Newspaper Page Text
4
Wie Christian Index
L f VA E N NESS. | EU,TORS
AN EXPLANATION
In the Index of last week we
copied an article written by Bro.
A. B. Vaughan, Jr., in the ID*/-
ern Recorder, and commented on
it. Bro. Vaughan wrote a reply
to the editorial and it seemed
that we were about to get into a
long and heated discussion at
long range. Believing, however,
that brethren who love and re
spect each other van always get
better understanding by frater
nal conference, we have talked
together over the matters in
volved.
Out of the conference we have
come to see that mutual misun
derstandings led to much that
was said. We are assured that
Bro Vaughan did not intend in
his letter to the Recorder to cast
any slur either on the Seminary
or on us tis students thereof, or to
injure the Index.
If we had known, before we
wrote. Bro Vaughan's real mean
ings and intentions, which we
have learned in this friendly
talk, we should not have made
the extract nor made any com
meats on it. We cannot forbear,
just here, saying that it is very
easy for brethren to misunder
stand each other, and a very de
lightful experience when breth
ren get together, and see eye to
eye.
Bro. Vaughan has felt that
the IntJex has not given to the
Baptists of the State all the in
formation that it should on this
Whitsitt controversy, but since we
have explained to him our plans
for putting the whole matter be
fore the brethren, just as soon as
Dr. Whitsitt's publication makes
it possible, he heartily c iminends
that plan.
THE IMPARTATION OF SPIRITUAL
GIFTS.
Paul tells the Bomans that one
of the purposes with which he
comes to them is that he may im
part to them some spiritual gift.
He does not say it in the spirit
of an ecclesiastic or a priest, for
he distinctly modifies it immedi
ately by stating that it is the
thought of the strength of the
mutual faith of both himself and
these Romans giving something
to each party that is in his mind.
What he intends his language
to conveys, is that the same
thing is as possible to them
as it is to him. This refer
ence also makes it plain
that it is not transmitted gifts
through ordinances or ceremo
nies bus the contact of mind and
heart, for these are where faith
dwells and does its work.
Paul, however, is conscious
that it is possible for him to pass
on to others spiritual gifts and
graces. This implies the con
scious possession by him of spir
itual life. He has something
more than a mere blind faith in a
cold past fact. He can substan
tiate the faith that he holds as
to its facts, but his religion holds
more than that. It has clearly
defined and conscious experien
cesthat can be classified by him
as spiritual. Paul was sure of
the reality of an experience other
than human eye had seen or
ear heard, neither had there en
tered into the heart of man the
things God had prepared for
those loving him.
Equally do his words suggest
the confident conviction that this
spirituality is possible to others.
This is a characteristic of the
New Testament. There is no ex
Clusiveness in the offered mer
cies of God. Sin and a stubborn
will are barriers but the gospel
limits its offers of spiritual life
to no conditions of mind or estate.
Paul, realizing his own inward
spiritual experiences, is as confi
dent that they may be the expe
rience of others. It is a lesson
we all must learn. The vast ma
jority of us were converted in
childhood and our new born faith
curried us through the pitfalls of
temptation's days and lias brought
us to this grace wherein we
stand rejoicing in capacity for
that which is spiritual. Does it
not seem difficult, however, to
fully realize the same of those
now young? We hesitate almost
to trust them or to believe the
same heart life that led us and
held us will lead and hold them.
Yet it will. Paul was to meet in
Rome. Jews, Romans, Greeks,
barbarian, slaves and inmates of
Cresar's household To them all
he went with the purpose ol im
parting spiritual gifts.
In this impartation a large fac
tor is the mere matter of explain
ing and unfolding what these
spiritual experiences are. This
may be a recital of personal ex
periences or an explanation of
Bible teaching. It is the setting
before others the possibilities
An example of this is the disci
pies of John found by Paul at
Ephesus. Noticing a lavk in
their spiritual experiences, Paul
questioned them. As a result he
discovered this incomplete
knowledge. He then unfolded
the truth as he understood it.
The result was a great and wide
expansion of their experience.
This is always a step in the im
partation of gifts and graces.
These come, many times, when
consciously reached after. To
teach the outlines, the scriptur
alness, the possibility of spirit
ual gifts is to take no little step
in the impartation of gifts.
