Newspaper Page Text
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TheChristianlndex
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T. P. BELL, I Rhitorh
I. J. VAN NESS, 1 ED,TORB ’
__
IN SOUIH CAROLINA
Even a blizzard could not,
would not, take away all the ,
pleasure of a trip over the “old
reliable” Georgia railroad. We
left Atlanta on Monday, Novem
ber 30th, said by the Atlanta
Constitution to have been the
coldest November 30th in the his
tory of the city. The trip to
Augusta was quick and pleasant.
Augusta was in a weeping mood,
and rain fell unceasingly up to
the time* we left for Charleston
on Tuesday afternoon. The trip
to Charleston over the South Car
olina and Georgia railroad was
made enjoyable by an ever in
creasing number of brethren on
the way to the Convention. Tues- '
day night found the old “City by
the Sea” in the grasp of the bliz j
zard which had kept us company
all the way from home. The 1
night was so inclement and the
trains reached the city so late
that no session of the Ministers’ j
Conference was held. How it did ;
rain! and how the wind did blow!
Wednesday opened cold and !
blustering, but as we had the 1
promise <>f lhe weather man that
it would soon be fair, all were '
content. At 10 o'clock the Con
ference assembled at the < itadel
Square church. Storm and earth
quake have, in the past, greatly
injured this elegant church ■
house, but it shows no signs ol
these injuries now, and it is chaste
and beautiful.
Rev. I. B. Parrott, of Clinton.
S. was (dected president of th<?
Conference, and Rev. .1. A. Brown
secretary. The first paper of the
Conference on the “Fatherhood
of God” was read by Rev. J. W.
Perry, of Hartsville. lie empha
sized the old orthodox view that
God is lhe Father of the redeem
cd, and not the Father of all men
in the sense introduced by F. W.
Robertson and Phillips Brooks.
The paper was clear, strong, em
phatie. The second paper, by
Rev. C. P. Ervin of Bamberg,
was a very able one on the much
mooted question whether it is
right for the State to furnish
higher education to its citizens
free of cost. The paper was em
phatic in its negative view of the
question. A struggle was made
in the State against indiscrimi
nate free higher education by the
State as far back as 1885, and a
check was put upon it. But the
ground gained there by the
friends of justice and right in
this matter has been largely lost
and the State has of late gone
more deeply into the business
than it did before. Another con
test is upon the people.
The third paper was one on tin*
work of the Holy Spirit, by Rev.
11. C. Buckholzt, of Chester. This
was pronounced by competent
judges a very tine presentation.
Bro. Buckholzl is well known in
Atlanta, having been for years an
active worker in the Capitol Ave
nue Mission. He is known in
South Carolina as a preacher of
great spiritual power. The meet
ings he has held with various
churches in the State have been
very successful.
The Convention sermon was
preached on Wednesday evening
by Rev. C. S. Gardner, of Green
ville. From 1 John 1:1-3, he em
phasized tin* experimental nature
of the religion of Jesus Christ,
and indicated how the preaching
of such experience in the hearts
of men would solve many of the
questions which agitate and dis
turb the Christian world. This
was shown to be especially neces
sary in the prosecution of mis
sionary work. Tin* sermon was
listened to with close attention
by a good congregation.
After tin* sermon the Conven
tion organized by the enrollment
of delegates anti election of of
ficers. The Convention has for a
long time been in favor of having
a layman in the presidency, and,
after a few years of intermission
of that habit, this year elected
Hon. J. 11. Hudson, of Bennetts
ville. Judge Hudson lias been a
member of the church only a few
years, but became from his con
version an active worker for the
Master. Rev. G. T. Gresham, of
Sumter, was re-elected secretary.
Rev. A. J. S. Thomas, editor of
the Baptist Courier, was detained
at home by an attack of sickness.
The address of welcome to the
Convention was made by Hon. .1.
A. Smythe, the mayor of the city.
It was well and gracefully done.
It was the talk of a man who be
lieves in God and loves Jesus
Christ. Dr. Charles Manly, of
Greenville, responded, as was
meet, his honored father having
been one of the most beloved of
the many beloved men who have
filled pastorates in the city.
