Newspaper Page Text
The Christian Index
T. 1 VANNESS, I Editors.
DR. WHITSITT S CRITICS ONCE
MORE.
On the last page this week we
group several communications
bearing on the Whitsitt contro
versy. We do this, that such of
our readers as may wish can ex
amine them, while those who do
not care for the matter —and they
are not a few—shall not have
them thrust on their attention.
The most important of these
documents are those of Dr. Spen
cer and Bro. Burnett, the latter
a minister of Kentucky. These
are all in reply to our editorial
of Aug. 6, in which we comment
ed on an article of Dr. Spencer s
in the Texas Baptist Standard. We
there criticised two things: 1.
The dragging of Dr. Whitsitt’s
family relations into this contro
versy, and the condemning
him as a heretic on inferences
drawn by Dr. Spencer from the
report of a casual private con
versation on a railroad train, or
rather a warm discussion in which
men are very apt to misunder
stand one another. We did not
deny at all the fact of the conver
sation. We condemned judgment
on inference. Both Dr. Spencer
and Bro. Burnett justify our crit
icism. The former had inferred
that the lady alluded to in con
versation was Dr. Whitsitt’s sis
ter and that he had expounded to
her a certain theory, and had in
fluenced her to leave a Baptist
church and join one of another
denomination. Bro. Burnett
shows that she was not his sister
and that evidently he had had no
communication with her. All
that remains is the fact of Dr.
Whitsitt’s having expressed his
approval of her action and justi
tied it, and nobody knows the cir
cumstances in the case which in
fluenced his feeling. Dr. Spen
cer infers that it was because he
held a wrong theory. As far as
we know’ the lady may have un
dergone a change of views. Many
women do, and if they cease to be
of us they had better go out from
us. We ask our readers in all
candor if the remains of the inci
dent and its relation to family as
fairs do not justify everything
we said? We have naught to re
tract of our editorial. We would
only emphasize our disapproval
of such methods of attack on
Christian brethren.
As to Dr. Spencer’s remaining
statements, we confess that his
misstatements in the case, which
are now eliminated by his best
witness, throw suspicion on the
accuracy of all he says. A char
acteristic method of his in con
troversy is seen in his insinua
tions that the Christian Index
has not given its readers all the
facts. In a private letter accom
panying the one we publish, he
says he has not seen the Chris
tian Index for some time past,
and only saw our editorial when
some friend sent him a copy of
the paper. Yet he ventures to
cast suspicion on our fairness by
his customary method of infer
ring and then imagining that his
inference is fact. But we need
not deal further with the good
doctor. A glance at our extracts
from Baptist editors will show
one from the thoroughly ortho
dox and reliable Journal and Mes
senger, which refers to Dr. Spen
cer. His claim that “the church
is the unit of the kingdom’’ is
there repudiated as being both
pedobaptist and Roman Catholic.
It will now be in order for him to
defend himself. We make no.
charges against an enfeebled and
aged brother. We simply say
that it is not possible to rely on
his conclusions and arguments.
There is in all these charges,
and the articles written by their
makers, a strange recurrence of,
and emphasis on, the names of
Dr. T. T. Eaton and the Hcafern
Recorder of which he is editor. In
Dr. Spencer’s charges —and no
one else has ever presented any
formal proof, —there are three
items. First, the conversation
on the train which was carried on
by Dr. Eaton. Second, the tes
timony of Bro. Garrett about an
ideal church theory, from which
is inferred a “branch theory,"
and third, the quotation from the
.Recorder. The only direct testi
mony,therefore, is that of Dr. Ea
ton and the ll 'estern Recorder. Yet
Dr. Eaton is a trustee of the Sem
inary, and at Washington, a year
after the conversation on the
train, he seconded the nomination
of Dr. Whitsitt as President,in a
hearty speech, and later gave
him, editorially, the highest
praise as a teacher and a man.
If these charges are true, Dr.
Eaton has been aware of it, and
he was aware of it when Dr.
Whitsitt was made President of
the Seminary. If these charges
are true, we charge him in turn
with being false to his trust
as trustee of our Semina
ry. We dislike to believe
that. If the charges*are false,
why does he allow the Recorder to
say they are true? On one or
the other horn of the dilemma he
must hang. Neither is worthy of
him, nor of the trust reposed in
him as a trustee and a pastor in
our Seminary city.
The unsolicited letter from Dr.
