Newspaper Page Text
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w Christian Index
L X VAN NESS. 1 ED,TOBS -
THE IMITATION OF RELIGIOUS EX
PERIENCES.
In all the Bible there is no
more sadly amusing incident
than that immediately following
Jacob s deceit of Isaac and his
securing of the birthright bless
ing Esau is conscious that he
falls short in some way. He is
really lacking in every essential
in the heart for such a blessing
as was to descend to him by
nature. The unseen things of
the promise were carelessly held
by him and he is totally lacking
in moral vigor. Jacob, on the
other hand, tricky as he is, can
get a hold on realities and has a
keen sense of the blessing, the
fruitage of which so far has been
only spiritual and which prom
ises to him little of temporal
good. When Jacob is ready to
leave for PadanAram, Isaac
blesses him and charges him to
get a wife there of his own peo
pie. Esau sees the blessing, is
sadly conscious that Jacob is
pleasing where he is not, and
also hears the command. So he,
too, goes away to Ishmael’s tribe
and marries two wives. He
seems never to have recognized
Jacob's superiority in character,
but to have attributed it to the
external matter of wives, so
he imitates that which was the
fruit of Jacob's inner life, in the
hope of pleasing his father.
It is an old but ever new meth
od. Around all our churches
are men and women who fight
shy of all radical overturning ex
periences, but are endeavoring
to imitate the external manifes
tations of Christian experiences.
It is Esau’s sadly amusing folly
reproduced. It is the effort to
fasten a living graft into a waxen
branch. Alas! it can give at the
best but a sense of respectability.
The imitation of Christians must
go down heart deep and be an
imitation of their surrender if it
is to bring forth fruit in due sea
son.
The same spirit of imitation is
prevalent among Christians.
Certain experiences are regard
ed as suitable to various stages
of Christain life. The result is
that Christians try to imitate
these in themselves and to pro
fess them in words. There are
expressions that become com
mon among religious people, and
we use them because of a feeling
that they are appropriate for us
to use. Nowhere is this simu’a
tion more marked than among
the professors of the higher life.
Not a few of these show unmis
takable signs of deep religious
experiences. Around them car;
always be found those who speak
the language of their Zion, but it
is easy to see that it is of the
head not the heart.
Yet we cannot escape the in
junctions plentifully given to ini
itate and strive for the charac
teristics that ought to accom
pany Christian faith. We are
even exhorted to reckon our
selves as having joy when our
hearts do not sustain us, but our
faith assures us. How shall we
discover when our imitations are
worthy and when dangerous?
All the graces and occupations
of Christianity are set before us
for imitation. We can imitate
these if we cannot experiences.
The question of motive will have
some little to do withit. If our
desire is to be seen of men as pos
sessing these virtues, we may
well be alarmed. If our motive,
however, is to really possess
these virtues for themselves
alone, and because we desire
them whether men can see or not,
we may be assured. The ques
tion of source will also have
weight. As long as we imitate
with the consciousness that it is
to our inner life we must look
for their rootage and mainte
nance we shall be safe. Last of
all the sincerity of our devotion
to Christ will be our deepest
test. Sure of our heart's sur
render to Christ and of his re
generating power, there is no
grace laid down in his word that
we may not imitate with the cer
tainty that it shall be like a graft
in a living tree. A regenerated
soul may be sure that it presents
good soil for every gift, grace
and experience that the Scrip
tures record. We cannot get re
ligion by imitating its results.
We can safely imitate all its re
suits when we have religion.
Out of the heart are the issues
of life.
TRUSTING THE PEOPLE.
A common mistake among peo
ple of widely different views is
very noticeable. On the one hand,
some who defend Dr. Whitsitt in
his conclusions, are inclined to
ridicule the masses of the people
both as judges of, and as having
any particular interest in, the
question involved. On the other
hand, there is a disposition to ap
peal to passion, regardless of facts
and stampede the associations
this summer into an expressed
hostility to the Seminary and its
president. Both of these views
in their ultimate analyses are a
distrust of the people. The one
fearing their lack of ability, the
other fearing their final judgment
after deliberation.
In our own national life the
final, sober judgment of the
masses has been unfailing. Mr.