The State Mission Board made
its report. It was the 70th ses
sion of the body. The State Mis
sion Board was organized over
thirty years ago. Owing to the
stringency of the times and the
debt brought over from last year,
little increase has been made in
the work of the Board. Sixty
nine persons have been commis
sioned, sixty as missionary pas-
tors, and others as colporters.
and some as workers among the
colored people. One hundred and
seven stations have been occu
pied; conversions, 566; baptisms,
508. The South Carolina mis
sionaries baptize their converts.
New churches organized, 4. The
107 stations report 114 Sunday
schools. Bible and colportage
work has not been pressed as
usual, owing to lack of means.
Special calls are coming from
factory towns. It is estimated
that there are 46,000 persons in
the State connected with facto
ries. The co-operative work
among the colored people has
been entered upon, and the insti
tute work has been greatly bless
ed. The white pastors do much
lecuring at these. The receipts
for State Missions have been be
low those of last year. Three
thousand five hundred dollars
will be required to meet the obli
gations, si sum that may be de
creas’d by about SI,OOO by funds
in sight. The total receipts of
the Board were $0,024.
The report on the Connie Max
well Orphanage was read by Rev.
.1. L. Vass. It was the fifth an
nual report. A new home was
finished. It is a gift from Bro. W.
S. Hurst, a business man of
Greenwood. It shelters twenty
four orphans. The school-house
has been enlarged and three out
houses built. Forty-five children
have been received, which added
to seventy five already in the
home would make 120, but nine
teen have gone out and one has
died, leaving 100 in the home.
Six teachers are employed, and
the children are trained in house
and field work. Home life is em
phasized. 'Die farm and garden
provide much help. Receipts have
been in cash $0,823.31, and in pro
visions, etc., $1,200.47. There
are a number of persons in the
, State who support each a child.
Another house is being planned
for. Rev. •!. L. Vass, the superin
tendent of the orphanage, has
done a good work. The growth
of the orphanage in five years has
been a marvel, then* having been
built in that time four houses for
the children, one school house, the
superintendent’s home, with
| barns and other outhouses. The
treasurer has in hand $1,136.
Rev. E. J. Forrester presented
a report from the Board of Trus
tees of lhe orphanage containing
a resolution adopted by flu* Board
declining Io recommend (he re
: election of the present superin
■ tendent. Also recommending a
revision of the rules governing
, the orphanage. This report made
the brethren hold their breath.
The atmosphere was electric. It
was moved that this latter report
j be referred to a committee of one
' from each association, these rep
! resent at ives to be chosen by the
i delegates from the associations.
■ This elicited a warm discussion,
and not a few brethren insisted
. upon open discussion of all mat-
I tors pertaining to the orphanage.
1 A m‘w thing in a Baptist Gon
vent ion was proposed, viz.: an ex
ecutive session of the Convention,
| with closed doors, no one being
■ allowed in the room but members,
j Who ever heard of such a thing
before in a Baptist body? This
proposition was lost, and the mo
tion for a committee of one from
each association was adopted.
Dr. R. W. Seymour, of the
American Baptist Publication So
ciety. addressed the body in the
interest of the work. We were a
lit th* amused by his expression
j concerning the allowing some
’ brethren of the South to differ
from “us” in regard to work and
methods thereof. He made a
very good presentation of the
work. But as we listened to lis
statements of the needs of work
to be done we found ourselves
feeling. "What a great work lies
before our Sunday School Board
in the supplying of tin* large des
titutions in various directions.”
The Board of Ministerial Edu
cation reported twenty five bene
ficiaries. twelve at the Seminary
and thirteen t Furman Universi
ty. The Boar., suggests that they
be directed hereafter to look only
after the students in Furman,
leaving the Seminary to appeal di
rectly to the churches for those
at the Seminary.
Dr. C. C. Brown, of Sumter,
made (he report on indigent min
isters. This is one of brother
Brown’s special pets, and he
works faithfully for these aged
brethren. One thousand six hun
dred and seventy-seven dollars
has been raised, and seventeen
beneficiaries are being cared for.
Five have died during the year.
At the night session the sub
jects of Sunday-schools and For-
■ eign Missions were discussed.