There is also something in our
intluence leading others to be
carried over mental and heart
obstacles by our persuasion. We
nfluence them to act, to desire,
to reach after. We intluence
them to continuous efforts and
help to hold them firm. It is, of
course, true that every man’s
faith and experience must be his
own He is born again alone,
he must get strength for himself,
and not another, he must have
his own experience. It is as
true, however, that God in his
mercy has set us so that we can
nelp one another. This is the
power of men like Spurgeon.
These men take others into their
strength and hold them until
they can get their own strength.
This is another factor of the im
partation of spiritual gifts
And who else have we to en
able us to lead others to such
spiritual experiences, gifts and
graces? We teach them, we
make plain to them, we bring,
authoritatively through Scrip
ture* to them the possible ex
periences. We tell our own.
Then we use of our personality
and our intluence to incite to
ward the reaching of these ex
periences. Then we can only
pray and believe. We can be
lieve in God aid in the reality
of these gifts to be imparted.
That is all we can do yet it is
much. It is the way provided
for the truth to spread.
Let us cherish our own ex
periences and as truly endeavor
to impart them. They belong to
others. They can be offered on
the promises of God. It is a
noble ambition. Gould anything
be grander than to be a spirit
ural force? Real intense, and
scriptural. It is one of ourgeat
needs. So many of our preach
ers are excellent entertainers
and good instructors. Human
hearts cry out for spiritual forces
and leaders. This should be our
aspiration. Clearly conceiving
what spirituality is through a
personal Holy Spirit, we may
reach this aspiration.
HOLD tu THE MAIN POINT
We sat once in a great conven
tion and listened with intense
interest to a discussion which
involved the policy of a great
denominational board. A broth
er, strong, determined, and
usually clear headed, was op
posing the policy’of the Board,
and presenting some strong facts
against it But in the course of
his speech he incidentally intro
duced. more in the way of illus
tration than argument, a state
ment about another similar
board's work, which seemed to
cast some reflection on the con
stituents of the board he was
criticising, as compared with
those of the board he was using
to illustrate by. In an instant
the keen witted secretary of the
criticised board saw his oppor
tunity and at once, on getting
the floor, began to reply to the
facts in the brother s illustration,
and in doing so enteied on a de
sense of the constituency of his
board. In five minutes be had
completely diverted the attention
of the convention from the main
points of the brother’s criticism,
and had them questioning alto
gether the facts stated in that
brother’s illustration. The critic
himself was led off, and in his
reply took the defensive in be
half of his illustration. He was
sinply led off from his main
point altogether and lost his
fight on a side issue. If he had
held to his main point, he would
probably have carried the con
vention with him.
We have mentioned this inci
dent, by it to emphasize a warn
ing to our Baptist brethren in
regard to coming discussions
with our Pedobaptist friends on
the subject of baptism. All of
this stir that has been created by
the publication of Dr. Whitsitt’s
papers is going to awaken a new
interest in the subject of bap
tism, and all over the South, at
least, it is’going to be discussed
afresh in all its bearings. And
we believe its discussion is going
to result in great good. We Bap
tists needed something to stir us
up on the subject. We have felt
that we had whipped the tight
on immersion, and were so well
satisfied to have done it that we
were in danger of resting on our
laurels We were taking it for
granted that people would be
bound to see that we were right,
and. to too large an extent, our
preachers were not preaching
much on baptism. And we were
losing ground by our over-satis
faction.
But now we have to fight
again All sorts of distorted
reports of what Baptist histo
rians have said will be circulated
over the country and will be as
common as used to be the old
assertion that the Jordan could
not be used for baptism, because
it was not large enough, that it
could be turned with the foot,
and so on
We shall have to discuss bap
tism afresh, and it will be good
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY, JULY 2. 1896.
for us, for the more baptism is
discussed and the people's atten
tion drawn to it, the more Bap
tists there are. The reason the
Baptists grew so fast in England
in 1641 that some historians are
templed to consider this the be
ginning time of the Baptists (in
our sense of the word Baptist)
in that country, was because the
people had more religious free
dom than they had ever had be
fore and got to discussing bap
tism. Baptists always begin to
dwindle in numbersand intluence
where their Pedobaptist friends
can induce them to believe that
it is not “nice’’ to discuss de
nominational issues. Baptists
thrive where there is wise, judi
cious emphasizing of our pecu
liar doctrine, not in a harsh con
troversial spirit, but in love.