McMaster in his little volume
of sketches has shown this most
strikingly in his essays on the
financial troubles of the past, in
bis essay on “Is sound finance
possible under popular govern
ment?” At first passion may pre
vail, but in the long run the peo
ple are sensible. Washington.
Adams and Lincoln were great in
their trust of the people. This is
the test of leadership. He who
has been sponsor for a movement
must, if success is to come, see it
get too big for him and run out
of his sight. Just as he learns
to let this go on will he get the
fruit of his other powers and be
a leader. To believe in a cause
heart and soul and be able to see
men talking itover,in your sight,
but out of your hearing, and yet
be confident—that is necessary to
the leader.
We see the need of this about
us in politics to-day. We have a
clearly defined issue. It is three
months until election time. The
tinal result will be neither from
money spent for votes, nor the
blind enthusiasm . begotten of a
speech, but it will be the sober
thoughtful sense of the great
people. It is hard to trust our
neighbor when he differs from
us, but it is a reflection on our
selves when we do not. Let, us
not charge our opponents with
dishonesty.
The Populist Convention may
have been influenced by McKin
ley’s agents, certainly Senator
Jones, of the Democratic Nation
al Committee, was there on the
platform. Probably some of the
delegates were influenced im
properly, but the masses of them
did what they did from earnest
purpose and sincerity. A cam
paign of intelligent discussion of
a great question is the right cam
paign for a nation, believing in
the power of the people. Such it
see tn s we are to have.
Returning again where we
started, let us be sure that the
controversy now on us as Bap
lists will not unsettle the masses
of our people. The arguments
pro and con will be read in many
places and ultimately the judg
ment will come. To blindly
force an expression before the
facts are all presented to the
masses of the people will but be
to make history to be unmade.
What all the people think a year
or so from now is to be of more
value than all the associational
resolutions ever passed. On the
other hand let us remember that
while experts secure and present
facts to us, in the end the people
are the jury. Experts are not
infallible, neither are the people.
But let us be sure of one thing.
Our Baptist people are in no dan
ger of being greatly upset by the
prevalence of either view. He
who thinks they will be an easy
prey to the arts of other denomi
nations because of the misunder
standings aroused,does not know
them. We can trust our people
on the Baptist fundamentals and
to make any adjustments neces
sary to present their unquestion
able truths squarely to the world.
We need not be in a hurry. Our
people will all be here five years
from now, and be Baptists too.
A BOOK AND BOOKS.
The daily papers printed a sug
gestive contrast lately. In one
column was the report of a ser
mon preached by a retiring Pres
byterian pastor, in the next a
sermon by a Unitarian preacher
of the city. The one was a re
minder to his people of the pre
cious heritage in the book—the
Bible The other was about a
book, a recent novel,and was one
of a series on current books. The
book and books, what a contrast
as a basis for winning the souls
of men and steering, toward
heaven. An inspired Bible over
against the fictitious literature of
the day.
It was our pleasure to hear the
one. A strong manly appeal for
the Bible and its great truths.
This had been the basis of a
strong ministry of twelve years,
in which the one congregation
had become three, the one Sun
day school five, the membership
of about four hundred a host of
twelve hundred. In subdued
silence a pastorate of great affec
tion and usefulness came to an
end that was not an end, for it
had founded itself on the book
that lasts through the ages. It
had been a ministry of confidence
because of faith in the book.
But the books! oh! the multi
tude of them, and the contradic
tions of them, and the foolish
ness of them. When there is the
one book back of them all and
testing them all, they become
worthy helpers in the transmis
sion of ideas. As the basis of a
ministry they are but poor stuff.
We fancy all stable, long time,
abundantly useful pastor
ates must have a foundation
in Bible convictions. Only such
a pastorate can bear the stress
and strain of sympathy and ad
monition that must be its por
tion. There are no themes that
bear repetition like Bible themes.
It is the inexhaustible fountain
for the intellectua 1 basis of a
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX : THURSDAY, JULY 30. 1896.
long ministry. What confidence
it imparts to the one who is
called on to leave the fruits of
such a ministry behind him. Men
can afford to spend years of labor
on such a foundation confident
that it will last after them.