Carter Helm Jones shows that
where the facts and men are
best known, the feeling of hos
tility is not against Dr. Whitsitt,
but agains't the Il’cwD-rn Recorder.
When it is remembered that the
Broadway Baptist church con
tains the membership of the
Nortons, who have been among
the Seminary’s greatest benefac
torsand the largest shareholders
the Western Recorder, the signifi
cance of its action is seen. Even
in the church of which Dr. Eaton
is pastor, we learn that the lead
ing men, whose names if men
tioned would be recognized by
all, are thoroughly aroused at
the injustice heaped on Dr.
Whitsitt, which they attrib
ute to the direct influence of
the Western Recorder in public
and private.
The attack on Dr. Whitsitt in
the Recorder of the 20tb, after its
editor, as pastor, had signed the
resolutions of the Pastors’ Con
ference, which we published, is
justly condemned.
As for presenting Dr. Whitsitt
with further propositions for de
nial, we wonder how it can be
done satisfactorily. Neither of
the brethren writing this week
seem satisfied with the formula
tion we presented. Dr. Spencer
even grows sarcastic over the
brother who formulated them.
The brother can read as clearly
as any one, and he was after the
truth not subtleties. But if Dr.
Whitsitt denied either set
of questions as we publish
them this week, would the
other be satisfied ? We do
not see how he could. Dr. Whit
sitt intended his denial to be pos
itive and unequivocal, and the
majority of men are satisfied with
it.
For ourselves, we are through
with this part of the question.
We place the responsibility where
it belongs. Dr. Eaton is all the
testimony Dr. Spencer has. Let
him openly charge what he has
to charge, and either get out
from behind Dr. Spencer, or dis
own him. If he is not concerned,
we are not, for it is not conceiv
able he is afraid to come out into
the open. With the historical
question we have prepared to
deal fully, impartially and accu
rately. We believe in its impor
tance and desire to clear it of
these insinuations that prove so
groundless when we get at them.
That historical question we com
mend to our readers. When it
is all before us we can better
judge of where we are and what
we must do.
A BIBLE CONFIRMATION.
In some readings regarding
early Egyptian history we were
impressed by a significant fact.
From the monuments most of
Egypt’s past history is very fully
known. It is divided into dy
nasties for convenience of desig
nation and division. Os these,
our information covers re her
fully as far back as the- fifth. Os
this dynasty we have very com
prehensive remains. The sin
gular feature is that its sculpture
and architecture are of a higher
grade than any of the following
dynasties. Some of its figures
are as well executed as such
work to day.
The two features that espec
ially make this singular are that
the ages after show a constant
retrogression, while the ages
before show not the slightest
trace of a gradual approach to
this high state. The long series
of preparatory steps are entirely
lacking. When we consider
that this state of high advance
ment is before Abraham, the im
portance of the singular fact is
seen.
It has been the favorite claim
of the critics who reconstruct
the history of Israel that all his
tory must be from low to higher.
They presume that a recorded
age of exceptional life, followed
by one of lower life, is a sure in
dication of doctored history.
The Bible plainly puts the best
first, so far as it pertains to the
inward reception of, and obedi
ence to, the best in us. This does
not suit the all-around evolution
ist. The; monuments of Egypt
however come to confirm the fact
that human history is not al
ways the product of long years
of development and that succeed
ing years of a life less advanced
does not necessarily argue a ma
nipulation of the earlier history.
The fact is, that men are more
liable to descend than to rise.
The world goes down hill faster
than it goes up. The Bible's
claim of a revelation, making one
age to be more full of inspire
tion and high attainments, is as
plausible as the fact of Egypt's
superior age far in the past. If
the period of the judges shows a
life less moved by spiritual truth
and more inclined to frivolous
worship than that of Moses and
Joshua, it is no more than human
nature has exhibited elsewhere.
We do not reconstruct the monu
ments of Egypt, but call them
scientific records. The Bible is
worthy of more confidence than
these monuments of stone.
These stony records in Egypt
and Assyria have also served to
confirm afresh the declarations of
the Bible. We have clear indi
cations of a civilization that was
advanced to a high degree.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3. 189 ft.
The knowledge of writing
was general and letters from the
region of Palestine have been
found in Egypt, dating back to
the Pharaoh of the oppression.
It was then a common thing to
pass clay tablets back and forth.
From Assyria we have even love
letters dating back to 4000 B. C.