But to return. We shall have
torediscussbaptism, and we want
to warn our brethren that in do
ing so they shall not allow them
selves to be drawn away from
the main point in the discussion,
which is, immersion the baptism
of the New Testament. On this we
are impregnable. All the best
historians, and all the best schol
ars of the day, have come to
stand with the once despised and
“ignorant” Baptists, as our ene
mies used to call us, on this
point. Our fathers fought the
fight in their day, in large meas
ure, with the scholarship of the
world arrayed against them, and
the Bible and common sen.-e as
their only weapons. We have
won it, and have the scholarship
with us. No man who claims
real scholarship in our day would
venture his reputation on a de
nial of the fact that bapfizo
means to immerse. But we must
still remember that the plain old
word is our sword.
Let us not be drawn off from
this main point, where we are
impregnable, to tight in the mists
of medieval history, where very
few of us have ever been at all,
and where even those who have
gone oftenest and stayed longest,
seem only to have gotten the
mists into their brains. The doc
tors differ so much as to what is
to be found in these misty places,
that we common folks find it bet
ter to stand out in the clear sun
shine, where we can plant our
feet on the eternal rock, and in
the clear light of the truth use
the sword of the Spirit on all
foes that come.
For ourselves we honestly do
not know’ what the historians ire
going to settle about the English
Baptists in 11)41. These histo
rians seem to be hopelessly divi
ded among themselves, and we
can only wait until they come to
some definite conclusions. For
historical research cannot be
completed in a day. and demands
men long trained in its work.
As in the case of lawyers and
doctors, we have, in large meas
ure, to trust to specially trained
men in this sphere of investiga
tion.
But of one thing we are sure,
and that is that the New’ Testa
ment teaches immersion of be
lievers and this alone, and on
that we stand firm and secure.
Hold to the main point, Baptist
brethren,;nl you are sure cor
querors.
NOISE AND THE SPIRIT
In his account of the great
“Student Volunteer” meeting in
London in January last, Dr.A.T.
Pierson makes a passing remark
which is worthy of serious
thought by those who manage,
and those who participate in, the
great religious meetings of our
times. He says: “ Noisy ap
plause, which so frequently be
gets uproar and confusion, and
both interrupts and sometimes
confuses a speaker, became more
and more distasteful as the pres
ence of the Spirit of God grew
more vividly real, and both
speakers and hearers seem d to
feel his invisible control.” In
this meeting there were a thou
sand delegates, “Chinese and
Japanese, Hindusand Armenians,
Africans and Americans, Swedes,
Norwegians, Danes, Germans,
Sw ss”—the very place in which
to arouse a wild enthusiasm and
stir up the emotions by noise and
excitement. But the testimony
is that as the presence of the
Holy Spirit w*as felt, so did the
disposition to make a noise and
create a so called enthusiasm
disappear. Was it not that when
the real Spirit came the counter
feit was driven out?
The more we see of noisy,
shouting, yelling religious as
semblies, the more do we feel
that there is no real religious
feeling in them, only a manufac
tured something which passes
for it. We feel that the “en
thusiasm ” which is manifested
on such occasions is only a coun
terfeit of that true, deep feeling
which the Spirit produces in men
when he comes into them in
power, and we find ourselves
ready to say: “Be not filled with
‘enthusiasm,’ wherein is excess;
but be ye filled with the Spirit.”
When we see and read about
the cheering, yelling, hand-clap
ping. handkerchief-waving, etc.,
which characterizes some reli
gious meetings of our day. we
are mace to rejoice that in the
Southern Baptist Convention,
and in most of our State Conven
tions and other religious assem-
blies, all such demonstrations
are rigidly repressed. We all
have reason to thank God that
the tone of our religious assem
blies was fixed by men who be
lieved in an outward exhibition
of an inner reverential spirit,
when God’s people were assem
bled for his work or his worship.
