Newspaper Page Text
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WChristianlndex
T. P. BELL, I Editors.
I. J. VAN NESS, f
THE QUESTION OF HISTORY.
We give this week the first of
our summaries of Dr. Whitsitt’s
book, “A Question in History.”
W T e desire it to be explicitly un
derstood that in this we aim
simply to give Dr. Whitsitt s
position as he has stated it. We
express in it no opinion of our
own, but have him to speak for
himself. Dr, W. A. Jarrell will
promptly prepare his reply,
which will be printed at the
earliest moment. Then Dr.
Newman will review the situa
tion for us. In the meantime we
trust the brethren will read and
wait. When the discussion has
been tinishtd they can speak
their minds. We shall have a
period of much dispute. Our
advice is to secure Dr. Whitsitt’s
book, and then to carefully read
and preserve all the papers giv
ing arguments for or against.
After a little we can take this
mass of facts and arguments and
go over them again with a pros
pect of reaching the truth. The
book of Dr. Whitsitt is entitled,
“A Question in Baptist History.”
It is bound in cloth and contains
164 pages. C. T Dearing, of
Louisville,Ky.. is the publisher,
and the cost £I.OO, postpaid.
LIVING UP TO OUR FAITH.
It is very essential that we ex
ercise our will in living up to our
faith. When we are thoroughly
convinced of the truth of any
thing, we ought to force our
selves to live in accordance with
it, irrespective of our feelings or
emotions. Once persuaded that
anything is true, it then becomes
the path along which we our
selves must directour feet to go.
It is said that Mohammedanism
attracts men because, with the
highest conceptions of truth, it
demands the lowest possible eth
ical requirements This can
never be said of Christians.
Every lofty conception is with
Christ and his apostles a demand
on the will of man to live in ac
cordance with it.
It is in the neglect of this that
we so of ten go ast ray. We look
to religious truth to somehow
master us and compel allegiance.
But the continuation of our re
ligious life, as truly as its begin
ning, depends upon our own will.
The Holy Spirit comes to aid
every willing soul. A willing
soul is, however, not a merely
passive, stagnant soul; it is a
soul that wills for the Spirit’s
help. We have also a notion
that it is the business of Provi
dence to bring us into situations
wherein we shall be compelled
to exercise faith and so come to
a more perfect realization of our
belief We are not compelled to
wait for calamities, for we can
anticipate them. He who be
lieves must, like the Israelites,
move forward to the unopened
sea, and believe it will be opened.
We must take risks on our faith.
For example, take the convic
tion as to election. Some have
risked sin on the basis of it and
fallen pitiably low. It was a
misuse of faith. The doctrine of
election, however, does involve
the certainty of our sanctification
and glorification. One who be
lieves in election and feels him
self an object of electing grace,
can risk anything in the way of
effort after purity and character.
So it is with the doctrine of
everything being added to those
who seek first the kingdom of
heaven and its righteousness. If
we believe that and are confront
ed with situations where righte
ousness and our worldly 7 interests
conflict, we must have the
strength of will to live up to our
laith. Independently of all in
fluences our faith must be sup
ported by our acts, and our will
must do it, if our heart is afraid.
There are many applications
of this principle and one of them
is to the work of missions. In
terest in missions is of a fluctu
ating character, when it is based
on our feelings. Just at this
time everything seems to detract
from it by claiming our attention.
Politics are uppermost. The at
tention is diverted and something
else gets place in our hearts. We
have also been agitated by great
questions as a denomination, and
been distracted by rumors and
suspicions. All this has told and
is telling on our work. Despite
ourselves we have been switched
off on another track.
In such a juncture we may well
re-examine our faith. Surely we
have not lost our conviction as
to the Lord’s commands, nor our
confidence in his approval of it.
We surely believe in missions.
It is then our duty to over run
our lack of interest and move by
the deeper principle of duty.
We must act because we believe,
not because we feel like acting.
Our will must make our faith a
principle of action.
In our common, every-day life
this will be a working principle.
If we could read our articles of
faith every morning and then live
in accordance with their state
ments, our growth in grace would
be greatly accelerated. We would
soon be in possession of our creed
in actual realization. We should
know the truth by living up to
the truth. It would save years
of experience and an icipate
many a bitter lesson pressed from
us by necessary tribulations and
trials. Is it not the only logic
possible to a Christian? What do
we believe for? For no other
reason than that it is the truth,
and that all truth demands that we
live up to it. At first the risks
might be hard to undertake, but
after a little, a multitude of
tender mercies and loving kind
nesses would be part of our ex
perience, and risks would be
easv
OUR POSITION.