Brethren, let us more and more
rest our labors on this sure foun
dation. We believe in books and
in a wide reading of them. They
are comforters and helpers in our
labors. They must not be our
source of truth. A Bible be
lieved in, and not literature spec
ulated about, is the foundation
for immortal souls to build for
heaven on.
WHAT WILL BECOME OF THEM?
The news columns of the In
dex are quite full of accounts of
gracious revivals in many church
es. Scores and hundreds of con
verts are being reported, and the
churches are filling up with new
creations in Christ Jesus. As we
have been reading over these ac
counts, questionshave been com
ing up again and again. What is
to become of these converts?
What is going to be made out of
them for Christ? Os what ser
vice are they to be in the Mas
ter's vineyard? Are they to be a
real addition to the working force
in the harvest field,or idlers who
have to be watched over and
cared for and carefully fed all
their lives by the dispensers of
the word, the pastors? What are
they to be?
As we have pondered these
questions, answers have come to
us, and these answers have
sh own us many sorts of disciples.
Out of these converts will come
some preachers of the word, men
who will be called of God to
spend their lives in telling to
others the story of that grace
which proved effectual in their
salvation. L?t pastors and judi
cious Christians look out for such
and be ready to counsel and help
them when the call shall come.
Others will come to be teachers
in the Sunday schools and leaders
in the young people s societies,
in church and school. May pas
tors be wise to direct these in
their early Christian life, that
they may learn to lead wisely.
Would that good books could
early be put into their hands,
books that will mold their earlier
Christian thinking and activities.
Blessed is the Sunday-school or
church that has some good books
in a library, within reach of
young converts, and still more
blessed is the school or church
which has in it some good wise
readers, who know about good
books and who care enough
about the young converts, to de
vote some time and thought to di
recting their reading.
And then some of these con
verts will never be active in
church work. Other duties may
press upon them, and home and
other claims hold them back
from such activities. But in
quiet homes and amid home du
ties, they will live for Christ,
live lives of quiet influence, yet
influence that will tell,perchance,
with great power on other lives
that touch these. We have a
great and growing respect for
those quiet Christians, who, in
these times of bustle and show,
even in Christian work, lead a
consistent steadfast life, the
beauty and power of which may
even be known to but few, yet
are mighty in their influence on
these few, and often shape the
lives of the few into the likeness
of Christ.
Some of those who join the
churches will, alas, be likely to
drift back into the world from
which they have never been real
ly separated, and will be num
bered with those whem the Lord
does not know. But let us hope
that these will be very few in
number and that of the many
who are professing faith and
uniting with our churches, the
far-greater number will be
faithful unto the end and receive
the crown of life. Amen.
We hope our readers will com
municate with the Atlanta
Branch of the Publication Socie
ties when they want Bibles. We
have not been offering Bibles as
premiums to our readers because
we have found that the Publica
tion Society will sell the same
Bibles for what it costs us to get
them. If any one desires to get
a Bible that way they can send
us 82 for the Index and 81.25 ex
tra fox’ a Bible and we can send
one that is usually given as a pre
mium. We hope our readers will
try this policy when they want a
Bible. We shall always be glad
to furnish such information to
readers of the Index. It will
be well for all to put them
selves in communication with
the Publication Society, if they
desire Bibles.
When weJindulge our worldly
and carnal desires, we make
them a second “depravity of na
ture,” worse than the first.
Wrong habit becomes, as it were,
a “new truth” of evil —the truth
from beneath, not from above —
the truth not of the Spirit of
holiness, but of that fallen, lost
spirit, satan.
The”risk is, that “ Salvation
Made Easy” may prove to be
Salvation Made Impossible.
Our esteemed friend, Dr. Tay
lor, takes us to task for being too
severe in our remarks about Mr.
Miller, who made such an un
righteous rumpus at Milwaukee.
We regret if we have disturbed
the peace. We endeavored to be
fair to those who differ from us
and expect still to be advocates
of a fraternal policy that shall al
low us to get at the work need
ing us. There are two sides to
this fraternity, however, and
there are occasions that need
strong words. We join Dr. Tay
lor in praying for grace to avoid
disturbance and work for har
mony. We confess that it takes
a lot of grace to keep from feel
ing that the election of Mr Mill
er to the Board of Managers of
theß. Y. P. U. A., after his vio
lent career in the papers, was
not an act of friendliness or of
wisdom.