All this is in keeping with the
life picture in the Bible and the
accounts of Moses and the Isra
elites. It makes probable the
revelation of Sinai and makes
the horde of slaves to be those
brought from a high civilization
at the least.
“ONLY ONE.’~
In the “Home Department,’’on
page five of this issue, is a little
story with the caption given
above. It recalled so vividly to
our mind an experience of our
first pastorate that we felt like
calling special attention to it.
Away back in 1875—how long
ago it seems now—we were called
to the pastorate of a large coun
try church in Greenville county,
South Carolina. The church was
in a cold state, and hid been for
sometime. Through all of that
year and on into the next, we
preached, praying and watching
for some signs of an awakening
spiritual life, some sound of a
going in the tops of the mulberry
trees, that would indicate that
God’s set time had come to bless
the church. In the early summer
of 1876 we thought we saw some
such signs, and hoping to stir
some unconverted ones to thought
and action, appointed a time in the
afternoon when we would be at
the church to meet and talk with
any who might wish to converse
on the subject of religion. For
a time we waited in vain. No
one came, and we were about to
leave, when, looking down the
road, we saw a deacon coming.
He said he had been thinking
about the appointment, and fear
ing that no one would come, and
we be disappointed,he had come,
adding that we two could get a
blessing if we wanted it. To
gether we sat and talked about
the church and its condition,
talked until the tears flowed from
our eyes, then we knelt and
preyed, first one and then the
other. The revival had begun.
We felt it in our hearts. God
had spoken to us; the Spirit had
quickened us. The work went
on from heart to heart, and in a
few weeks a meeting began. In
the midst of the heated political
campaign of 1876, the people
came to the church for ten days,
and the word of the Lord proved
mighty in the conversion of sin
ners and the edifying of Chris
tians In all the len days we did
not hear politics discussed on the
ground. The results of that
meeting are manifest in that
church to day. “Only one” man
came, but with him came one
who was more than man. God
met and blessed the “one” who
came to meet and talk and pray
with the pastor. “Only one,”
but one, with God, is a host.
We lived in that deacon’s
house and he could have talked
with us at any time; but he came
to the house of God and there
God met us. The oldest girl in
his family was the first convert
baptized during the meeting, the
first of twenty-eight.
Brother, sister, you may be
“only one,” but one faithful one
may work wonders with God.
TWO COUNTRY PREACHERS.
Within the last few weeks the
Baptists of Georgia and of South
Carolina have each lost one of
their ablest and best men. Geor
gia mourns the loss of Dr. W. L.
Kilpatrick and South Carolina
that of J. A. W. Thomas, the
father of the editor of the Baptist
Courier. In many respects these
two brethren were much alike.
They were both men of rare piety
and beauty of Christian charac
ter. Both of them were preach
ers of more than ordinary power.
Both possessed, t) a rare de
gree, the love and implicit confi
dence of their brethren. Against
neither did the tongue of scandal
wag, for no one would have been
found to give credence to its
tales. They were both very in
iluential in the counsels of their
brethren, men to whom these
looked when they needed wise
counsel. Loved, honored, trust
ed, they will long be missed in
the denominational gatherings of
their respective States.
But it was probably in the lo
cal fields which they occupied
that these two men of God wield
ed their most powerful influence.
They were country pastors, not
of necessity, but by choice, and
in their respective associations
exerted influences for good that
are immeasurable. Bro Thomas
was lovingly called “the Bishop
of Marlboro,” that being the
county in which he lived and la
lored for many years, quietly de
clining all calls to leave his
country field for towns or cities.
Verily, these country pastors were
princes in Israel, and as princes
of the Lord did they do their
work. And we are sure that they
were peculiarly happy in their
work In this day, when so
many preachers are, like other
people, longing and even striving
to get to cities, we feel that hap
py indeed is the preacher who is
content to do his work in a good
country field, and there spend a
lifetime in building up a great
and good influence. Nor are any
men accomplishing more real
and lasting good.
Next Sunday will see the lie
ginning of the pastorate of Dr.
W. W. Landrum at the First
Baptist church. *lt will be an oc
casion of much interest to the
Baptists of the city. At night
we understand a service of recog
nition and reception will be held.
Dr. Landrum is so well known
that he will get to work at once
and be let into the intimate
places. He has been accustomed
to glory in his cosmopolitan
record, but of late he [has grown
dreadfully fond of parading his
Georgia birth. One of Dr.