May the day never come when
the noise of our religious meet
ings shall be heard afar off, as
was that of Aaron s feast at
Sinai. Physical and mental ex
citement, leading to noise and
confusion, do not imply always
spiritual excitement. The latter
does not usually produce these
others. Too much are we in
danger of making “enthusiasm’
our god and its spirit take the
place and do the work of the
Spirit.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE
The Convention at Griffin was
certainly a success. The attend
ance reached about one hundred
and fifty, us course the enter
tainment at Griftin was all that
could possibly be desired.
President White will give his
leadership for another year. He
presided in a tine way and has the
love of all the young people.
His address on Tuesday night on
Loyal Baptists would have de
lighted the hearts of the good
brethren everywhere.
The audience was largely com
posed of those not Baptists, but
they listened to a clear, positive
statement of fundamental Bap
list truth.
As we were present only one
day, we must refer our readers
to the account on another page.
What we did hear proved emi
nently practical and helpful.
This Convention certainly gave
no false ideas. It was such as to
send back to the churches better
and more loyal workers.
While the Convention wisely
refrained from any direct en
dorsement of the Southern Union
and desires most fully to include
all in i's fellowship, yet its sen
tjment was that way. It could
not be otherwise in the body that
set on foot the movement that
has taken shape in the Southern
Union Its great concern, how
ever, is the work in Georgia,
and we are sure all can work in
harmony here at home We all
agreed that much is to be done.
It can only be done by forgetting
our differences as long as we are
engaged in the State work and
respecting each others' rights.
Too much praise cannot be
given for the practical character
of the work done by the Execu
live Committee the past year.
The extremely piadtA-Al program
showed that experienced men
had preparedit. The same prac
tical work must be continued.
We are past all discussions and
in the time of development.
Wise and helpful unions are
needed. By our fruits we shall
be known and not by any glamor
of a something called a move
ment.
We sympathize with the earnest
temperance sentiment of our
good Brother Chandoin. We re
spect every man who stands from
conviction for the one issue he
believes the root of all our evils.
Good brethren do feel, however,
that there are questions that can
be settled and must be settled
right now. They wish prohibi
tion was this issue, but it is not.
In such a juncture they feel like
getting at the definite thing that
can be reached. For us in Geor
gia there is a direct issue at our
hands. In State issues every
thing else can be subordinated to
the Bush bill. Gold and silver,
protection and free trade may
influence us in <ur selection of
national candidates, but it is not
so with candidates for the legis
lature. Theseoughtto be pledged
unconditionally to the Bush bill
and held to their pledge s. Let
us let them understand that we
have an issue that we believe in.
We must threaten a reckoning
also. Let us vote our convictions
in national affairs and our tem
perance convictions in State
affairs.
We have received from Prof.
Pollock a copy of a circular let
ter he is sending to a large num
ber of brethren in the State, ask
ing information about young
men. It is very important that
he should have prompt answers
to these letters. Time is Hying.
Every brother who receives one
ought to answer. Do not put it
in the waste bas ket, or even the
pigeon hole, but answer it at
once.
And if any brother has failed
to receive one, and yet knows of
some young man who is going, or
ought to go to college, let him
write to Prof. P D. Pollock, at
Macon, and tell him all about the
case. We must fill Mercer with
students.
We have received the Summer
Resort list of the Seaboard Air
Line. It gives a large range of
resorts by the sea shore and
on the mountains. These are
reached speedily and comforta
bly over the Seaboard Air Line.
A copy of this little book may
be had on application to any of
their offices. •
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The Evangel: But some one will
say thai education is so expen
sive that he cannot stand it. We
must admit that higher education
is a very costly commodity.
With the bulk of parei.t-. it re
quires a tremendous struggle to
meet the expenses incident to
the education of their children.
It pains us to think of the many
noble boys in the South that are
shut out of college by the re
morseless lack of money. If we
cannot send our children to col
lege, then, of course, we cannot,
and that is the end of it. Asa
fact, however, very few parents
have yet learned what it is to
make a supreme struggle for the
education of their children.
There are many who, if they
would stint themselves, certainly
if they would impoverish them
selves just a little, might pass
the steep of the hill and finish up
the glorious work. We say,
therefore, to fathers and moth
ers, that if by a dead strain by
economy at home, or even of
selling off a part of their real es
tate, they can put their boy
through college, they ought to
do it. It will prove a wise in
vestment. Dr. Sears was accus
tomed to say that a thorough ed
ucation was worth *l'H),imid to its
possessor. Dr. Jeter once said
loan old farmer, that if he would
give his boy a college education
it would be worth s2o,o<'•* to him.