Why yield to discontent? Why
murmur? Is your state not hard
enough already, that you should
make it harder? Does the dark
ness of the night need that you
should add clouds to it? Because
the stream overflows, must you
open the hill top reservoirs to
swell the flood?
It is a pretty image of the
Sacred Writings of the Hindus,
that tears for sin and prayers for
mercy fly up to God “as birds to
their nests.” May we not say,
too, that, like the mother-bird at
the cry of her callow brood, God
flies down for the help of the
soul, at the sound of the prayers
and the sight of the tears?
The phrase “getting down to
business” might better be, as the
general rule, ‘/getting up to bus
iness”; for all ffiixst work in a
higher thing than idleness and
sloth.
We instructed our printers to
“kill” our paragraph about the
Whitsitt resolutions in the Mis
sissippi Convention. The reso
lution was taken from the table
and passed. We are sorry the
paragraph got in as it did.
R. S. Phelps says: “Because
you cannot have the stars, you
will not see the sky.” Nay,rath
er (as lifted thought makes us at
one with the truths we rise to)
let us say, See the sky, and you
will have the stars!
The earlier and less flagrant
stages of wrong-doing prepare
us for the later, and grosser’ and
more infamoiyf. according to the
Kabyle proverb, “The kid only
gives you an appetite for the
goat.”
To “use the office of a deacon
well,” or any other office, a man
must use himself well, and use
well the grace of God where self
fails him.
Passage from one stage of life
to another is both a death and a
birth; we die out of the stage we
leave, and are born into the stage
we enter.
The peace of the world, at the
best, is still a cross; the cross of
Christ, at the worst, is neverthe
less peace.
The assurance of faith in man
rests on the insurance of truth in
Christ.
The Central Baptist: The eccle
siastical polity of Rome is despot
ism of the most pronounced type.
It is closely akin to the political
despotisms of the world; and
their fellowship has often made
them very willing and powerful
aids to each other. Democracy
has been considered an unconge
nial field for such an unrelated
powex - to work in. We have con
gratulated ourselves that the
free air of our country and its
institutions are not conducive to
the health and growth of this
foreign, tyranny. We have sa'd
that men who have felt the larg
er life of unshackled mind and
conscience will not easily become
the tools of a power which would
reduce and degrade both. And
we have been very suspicious of
the sincerity of the democratic
expressions so frequently utter
ed of late by those high in au
thority in American Romanism.
But we are in danger of forget
ting the marvellous power of
adaptation which has always been
displayed by Rome. It is an art
in which she has never had a ri
val. Hex’ preeminent skill in
this art has been the secret of a
large measure of her success.
Probably at present xhere is no
effort whatever on the part of
Rome to change the form of our
government. She can use it only
too well if she can influence the
majorities, local and national, to
her way of thinking. Thus, under
the form and in th6 name of the
holy principles of liberty. she may
by the tyranny of majorities,
accomplish the foulest and most
cruel purposes we have ever
known. Let every true Ameri
can watch the Romanist’s subtle
use of the principle of democj
racy.
the baptist
©ditore
The. Baptist: At the request of
Dr. Whitsitt his “statement” ap
peared in last week’s Baptist, and
it does not put him in any better
light. His plea for exploiting
his “discovery” in a pedobaptist
journal is a reflection on every
Baptist editor in the land. By
what standard is the Independent
“a forum of public resort for
‘scholars?’ ” Is it because its edi
tors are more scholarly? If this is
the claim, it is all the greater a
slur on Baptist editors. The
suggestion has been made —and
it is plausible —that only those
who are in their own conceit
“scholarly historians,” seek to
display their scholarly discover
ies in this “ undenominational
journal,” and that, too, under the
shelter of editorial space. Again,
in his “statement” he adds:
“ Even the Anabaptists who
entered England during this
period, came from Holland, where
Anabaptists had then no such
custom as immersion.” This
controversy will, however, be of
great help to the Baptists, though
it may be that history will re
peat itself and the poor, un
learned people of the mountain
fastnesses will again preserve
the faith. The defenders of the
distinguished historian must,
however, be short in evidence,
or they would not resort to
sneers at the ignorance of those
who think and read for them
selves.