Landrum’s strong points is hold
ing country meetings. In Vir
ginia everything in the country
is dated from “Bro. Hatcher’s big
meeting,” but Dr. Landrum was
getting to be a strong rival be
fore he left. We hope the
brethren will see to it that Dr.
Landrum gets plenty of country
air while in Georgia
A con ervative Lutheran jour
nal of Berlin says that in “that
world city, ” positive believing
Christians now control the con
gregations and have a majority
of the representatives in Synod,
a state ot things altogether dif
ferent from what it was twenty
five years ago. With this token
o' German reaction toward sound
ness in the faith, we may join
t ie fact that the highest ecclesi
astical authority in the Empire,
the Superior Consistory of Prus
sia, has prohibited the ministry
in that kingdom from engaging
in political and social agitations.
Sound faith in the heart works
soul saving in the life.
We may be permitted enough
of politics to rejoice over the se
lection of Bro. J. H. Goldsmith
as city comptroller. He has held
this office for nineteen years and
was given a most handsome ma
jority in the primaries. He is a
deacon at the First church, and
if he is as faithful in his labors
for the city as he is to his obliga
tions as a church member, he de
serves nineteen years more. By
the way, is not faithfulness in
one place a good indication of
faithfulness in others?
In connection with our remarks
last week about the Seminary,
we are glad to be able to state
that everything points to a tine
enrollment of students the com
ing session. This must be grati
fying to all. It is aiteo good news
to hear of the fine prospects at
Mercer. It is certainly a good
sign when, in such hard times,
our boys are enabled to continue
at school. It would be a pity to
have this education stopped
when the better times are so
near.
We are informed that cu
good friend, Editor Folk, of the
Baptist and Reflector, had a nar
row escape from being mobbed.
He was in mining community
and made a negro speech of some
kind and the miners wouldn’t
stand it His brethren joke him,
but he does not seem to tnink it
was a joke. No one would ever
have thought of mobbing him as
an editor,and we did not think it
was quite so bad when he made
speeches. We are glad they
missed him, however.
More and more these re
searches in the Past are confirm
ing the Bible. Providentially
have these records come at an
age when they would be appre
ciated and when scholarship had
learned to decipher them. Many
a clay tablet or nock inscription
remains in the Orient, ready to
bear its confirming testimony
when it shall be rescued. There
are few fields to-day more worthy
of Christian money than the
fields of Biblical research among
the monuments of the Eash
Dr. G. A Nunnally dropped in
to see us on his way home. He
has about completed his summer
campaign and will be busy from
now till the opening of the Col
lege, on the 9th.of September,
in preparing the new “College
home” for the coming of its in
mates. Bro. Nunnally is confi
dent that there is no prettier
school building in the South than
this. To till it full of girls is
now his aim.
When Hannah prayed for the
gift of Samuel, “only her lips
moved, but her voice was not
heard.” (1 Sam. 1:13 ) Nay, but
her voice was heard: God heard
it and answered it. Alas, if the
ear of God was like man’s and
could not hear the heart—hear its
feeblest and most inarticulate
cry, the cry which is scarcely a
breathing, the cry which needs
and uses no breath.
We are glad to hear that Rich
mond College is prospering.
President Boatwright had some
hard difficulties to overcome, but
he seems to have done it. New
buildings are promised and the
prospect for a larger attendance
is most excellent. Richmond
College has a tine faculty.
yilhat the
©diter®
VTV'ZWVWWWWVWWW
The Central Baptist: Perhaps
not as much as usual, but quite
enough, does the element of per
sonal abuse enter into the pend
ing presidential contest. It is
generally admitted that all the
candidates for first and second
place on the various tickets are
Christian gentlemen without re
proach. Thanks to the nomina
ting conventions, character has
counted for something, or at any
rate was not a point of objection.
To save ourselves from pessi
mistie views of politics, we are
going to remember that good
men were given the preference
in the selections. Now we are
encouraged to hope that this re
spect for gentlemanliness will be
sustained until the contest is set
tled at the polls and two of these
worthy men are accorded the vic
tory. There are broad-minded,
honorable men in the lead in all
parties, and their frown or favor,
promptly exercised will be potent
to save us from the bitterness
and abuse that too often creep
into sharp contests. Indeed, the
American spirit of fairness is
grown so strong that a party
suffers loss by unfair attempts to
gain advantage. As far as we
can judge, there is not one of the
candidates to whose integrity we
would not be willing to commit
important interests. They are
not weak or rash or corrupt.