Under the former Dr. J. M. Frost,
lof the Sunday School Board,
made a strong speech on the
Board’s work. One statement in
his speech specially impressed
us. He said that the Sunday
School Board had almost driven
i Cook’s literature from the Baptist
! schools of the South. The more
' we think of it. the more does the
I truth of this come to us.
A thoughtful report on Foreign
! Missions by Rev. C. P. Ervin was
followed by earnest addresses by
Rev. H. R. Moseley, once a mis
sionary in Mexico, and by Dr. R.
J. Willingham. How our heart
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 1890.
did go out to the man carrying
the burden of a mission debt on
brain and heart as he jdeaded for
that work!
'Die report of the Central Com
mittee of Woman’s Work was a
cheering one, showing increase of
contributions, increase in the
number of societies and increase
in the number of children's bands.
Nearly five thousand dollars has
been raised for Foreign, Home
and State Missions. The socie
ties in South Carolina do not
raise funds for anything but mis
sions, or at least do not report
any other contributions through
their central committee.
The total expenses of this com
mittee in the prosecution of this
work was only $611.40.
DESIRING HIM FOR OUR FRIEND.
We wish more of our people
appreciated the friendship of
their pastors. We mean beyond
the mere formal relation of pastor
and people. Even this formal re
lation has mucl of beauty and
power in it. Because of it we look
to the pastors for help in times
of death, for attention in sick
ness and for companionship when
the wedding bells are ringing.
His relationship to us because of
our membership in the church
over which he presides, thus gives
many opportunities for the es
tablishing of warm friendships.
What we are now asking for is
that we shall go beyond this and
cultivate an intimacy.
Such intimate friendships with
pastors are eminently worth culti
vating. As a rule our preachers
are men of wide experience, and
even when deficient in learning,
many of them are strong in sound
sense and godly thinking. That
they come to us along the side
of what is best in us is a great
gain. No man can afford to do
without some intimacies along
the line of his best. The trouble
with many of us is that we are
alone in our best thoughts and as
pirations, and so get weary in
well doing. Many a man would
persevere if he had companion
ship in the good he was trying
to do. In cultivating friendships
with our pastors we are always
conscious that this must be taken
into account. Along with this
will come a whole-souled humani
ty that permits of sympathy in
the creature comforts and joys of
life. Such friendships will make
us more accessible to the preach
ing we hear, and serve to perpetu
ate our best ideas.
In a peculiar way does this pos
sibility of preacher friendship
open up to men, and more espe
cially older men. Men are not so
ready for intimacies as women,
but they need clo-e friendships
just as much. Men are natural
ly inclined to avoid too close an
intimacy beyond their family ties.
With the pastor, however, it will
be different, or ought to be. His
unique position gives special rea
son for cultivating him. Older
men get cautious about friend
ship and hesitate to let the roots
down very deep, but even to
them the fellowship of a pastor,
though he be a young man, gives
a new chance for an improving
intimacy. Neither rivalry in pur
suits, or any dashing of interests
or ambitions ought to interfere.
Men can find no persons more
worthy of their close friendship
than the men set over them in
the Gospel.
We wish we could by these
words induce many thousands to
set themselves to the cultivation
of a friendship with their pastors.
It will need some cultivation.
Our pastors are busy men, and
while they will faithfully do their
best to win you, yet they cannot
get into your heart if you will
not open the way. You must ap
preciate your own privilege and
take the side of seeking instead
of passively waiting to receive.
There is but one of him, but
many of you. Give him oppor
tunities and arrange so that you
can be free. When he comes to
dinner let the neighbors stay at
home and just have him. Show
him kindnesses and let him real
ize you want his heart.
If we had more such friendly
ties growing up about the more
or less business engagement to
do a certain amount of work, our
churches would not have so many
changes of pastors. We hesitate
long before we let our friends
leave us. Many a church would
reason with itself and realize that
while some one else might preach
better, no one could be a closer
friend. Pastors would also be
slower to change and more faith
ful in their work. It is always
a joy to live among friends and
to work for them.
And who can tell what saving
power to us might be in such a
friendship. David little thought
when the providence of God
placed him by Jonathan’s side
how much that friendship was to
be to him. In the time of dark
ness it held David true to right.
