Newspaper Page Text
4
The Christian Index
IZvAKNISSB.I K “ 1T0, “
THE MEN WHO MUST.
We are not among the alarm
ists who predict dire catastro
phes to our missionary and be
nevolent work. We recognize
the needs of the situation and
the extreme pressure upon our
Boards and Secretaries. We
have still great confidence in our
people. The great question is
to get at them. In the inaugu
ration of modern missions by
Carey and those following him,
the great question was not to get
men to go, but how to get the
people at home to support the
men who were ready to go.
Carey was obliged to wait for
this, and it was the already tired
heart of one who wanted to go,
that kindled the flame at home.
Fuller undertook, not the most
heroic, but the most laborious
part of the task. To him, who
aroused an interest in England
that gave permanent life to mis
sions, too great praise cannot be
given. If the little Missionary
Society did well in sending Carey,
it did as well in sending Fuller.
This, we take it, is the problem
now before us. It is how to get
the masses aroused. Anything
that can get to the people can
get some money. Let a popular
lecturer go out into the byways
and highways and he will get
them. Now a great broad scheme
of systematic training in system
atic giving, like that we outlined
last week, needs years to do its
work. For that reason it ought
to be inaugurated at the earliest
moment and be worked at all
the time. In the meantime we
must do something. Our North
ern brethren have better arrange
ments than we have, and so the
need is greater with us. Through
their district secretaries, supple
menting the labors of the gen
eral secretaries, they reach
churches where we only reach
conventions. These district sec
retaries having limited fields and
duties, designed to put them into
communication directly with the
churches, can do much that we
cannot through regular agencies.
Our system of vice-presidents
partly covers this and these men
do noble and unrewarded service.
Still they are men burdened with
other duties, and they can at
best but use their pens.
Who are the men that must?
Why, the pastors That is not a
new story, but it is a true one.
The missionary obligation is no
greater on them than on others,
but it is on them. Moreover, the
conditions make it so that they
must do it if it is to be done.
There are comparatively few
pastors who do not take one or
more of our denominational
papers. They are thus informed
of the situation, and to be in
formed of a situation that has to
do with God’s cause, which is
our cause, is to be responsible
for it. Added to this is the re
sponsibility of having the power
to help if they want to help.
Many of our women realize the
situation, but feel their inability
to help. Pastors can do some
thing. As a rule, nothing will
be done if they do not do it.
They must, if it is to be done.
We have not found fault with our
pastors in this, but simply point
ed out the facts. Not the secre
taries, not the vice-presidents,
not the denominational papers,
but the pastors. They are the
men who must.
Still narrower, however, can
the class of those who must be
made. It is those who are con
cerned about the needs. Do you
feel a deep anxiety over the sit
uation? That concern is the
hand of the Lord laid on you in
commission.
As Gideon confronts the bat
tle, God proposes a test to select
the forces for victory. That
test analyzed, is as to how much
they had the battle in their
hearts. The men who lapped
were such men. Some old some
young, somewise, some ignorant,
some brave, some cowards,
some privates, some gen
erals, but all with the cause
upon their hearts so that they
could not wait for slow methods
of drink. They could not be
careless. Nor are they given
any permission to refuse. They
are the men who must, because
on their hearts rests the cause
of the Lord. They are also the
men who can.
So it may be in this juncture.
Some few are heavy of heart and
deeply concerned. To be so is to
face responsibility for doing. It
may be God will save by the few.
At any rate it is as dangerous
to resist God's missionary call to
do, as it is to resist his call to
go. It may not seem as if the
few could do much, but they can
attempt much, and Gideon’s vic
tory may be repeated. Who are
the men that must? Those upon
whom God has laid the burden
and tne concern. This is no time
for arguments as to proportion
ate sharing, but a time for doing.
System is desirable, but a system
means that emergencies are met.
A right system in the Lord’s
work is one that does the work
on the scale on which it ought to
be done.