The Index has again and again
stated its position on two gnat
subjects which are now deeply
agitating tbemindsof the people
of Georgia—politics and prohibi
tion. As to the former, it has
claimed to be absolutely neutral.
And that claim it desires to reas
sert. If its editors could by an
utterance influence the election
one way or the other, they would
feel bound to- let that utterance
remain unmade. It is a religious
and not a political journal.
On the subject of prohibition it
has spoken in nouncertain terms.
Before this questi >n was in any
way associated with either polit
ical party, as a party issue, the
pape* - earnestly advocated the
Bush bill, or some modification of
that measure embodying its main
features. We did this after a
careful examination of the bill,
and after careful inquiry among
many prominent Baptist brethren
as to the present condition of the
prohibition movement in the
State, and the probable effect of
the passage of such a bill. In our
utterances on this subject we
found ourselves in full accord
with the leading brethren of the
State, and with the State Baptist
Convention.
We still hold to the opinion
that the adoption of some such
measure would tend to remove
from the State one of the great
est curses that now rests upon
it, and we have earnestly hoped
that the renewed agitation of the
question would result in a bill of
the sort being placed upon the
statute books.
The Index has not, however,
opened its columns to any ex
tended discussion of the subject
because of the character of the
communications that have been
coming to it. Numerous ones
have been received which, while
purporting to discuss the matter
independently of politics, have
yet, with few exceptions, had
such a decidedly party bias, that
we have thought it wisest and
best to let them go to the waste
basket, lest in a little while the
columns of the paper should be
made the arena for a regular po
litical controversy.
Since the question has, at least
in the minds of the people, been
made a party issue, we have felt
that the Index should hold the
same position towards its read
ers as Bro. J. H. Gambrell, of
Greenesboro, took towards his
church, in his letter declining a
nomination for Congress. We
stand to the great Baptist broth
erhood of Georgia in somewhat
the same relation which he sus
tains to his church. The Index
represents men of all parties,and
while as individuals its editors
may have their preferences, and
may even work for the success of
the party of their preference, it
must deal fairly with all its con
stituency and recognize and re
spect their differing opinions.
The Index, as representing the
Baptists of Georgia, can, how
ever, most heartily urge on all
its readers, irrespective of their
party affiliations, this resolution
of the State Baptist Convention
held at Cedartown in April last:
That Baptist voters all over the State
be urged to support no one for the. Leg
islature who will not use his influence
in favor of some measure looking to the
suppression of the liquor traffic in this
State.
A QUESTION ANSWERED.
The following letter came to
us last week. We give the writ
er’s own words that our answer
may be the better understood:
Dear Index; Many of us country
Baptists are rather in a "muddle" about
your statement in the Whitsitt matter.
\Ve do not believe that any church prac
ticing sprinkling or injuring for baptism
can in any sense be a Baptist church.
Dr. Whitsitt said the Baptist churches
in England sprinkled or poured for bap
tism before 1(41. Now you say that he
"cannot be far wrong,” and that the
question of history is the only issue of
importance before us. Now, Bro. In
dex, will you be so kind as to tell us
whether you believe a church that prac
tices sprinkling and pouring for bap
tism is a Baptist church! We do not
care what some churches did in 1(41;
but we do want to know if our dear old
Index believes that the doctor is right
in calling those churches Baptist church
es. We do not care one straw how the
historical question is settled, so it is set
tied truthfully, but we do want to know
if the Index has church fellowship for
those sprinkling and pouring churches,
and even for a learned doctor who has
such fellowship?
We gladly answer the questions
•of our brother, and before doing
so', thank him for giving us the
opportunity, and for doing it in
so good a spirit.
Most emphatically we do not
recognize as Baptist churches of
like faith and order, churches
practicing sprinkling or pouring
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1896
for baptism, and we would not
stay in a church that did so, nor
that fellowshipped other church
es so doing. Neither would
Dr. Whitsitt Dr. Whitsitt
uses the words “Baptist
churches” for the English
churches of 1641, because in all
history they are so called, and in
writing about them he uses only
the name by which they have
been called in all the years since.