For ourselves we never make an
acquaintance without wondering
if there is not ahead of us one of
God’s provid'ntial friendships to
be an anchor to us in the time of
storm. Surely in the setting up
of such a relationship as that of
pastor and people this is even
more pronounced.
Here is the possibility of a
friendship along our highest aspi
rations and our best selves. May
the Lord help us all to utilize this
opportunity for a friendship of
peculiar power, and in a world
where true friendships are none
too frequent.
The announcement is now made
that Dr. J. B. Gambrell has ac
cepted the secretaryship of the
Mission Board of Texas. We had
been informed of the effort to se
cure him and the great pressure
brought to bear to secure his ac
ceptance. He left last Monday
for Waco to confer with the
Board, and his decision has since
been announced. We send our
congratulations to Texas and wish
our friend well amid the anxieties
of his new labors. It is possible
for Dr. Gambrell to render a great
service to the Texas brethren and
we are sure he will give them his
best. Os course his connection
with the Texas Baptist Standard
will cease. Our old time friend,
Rev. M. I). Early, has done good
work for the past year and has
held the good will of all. We
understand that Dr. Gambrell
will not move his family away
from Atlanta.
Last Sunday brought the inau
guration of an Index Day at the
First Baptist church. Dr. Lan
drum freely expresses to his con
gregation his inability to work
where his members do not have
their own personal Bibles and a
family copy of the Christian In
dex. lie, therefore, preaches
along this line and at his morn
ing service takes subscriptions
for the Index. This was done last
Sunday morning and will become
a regular feature of the year’s
round of special occasions. We
not only appreciate the kindness
in this, but also, in greater de
gree, the position it gives to us as
the pastor’s helper. We hope to
furnish such a paper that no pas
tor will ever regret that the In
dex is working among his people.
We wish other pastors would im
itate this example.
One of the many phases of tem
perance agitation is seen in what
is known as the Minneapolis law.
It restricts the opening of sa
loons to the business districts.
This is a good law so far as it
goes. It prevents the saloon in
resident sections where many
are taught their first lessons in
drinking. For this reason it is to
be commended. Such laws also
serve to establish the principle of
legal control And this leads inev
itably to the*principle of prohibi
tion. Thelpower that can pro
hibit part y can as lawfully go
the w to deny
one mall TiiV sfrasfi' implies (he
right to deny a hundred men, or
sixty millions of men. Moreover,
(‘very step thus taken serves to
emphasize the evil and so ad
vance the ultimate triumph over
it.
We certainly join in the credit,
given elsewhere by a correspond
ent, to Dr. J. G. Gibson, for the
great advance in mission contri
butions in Georgia. Whatever
other factors may come in, or
go out, he always remains as the
factor of greatest importance. It
is indeed true that he is seeing
the fruitage of many years of la
bor and teaching. We trust this
fruitage will continue. It is fast
becoming true that every part of
our great denominational inter
('sts in Georgia are working hand
in hand for union and for prog
ress. We trust this will continue
year by year.
The paper submitted by the
committee of the General Associ
ation of Virginia, and published
elsewhere, explains itself. It is
a noble effort on the part of these
Virginia Baptists to get rid of
the debt on the Foreign Mission
Board. We trust it will be a
great movement in Virginia and
wish the example micht arouse
all others. Brother Gross sug
gested a similar movement not
long ago for Georgia. Some
thing ought to be done and we
ought to be thankful- enough to
do it.
The sad news comes of the sud
den death of Dr. J. Morgan Wells,
of Fort Worth, Tex. Apoplexy
seems to have been the cause, al
though the details are very mea
ger. Dr. Wells has been the pas
tor at Fort Worth for a number
of years and during that time the
church of which he was pastor
greatly prospered. He was a
brilliant pulpit orator and was
much admired. To those who got
close to him he was most con
genial and brotherly. He leaves
a wife and children.
The Baptist Courier accepts
our instruction and our invita
tion. We are friends again. So
generous is the Courier that it
even declines to discuss monism
with us. On this we congratu
late our readers and svmpathize
with ourselves. We enjoyed our
little debate and will love the
Courier more than ever because
we had a little fun with it. We
recognize the Courier as our ally
in many lines and we regret the
occasion when we have to differ
with it.
yUhat the baptist
® dilute
Journal and Messenger: Baptists of
to-day cannot evade this question.