THE TEXAS CONVENTION.
We have patiently waded
through the published accounts
of the recent meeting of the
Texas Baptist Convention, held
at Houston, October 8-12. All
Baptist Texas has been in a state
of intense excitement over this
meeting and the matters that
were to be discussed there. The
Board of Missions, which has
direction of all the missionary
interests fostered by the church
es of the State, has been under
very heavy tire from Rev. Dr. S.
A Hayden, of the Texas Baptist
anti Herald, who has charged ex
travaganceof expenditure, and a
disposition to lord it over the
churches on the part of the
Board. Incidentally connected
with these charges was a de
mand, made, not only by the
Baptist and Herald, but by numer
ous associations, that the Board
be required to present to the
Convention an itemized state
ment of the receipts and expen
ditures of the last six months of
the administration of Dr. J. B.
Cranfill, who was Corresponding
Secretary in 1891 2, the book
containing which items had been
reported lost, and recently found.
The Board presented a strong
report, in which, it appears to
us,it unwisely recommended that
Dr. Hayden be notallowed a seat
in the body. To be perfectly ac
curate, we quote the recornmen
dation of the Board :
•‘ln our judgment the momentous
hour han come when this convention
must weigh in the balances in one scale
the transcendent interests of our Lord’s
kingdom and in theotherS. A. Hayden,
and then discard the least important.
Self respect, love of our Redeemer's
cause, hope for our future and every
righteous moi ive that can move chi istian
men to righteous action, demand that
he no longer be allowed a seat in this
body, and therefore we, with full under
standing of the responsibility involved,
now solemnly, earnestly and prayerful
ly, so recommend.”
(>n this , recommendation a
great contest raged for days,
and ended in a compromise meas
ure, condemning Dr. Hayden’s
course, and demanding a cessa
tion of his criticisms. This was
somewhat in the nature of a
triumph for Dr. Hayden, in that
the Board’s most earnest and em
phatic recommendation was lost.
And the demand that he cease
from criticism of the Board is
unfortunate. It looks like at
tempted suppression of free crit
icism of a Board, which is only
a servant of the chuiches. We
have not sympathized with very
much of Dr. Hayden’s criticism
of the Board, but we would insist
that no Board orConventicn can
demand of a free Baptist news
paper that it shall cease from
criticism of what its editor be
lieves to be wrong. The end of
all this is not yet.
The Convention indorsed the
work of the Board for the past
year, though it so far fell in with
the demands made by Dr. Hay
den as to reduce the Correspond
ing Secretary’s salary. It also,
through a committee, examined
thoroughly the books of Dr.
Crantill, which had been under
fire, and pronounced his ac
counts simply, accurately and
satisfactorily kept.
A resolution was presented,
condemning Dr. Whitsitt and de
manding his deposition. Dr. S.
H. Ford, of St. Louis, was on
hand to aid in its passage, but
evidently reason is resuming its
sway over the minds of the
brethren, and after a discussion,
participated in by Prof. H. H.
Harris, of the Seminary, and
Dr. B. H. Carroll, the following
resolutions, presented by Dr
Carroll, were adopted.
Whereas, Dr. W. H. Whitsitt, presi
dent of the Southern Baptist Theologi
cal Seminary, at Louisville, Ky., has
published in the New York Independ
ent and in Johnson's New Encyclopedia,
and in a letter to the New York Ex
aminer, certain statements concerning
Baptist history, very generally regard
ed as both offensive and unjust by our
people, and which, as we think, are at
variance with the generally accepted
history; and
Whereas, He has also published more
recently in the Religious Herald and in
a small book issued by him. other state
ments on the same points, very much
modifying the impressions naturally
and fairly made by his original state
ments; yet
Whereas. Our people are not yet sat
isfied with the case as it now stands,
and are willing to get before them all
facts ascertainable within a reasonable
time before reaching a final judgment;
therefore be it
Resolved, That we respectfully and
lovingly, but very earnestly, refer this
whole matter to the trustees of the
Seminary, having jurisdiction over the
case, as worthy of their most serious
consideration, and do earnestly request
from them, assembled in annual session
at Wilmington, N. C.,next May, a clear
cut deliverance on the merits of the
whole case, according to all the facts,
and that this deliverance be submitted
to the Southern Baptist Convention
then and there in session for such action
as may be lawful and right.