Any one of them would seek to
fill the office with honor and wis
dom, nor-do we believe that any
one of them would cling to a
policy after it became reasonably
apparent that it was working in
jury to the country. We are go
ing to have a good man for Presi
dent.
Journal and Messenger: There
is an old brother in Kentucky, of
whom it is said that he has well
nigh finished his course, and is
on the border of the heavenly
world. It seems to us that his
brethren ought to pray that he be
taken over soon; for he is getting
off a great deal of error in these
days, and some of our contempo
raries are very unwisely publish
ing it. He has said a good many
wicked things about Dr. Whit
sitt, and has written a good many
ridiculous things bearing upon
the controversy now going on;
but he has hardly said anything
more contrary to truth tnan the
following: ‘‘The church of
Christ is the unit of his kingdom.
The State is composed of indi
vidual citizens. The kingdom of
Christ of organized churches.”
The aged brother professes to be
a Baptist of the Baptists; bus
when he says that “the church
of Christ is the unit of the king
dom of Christ” he says what is
diametrically contrary to Baptist
doctrine and to the Word of God.
He is as far out of the way as are
those who tell us that “the fam
ily” is the unit in the kingdom of
heaven. Both the theories are
pedobaptist, the one even Roman
Catholic; and the Baptist who
can write such stuff must be in
his dotage, and it were well if he
were suppressed.
The Religious Herald: The fact
is that political prejudices and
prepossessions are more power
ful and intolerant than any other,
except religious. The full
fledged Prohibitionist thinks the
folks who will not vote with him
morally obtuse, if not morally
distorted; the ardent advocate of
free coinage declares that the is
sue is one of the people aga’nst
a greedy and remorse ess money
power; the single standard men
warmly assert that the adoption
of free coinage is dishonest. In
the midst of this babel of strange
sounds, it is not to be wondered
at that many religious—we mean,
of course, “really religious”-
journals, papers religious “in
the strict sense,” are not found
clamoring on this side or .that,
but are steadily pursuing their
quiet, but not unimportant, mis
sion of promulgatiing religious
truth. We do not see it to be
our duty to put the Herald active
ly into current politics. We could
not more surely or more swiftly
annihiliate its usefulness. At
the same time, we have no quar
rel with the religious papers
which feel constrained to take an
active part.
The Evangel: Our attention has
been called of late several times
to the habit some preachers have
of pleading poverty, or asking
for a reduction when purchasing
goods of merchants or seeking
entertainment at hotels. We are
glad to believe that this custom
is not general, and that only a
few preachers ever seek, by such
means, to secure special favors.
The great majority of our preach
ers pay the prices that are asked,
and if any courtesies are extend
ed they receive them as such
gratefully. There are some,
however, that seem to think that
they are objects of charity, and
do not hesitate to tell a merchant
that they are ministers and de
sire a reduction. If these men
but knew that they subject them,-
selves to offensive criticism by
such a course, we feel sure they
would never again ask any man
to favor them because they are
ministers of the Gospel. We trust
“a word to the wise” will be suf
ficient.
The Standard: The slave’s
horizm is not more contracted
than the horizon of a servant of
sin. The effect of wilful defiance
of the commands of God and con
science is to blunt the imagina
tion, as well as other higher
faculties of the mind, and to
lessen the power of gaining
pleasure and incentive fmm the
future. That very weakening of
hope acts in turn as a new source
ot temptation: for all sin may be
considered as, in one aspect
wilful shortsightedness. The
man who has nothing to lose by
sin does not exist; but the men
who have long since become
blind to what they have to lose
by sin are all around us. Their
horizon shuts out all high ideals
and possible achievements which
they once beheld with the keener
vision of innocence. Beyond the
pleasure and gain of the present
and the near future there is noth
ing to draw them on; how seldom
does a wicked man think willingly
of his old age. One cannot
imagine a youth deliberately
planning fifty years of crime, or
even of cold blooded selfishness
within the bounds of human law.
His horizon is too limited for
that. Gradually, as sin gains
mastery over him, the lookahead
is shortened until it may be
truthfully said that ‘it takes
away all the to morrows” —ex-
cept the to morrows of retribu
tion.