Thev must take one or the other po
sition. They must either receive and
baptize every one who comes, or they
must use all diligence to determine
Whether the applicant for baptism is
really a child of God, regenerate. If
Baptists are unwilling to assume the
responsibility of discriminating be
tween those Who come to them for
church membership and for Gospel or
dinances, they must renounce the
boasted claim that they “stand for a
regenerate church membership.” If
they cannot tell with some degree of
certainty who is and who is not re
generate, then they are no better than
the others and should put away their
traditions. The “fathers” claimed to
lie able to make such discriminations,
and we are building the sepulchres of
those fathers as though we delighted
In them. But, in another breath,
some among us are utterly ignoring
the one great principle for which
those fathers stood, and for Which
all faithful and true Baptists stand
to-day. Whether the number of these
is increasing we do not attempt to
say: but it is, and for some time has
been, sufficient to give occasion for
the declaration that "the trouble with
us is the vast number of unconverted
people in our churches.” If it is not
possible to discriminate, in the first
instance, and keep the unregenerate
out, how is it possible, in the second
instance, to know that any of those
now within are unregenerated? Were
the fathers in error? Are we better
than they?
The Central Baptist: Liberal re
ligionists can be depended on to hold
all the religious parliaments and
ethical congresses society needs, but
when it comes to converting souls
there seem to be none engaged in the
business except those Who believe in
an inspired Bible. In the animate
world there are creatures who do not
manufacture food out of new or raw
material, but subsist by sucking blood
from other animals. All life would
soon perish if its support depended on
them. There are several varieties of
religious organizations, some of them
culled churches, which never go out
among irreligious masses to lift up
the fallen and bring them to personal
faith in God and seek their imme
diate salvation. Their self-appointed
and unworthy task is that of leading
away from evangelical bodies ail the
disgruntled, speculative, visionary, un
settled souls they can influence to
swell the ranks of those who hang
upon the flanks of God’s army and
hinder the work of evangelization.
Parasites can be tolerated only on the
plea that they drain away the pois
oned blood from diseased bodies,
though this is no longer considered
rational therapeutics. There is no
surer test of a denomination’s loyalty
to the Bible than its zeal for souls.
The time for a religious body to dis
band has come when it ceases to be
evangelistic.
The Baptist and Reflector: It is
claimed, however, that this doctrine
of the universal fatherhood is such a
comforting one. Maybe so; but it is
comfort at the expense of truth, and
it may be of life eternal. If the idea
in the mind of the one who speaks
of the universal fatherh<xxl is simply
that God is the creator of all men,
then he has gained only a low con
ception of the fatherhood of God, and
he has lost sight of the higher and
nobler sense of his fatherhood. The
trouble is, however, that this claim
of the universal fatherhood leaves the
impression that the only sense in
which God is father is as the creator
of all men, and so it is apt to cause
one who holds such a view to forget
that there is another sense in which
he is father, and to make them miss
the sweetness and the joy Which
come from this special fatherhood,
which is secured through the agency
of the Holy Spirit by faith in Christ.
Really one who knows God as a fa
ther only in the sense of his creator
does n>ot know him as a father at all.
The care, the protection, the love,
the intimnte companionship, the
blessed assurance which come from
this special spiritual fatherhood have
never been his; and losing them, he
has Jo»t all of the highest pleasures
of life.
The Baptist Courier: Do we Chris
tians remember that heathenism has
neither the help nor the hope that
come through the Gospel or our Lord?
If we remember it sometimes, shall
we forget the solemn Gospel obliga
tion to extend this help and kindle
this blessed hope that purifies and
sweetens this life, and buoys the im
mortal spirit for its everlasting flight?
Let this be the year for missions, the
year of self-denying, consecrated en
deavor for the spread of the Gospel,
the year of giving help and hone to
the helpless and the hopeless. What
are we here for? Why were we
made children of the Most High, heirs
to a great and blessed inheritance?
Was it for selfish enjoyment, the sat
isfaction of idleness, or to be sent on
errands of mercy, like the angels, the
flaming fires, going forth to minister
to those who may become heirs of
eternal life? Angels cannot minister
as we may. What are we doing?