In the meantime loving as we do the
Seminary as a precious institution, a
legacy devised to us by those who
founded and cherished it, and whose
memories are precious; therefore
Resolved. That with the exception of
the aforementioned teachings on Bap
tist history, we commend it most heart
ily to the esteem and patronage of our
people.
A real surprise w’as in store for
us when we opened the Baptist
Layman, published at Winona,
Miss., and saw that our long
time friend, Dr. John L. Johnson,
had become its editor and part
proprietor. Dr. Johnson is a
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX : THURSDAY OCTOBER 22. 1896.
graduate of the University of
Virginia, and was for a number
of years professor of English
Literature in the University of
Mississippi. For some years
past he nas been pastor of the
First church, Columbus, Miss.
He is one of the most polished
writers of English in our ranks,
and a most courtly gentleman
withal. The editorial columns
of the Layman will be clean,
pure, bright, sprightly and solid.
We hope ana believe that his
coming into this position will
help to remedy some of the evils
which have grown out of the
newspaper controversy in Mis
sissippi. In our “What Baptist
Editors Say,” we give the new
editor’s utterance on this subject.
BUT ONE MASTER.
No little stir has lately been
occasioned by exhibitions of hyp
notism. Hypnotism as a branch
of medical research is to be com
mended, for it is the duty of hon
est practitioners to search into
nature’s laws. Hypnotism as an
amusement ought to be discour
aged and discountenanced. Os
the fact a of certain power of sug
gestion there can be no doubt. It
is accredited by medical authori
ties of undoubted repute, and has
been used to advantage in surg
ical and other cases. Much of
the rumored power of hypnotism
for evil is not a truth. It is now
said that immoral acts can only
be accomplished where the sug
gestion finds a heart ready for
such actions. Repugnant moral
acts will still be repugnant in
hypnotism. At the best, how
ever, it is a dangerous power
and ought to be confined to those
legally liable for its use.
We have been particularly im
pressed with the phaseof hypno
tism by which the hypnotizers,
after the first consent, can at will
produce the state desired. It is
said that only by consent of the
will can the first control be se
cured, but after that the control
is asserted at will. To us this
giving of a mastery of ourselves
is degrading, humanly speaking,
in any except unusual cases, and
it is essentially unchristian. For
ourselves we should neither want
to be controlled nor to control. On
ly one person ought to be master
of any other soul, and that person
is Jesus Christ. He is worthy to
receive dominion and to be Lord
of lords and King of kings.
Here is one of the worst fruits
of sin. There are very few
sins that are committed alone.
Most of our sins have other
persons connected with them,
either as companions and par
ticipants, as accomplices, as
spectators or as victims. In
all such sins a hidden chain of
association fixes a mastery over
us. We are bound with the cord s
of our sins. It is hard to break
away from these chains. To quit
our sins would be much easier if
it was not for the consciousness
that otters have gained a hold
on us that will not be so easily
surrendered. The mastery of
past association in sin is one of
the greatest of sin’s terrors.
When we give up this and the
strong man is thrown down by
the stronger, we must not let any
other dominion be established.
Jesus must be the Lord. Yet
how many Christians do still
yield themselves as servants to
unrighteousness, or to lords not
one but many. One of the curses
of our church life is the fact that
so many who ought to have no
master but Jesus, are known to
be the slaves of mammon and of
fashion. This is not always in
definite, but often an incarnated
slavery to men and women.
These are conscious of our sub
jection.
