruit; for without me ye can do
nothing.” The sermon was ear
nest and unctuous. It was a ser
mon for the heart and life, serv
ing to refresh and strengthen all
who heard it.
At the conclusion of the ser
mon Dr. J. M. Frost, correspond
ing secretary, spoke of the work
of the Sunday-school Board.
MERCER UNIVERSITY.
By previous arrangement and
by common consent, the hour of
honor in the time of the Conven
tion was given to the discussion
of the interests of Mercer Uni
versity. All eyes were turned
io this as the matter of pre-emi
nent importahce before the Con
vention. The speakers were
given a ready hearing. All
minds were favorably predis
posed to such arguments and ap
peals as might be put forth.
Perhaps even more might be
said of a, large majority, that
their minds were already con
vinced of the needs, the oppor
tunities, and the possibilities of
the situation.
President J. B. Gambrell and
Rev H t R jßernauff ( made the
principal speeches on/the sub
ject. When they had finished it
really appeared that little re
mained to be said. Dr. Gambrell
was exceedingly graphic in por
traying the important relation
our college sustains to our every
Christian and denominational en
terprise, and the great urgency
for an increase of resources.
Rev. H. R. Bernard was unique
in his way of putting things and
intense in his convictions that
Mercer can and must be en
dowed.
By the arguments presented
doubtful minds were convinced,
and established convictions were
confirmed. By the earnest ap
peals sympathies were aroused,
and worthy pride was stimulated.
What remains? When shall we
resolve and do? What magic
touch shall fire our wills and en
ergize our purposes? We are
not impoverished, we know to
do good, the opportunity waits
and presses. When shall we
arouse ourselves to action?
OUR DECEASED MINISTERS.
The report of the committee
showed that twenty six preach
ers have died since last
Convention. The only action
taken was to direct that their
names be inscribed upon memo
rial pages. Two of these have
long been faithful officers of the
Convention. Others have been
eminent for godliness and faith
ful service. It seems unfortu
nate that a more fitting memorial
should not have been expressed,
that some favorable hour should
not have been given to a memo
rial service.
A LIVELY SKIRMISH.
The proposition submitted by
citizens of LaGrange, offering
to the convention college prop
erty to be controlled and man
aged by the Convention for the
education of girls had been made
the special order for Wednesday
afternoon. The committee to
whom the matter had been re
ferred, brought in a unanimous
report against acceptance, based
on several grounds. There are
several female schools in the
State virtually Baptist, and the
asceptance of this one by the
Convention would provoke un
worthy contention among them.
The present effort on foot to en
dow Mercer University is too
important to be interfered with
by the undertaking of any new
enterprise. The acceptance of
the proposition might involve
financial obligations wffiich the
Convention would be unwise to
assume.
The report presented by the
committee was adopted unani-
mously and without discussion.
Many faces betrayed surprise,
as a lively discussion had been
expected. Dr. Nunnally soon
appeared before the Convention
to explain his absence from the
house when the report was read
and adopted. His statements led
to a motion for reconsideration,
and then the expected debate
was on. A lively debate it was,
though remarkably free from
harshness or acrimony. It was
just a genuine Baptist meeting
where our boasted freedom of
speech for a time had full play.
Dr. Nunnally spoke with vigor
of the importance of educating
our girls, and of having schools
established for them where ex
penses might be small. He
urged that the kind of school
most needed could be maintained
only by the Convention.
J. B. Hawthorne, A. J. Battle,
F. M. Longley, H. Hatcher, C.
C. Cox, Lansing Burrows, and
E. M. Hooten joined in the dis
cussion. When the vote was
again taken the Convention still
declined to accept the proffered
gift, though about a dozen his
time voted in favor of it. There
was serious apprehension upon
the part of many as to obliga
tions to be assumed and possible
debts to be incurred in the com
pletion of extensive buildings
now under process of construc
tion. There was also unwilling
ness felt that the Convention
should have to do with the set
tlement of questions raised about
rights to charter, name, etc.
HOME AND FOREIGN MISSIONS.