So, now, churches in England
which we would not fellowship
at all, because they are open
communion and even, in some
cases, have members in them who
have neves been baptized, are
regularly known and spoken of
as Baptist churches. Mr. Spur
geon’s church isopen commun
ion, and so are the great majority
of what are called by everybody
the Baptist churches of England.
To call them by any other name
would be to prevent oneself be
ing understood It is unfortu
nate that there is not some other
name. They cannot be called
pedobaptist, because they reject
infant baptism.
A reading of the summary of
Dr Whitsitt’s book as given on
our last page will set forth clear
ly Dr. Whitsitt’s position. He
simply claims that the so-called
Baptists of the seventeenth cen
tury were not our kind of Bap
tists, for he says they did not im
merse.
AN EXPLANATION.
We think it but justice to give
our readers the reply of Dr. T.
T. Eaton, of the Western Recorder,
to our editorial of a few weeks
ago. Dr. Eaton rightly supposes
it to have been an official charge,
not a personal one. Here is what
he says:
It is thus apparent that Dr. Whitsitt
denies teaching rather than saying in
conversation what Bro Burnett and
others claim he said. We do not recall
ever hearing him advocate the "branch
church theory," or speak of minor chil
dren’s joining their father’s churches.
Our personal knowledge in this matter
is limited to his saying wives should join
their husband’s churches.
Why, then, did we, after hearing him
say this, advocate his election as Presi
dent of the Seminary?
We had never heard of his teaching
such a view in his classes, and since it
did not come in his department, his say
ing it did not impress us at the time, as
it has impressed others, as involving any
particular peril to the Seminary or to
the cause. Consequently when the
question of who should be President
came up, this matter did not occur to
us at all; and we advocated Dr. W. as,
on the whole, the wisest choice. The
fact is, we did not think of the matter
at all during the entire time the election
wasspending. What we ought to have
done, had we thought of it, there is no
need of our discussing now.
It is thus very evident that the
matter was an insignificant one
to Dr. Eaton, and knowing all the
facts, he gave no attention to it.
We were assured of this fact from
the resolution of the Long Run
Association which Dr. Eaton
supported, and we gladly give
place to this further evidence.
The editor of the Western Re
corder, however, was a little hasty
in his reading of our editorial.
We did not accuse him of being
false to his trust on the basis of
the railroad conversation alone.
Here is what Dr. Spencer, with
whom we we e dealing, claimed
from Dr. Eaton as a witness:
Concerning Dr Whitsitt’s well-known
theory that the family is older and more
sacred than the church, and that there
fore Baptist wives ought to unite with
the churches of their pedobaptist hus
bands, the following question and answer
appeared in the Western Recorder of July
16, 1896 A lady writes to that paperas
follows:
"You said once, some years ago,
that the Recorder had no secrets
from the denomination. Therefore
1 write to ask if it is true that Dr.
Whitsitt teaches Baptist wives
ought to join the churches of their
pedobaptist husbands? I have seen
the statement in the Christian
Index.”
Dr. Eaton replies as follows:
"The Recorder has no secrets from
the denomination, Neither the
Seminary. Whatever any profes
sor teaches, he is more than willing
all his brethren should know. Dr.
Whitsitt does say that Baptist wives
ought to join the denomination of
their pedobaptist husbands. One
reason which he gives for his advice
to them is that the family was the
first institution older than the
church. One of the students told
us that he gave various passages of
Scripture to prove his position.
W hat these passages are we do not
remember.”
Dr. Eaton has been a life long friend
of Dr. Whitsitt and has been his pastor
for a number of years. He lives in the
vicinity of the Seminary and mingles
daily with its professors and students.
He has, therefore, the best facilities for
knowing what Dr. Whitsitt teaches.
His language is sufficiently explicit, and
needs no comment.
It will be noticed that the ques
tion asked is as to the teaching,
and that Dr. Spencer so claims
the reply of the Recorder. We
cited Dr. Eaton on the basis of
the above, and now welcome his
explicit statement as here
quoted. He also positively denies
any knowledge of the “branch
theory” charges.
We are glad to thus set Dr.
Eaton right before our readers.
Our only apology for reopening
the now thoroughly exploded
Spencer charges is, that we may
let Dr. Eaton, his own witness,
himself say of how little impor
tance they are, and relieve him
of our charge of being false to
his trust, as Dr. Spencer had
made us believe he was. We have
no quarrel with Dr. Eaton for
not opposing Dr. Whitsitt’s elec
tion, our quarrel was for allow
ing these charges to be published
with his name as proof, and with
out denial.