As bad is the subjection of
Christians to the influences of
spiritualism and hypnotism, or
other fads. How many Christian
people surrender themselves to
some ignorant spiritualistic me
dium and become the prey of
such a secret dominion. In the
most sacred time of grief, when
the soul ought to be held quiet
before the one Master, the soul
is placed before some tapping
spirit of imagination. We have
never known anything but dis
aster, speaking from a Christian
standpoint, to follow such a
course. After a time the empty
husks of such consolations fail to
satisfy, but the distracting mas
tery of superstition does not
yield so readily.
The great mystery is that
Christians can be deluded and
won from their high privilege in
Christ. Even spiritualism at its
best claim is but what finite in
telligence in the other world can
manage to convey, through finite
powers, upon finite powers, by
methods of communication for
eign to our lives. Yet shall we
exchange the Creator for the
created ? Shall we let the truth
in Jesus be obscured by the chi
canery of quacks ? No '. Far bet
ter for Christians to sit in dark
ness and wait in silence, in the
firm conviction that none other
than Jesus can come in to con
trol. We can keep ourselves
free for him even if he delay.
We have no right to let his throne
be usurped by man. Far better
to keep the throne room closed
waiting for the only King to
come. We have but one Lord
and that is Jesus.
ONE GOOD RESULT.
We are certain that at least
one good result will come from
our heated controversy as to our
history. We will ultimately
know more of that history. Our
own age is giving peculiar ad
vantages to the historian. The
easy communication between all
parts of the world gives us ac
cess to the treasures stored away
in various lands. The work of
scholars is examined and tested
by all the world. Men of differ
ing views read and combat. Pho
tographic processes make fac
similes of documents that are ac
cessible to the many instead of
the one. Great museums are
gathering together materials
from which history can be con
structed. All this has made a
era in historical study.
As Baptists we have not been
idle, nor on the other hand have
we been as aggressive as we
ought. The large majority of
Baptists of the world are in
America, where history is recent.
The Baptists have few great
schools in other lands than ours,
and do not obtain that ready ac
cess to public documents and
fraternal studies. In America
we have been, and are still, so
busy making history that we
have not had full time to study
ourselves. We are persuaded
that the Baptists of America will
be aroused and that new investi
gations will be undertaken, and
great results will be obtained
We are sure more extended
studies will greatly increase our
respect for ourselves. Whether
we hold to a theory of succession
or not, we all like to find Baptists
scattered down the ages and we
feel a little more secure when
they are shown to us. We shall
not find thenl in great churches
or lording it over nations, but we
shall find them in the mountains
and the caves, and the hidden
places. Everywhere we shall
find them a brave, courageous,
martyr tribe. We hope our his
torians will keep up their search
es amid the documents of the
past.
In this connection many of us
may well help. The history of
our earlier days in the South
must yet be written. Portions
of it have been collected, but the
history that must be written can
not yet be written. In many of
our homes are files of papers, old
time church records, manuscript
sermons, diaries and letters,
that will throw light on the days
of the past. We hope all Bap
tists will carefully guard these
and arrange for their preserva
tion. These will be invaluable
some day. During this contro
versy we have had old copies of
histories offered us for reading,
and we are sure a great many
others are to be found. In a
sense these docunuents are by
moral right the inheritance of
our people. At Colgate Univer
sity, Hamilton, N. Y., Mr. Sam
uel Colgate has erected a special
fire proof building to preserve
just such records. We are sure
the library at the Seminary at
Louisville, which is fire-proof
also, would be offered as a safe
place of preservation. We hope
that these valuable records scat
tered through Georgia can be
thus preserved and put where
they can be reached. And for
the future let us urge all churches
to take care of their present rec
ords and to make them some
thing more than a mere list of
members. Let the events that
transpire be recorded.
“ I GO, SIR, AND WENT NOT.”