The special order for Wednes
day night was the consideration
of the reports on Home and For
eign Missions. The meeting
lasted for two full hours, and
speeches were made by Malcolm
MacGregor, J. B. Hawthorne,
H. L. Morehouse, G. A. Nunnally,
W. H. Young, and R. J. Willing
ham. The things discussed are
fundamental to the very purpose
and life of the Convention.
Patient and earnest attention
was given, and the meeting w’as
one of deep solemnity and power.
The report and discussion on
Home Missions brought to con
sideration the varied fields and
interests of the Board. Dr.
Morehouse spoke particularly on
the work among the negroes,
and the pjan jn
that work between the brethren
of the North and those of the
South. Dr. Tichenor, ata later
hour, spoke feelingly of the he
roic services of our workers in
Cuba and of the Lord's rich
blessings upon their labors.
Rev. George Sale, of the Atlanta
Baptist Seminary, also spoke
upon the subject at a later hour,
dwelling particularly upon the
good work and worthy purpose
of the negro colleges in the
South founded and supported
through the benevolence of our
brethren at the North. Especial
attention was called to the large
and growing foreign population
in the South, and the imperative
duty upon us to give them the
pure gospel.
Dr. Willingham, on Foreign
Missions, spoke out of a yearn
ing and burdened heart of the
great nations that lie out in dark
ness. He gave striking in
stances of success in our work,
and reported encouraging con
ditions among all our workers.
The debt on the Foreign Board
is somewhat formidable, yet it is
not such as to discourage willing
hands and hearts.
DELEGATES TO SOUTHERN BAPTIST
CONVENTION.
T. P. Bell, I. J. Van Ness, J. J. Ben
nett, H. R. Bernard, R. H. Smith, G.
A. Nunnally, T. W. O’Kelley, W. L.
Stanton, B. M. Callaway, J. W. Binns,
G. W. Hurt, Jas. F. Edens, J. M. Wal
ler, J. J. Farmer, W. J. Durham, J. W.
Butts, J. M. Kelley. P. A. Jessup, T. M.
Callaway J. M. Callaway, J. M. Mitch
ell, E D. Huguenin, S. Y. Jameson, H.
McDonald, J. B. Hawthorne, J. D. Win
cheater, W. J. Northen, R. E. L. Har
ris, A. T. Spalding. H. Hatcher, F. J.
Paxon, C. C. Cox, H. H. Hickman. D.
Shaver, Henry Jordan, B. F. Abbott, J.
M. Green, J. J. Maddox. H. H Caba
niss, H. Hallman, W. L. Kilpatrick, J.
T. B. Anderson, G. W. Argabrite, J. L.
White, J. E. Chiles, Q. L. Williford, J.
H. Hall, J. A. Howard, E. M. Dyer, J.
G, Hunt, A. C. Ward, M. MacGregor,
F. G. Harris, R. F. Smith. J. C. Steph
enson, W. W. Orr, D. M. Almand, W.
J. Lovvorn, T. Spurlock, J. A. Rhudy,
J. E. Hudson, Jos. W. Smith, G. G.
Roy, M. M. Welch, H. W. Rhodes, J.
W. Pullen, J. I. Oxford,S. R. C. Adams,
A. J. Morgan, A. B. Vaughan, G. W.
Gardner, A. J. Battle, W. J. Barton, L.
D. Wootten, M. C. Jackson, J. C. Allen,
J. M. Brittain, W. W. Arnold, R. B.
Taylor, M. L Duggan, W. W. Mabry.
W. H. Lumpkin, S. J. Whatley, J. P.
Nichols, B. M. Pack, G. B. Myers, V.
A. Ham, T. E. McCutchen, F. M. Brant
ly, A. S. Jones, H. E. Owens, W. H.
Young, T. S. Mell. A. S. Barker, G. H.
Carter, J. L Gross, J. D. Norris, J. B.
Turpin, B. L. Ross, W. D Hammock,
H. L. Crumbly, J. S. Knowles, J. W.
Stanford, J. C. Camp. W. J. King, A.
M. Marshall, E W. Marshall, W. W.
Fitts, G. W. Garner, W. T. Glower, I.
G. Woolsey, J. B. Gambrell, T. D. Wal
ker, N. B. Drewry, J. E. DeVaughn, J.