A recent skeptical writer pro
fesses “great faith in human na
ture, that if man was not dis
torted by beliefs, traditions, cus
toms education and society, he
would be as virtuous, honest and
good as other animals.” But
how, pray, can we have faith in
the nature which (on the as
sumption of infidelity) is itself
the author of all these “beliefs,
traditions, customs, education
and society?” Is the tree which
has borne such evil fruit never
theless a good tree? Or,how is it
at last to make its own fruit good
in spite of the long failure of such
goodness as it had to do so? Or
how shall it make itself good
now, with a better goodness than
it ever had before. And is this
the price for which we are to
surrender Christianity —that we
may be as the natural brute
beasts around us in virtue, hon
esty and goodness?
It has been announced that
The Watchman goes to Tifton un
der new management. It will be
improyed and pushed. All our
organized work will receive
hearty support. The brethren
feel that there is much work left
for the South Georgia Conven
tion to do, and they think the
Watchman has its mission yet
unfulfilled. We trust that it will
see prosperity under the new
management. We also see that
Dr. K. B. Headden is to get out a
monthly paper devoted to the
special interests of the regions
about Rome. We welcome the
beloved pastor of the Rome
church to his new labors. He is
such a loyal friend to the Index
that we are gratified at every
new extension of his usefulness.
The church at McMin iville,
Tenn., has done a deed worthy to
be commended. The church has
granted pastor Isaac Baker a va
cation of eight months, at full
salary, in order that he may at
tend the Seminary. In the mean
time they supply the pulpit.
This is an act calculated to bind
pastor and people together, and
to greatly advance the Lord’s
cause. It was our pleasure to
assist in the ordination of Bro.
Baker. We commend the action
of this church to others. If it
cannot be done for so long a
time, it is still possible to re
member the preachers’ school at
Eastman and send your pastor
there.
Dr. J. M. Frost, of Nashville
paid us a visit Vast week. He re
ports the Sunday School Board
as in a flourishing condition, and
he is full of plans for the im
provement and extension of its
work. Just now he is getting
ready for the changes made nec
essary by the new contracts.
The securing of the work by
others than the Methodist Book
Concern necessitates even a
change of officers. It is hoped
to get all the denominational in
terests of Nashville grouped in
one building. This is always a
great advantage to a community.
It is very gratifying to find
our schools doing so well. We
understand Mercer opened with
an unusual number of students.
The faculty are all on hand and
thoroughly interested in their
work. Dr. Nunnally reports a
tine enrollment, as does also the
school at Gainesville. The High
School at Arabi started better
than usual. We have not heard
definitely from the others but
have no doubt the same good con
dition of things is to be found.
It is a good sign when our schools
are prosperous. It means the
future made better.
It is now announced that Gen.
Buckner, candidate of the gold
Democrats, is a Baptist. This
makes the fourth Baptist to find
a place this year on a national
ticket. The Baptists of the Cap
ital have never had a President
or Vice-President to advance their
interests. Gen. Garfield greatly
helped the Campbellites, Hayes
gave prestige to the Methodists,
while Cleveland has helped the
Presbyterians. A good Baptist
ought to be a good official. His
principles would fit the place
well.
A writer in the Westminster Re
view for February “disregards
the criticism of logic choppers”
far enough to brand the vice
which clings so conspicuously to
“the new woman,” in literature
at least, “the vice of feminine
masculinity.” If we might only
hope that she will only stop at
that and descend to no lower and
no worse!
There is a plant that is called
“one-berry” because it bears an
nually no more. Oh, if we are
like it, in capacity, let our one
berry be born for God. He will
not despise the fruitage of hum
ble faithfulness, let men over
look it as they may.
Dogs may be arranged into two
great groups; namely, dog-dogs
and men-dogs.
the jßapHet
(Editor*
The Evangel: Every now and
then some “globe trotter” re
turns and assures us that Chris
tian missions are a failure in Chi
na and other portions of the
heathen world; sometimes they
go so far as to declare the mis
sionaries do more harm than
good. Not so thought Li Hung
Chang, who, in his reply to an
address from representatives of
the Mission Boards at work in
China, said:
As man is composed of soul,
intellect and body, I highly ap
preciate that your eminent
Boards, in your arduous and
much esteemed work in the field
of China, have neglected none of
the three. I need not say much
about the first, being an unknow
able mystery of which our great
Confucius had only an active
knowledge. As for intellect, you
have started numerous educa
tional establishments which have
served as the best means to en
able our countrymen to acquire a
fair knowledge of the modern
arts and sciences of the West.