We have been led to think of
this expression of our Lord’s by
a consideration of the condition
of our mission work, not only in
foreign fields, but in our home
fields as well.
If there is one thing that the
Baptists claim for themselves,
and claiming glory in, it is obedi
ence,pure and simple,to the com
mands of Christ. Any Baptist
preacher, be he learned or un
learned; any Baptist layman,
educated or uneducated, can
preach a sermon on this subject
—strict obedience to the law of
Christ, as laid down in his Word.
“I go, sir.” But do they go?
Let us see.
The Lord has finished his
work—“ finished the work ” .his
Father had given him to do, and
was about to ascend to his place
at the right hand of the Majesty
on high. To his waiting disciples,
hanging expectantly upon his
words, he gives his last solemn
directions : “Go ye therefore
and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost.” And they went just as
far as they could. They were
consistent Baptists. But how is
it with these later Baptists,
the Baptists of our day and
our country? Confining our
view to our own convention
limits, we see a million and
a half of them who have said by
word and by baptism, “ I go,
sir,” and yet this vast host, pos
sessed of millions of dollars and
spending hundreds of millions
every year, much of it on trifles
and worse, does not and will
not, in spite of strong appeals
and urgent needs made known,
give as much as $150,000 for the
work of spreading abroad the
knowledge of the their cru
cified Lord in heathen lands this
twelve months. A thousand mil
lions of human souls are sitting
in darkness, ignorant of Christ,
yet this million and a half of
professed followers, who have
said “ We go, sir,” will not give
the paltry average of ten cents
apiece for making him known.
They will not go ten cents worth
each.
“Igo, sir, and went not.” This
host of professing servants for
the most part do not go, there
fore do not disciple the nations;
and not discipling them, do not
baptize them nor teach them the
things which Christ has com
manded.
It is easy for an individual to
lose him or herself in this mil
lion and a half of people, but the
Lord does not lose sight of the
individuals. He knows each one
of us. If we are of his sheep he
calls each of us by name, and in
his commission to go and disci
ple and baptize and teach, he
speaks to each one of us individ
ually. What is our response ?
Is it, “I go, sir ?” And are we
going in person or by substitute?
Or is it to be said of us that we
say, by profession, “I go, sir,”
and then in practice, go not ?
Hon. Joshua Levering, the
candidate of the Pronibition
party for President, spoke in
Atlanta on Friday night last. We
greatly regretted not being able
to be present, but as that was the
time fixed upon for the organiza
tion of a city missionary society,
we felt bound to be in attend
ance upon that. We have heard
most favorable comments on his
speech. One gentleman, well
qualified to express an opinion
on such matters, said it was by
far the best temperance speech
he ever heard. Bro. Levering’s
tour, even if it does not put him
in the White House, will do what
is far better, leave a strong im
pression for righteousness and
temperance on many hearts. The
Index appreciated a pop call
from brother Levering.
The outstretched arm and spear
of Joshua, when Ai was to be
destroyed, was at once the signal
of attack and the pledge of vic
tory (Joshua 18: 18, 26). That
motionless arm and spear, held
aloft, fought the battle and
achieved the triumph by the di
vine authority that was in them
ami the divine blessing that went
forth through them. With what
might God clothes instrumental!
ties feeble and fruitless in them
selves, if his guidance be followed
and his Word be trusted!
Dogs may be arranged into two
great groups, namely, dog dogs
and men dogs.
the gaptiei
titter e
Standard: There are other ways
of training helpers. The Sun
day-school should if possible
have a normal class, from which
substitute and regular teachers
may be selected. The pastor
should occasionlly get the young
er members of the church to lead
the mid week prayer meeting.