What shall we do? Let us be about
our Father’s business.
The Alabama Baptist: Nothing suc
ceeds well without organization; and
the more perfect the organization the
greater the results. To keep a lively
interest, there must be energy, activ
ity, watchfulness. Keep it before the
people. Demonstrate your earnestness
by constant and persistent work.
Throw in'to it piety, reverence, a
deep spirituality, a love for souls. It
is a great work. A needed work.
Will the Baptists of this State or
ganize their forces, devise plans and
ways and means by which the
churches can be aided in bringing this
mighty army of children under Bap
tist influence? We are a mighty host
if we will bestir ourselves, and we
can have our own Baptist Sunday-
School Conventions, State and county,
without in the least interfering with
the inter-denominational gatherings.
The Biblical Recorder: It is surpris
ing that there are reasonable men who
really believe that the people of North
Carolina are content to maintain
three or four large and “great and
glorious” institutions of higher edu
cation, when thirty-five of every hun
dred of her inhabitants more than
ten years old have never learned to
read or write —and for the reason
that they have not had a fair chance.
It is also surprising that any one pre
sumes that the citizens of this State
prefer to support three or four such
institutions —none of which are neces
sary—to equipping and decently main
taining the country schools, which
are the only hope of 600,000 children
in the State.
The Standard: Last week we com
mented on the matter of chapel ser
vice at the University of Chicago, and
the reasons for the small success that
has attended the efforts of the faculty
in that direction. Scarcely was the
pa per off the press when the an
nouncement startled the student com
munity that in future all undergradu
ates will be required to attend chapel
once a week. Chapel assemblies will
be held four days in the week, at a
morning hour when there will be no
recitations; junior college students
will be required to attend one day,
senior college students another; grad
uate students and divinity school stu
dents will be expected, though not re
quired. to attend on the other two
days, respectively. This arrangement
has been made necessary by the fact
that there is no room at the universi
ty available for a chapel service Which
will hold the entire body of students.
The order takes effect November 30th,
and it will be interesting to observe
the results of the experiment; for it
is, we take it, only an experiment. In
his quarterly report, October Ist, re
ferring to this matter, the president
hinted that the university authorities
were deliberating whether compulsory
chapel attendance might not be the
only solution of the difficult problem
of student religious training; but
everybody knows that Dr. Harper's
own preference is Strongly against co
ercion in such a matter, and the trend
of public opinion in our larger univer
sities is all on the side of a voluntary
system. While, therefore, the present
conditions may require such a policy
as has just been adopted at the Uni
versity of Chicago, it must be regard
ed as only a temporary expedient.
When the university is strong enough
in men and money to adopt some such
system as that now in use at Harvard,
there will be no difficulty in getting
students to attend chapel.
The Commonwealth: It seems some
what remarkable, when one comes to
think about it, that the world has
learned its lesson of tolerance slowly.
In fact, it has hardly learned it yet.
True, its method of showing its intol
erance has changed. One has not to go
so far into history to find the time
when for dissent from the current rul
ing powers or religious opinion, was
deemed sufficient to forfeit the offend
er's head, or even to warrant his being
burned at the stake. We do things
differently now. but the spirit is very
much the same. One’s opinion is not
liked in the community, and we give
him warning to leave. Some expres
sion falls from the pulpit which evokes
disapproval, and we stamp down the
aisle or withdraw our support. Our
weekly journal has an article we do not
like, and we send at once the message.
Stop my paper: or, if we are of that
sort, question the integrity of the
writer. An opposing political party
goes into power, and we shout. “To
your tents, oh Israel,” we have no
part or lot in this matter. Surely, it
is late in the day of the world’s life
for these things. Surely, we should
have learned by this time the complete
tolerance, at least, of that not wrong
in itself, with which we do not wholly
agree. Moreover, it would seem that
we should have learned the education
al value of dissent. It is the opposite
and not the parallel opinion which
makes me scan and substantiate my
own. When will the time come that,
the area of our vision shall be broad
enough to afford friendly room therein
for ail who do not contravene right or
militate against truth?