The old gentleman took his ad
vice, and his son has often testi
fied that his education, ever in
an economic point of view, has
been worth to him more than
' twice *20,000.
The Standaid: The truth of
the oft-repeated assertion that
ministers are incc in petent to
manage business affairs eithi r
inside or outside of churches
may well be doubted. That some
ministers are incapable is un
questionably true, and the same
statement may be made with
reference to some laymen It is
suggestive, in this connection, to
note the fact that the agents of
the Methodist publishing house
are most, if not all, of them min
isters, and they appear to know
how to manage its affairs pretty
well. The executives of our own
denominational societies are most
of them ministers, and if laymen
could have carried these organi
zations through these troublous
times more efficiently, they are
doubtless receiving tAuce the in
come of the secretaries. We be
lieve that not half enough is
done to interest our laymen in
our denominational work, and
that more laymen ought to be
called to positions of responsi
bility in the denomination, but,
on the other hand, it is not true
that ministers, as a rule, are fail
ures as business men. Too often
the ministers who are unsuccess
ful in business enterprises have
failed in the ministry also; they
are incompetent, not because
they are ministers, but because
they are incompetent men.
The Journal and Messenger: We
not ce that our Kentucky Jriends,
who on some points of social or
der certainly show’ better judg
ment than we of more northern
States, have discharged a young
woman from the position of
teacher in the public schools be
cause of her frequent visits to a
condemned murderer, in a jail.
The school authorities would
have been false to their trust had
they pursued any other course
The murderer by his own con
session, was an unfit man for as
sociation with respectable wo
men A young woman who man
ifests sympathy with his crimes
against women and society, is
certainly unfit to teach the chil
dren of a public school. When
Christ said, “I was in prison and
ye came unto me," we are not to
suppose that he or his “breth
ren” were in prison for revolting
crimes; but rather for conscience
sake, as was our Brother Diaz in
Cuba, and many of the early
Christians during the days of
persecution.
The Baptist and Reflector: Apro
pos of the Whitsitt discussion,
the Christian Index suggests
that Dr. B. H. Carroll, of Texas,
should be sent by the Southern
Baptists to spend the summer in
England, examining the state
ments of Dr. Whitsitt in the light
of all of the accumulated docu
ments in the British Museum,
and that an armistice between
the opposing hosts of Southern
Baptists shall be declared until
he can return with the facts cal m ■
ly weighed and sifted. This is
an excellent suggestion. As we
have said all along, the main
question is one of historical fact,
leaving aside any consideration
as to the manner in which Dr.
Whitsitt published his discovery.
Let us have the fullest light upon
the subject after having a most
thorough and impartial investi
gation. We do not know any
one who would command greater
confidence and respect from
Scuthern Baptists for such a task
than Dr. Carroll.
The H ’estern Recorder: The only
issue we have thus far taken
with Dr. Whitsitt is in regard to
the Baptists of England begin-
ning to practice immersion in
1041. It was to that point we
directed our investigations in the
British Museum, and on that
point we said our say in the
H’exfern Recorder of June 4th. In
regard to the record of John
Smyth's baptism, over which Dr
Whitsitt waxed so eloquent, in
pronouncing it a “fraud," we
have never expressed an opinion
It was quoted by the Rev. John
T. Griffith, in an article that
went to press before we reached
home. We did not refer to it in
our argument. Dr. John Clifford,
of London, one of the foremost
men of England, published the
document as genuine. We do
not say it is genuine, for we have
never investigated the question.
We leave Bro. Griffith to make
good his case. Our case stands
whether that particular docu
ment be genuine or spurious.
The Baptist Courier: It means
that there is that in our souls
that inevitably prompts us to
call upon God, and entreat his
benediction not because we are
good, but because he is good. It
is demand not in the sense tha‘
we can claim upon a basis of
equality our rights, but upon a
basis of dependence and inequal
ity, upon the grounds of promise.
We demand in no captious self
sufficient spirit. It is our faith,
hope ar d love that in themselves
constitute the demand. And for
the demands of this sort there is
ever a supply. And supply and
demand are mutually determined.