Adults who come into the church
and cannot be given trifling
tasks may serve acceptably on
committees, act as agents for de
nominational literature, or assist
the pastor and deacons in visit
ing the poor and sick. Many
men and women who will never
speak five minutes in a prayer
meeting will do faithful service
in some position where good
sense and perseverance are the
chief qualities, required. The
pastor must be a discoverer, an
encourager, an adviser, and above
all an optimist, if he is to make
out of the unpromising material
in his church efficient helpers in
the work of Christ. And, we
may add, success in winning men
to Christ is hardly a greater
honor and blessing than success
in setting Christians to work.
Religious Herald: We establish
a mission, for example, in a Cen
tral China town. Our workers,
after several years, begin to
touch and influence the people.
By dint of hard work, and under
the blessing of God, a little group
of believers is gathered. They
come out of the surrounding mass
of darkness and superstition. It
is hard for them, even with all
the means of grace which the
mission provides, to be faithful.
Innumerable and powerful in
fluences are tugging at them to
pull them back. Their own
families oppose and despise them
They are outcasts from their
race. The missionary is a father
to them, and the mission is their
refuge from the storm of opposi
tion which continually beats upon
them. But when their religious
guide and instructor is gone and
the mission is abandoned, how
helpless they are! The struggle,
hard enough before, becomes
well-nigh hopeless under these
depressing and distressing cir
cumstances. How can such a
host of Baptists as we have in
our Southern territory permit a
state of things such as we have
just described? But to this com
plexion it must come at last—and
the “at last” is not far off—if
gifts to this work are not en
larged.
Baptist Courier: The friends of
the State schools need not sup
pose that all the friends of the
denominational colleges are un
friendly to the State colleges.
This is not true. Many of the
people throughout the State who
support the denominational col
leges would not close the doors
of the State colleges if they
could; they do not wish to injure
these colleges ; tney wish to see
them far more prosperous and
efficient than they have ever been.
There is no fight against the
State colleges, as such, on the
part of the denominational col
leges and their friends. The
main point at issue is the free
tuition feature in the State col
leges, or the failure to charge
and collect tuition from the stud
ents where it ought to be charged
and collected. The denomina
tional colleges are not afraid of
fair and just competition. Their
courses of study are as broad and
thorough, their professors are as
competent and scholarly, the ad
vantages are just as great, as at
the State colleges, and if it were
not for the free tuition at these
schools the denominational col
leges would have nothing to fear,
and no cause of complaint.
Examiner: If we ask the ex
planation of this gigantic phe
nomenon it is found in the one
word, “Romanism,” Romanism
crushed freedom of thought by
the fiendish machinery of the In
quisition. In expelling the Moors
and the Jews, Spain robbed her
self of those who would have
promoted industry and commer
cial prosperity. She has not
only failed to keep up with the
progress of the civilized world,
but she has steadily fallen be
hind, as any nation must which
stamps out the intellectual ac
tivity which is the condition of
progress and advancement. The
Spanish colonies were regarded
as subject peoples, made to be
taxed, over whom some favorite
of the court was placed, who, by
injustice and rapine, was able,
in a little time, to acquire a for
tune upon which he might live
in luxury at Madrid. The nat
ural consequence followed: the
colonies one after another eman
cipated themselves from, we will
not say the mother-country, but
from the country to whom a
malignant fortune had, for a time,
compelled their submission.
Central Baptist : It is also an in
teresting question to what extent
pastors are responsible for the
lack of systematic beneficence in
their churches. It is not enough
to preach occasionally on giving.
It is necessary to point out the
way to give; to arrange apian of
giving and set in motion the
truth preached. Most churches
would give quite liberally to all
denominational enterprises if
they were shown how. Os course
this will add to the pastor’s work
and care in one direction, but
will greatly lighten his burdens
in another direction, besides
bring to his heart the joy of sue
cessful work. The church should
be taught that systematic and
not spasmodic contributions is
the sensible plan, besides being
the Lord's plan. The church
should be shown that when all
are giving the burdens become
light, but when a few give at a
time, the church is never able
for its due share of the work.