The Western Recorder: We are ask
ed why It is that so many people are
ready to say ugly things, while so
i few are ready to retract them and
apologize for them. We answer:
1. It takes no strength or nobleness
I of character to say ugly things; while
I it does take both strength and noble
' ness to make retraction and apology.
' Indeed, the less character a man has
I the more ugly things he is likely to
! say, and the less likelihood of his mak
ing any amends.
2. As a rule, a man who has char
acter enough to make retraction and
apology for ugly things said, has
character enough to keep him from
saying the things. Hence, as a rule,
those who say ugly things make no
retraction and apology. They haven’t
manhood enough.
3. Sometimes a man of noble char
acter, under special provocation or
excitement, will say ugly things. Then
when he reflects he is ready to retract
and apologize. But this is a small
class, and therefore only a few of
those who say ugly things ever make
the amende honorable.
The Baptist News: The pastor who
makes his members do all the talking
and all the leading in prayer-meeting
is the successful prayer-meeting lead
er. The old-fashioned lecture .and
long prayer by the pastor did a great
deal to make the impression that
prayer-meetings are dull. They need
not be dull. They ought to be alive
and ought to be one of the meetings
to which the membership look for
ward with eager and pleasant expecta
tions. The more stock people have in
1 any institution, the more they prize it.
We may say this is human nature.
Any way, it is a fact. So the man
who has never taken part in prayer
meeting, if he can be induced to do
I no more than read the opening lesson
or read an appropriate verse of Scrip
ture during the progress of the ser
vice. will be the more deeply inter
ested.
The Arkansas Baptist: The college
regatta, baseball club and football
team, are unmitigated evils. These
matched games, whether from univer
sity or from the cross-roads, are de
moralizing and deserve to be frowned
down. In our travels we have wit
nessed more deviltry and heard more
profanity and vulgarity from baseball
clubs than from any other class of
people. The plea that students re
quire the exercise is worse than non
sense. The violence of the regula
tion football is brutal. The baseball
game is spasmodically violent. But
then we are fogyish, but never mind
that; there are some things current
which militate against the greatest
success in the best regulated institu
tions. It is better to keep in touch
with the masses than to follow the
fashions.
The Baptist Record: We would re
spectfully suggest that the current
quesion of Baptist history, that has
been so freely discussed of late, will
be settled after awhile one way or the
other, and that, whichever way it goes,
somebody will have to indulge an un
willing appetite in a dish of crow.
Would it not be well, in view of that
fact, not to allow It to be a very big
crow? Nor a very black one? See!
The Religious Herald: Major John
W. Daniel and Dr. H. M. Wharton
met, some days ago, and Dr. Wharton
reminded the Senator of the fact that
in their earlier years they were close
friends, and added: “Now you are a
United States Senator and I am a ;
preacher.” The Senator replied: “You I
have the more important calling.”
(Georgia
FIELD NOTES.
The Index from now until July 15,
1897, for 11.00 cash. How’s that?
Just send your Uncle Jimmie one
new name right now, won’t you?
The first Christmas number of the
Index will come out this Christmas.
Fifty-two papers per year. No more
holidays.
Send us that “new name.” We want
to put you on the “honor roll” in our
first Christmas number. See!
If you send us one new subscriber in
the next ten days your name will go
on our Christmas “honor roll” and
don’t you forget it.
The Tattnall Square brethren in
Macon have broken dirt for the new
Mercer meeting-house.
Won't you send one of your bright
new dollars to put in the “new Mercer
meeting-house?” Don’t object to the
name. Uncle Ebenezer Warren called
it that.
If any church, school or individual
wants a fine four-hundred-dollar organ
for two hundred dollars, write your
Uncle Jimmie. Fine ebonized walnut
case; two sets of keys and two pedals.
See!
Brother B. H. Ivey, of Sparta, has re
signed the care of the church at Pow
elton, and brother J. H. Kilpatrick,
of White Plains, has been called, so
we have heard.
Brother F. R. Martin, of the Vineville
church, Macon, was ordained to the
deaconship a few Sabbaths ago. A
fine choice was that!
The new pastor at Tattnall Square,
Macon, is quietly stealing his way into
the hearts of his brethren. We are
glad; God bless him and the brethren
in building the Lord a new house.
There are six hundred and sixty
three living alumni of Mercer Uni
versity. Why not have four or five
hundred of them at Mercer next com
mencement? Why not?