Let us, then, rest in this confi
dence that our Heavenly Father
will always do for us all that he
can. If he does not do more let
us look to ourselves and seek to
know’ wherefore. Is it that Is
rael of old we limit the holy One
of Israel? It is ever to be re
membered that demand may
limit suoply.
Ihe ('entrat Baptist: A well
known American philosopher,
whose philosophy was always
practical though his spelling was
bad, said that we never could
have an honest horse race until
we got an honest human race.
His concrete statement might be
put in larger words without de
stroying its appropriateness. < >ur
political systems are bad, and
mary of our social institutions
are seriously at fault, but the
fault is not so much in the insti
tution as in the hearts of the
people w’ho make up society. If
Mr. Josh Billings is right, then
we will never do much at reform
ing the theater or purifying
election methods until we have
secured the regeneration of hu
man hearts. The reformer stands
with sweetly scented medicines
and casts them upon the dirty
stream for its improvement. His
wish is a kindly one and is a de
light to all who catch the fra
grance, ’but our Master said the
divine remedy must be applied at
the fountain.
Baptist Leader: The INDEX
proposes a novel plan for settling
the Whitsitt controversy. The
plan proposed by it is to send
some truthful person, say Dr.
Carroll, to England, and let him
examine the king's library and
report the result. Why not take
the testimony we already have
and have had for over 300 years
in this case? Every witness that
has testified, except a few who
run in the s ime channel with Dr.
Whitsitt, have testified against
him. It would be a beautiful
sight (let the Index get a por
trait of the scene) to see the Bap
tists waiting in suspense for
some one to look over King
George’s library for truth.
'The Biblical Recorder: Every
friend of education, every pa
triot in the counties which will
vote on the question of increas
ing their school tax this fall, will
vote to increase the taxes. Bet
ter schools will not only elevate
the citizenship, but will make the
counties that support them more
attractive to settlers There are
about forty counties in which
this Vote will be taken, and w’e
hope to hear that every one has
been carried for better school-.
Some good men in each district
should interest themselves in
this matter.
The Texas Baptist Standard :
Some brethren think that in our
criticism of Dr. Whitsitt we have
r fleeted on the students of the
Seminary. Tnat has been very
far Dom our intention at any
time. If anything has been said
in these columns that has been
so construed we heartily with
draw it and beg the pardon of
the brethren for uttering it. We
have felt and still feel very
strongly on the Dr. Whitsitt mat
ter, but have never* during the
discussion said anything that was
intended to reflect on the hun
dreds of brethren who have at
tended the Seminary.
The Religious Herald: One more
humorous incident ought not to
escape notice. The debate has
led the IFeaterw Recorder to make
the astonishing declaration that
every man has a right to his own
opinions, adding the very p ru .
dent limitation that his opinion
is to be taken only for what it is
worth. But that we should have
t vor lived long enough to find in
the Recorder such a declaration
of liberty of opinion fills us with
unmeasured astonishment and
profound gratification.
Georgia
baptist yente.
FIELD NOTES.
We were in Macon last week, and
will be there again thia week. Be
ready, brethren
As the days go by in the pastorate of
Brother J. L. White, of the First church,
Macon, hia people fall more and more
in love with him, and ao do we.
We hope to have Brother J. L. White’s
great address, delivered at the B. Y. P.
U. Convention at Griffin, on “Loyal Bap
tista," in the Index next week
We enjoyed greatly the mid week
aervices of the First church. Macon,
last week; the favored few were out: it
was hot
Father C. W. Oliver, formerly of
Milner. Ga., now of Barnesville, is
greatly grieved over the lo> a of hia dear
wife, with whom he haa lived fifty-four
years With all onr heart we enter into
his great grief.
Brother W 8. Wellons, of Blakely,
we hear, is in the midst of a gracious
meeting. We hope that he will write
the Index all about it and so we hope
about all the pastors.
Brother E. B. Carroll, of Vineville,
Macon, says that he is pastor of the best
church in Georgia. Now, considering
the size of the tody, we are very much
of the same opinion
The weather was intensely hot but
there was a fine attendance at the mid
week service of the Vineville church
last week. We enjoyed the services
much.
Many of our Index brethren and sis
ters of Macon are down by the seashore
and up in the mountains, taking their
summer outings: we missed them mneh,
but wished that we were with them for
a season.