As for the material part of our
constitution, your societies have
started hospitals and dispensa
ries to save not only the soul,
but also the body of our country
men. I have also to add that in
the time of famine in some of the
provinces you have done your
best to the greatest number of
the sufferers to keep their bodies
and souls together.
This highest of heathen testi
mony ought to forever set at rest
the falsehoods circulated respect
ing those who are laboring for
the temporal and spiritual wel
fare of the millions of China.
77ie Standard: And most impor
tant of all, perhaps, is the matter
of devotional meetings. We are
aware that this is not the univer
sal opinion, or at any rate, not
the universal practice. The de
votional service is often held at
the opening of each session when
only a handful of delegates is
present, scattered over the room,
and as a consequence the singing
is beneath criticism, and the de
votions are interrupted by the
bustle of late comers. If human
nature can be so reformed as to
secure a full attendance at the
hour set for opening, then that is
the best time for the devotional
service; but if human nature re
mains as it is—and it probably
will—why not have that service
either in the middle or at the
close of each session? We ob
serve that at the Indiana Conven
tion next month a special relig
ious service is to be held each
afternoon between four and five,
and an effort will be made to
make these services full of in
spiration and power. There it is,
in those hours of prayer, that the
realcenterof influence lies. If
they are made much of, the de
tails of business become less dry,
the little differences of opinion
are forgotten, the depression and
discouragement are turned into
hope and thanksgiving. What
ever else is slighted, do not
slight the devotional service.
May the spirit of Christian fel
lowship and patient endeavor
pervade all the sessions of the
approaching Conventions, and
inspire pastors and people to bet
ter service.
The Religious Herald: Conven
tions, Associations, Institutions,
have no semblance of/authority.
They cannot lord it over God’s
heritage. Any attempt in this
direction is usurpation. But
Conventions, Associations, Insti
tutions, must not be lightly
tossed aside as unworthy of re
spect. They have no authority,
but they ought to have weight
and influence in greater or less
degree. They may not, they
must not, invade the realm of
conscience; they must not inter
fere with the loyalty of the indi
vidual or of the church. But the
church and the individual owe
something to them. A mere dif
ference of opinion about a policy
must not alienate either the indi
vidual or the church. The sober
judgment of a considerable num
ber of representative brethren is
not to be contemned. Respect is
due and respect ought to be paid
to it. To refuse such respect in
the name of independence, is to
pervert the Baptist idea. To re
fuse co-operation in good work
is to defeat so far the mission of
the denomination. If our doc
trines are to prevail, we must
pi each them. We cannot do our
best in certain great lines of
Christian endeavor by working
separately. Baptists must get
together.
The Examiner: The Baptist
Bulletin, conducted by Secretary
Dewolf, of the New Jersey State
Convention, gives two illustra
tive incidents bearing on the col
lection for State convention
work. In church number one,
after the morning service had be
gun, some one went up to the
pulpit and whispered to the pas
tor, who then said, “I am re
minded that this is the time for
our State missionary collection.
Let the baskets be passed. I
hope you will give liberally.”
The result was what might be ex
pected, a handful of coppers, a
few nickels, with silver, gold and
bills conspicuous by their ab
sence. In church number two
the collection was announced be
forehand, and the people were
fully informed as to the object of
it, with specific examples of the
work done by the State Conven
tion. The church is not rich,
but the offering amounted to
£175.
The Texas Baptist and Herald:
The Young People's Leader of Sept.
2 sends forth the salutatory of the
General Secretary for our Southern
Baptist Young People’s Union,
Rev. John D. Jordan. The im
print of true genius is seen and felt
in his article. He enters upon the
duties to which he has been elected
tremblingly, bravely, cheerfully and
with hearty good will. “To please
God and serve his brethren.” is to
be the motto of action. A para
graph from the salutatory is clear
and expressive: “If I can assist
our pastors so as to make their
work sweeter and their burdens
lighter, and if I can help our young
people to develop and utilize their
powers along the lines of churcn
work and Christian service, I shall
be most happy. I shall need the
hearty co operation of both pastor
and people, young and old. My
reverence for age is as great as my
sympathy for youth. We want to
unite the fire and strength of youth
with the wisdom and experience of
age. We want to train the young
for service, and then let them serve
side by side with the old.” The
voung people of Texas have organ
ized in some of our churches. In
those unorganized, we pray that
the Holy Spirit may call out some
young man or woman to consult
the pastor, and, with his co-opera
tion, proceed to organize at once.