The Journal and Messenger: Some
of our Baptist brethren in the
South are criticizing their Sun
day School Board, because its
literature is printed on a press
owned by the Methodists. The
criticism is very absurd. The
press has nothing to do with the
matter contained in the paper
which falls from it. Press work
is a business by itself, in these
days. Only a concern which has
business sufficient to keep a press
running every day in the week
can afford to own one. A print
ing press cannot afford to stand
idle. It would soon eat itself up
if it did. To be made profitable
it must run to its fullest capac
ity. Those who own presses ex
pect to keep them busy, either
with their own work or that of
other people. The press has no
more to do with the paper than
has the dray horse which draws
it from the mill or to the post
oftice. Our brethren might as
well begin to inquire as to who
owns said horse, or who made
the blank paper, or who built the
dam for the water power by
which the mill was run. The
question is not who did the work,
but is it well done, and at the
lowest possible price?
The Evangel: When pastors re
sign, they ought to resign. It
ought to be quick and decided
work. It ought to drop like a
thunderbolt, and generally when
a resignation is offered it ought
not to be taken back. It is the
worst form of weakness for pas
tors to be whimpering or himing
or threatening to resign. We
have known men to wear out the
patience of theix- people ixx this
way. It nevei’ pays fox - a pastox
to load his letter of resignation
with his grievances. He may
have been treated rudely and un
gratefully, but let him bury that,
and walk out in a good humor.
It is a bad plan to fire and fall
back. It will always draw upon
him the fire of the church.
Churches are not too fond of
pastors after they resign any
way, and if we give them a fail
pretext for being spiteful after
we are gone, they will certainly
use it. It is one of the fine arts
to know how to resign graceful
ly-
77xe Western Recorder: Will it be
said that the preacher who does
this will be behind the times?
Such a question shows a misap
prehension both of the Bible and
of the times. The one remedy
for all that is wrong and defec
tive in the times is the teaching
of the Bible. Whoever, there
fore, interprets the Bible to the
people is far ahead of the times.
Whenever the times catch up
with the Bible, we will have the
Millennium. The man who most
faithfully interprets and enforces
Bible teaching is the most ad
vanced in the line of true ad
vancement. The man who advo
cates his own thoughts and ideas
may be “up with the t .mes” as
they are, but he is far behind the
times as they ought to be,and fax’
behind the man whose words are
“a faithful echo” of the Scrip
tures.
Texas Baptist Standard : In any
event oui’ beloved brother and
friend had as well become resign
ed to nineteenth century condi
tions. The old fashion of mixing
our churches up with liquor deal
ers .is out of date. The liquor
dealers will have to be cleared
out or the churches and pastors
that harbor them will be at a dis
count among our people. And
the old scarecrows that are trot
ted out by every mossback among
us, with which to deter oui- con
ventions and associations from
expressing themselves on the
liquor question, will not do duty
any longer. They have that tired
feeling, and like the famous old
one-horse “shay,” are crumbling
into their original elements.
The Biblical Recorder: Inde
pendence by itself amounts to
nothing. It will accomplish
nothing. If when the people of
the United States declared them
selves free and independent,
they had refused to join together
in the common defense of their
country, thus sinking indepen
denceinto co-operation, or inter
dependence, their declaration
would not have amounted to
anything. If, when they had
brought England to terms, they
had refused to co operate in xhe
upbuilding -of the nation, they
would have soon been worse off
than when paying tribute to
England There are some things
worse than independence —help-
lessness for one, anarchy for
another. Independence without
co-operation is not so desirable
as dependence with unity. Co
operation is essential to real in
dependence; for co operation
saves from helplessness, which
is another name for utter de
pendence.
A Baptist church is the exam
ple of independence and co op
eration. If the Lord had inten
ded that the Christian religion
make men independent without
teaching them co-operation, a
church organization would not
have been instituted. The band
ing together of Christians in
churches is the clearest expres
sion of co-operation. It does
not, however, interfere with the
freedom of the soul or the con
science. A church is an organi
zation of Christians of similar
doctrine and similar aims.