The Biblical Recorder: Ever and
anon the cry is raised that we are
raoidly approaching church
union and that it is sure to come.
Phillips Brooks was the man who
started this movement in Ameri
ca, and ever since his day he has
had a follower. The unfortunate
part of it is that while these men
attem pt to hel p for ward the move
men', they are unable to agree
upon a plan of union. Eich
church wants its declaration of
pr.nciples or its articles of faith
to be adopted. Baptists are the
only ones who advocate the sim
pie Bible as the common rallying
ground. That seems fair, and it
w’ould be natural to suppose that
all Cnristian churches would
agree to that; but such is not the
case. Some years ago, the
Southern Baptist Convention, on
account of the agitation of this
very idea of church union, ap
pointed a committee to confer
with a like committee from an
other denomination on a plan of
union based on the Bible. No
definite action was ever taken by
that other denomination. When
the day comes that the open Bi
ble shall be adopted as the code
of principles, Baptists will wel
come church union; but until
that time comes, the idea is
fraught with evil and a spirit of
looseness which cannot be tol
erated by those who are unwill
ing to compromise truth.
The Texas Baptist and Herald: The
cheekiest thing we have heard of
late has come from Wall street,
New York, to the effect that the
common people are not capable of
passing upon financial, commer
cial and tariff questions. Tnis is
an implied declaration that the
American people are incapable of
self-government. We have heard
certain better informed Baptists
take a similar position concern
ing the less informed and less
intelligent Baptist element of our
denomination. The position,
whether in church or -State, if
pursued to its logical results,
would end in a monarchy on the
one hand and a hierarchy on the
other, for it proposes division,
discourages education, invites
dissension, indorses oppo 3 ition
and suggests the subordination
of one class to another. It is un-
American in politics and un-Bap
tist in religion. Those who hold
such views in matters of State
are only partly Americans, and
those who hold these views in
matters of religion are only part
ly Baptists. The sooner both
classes are educated out of this
error the better.
The Baptist: In the anxiety to
score a point, critics frequently
overlook the fact that they are
not familiar with all the circum
stances surrounding the case.
We are forcibly reminded of this
by a criticism now on our desk.
It refers to an ordination service,
notice of which appeared in The
Baptist not long since. In every
point which the critic points out,
the church and counsel proceed
ed in harmony with the princi
ples laid down by the critic, and
the church was familiar with
facts justifying their action. The
writer of the report criticised,
took it for granted that the read
ers would understand that the
proceedings were baptistic, with
out having to spin out the report
to cover details.
Texas Baptist Standard: The
Western Recorder's Crawford move
ment barrel, alias the “Gleaner
Department,” has begun to fire at
our mission work again. We had
hoped that this barrel had been
silenced, but it comes forth last
week in its pristine vigor and
loudness. Can the Recorder af
ford thus to continually make
war on our organized work? And
if it does, can these Baptists who
are loyal to our organized work
continue to support it?
gearata
FIELD NOTES.
Brethren and sisters, let us pray. For
what t
First, for Mercer University; for ir
g regress, for its students, for Bro. H. R
iernard. the financial agent,
Second, for the State Board of Mis
siono. for the missionaries, for Bro.
J. G Gibson, our corresponding sec
retary.
Third, for the Home Board of Mis
sions. for the missionaries, for Bro. I T.
Tichenor, our secretary.
Fourth, for the Board of Foreign
Missions, for the missionaries, for Bro.
R. J. Willingham, our secretary.
Fifth, for the Orphans’ Home: for the
matron and teachers, for the dear little
orphans, for Bro. -H. R. Smith, our
agent.
Sixth, for the Christian Index: for
its editors in the office and in the field-
For its contributors, that each one may
be true to God and his word.
In the death of brother W. L. Kilpat
rick, a great gap has been made in our
Baptist ranks and in Baptist affairs in
Georgia. A great and good man has
fallen on sleep “ Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord,* * * they rest from
their labors and their works do follow
them ”
In the death of brother Williams
Rutherford, of Athens, we sustain a per
sonal loss and feel a pei sonal grief, be
cause of the tender relations between
us. His ‘Church Member’s Guide for
Baptist Churches” was, and is, one of
the most timely books of the age. We
disposed of hundreds of them while in
the pastorate. The loss and gr.ef of
the family are ours also.