Brother E J Coats, pastor of the
East Macon church, has been quite sick
with a cold, but thought that he was on
the improve and would be able to fill
his pulpit last Sabbath
Brother W. P. Southern, the mission
ary of the First church to South Macon,
is beginning to get hold of his great
field South Macon church occupies the
grandest field in Macon for real gospel
wotkiu winning lost souls to the Savior.
That was a beautiful thing the Tatt
nall Square -brethren d d in inviting
Brother ,1 B Gambrell to supply for
them until they secure a regular pastor.
In many ways Brother Gambrell is the
peer of any mm on the American con
tinent We know him to love him.
DEACON THOMAS ALEXANDER GIBBS,
OE SOCIAL CIRCLE, GA.
Brother Gibbs fell on sleep last Fri
day morning. He is not dead but
sleepeth. such men can never die He
was seventy-five years old March the
Bh. 18‘.»6 He was happily married to
Miss Julia C. Ralls, of Greenestoro,
Ga., May 26th. 1842, whom, with five
children two sons and three daughteis
he leaves to mourn his departure.
While attending Mercer University
at Penfield in 1840. he was happily
saved .joined the church and was bap
tized by Brother C D Mallary. of
blessed memory. He was elected clerk
of the Social Circle church. February
24th, 1844, which position he had held
tor more than fifty two years up to his
death He was elected deacon of the
same church January 25th. 1862, which
office he filled unto the day of his
death, more than thirty four years He
was the best deacon we ever saw in
many respects, and we have known
many. He was a great lover of children
and young people He was superinten
dent of the Sunday school for about
twenty-five years, if we remember cor
rectly. He had been clerk of the Stone
Mountain Association for forty years. He
was a member of the last Constitutional
Convention of Georgia. He was county
trustee of the widows and orphans of
Walton county for a number of years.
He has settled more estates, after the
death of the testator, than any man we
have ever known He was scrupulously
honest, even to a cent He was an “old
fashioned, predestination, deep water,
close communion, final presei vation,
missionary Baptist." He was loyal to
i the truth, to God, and to his brethren.
We have no idea that there is another
man, living or dead, who has missed
attendance on as few meetings of his
church in fifty years as Brother Gibbs.
He attended prayer meeting Wednes
day evening and died Friday morning.
We consider Brother Gibbs one of the
greatest men of his generation in all
that goes to make up true greatness.
We had rather have his record than
that of kings and princes. No one will
ever fill his place, because he filled it to
completeness. He was a man of high
temjier and strong prejudices by inheri
tance. but he “fought the good fight of
faith to the finish. He was true to his
pastor, to his church, and to his coun
try. His funeral occurred at the Bap
tist church in Social Circle last Sabbath
morning in the following order: Song
“Asleep in Jesus," etc. Scripture lesson
by pastor. Song, his favorite,
“Tis Religion that can give, etc.
Prayer by James F. Edens. Song “I
would not livealway." etc. Reading of
a most remarkable letter bv pastor. Ser
mon by Pastor W. S McCarty. Text,
Revelation 21:1: "And I saw a new hea
ven The sermon was strong and sweet
and much enjoyed by the vast audience.
1 hen came memorial addiesses by Rev
JL F. Maeeby, Social Circle: James F.
Edens. Atlanta; Deacon Geo. C. Selman
Monroe. Ga , and W. B. Lee, of Coving
ton. Ga. Many visiting brethren from
a distance were present; a Mr. J W
Swoards. a man of the world seventy
eight years old. came twentv-three miles
to attend the funeral. We never ex
pect to see his like again
His old pastor.
James F. Edens
380 Woodward Ave.. Atlanta. Ga '
ATLANTA BAPTIST CONFERENCE.
Bro. Winchester in the chair.
Prayer byß. J. W. Graham, of
Cochran.
Bro. Lamar preached at East
Point.
Bro. Winchester, Third. Usual
services.
Bro. Bell preached at Sixth at
night.
Bro. Stovall, East Atlanta.
I nusually good services.
Bro. Higdon, North Atlanta.
One received by letter.
Bro. Weaver preached at
Clarkston, morning and night.
Bro. Donaldson, Fifth. Usual
services. Good congregations.
. Ca * thorn e preached at
ThM M night. and “