The Standard: We tread on
less hazardous grounds when we
pass from theology to questions
of denominational history and
policy. The echoes of the Wfnt
sitt controversy still sound in
Southern ears; and some phases
of that memorable discussion
suggested these remarks. Those
who for one reason or another
are regular readers of the South
ern Baptist papers, have been
saved from pessimism or raving
madness only by their sense of
humor. One writer has argued
for the dogma of an unbroken
succession of immersionists on
the ground that immersion is a
necessary antecedent of admis
sion to the Cord’s Supper, and
the latter institution has always
existed! Another attacks the
historical validity of King
George’s pamphlets in this wise;
“ None of the Kings George were
celebrated for veracity, morals
or letters. . . . None of these
figureheads were competent to
gather’ documents on Baptist his
tory.” Other denominational
problems would readily yield to
the gracious solvent supplied by
a sense of humor—the perma
nent council, for instance, with
the strange objections which
have been urged against it, but
alas, such matters must be con
sidered and decided without a
smile, because some good men
cannot be in “dead earnest”
without conducting themsehes
as if at a funeral.
77<e Religious Herald: There lie
before us as we write; a number
of exchanges which the mails
have recently brought. Some of
these are Baptist papers-—South
ern Baptist papers—so strait and
strict that the editors would
hardly acknowledge us as en
titled to full denominational fel
lowship. Os course, these breth
ren being pax- excellence Bap
tists, and in closest touch with
God’s Word, will be expected to
show in these manifestations of
their spirit, some of the fruits
enumerated above; but we are
bound'to say that we look in vain
for the evidences of “love and
peace and gentleness and long
suffering.” Instead, we have
bitterness, belligerency, harsh
ness, a great rush of excited and
uncontrolled feeling, epithets
that ought not to be on Christian
lips or flow from Christian pens.
The Baptist Courier: It’ is the
duty of every voter to vote for
the best men for public office.
This we ought to do without fear
or favor. Inasmuch as there is
no question of partisan or fac
tional politics this year, it ought
to be the duty and the pleasure
of every Christian voter, without
being misunderstood and with
out being criticized, to vote for
only good men, men of character.
He need not go outside his par
ty to do this. We say this jwith
the best -wishes for all, with ill
will for no one, without intend
ing to enter the political arena.
As good citizens we 'wish to see
our State enjoying the highest
prosperity possible, having the
confidence and respect of people
everywhere, and to this end we
wish to see the public offices,
State and county, filled by com
petent, honest, sober, high
minded, consistent Christian
gentlemen.
Vice stalks the sinner, as hun
ters stalk the deer; stealthily and
under cover and with disguises,
it seeks him to smite and to slay.
Evil must work evil, but it will
not suffer us to learn this truth
until too late
Georgia
*3itytUt yrwe.
MISSISSIPPI CONVENTION.
SCRAPS AND NOTES.
Starkville gave the messengers and
visitors a loyal welcome.
Brother T. G. Sellers pastored the
convention with the greatest ease and
grace-
The address of welcome by Brother
Carroll, and the reply by Bro Broadus,
were fall of common sense, and breathed
a Christian spirit.
Brother A. A. Lomax occupies a large
place in the hearts of his Mississippi
brethren and so he does in our hearts;
he was re elected president.
“The Baptist Layman" did “the
grand act" at Starkville, by getting out
a daily issue during the sitting of the
convention.
The Mississippi Convention has gone
back to original principles in electing
officers, it was done by secret ballot,
without nominations. The old officers
were all re elected.
By resolution the Mississippi breth
ren have declared that they never per
mit the ballot of the convention to be
cast by one man any more. That's
right.
We heartily approve the plan of the
Mississippi convention in taking plenty
of time to hold the meetings; the con
vention lasted three days.
We greatly missed the faces of a num
ber of our much beloved brethren at
the convention, Viz; orethren Lewis
Ball and Jesse L. Henderson, with
others
The Mississippi brethren seemed to be
at a great loss to know what to do with
the sisters; some seemed to be in favor
of taking them into full fellowship, while
others wanted to push them out. Where
are you at, deir sisters'! We could
hardly tell.