A. Wray, E. B. Carroll, J. H. Gambrell,
B. J. W". Graham, P. F. Crawford. J. B.
S. Davis, L. F. Blalock, I. T. Tichenor,
A. D. Adair, J. W. Pitts W. Dunson,
W. J. Carswell, J. H. Sanders, J. C.
Wingo, B. F. Riley, W. P. Price, A. D.
Freeman.
VOL. 76-NO. 16
STATE MISSIONS.
Dr. J. G. Gibson,as correspond
ing Secretary, presented a grati
fying and encouraging report on
the work of State missions. The
most notable feature of the re
port was the vast, the almost in
credible amount done of work by
the Secretary himself. He is a
prodigious and an untiring work
er, else he could by no means at
tend faithfully to the many varied
and important interests commit
ted to him. He looks after the
interests of Foreign Missions, of
Home Missions, of the State
work, of indigent ministers, co
operates in work for the Or
phans’ Home, for Mercer Univer
sity, for the Sunday School
Board, and besides all these finds
time ever and anon for valiant
work in the temperance cause.
INDIGENT MINISTERS.
About 21 needy preachers re
ceive help from funds provided
for that purpose. The average
amount of the help given is only
$7 to $8 per month.
CHURCH BUILDING.
Numerous and urgent calls
are made on the Board for help
in building meeting houses in
places where the membership is
not large or strong. Small
amounts are given in a w r ay to
stimulate churches to help them
selves.
COLORED PEOPLE.
The heartiest acceptance has
been given by the State Board to
the plans of co operation devised
between our brethren North and
South in work among colored
people. Georgia has for some
yeai s stood some xhat in the front
in the work done for colored
preachers and deacons. This
work, as done the past few years
by Dr. J. M. Brittain, has been
highly esteemed and warmly ap
proved in all quarters. Much
regret has been expressed by the
colored people themselves in
losing Dr. Brittain from their
work, since he has entered the
pastorate again.
DESTITUTION.
There are yet some outlying
sections where real missionary
work is needed. Several asso
ciations have each a missionary
in their own bounds, and the
State Board co operates in the
work. fp good large sec
tions where there are no Sabbath
schools and no kind of practical
Christian woi k.
BIBLE INSTITUTES.
The line of work made most
prominent in the report of the
Board is that which has come to
be known as Bible Institute work.
Its aim is that of teaching, of
strengthening, of development.
Very considerable interest has
been aroused in this work, and
good results are already mani
fest. It seems to be a marked
policy of the Board to stir up in
some way those churches that
have a name to live and yet are
dead. No plan seems so w r ise or
effectual as for a man properly
fitted for the task to go about
and hold meetings with epen Bi
ble, showing the arguments, the
plans, the motives for all that we
do, out of the Scriptures, thus
enforcing their divine authority.
Single sermons will not accom
plish this work like days of f arn
est inquiry, where all questions
and difficulties can be considered.
ELECTION OF TRUSTEES.
The plan for electing the trus
tees for Mercer University was
practically the same as was sug
gested a few weeks ago in
the Index, that of having
open nominations and a printed
ballot. The chief objection
to be urged against this plan
is that a man might be a compe
tent and faithful trustee, and yet
fail of re-election on account of
not being well known throughout
the State. Any plan for electing
so large a number on a single
ballot would be liable to objec
tion. Some mistakes might oc
cur in the use of the very best
plan to be devised. But in the
face of some mistakes there is
always a balance of wisdom and
faithfulness that is a guarantee
to the protection of the best in
terests of the University. We
venture the suggestion that only
nowand then will a man be found,
who, honestly excepting himself
whether elected or not, will not
acknowledge the recently elected
Board to be up to a pretty high
standard.
woman’s work.
The report of the State Mis
sion Board, through its Corre
sponding Secretary, makes un
qualified and grateful acknowl
edgment of the work done by
the Woman's Missionary SocieJ
ties. The close sympathy and
harmony maintained between the
Woman’s work on one hand, and
the Convention and the local
churches on the other, is very
gratifying. The toilsome efforts
Continued on Bth page.