Bro. H. F. Buchanan, of Conyers, has
gone into the great beyond When we
were a boy preacher we were thrown
with him nuch. He instructed us how
to immerse our first candidate for
church membership Many have been
the precious protracted meetings we
have held together. He was loyal to
the truth as a preacher, and sound in
the faith as a Baptist. A father in
Israel has fallen. He was faithful un
til death, and God will give him hie
crown of life. We expect to meet him
on the other shore. We -loved each
other much. May the Lord deal gently
with those left behind.
We expect to be at the following as
sociations in September: The Colum
bus, the Tugalo, the Summerhill, and
the Flint River. Brother J. A. Howard
will visit as many of the rest as he can.
Brethren and sisters, send your Index
money to the association by your pas
tors and messengers. Do it, brethren,
and don’t you forget it.
CENTRAL ASSOCIATION.
The sixty second session of this body
met with the church in Madison last
Tuesday and lasted three days.
The opening sermon was preached by
brother E W. Sammons, from Matthew
20 and 28 Theme: “The Ministry of
Jesus.” The sermon was a good and
timely one.
Brethren John T. Newton and James
E. Chiles, both it) uu-n, were re-elected*
moderator and c.era.
Bro. R H. Smith preached Tuesday
night. A tine sermon, a large congre
gation, a good impression.
The L idles’ Missionary Union met in
the Presbyterian church Wednesday
morning. Bro. J. G. Gibson addressed
the union on Missions. The ladies were
delighted.
Pastor J. T. B. Anderson, of Eaton
ton, preached the missionary sermon
Wednesday at 11 a. m. The large au
dience enjoyed the sermon much
The reports on missions, temperance,
and education were thorougnly dis
cussed, and were made gi’ul impres
sions on the large cr >wds in attendance.
There was general rejoicing among
the brethren and sisters over the recent
great victory of prohibition in M adi
son and Morgan counties.
And the old team were on hand: Gib
son, Hatcher, Smith, Edens, with one
new horse added, brother H. R. Ber
nard. Bro. J. G. Gibson preached on
Wednesday night an extra fine sermon.
His sermons are always good.
Thursday morning brother H. R.
Bernard made a great speech for Mer
cer at the close. He laid Mercer on the
hearts of the large congregation and
raised a tine collection, not in money,
but in prayers. A profound impression
was made. Many came forward and
pledgel their strength for Mercer.
The Madison saints outdid them
selves in every way this time. Dinner
was served at the church, an unusual
custom in the towns. Barbecued lamb,
kid and pig were on the tables each
day, with every other nicety in rich
abundance. All hearts and homes were
opened and a royal welcome was given.
The singing was unusually good, it was
led by pastor G. W. Argabrite, and
everybody joined in and were happy.
Pastor J. H Gambrell, of Greensboro,
R H. Smith and this scribe were the
happy guests of pastor Argabrite and
wife. Bro. Argabrite, with the
Lords help, has done a great work for
the Madison church in the short time
he has served them.
GENERAL MEETING sth DISTRICT
GEORGIA ASSOCIATION.
This boiy met in connection with
the ministers and deacons’ meeting of
the whole association, with the church
in Washington, Wilkes county, last
Friday. The attendance was not large
the first day, others came in on Satur
day. Bro. T. A Nash, of Lincolnton,
preached, by previous appointment, a
sermon on the Second Coming of Christ.
Good attention and a good impression.
Missions was the theme for the after
noon, led by brother R. E. L. Harris,
who made a fine speech. There was
preaching at the church Friday night.
Saturday morning the discussion of mis
sions was continued. At 11 a. m. Bro.
J. H. Kilpatrick preached his great ser
mon on the theme, ‘ ‘ The Obligation and
the Necessity Resting on Baptists to be
the Best People in the World.” The
sermon, like the preacher, is a great and
good one. Every Baptist present, if he
felt like the writer felt, determined to
live a better life. A good program was
in hand for the rest of the meeting. As
much as we wished to remain over
Sabbath we could not, and took our de
parture at Ip. m. Saturday. Pastor
J. L. Gross and the Washington saint#
gave us a hearty welcome. We were
the happy guest of brother Luther A.
Boline and his dear mother, who were
a mother and brother to us.
James F. Edens.
380 Woodward Ave., Atlanta, Ga.
ATLANTA BAPTIST CONFERENCE
Bro. Van Ness in the chair Prayer
by Bro. Strickland.
Calvary. Bro. Norcross reports pleas
ant services.