Let there be united effort from the
Sabine river on the east to the Rio
Grande on the west, and from the
Red on the north to the Gulf on the
south. The potentialities hid in
the lives of the young people in
the Baptist churches of Texas con
tain an electrio current sufficient to
girdle Christendom. I know, per
sonally, young men and young wo
men in several localities in Texas,
who are not yet in active service
for the Master They have sought
and obtained the ‘ pearl of great
price,” but have let want of confi
dence in themselves, youthful
pleasures and other things keep in
obscurity the beautiful treasure
which they possess. Three woupd
covenanted together to pray for
the salvation of the young men in
San Antonio. There were not ten
young men in the Baptist churches
of the city at that time. Four,
perhaps five years, have gone by,
and now there are tour or five
tim»s’ that meny. Let all the
mothers who read the Texas Bap
tist and Herald covenant together
to pray that our children may come
forward, clothed with Christian ar-'
mor and unite with the time worn
veterans to wrest the young people
from the power of Satan.
The Baptist Inquirer: It is fair
neither to preacher nor church to
judge a min by a "sample” sermon.
Very frequently a man is so em
barrassed that he cannot be nat
ural, and frequently he will do
much better than he can keep up.
The thing to do, if you must hear
a man preach before calling him, is
to select two or three members of
your church, and let them quietly
find out from his people if the ser
mons they have just heard are fair
samples. Then in some quiet man
ner see what he is doing in his
present field. If this were done
there would be longer pastorates
and better churches. Some pastors
would be expecting committees
every Sunday, and they would put
more thought in their sermons and
more spirituality into their pastor
al work.
The Central Baptist: One of the
most remarkable features of the
history of Christianity is the
number of times it has been op
pressed by its adversaries. When
the stone was rolled against the
mouth of the sepulcher and Ro
man guards put on watch over it,
exultant Pharisees went home to
hold a celebration over the final
suppression of the new faith. A
little later they imprisoned the
heralds of the cross and reaewed
their celebration. This perforin ■
ance has been going on century
after century through all the
ages, until one would suppose
the skeptics would be ashamed
of the repetition. In the face of
it all our faith flourishes, and the
ranks of believers multiply every
year.
The Commonwealth: One of the
pleasantest of our personal experi
ences in going through The Com
monwealth's immediate field, has
been to learn something of the men
and women who make up one hun
dred and fifty thousand Baptists
hereabouts. It would be less than
courtesy and short of the truth if
we did not bear testimony to their
earnestness, their consecration
and their intelligent, vigorous
service. There are pastors by
the score serving the churches in
unostentatious patience and skill,
who would honor any pulpit any
where. Their reading is study,
their preaching is the voice of
God’s prophet, their service, on
broad lines and on plans that
reach out into years and eternity.
We are not so blind as to mean
that every one of them is what is
here indicated of some. We have
selfish and unworthy men who
steal into the fold. But we have
a host of brethren, the elect of God,
whose work will live after them.
yew*,
FIELD NOTES.
Brethren and sisters, read your In
dex.
Parents, read your Index to your
little children
We expect to be at the Friendship
and Mulberry Associations. Brethren,
send your Index money by the pastors
and messengers.
Brethren and sisters, send your
Index renewals to the Houston and
Bowen Associations, we expect to be at
both.
Bro D. B. Waite, of Canon, Ga., will
represent the Index at the Liberty As
sociation. Brethren, send your renew
als by the messengers and pastors
Bro Moderator, if there is no Index
man at your association, just appoint a
hustler and pull the bridle off and turn
him loose in the field. Sect
We have been satisfied for years that
the pardoning power of the State
should not be in the hands of the Gov
ernor. He has enough to worry him
without this burden. A board of par
dons should be appointed by the next
Legislature.
We just wish to state for »t he benefit
of all who may doubt it, that in our
judgment all the editors of the Index
are Baptist to the core, solid as Stone
Mountain, and true to Baptist principles
as "the needle to the pole ’’ Fact.
GEORGIA FEMALE SEMINARY, GAINES
VILLE, GA.