Ten men lifting all at once will
easily lift a burden, which two
or three lifting at a time will not
be able to move. The pastor
must be teacher and leader in
this sort of work as well as in
other kinds. If a church can get
along in such work, without the
pastor’s advice and help, then
why should the church have a
pastor ?
Journal and Messenger : It is re
marked, as suggested by the
present political campaign, that
men who canuot brook a sermon
of more than half rd hour, can
sit or stand for two hours listen
ing to political addresses. While
there is force in the fact, and
while it ought to be noted, yet,
there is another side to it, and
that is that, were the same poli
tical speaker to undertake to hold
or gather the same audience,
week after week, to listen to dis
courses on political questions, he
would utterly fail. There isn’t a
political speaker in the country
who could call together a thou
sand people to listen to him for an
hour twice in one day, and keep
it up for a week. In other words,
there is nothing to which men
and women listen so patiently
and with so much interest as to
expositions and applications of
the Word of God. Say what we
will of the materialism of the
age, of the care for material
things, rather than for those that
are unseen and eternal, nothing
takes hold of heart and soul,
nothing so holds attention, noth
ing so moves men and women, as
do the things which pertain to
their soul interests, when these
are brought home to them by the
voice of the heaven-sent messen
ger. “The foolishness of preach
ing” has not spent its force, nor
accomplished its mission in the
world yet.
FIELD NOTES.
The Lord willing, we will go to
Bethel Association next week The
brethren and sisters will please send
their Index money to the meeting by
the pastors and messengers.
We promised the brethren of the
Bowen Association to put the Lord's
financial plan in the Field Notes. We
will do so just as soon as we get the
time.
GEORGIA ASSOCIATION.
This, the oldest Baptist Association
of any name in Georgia, met in its one
hundred and twentieth annual session
with the church at Warrenton, Ga.,
last Tuesday. Bro. R. E. L. Harris
(the alternate), of Crawfordville,
S reached the opening sermon from
[ebrews 11:24. Theme, Moses'Choice.
The sermon was a good one. We
learned from pastor G. W. Garner’s ad
dress of welcome, that it has been forty
six y< are since the association last met
with the Warrenton church. Bro. V. R.
Thornton was moderator, and the then
young brother P. H. Mell, D D , was the
clerk. Many changes have occurred in
these years; both Thornton and Mell
are in heaven, we believe Bro. James
H Kilpatrick, of White Plains, and Bro.
Albert Cumming of Warrenton, were
selected moderator and clerk. Bro. H.
R. Bernard represented Mercer as no
other man can do like him. Bro. J. G.
Gibson represented missions and Bro.
R. H Smith the orphans
The entertainment pressed on the
messengers and visitors by the Warren
ton saints was first-class in every par
ticular We were the happy guest of
brother E B. Farmer and his lovely
family, who gave us a princely welcome.
W e only spent one day at the old Geor
gia, leaving on Wednesday morning for
the Mercer Association at Thomasville,
Ga. Will Bro. Albert Cumming please
write for the Index the account of the
remainder of the session, and greatly
oblige this scribe?
MERCER ASSOCIATION.
This body of noble brethren was
named in honor of Jesse Mercer. The
territory it covers is one of the finest
farming sections of Georgia, stretching
from Valdosta to Cairo, on the Savan
nah, Florida and Western RR. The
body is composed of fifty churches,
which have in membership nearly four
thousand. The present annual see
sion was the twenty third and met
with the church in Thomasville, last
Wednesday. Bro. T W. Tyler a re
cent convert from the Episcopalians,
preached at 11 a. m. Wednesday. The
body organized in the afternoon. Bro.
J. M. Bushin and T. A. White, of Bos
ton, Ga., were re-elected moderator and
assistant moderator. Bro. D. F. Arthur
was re elected clerk and brother Frank
Ward assistant clerk. The association
sermon was preached Wednesday even
ing by pastor R. H. Harris, from Mat
thew 16:18 19: “Thou art Peter and
upon this rock.” The sermon, like the
preacher, was a grand one Thursday
a. m. brethren H. R Bernard and R.H.