General S D. Lee, the president of
the Agricultural and Mechanical College
of Starkville, is a member of the Stark
ville Baptist church. He attended the
sessions of tn» convention and took a
lively interest in the proceedings His
college is in a flourishing condition
Pastor E. L. Wesson, of Aberdeen,
was at the convention. He is just out
of a glorious meeting with his church;
he was graciously assisted by Bro. Sid
Williams He gave our Index readers
of last week s paper a tine report of the
convention up to Saturday night.
Mississippi College—our Baptist
school for young men in Mississippi,
made a tine showing indeed—out of
debt and a small surplus in the treas
ury. About two hundred and fifty stu
dents matriculated last session. God
bless our Baptist schools.
President Lomax presided over the
deliberations of the convention with
great grace and ease. Every messenger
accorded him the highest honor and re
spect.
Brother John T Christian, of Louis
ville. Ky., was at the convention in a
targe majority, and don’t you forget it.
Brother Christian is greatly beloved
by his Mississippi brethren.
Brother Ja ues B. Gambrell, after a
forty eight hours’,journey from Georgia,
reached the convention on Saturday.
Bro. Gambrell received a great big
hearted welcome from the brethren
with whom he has labored so long.
The next convention for ’97 wil
(D. V.)meet with the church at Gren
ada, at the same time as this year. The
Lord willing, we hope to be on hand.
At the convention we were the happy
guest of Mr. and Mrs Simon Fried,
Israelites of the finest type. We have
never in all our travels received a
more gracious welcome. We hope to
be their guest again some day in their
large new home.
Last Friday’ and Saturday we visited
Milner, Barnesville and Forsyth, the
description of which visit will appear in
next week's Field Notes,
It was both astonishing and amusing
to some of us visitors at the convention
to stand off and see how the anti Whit
sitt brethren were working up another
indignation meeting— similar to the one
held at the General Association of Ken
tucky. How did it go ? let’s see Res
olutions were offered as follows:
Whereas, Johnson’s new Encyclopedia
contains an article on “Baptists" ex
pressing opinions not generally received
by Baptists; Therefore be it
Resolved, That we, as a State Con
vention, declare that we have no sym
pathy with those views expressed in the
above mentioned article.
Resolutions discussed warmly.
Adopted, fifty-nine for. and fifteen
against. Lastly, said action of the con
vention expunged from the minutes. —
Selah.
THE OLD HOME.
“ How dear to my heart are the scenes
of my childhood;
When fond recollection presents them
to view.
The orchard, the meadow, the deep
tangled wild wood,
And every loved spot w’hich my in
fancy knew.”
—Selected.
In the afternoon of the third day of
the convention we pulled ourself away
from the brethren, and ran up to Oko
lona, and thence out eight miles into
the country to “the old home.” We
found our father and stepmother all
alone and looking for us. Father is in
his seventy-eighth year, and is. in fine
health. He is still running the old
farm, the same one he has been culti
vating since 1852. He has nearly one
thousand bushels of old corn on hand,
plenty of home raised bacon, hams two
years old, and quite a fine herd of fine
hogs on hand for next year’s meat.
The only question with him is how to
dispose of his surplus supplies to the
best advantage. His present crop is a
good one considering a hail storm and
a drouth. Our stepmother is a well
educated, noble Christian woman. She
was a Miss Tharessa Agnes Smith, of
Giles county, Tennessee. Right nobly
has she cared for the three little orphan
girls left by our mother. We love her
much. Two nights and days we spent
there, nights and days filled with the
tenderest memories of “mother, home,
heaven" and baby sisters.
STRIKING RECOLLECTIONS.
We visited the places where we re
ceived of fi-'st and last paternal correc
tions with the switch. The first, when
we were in our sixth, and the last, when
we were in our fourteenth year. The
first was for putting some dirt in the
blacking cup, and the last for going in
swimming on Sunday. We shall never
forget them, they were well laid on.
BIRDS.
The descendants of the same mocking
bird family which * sang us to sleep
every night” forty-five years ago, were
there and sang for us the same sweet
melodies, which their grandparent