This seminary and conservatory of
music hae opened with the largest at
ten lance in its history The boarding
department is about full from garret to
cellar. The opening day found one
hundred and twenty-five boarders on
hand (so we are informed) and more to
follow. Georgia. Alabama, Tennessee,
South and North Carolina are finely
represented. The new ten thousand
dollar annex is nearing completion The
teachers are all on hand, and Profes
sors VanHoose and Pearce are both busy
and happy.
Harmony Grove. Ga The new ten
thousand dollar brick meeting house is
nearing completion Pastor Riley and
his dear people believe in the final per
severance of the saints. The new house
when finished will be a thing of beauty.
Father W. B. J Hardman is now
seventy four years old He has been a
tower of strength to the churches and
the brethren in hi (day. He has done
quite a good deal of preaching this sum
mer. He will resign the care of all his
churches on his next monthly round.
The Lord deal gently with his aged and
now feeble servant. So may it be.
Amen.
Pastor Henry E. Hardman, son of
brother W. B J. Hardman, serves four
churches, and has done quite a fine
work this summer. He has been the
leading spirit in founding the Second
church at Harmony Grove and build
ing their nice new chape). The First
church did a nice thing in giving their
old house to the Second church, which
was torn down, moved and rebuilt.
Brother Henry gave this scribe much
help an I showed him much kindness,
for which he is grateful.
THE TUGALO ASSOCIATION.
This body met in its seventy ninth
session with Nails Creek church,
Franklin county, last Tuesday. The
sessions lasted three days. The open
ing sermon was preachel by Dr. T. G.
Underwood, of Carnesville The breth
ren spoke kindly of it; we did not hear
it. Brother C T Burgess, pastor of
the church, was elected moderator, and
brother G. F. Fuller, cle,a; both made
good officers.
Wednesday. Brother G. J. Christian,
of Royston, preached a good ser
mon in the church at 11 a m. The re
ports on education, temperance and
pastor's support were presented and
fully discussed. The Tngalo gave no
uncertain sound on the temperance
and prohibition questions, but talked
right out in meeting with a will.
Bro R. D. Hawkins, of Maysville,
preached a fine sermon out in the grove
at 3 p m . the people sitting and stand
ing on the ground.
Thursday. The report on missions
claimed the principle part of the morn
ing session The churches are making
some advancement along this line, we
were glad to note. At Ila m. adjourned
to hear the missionary sermon by Bro.
B. D. Ragsdale, of Conyers, Ga. The
sermon was characteristic of the man,
and that’s enough to say.
We left Thursday at noon on our re
turn trip. The next annual session of
the Tugalo will be held with Broad
River church. Bro. J. F. Goode, of
Carnesville, will preach the next open
ing sermon, and Bro. W. J. Purcelle,
of Cadiz, the missionary sermon. The
entertainment offered by the church
and their neighbors was ample and
freely given. We were the happy
guest of brother W. H. T. Gillespie
(with many others), who showed us
great kindness, for which we are very
thankful.
ASSOCIATION SCRAPS.
Along the line of general benevolence
pastor J. F. Goode has perhaps led all
the rest for twenty -three years.
Pastor Carroll, the father of twenty
two children, is perhaps the most
unique and wonderful preacher in the
association.
Dr. T. B- Bonner’s report on Sabbath
schools with his speech on the same,
was rich and juicy. The brethren were
harmonious in agreeing to use the
Southern series of Sunday school helps
from Nashville
The visiting brother was on hand in
a large majority. R. D. Hawkins,
Maysville; B. D. Ragsdale, Conyers;
G J. Christian, Royston; D, B. Waite,
Canon; W. T. M. Brock and H. E.
Hardman, Harmony Grove, and others.
The brethren received us graciously,
and we did a great work for the Index ;
fifty-nine new subscribers besides re
newals See ? James F. Edens.
380 Woodward Ave., Atlanta, Ga.
ATLANTA BAPTIST CONFERENCE.
By special invitation the Conference
was held at College Park, as guests of
the Southern Female College. Owing
to the enforced absence of the Index
editors, the report is meager, it being
taken from brief notes made by a
brother who was present.
Bro. Stovall was elected chairman.
Prayer by Bro. Haygood.
Bro. Stovall preached at East At
lanta in the morning, and at Hapeville
at night.
Bro. Jett, a Chinese student for the
ministry, was present. He will return
to Mercer.
Bro. Gwin was present. He is
rapidly regaining his strength after
his spell of sickness,
Bro. Hillyer preached at Kirkwood
collected money to nay pledge made at
Association for the’Orphans’ Home.