Smith addressed the association on •
Mercer and the Orphans. We heard
many high commendations spoken of
both speeches. Pastor Carl Minor, of
Valdosta, was the appointee to preach
the missionary sermon, but not having
returned from the burial of his dear
brother, Bro. J. G. Gibson by special
request preached the sermon. “God’s
Purpose in Evangelizing the World”
was his theme He preached a glorious
sermon which made a deep impression.
The reports on Sabbath-schools, mis
sions and education were discussed by
the body in a fine spirit and with much
warmth. Pastor Wm. H. Cooper, of
Quitman, preached a great sermon on
Thursday evening from Colossians, 3:11,
using only the words “ Christ is all.” A
profound impression was made on all
hearts in the vast throng who heard
t e sermon. We doubt seriously,
whether brother William ever has, or
ever will preach such another sermon.
The Holy Spirit was upon him and the
congregation in great power. Pastor
E Z. F. Golden, of Cuthbert, Ga., was
appointed to preach at 11 a m. on Fri
day The body being pressed for time,
the sermon was called off. The breth
ren got a little nervous and the body ad
journed rather abruptly. After the ad
journment brother Golden was pressed
to preach He very reluctantly con
sented. and gave the congregation a
fine synopsis of a glorious sermon from
Matthew 1:21. Many were disap
pointed because brother Golden had not
the time to preach the sermon.
This session of the Mercer was harmo
nious, sweet spirited and aggres
sive. There are some strong preachers
in the Mercer; among them we mention
the following names: R. H. Harris, pas
tor at Thomasville; J. M. Rashin and
T. A. White, of Boston; Wm. H. Cooper,
of Quitman, and Carl Minor, the young
pastor at Valdosta
Brother J. G. McCall, of Quitman,
(take heed,ye new editors of the Index)
has for many years been a constant con
trinutor to the columns of the Index
of no mean ability. Bro. McCall has a
strong, clear cut mind, hence his ar
ticles are always read with relish. Bro.
McCall presented the Mercer at this
session’ with a silver-mounted gavel.
The wood was cut from Mount Vernon,
the home of George Washington. Pas
tor R H Harris replied in a beautiful
and touching manner to the presenta
tion upon the part of the body.
A remarkable family of people live in
the bounds of the Mercer by the name
of Groover. It is said that it is hard
to find a church in the Mercer which
has not a Groover, or some of their kin
in it. More people of this name take
the Index and pay promptly for it, than
any other name in the Mercer. They
are like your Uncle Jimmie,old-fashion,
predestinarian, deep water, close-com
munion, final preservation, missionary
Baptists See ?
Brother W. 0. Darsey. a missionary
in South Georgia, was at the association
representing the Baptist Watchman,
the organ of the South Georgia Baptist
Convention. Brother Darsey has been
greatly blessed in his work this year.
He has had the pleasure of giving the
hand of Christian welcome to nearly
two hundred new converts this year.
Missions pay
The Mercer has no committee on
either literature or periodicals, and
hence, there was no report on this very
important part of Baptist work. So of
course we did not get to make a speech
for the Index. See?
The Thomasville brethren just spread
themselves in entertaining the messen
gers and visitors, and there was no effort
either, it was done with ease and grace.
We were royally entertained by sister
Mary Jones at the Brighton Hotel.
Brethren, when you go to Thomasville,
be sure and go to the Brighton. The
beds are soft, the towels clean, the cook
ing good, and the price reasonable.
The next annual session of the Mer
cer goes to Hahira, on the G. S. & F.
RR, at the same time next year. Bro
T. A. White was appointed to preach
the association sermon, and Bro. Wm.
H. Cooper, the missionary sermon. We
hope to be there. So be it. Amen.
James F. Edens.
380 Woodward Ave., Atlanta, Ga,