Young brother J. W. R. Jenkins, of
Eatonton, son of Judge Jenkins, has
been called for half his time to serve
our church at Hephzibah and has ac
cepted, so we hear.
Brother and Sister T. J. Beck, of
Tennille, gave us kindly shelter from
the recent severe storm. We thank
them much. Brother Beck is one of
the safest and soundest preachers in
Georgia.
Pastor T. J. Beck, of Tennille, wilt
preach two Sabbaths each month next
year for our church at Tennille, one
at Davisboro, and one at Sandersville,
to which church he has been recently
called.
We sadly missed seeing the genial
face of brother T. J. Holmes at Ten
nille. brother Holmes will serve the
same churches next year unless he
gives up the church at Bartow. He
serves Darien, Antiocn, Irwinton, and
Bartow.
Pastor L. A. Brantley lives at Ten
nille and serves four churches—Rocky
Ford, Liberty, Dover and Black
Springs. The latter is near Milledge
ville. We are very sorry that we
missed seeing him.
Pastor J. A. Moblay lives at Harrison,
Ga., and preaches to Pleasant Hill and
Nails Creek on the first Sabbath, Beth
any and Garbutt on the second, Mt.
Moriads on the third, ana Old Bethel
on the fourth. It seems to be a pity
that brother Moblay can’t get two or
I three more churches. We thank sister
Moblay for that nice breakfast.
We just did miss pastor H. Turner
Smith at Harrison last Saturday. We
1 were very sorry, indeed, but wa hope
I to see him in Dublin this week. He
I is the acceptable pastor at Harrison.
Brother and sister C. E. Daniel, of
Tennille, gave us a right royal wel
come into their delightful home for
more than a night, and in connection
with other kindnesses brother Daniel
furnisned us with “dear old gray and
the chaise” to go to Sandersville and
Ohoopee church. We make our polit
est bow.
JAMES F. EDENS.
380 Woodward Ave.. Atlanta, Ga.
ATLANTA BAPTIST CONFERENCE.
Prayer by Bro. Owen.
Bro. McKinney preached at Indian
Creek.
Bro. Marshall had usual service in
the morning.
Bro. Strickland was at Calvary,
preaching morning and night.
Bro. Howard was at First church,
i where Index Day was celebrated.
I Bro. Spalding reported the usual day
at Capitol Avenue, with five received
by letter.
Bro. Hillyer was at Kirkwood, where
they are striving for preaching every
Sunday.
Bro. Motley told of a good day’s
| work. Received one by letter and one
i for baptism.
i Bro. Reid preached at the Moore Me
morial and West Fair Street Presbyte
rian churches.
Bro. C. C. Cox gave an encouraging
report of the work at the Southern Fe
male College.
Bro. Stovall preached at East At
lanta. He has been unanimously call
ed to East Point.
Bro. Landrum reported a fine day.
Preached on “Reading” in the morn
ing and took subscriptions for the In
dex.
Bro. Dorsey reported the meeting at
East Fair Street Mission closed with
eleven for baptism. Preached at Anti
och.
Bro. McDonald was not present, but
it was reported that he had so far
recovered as to fill his pulpit in the
morning.
Bro. Gibson was at Crawford during
the week. Mission cause most hopeful.
Receipts for missions $2,500 in excess
of last year.
Bro. Collier reported a good day.
Began his second year’s pastorate at
Decatur a week ago. Was at Villa
Rica Saturday and preached.
Bro. Winchester reported a fine day.
Large congregation at night. Espe
cially fine prospects in financial out
look for new year.
Bro. McGregor has just returned
from Nashville, where he held a suc
cessful meeting with the Central
church. Preached at the Sixth church
at night.
As it was the regular monthly meet
ing of the evangelical pastors, the sub
ject was deferred. Next week Dr. Lan
drum will conduct a general conversa
tion on books.
Bro. Smith was at Augusta. In the
morning addressed the Sunday-school
teachers at the First church regarding
literature and at 11 o’clock preached an
I “orphanage” sermon. Dr. Burrows
I will take up a systematical collection.
In the afternoon and night was at the
Curtis church, where efforts will be
made for a contribution.