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T. P• BELL, I Editors
I, J. VAN NESS, 1 KDITOBS
THE PtDOBAPTIST PREACHER
AND HIS NEW WEAPON.
We are told that the pedobap
tist brethren are going around
with Dr. Whitsitt's book, and at
tempting to annihilate the Bap
tists. We are very much loth
to believe such an improbable
tale. Improbable, because it is
hardly to be believed that the
Baptists are to be invited to such
an easy debate, or that the pedo
baptists are reckless enough thus
to invite a considerable disaster.
We desire to impress upon our
readers that he who ventures
forth with Dr. Whitsitt's book,
even if all its contentions be
granted, to overthrow any funda
mental Baptist position that
serves to separate us from other
denominations, is either afflicted
with ignorance or is dealing in
casuistry. In either event it
ought not to be a hard task for
the sons of Baptist sires and the
heirs of Bible principles, to turn
him to Hight. In fact, it would be
about the easiest battle he has
been called on to fight.
The question so far as a pedo
baptist is concerned is, whether
certain people hitherto classed
by historians as Baptists, prac
ticed immersion and can be so
classed. The certain people, it
may possibly be known, were the
English opposers of infant bap
tism and other errors prior to
1641. Any man who says that
the book stands for any other
idea than this either has not read
it, or cannot understand plain
English. To Baptists this ques
tion has certain* bearings on mat
ters of opinion among them
selves. Os this we are not speak
ing. To any one not a Baptist,
however, this is the sole conten
tion. That the New Testament
teaches immersion is plainly de
clared. That in all ages some
practised it is as plainly indicat
ed. It nowhere for a moment
claims that Baptists had their
origin in 1611, but the contrary.
It does not even assert that our
kind of folks ever recognized any
but immersionists as of their
number. It does not deny the
continuity of baptism, but is
obliged to set it up-more strongly
than many Baptists have be
lieved it should be.
Suppose, for example, that the
pedobaptist with this new weap
on is a Methodist. What in the
world can he do with his weapon?
Only prove that a lot of people
raised in the practice of sprink
ling got to reading their Bibles
and discovering that it taught
immersion, obeyed the Lord’s
commands and would not. be satis
fied until they were immersed
themselves, and formed into
churches that stood for immer
sion alone. If any Methodist
desires to get in that sort of a fix,
he should be allowed to. Sup
pose it is a Presbyterian? Well
he simply gets himself worse
tangled, for he professes to be
lieve that the Scriptures only are
the rule of practice. The Epis
copalian might raise the question
of historic continuity, but when
we get out of the fogs of England,
where he wanders dreadfully,
into Holland we can defy him.
Even the least skeptical of us can
use this very book to match his
descent. A Congregationalist is
to day in the same fix these peo
ple were in 1611, and it may well
be int mated to him that he
would do well to follow their ex
ample and become a Baptist.
The truth of the business is,
that there is absolutely no need
to fear any use of this disputed
question in Baptist history as a
polemical weapon against us.
Whenever any one is foolish
enough to so use it he ought to
be encouraged, and then the
providential opportunity for his
discomfiture fully availed of.
Baptists may legitimately differ
among themselves on the sub
ject. They ought to be united
in their firm conviction that what
ever opinion they hold they, and
those Baptists who differ from
them, still have more Bible truth
and history on their side than
any other set of folks. We can
scarcely believe that the pedo
baptists are not better contro
versialists than to be led into any
snares along the lines indicated.
Some may be foolish enough to
be misled by the agitation we
ourselves been parties to.
e ought never for a moment,
however, for the sake of main
taining our own opinion about the
book and its arguments, to con
cede that it gives any advantage
to any pedobaptist argument.
How can it? Let us not fear any
use others may make of it. Any
such use would be from igno
rance or casuistry, and either
would but lead to the firmer es
tablishment of the truth. It is
not a weapon for pedobaptists,
but a boomerang. They had bet
ter let it alone, and the sensible
ones will.
It is announced, not officially,
'but knowingly, that Dr. F. L.
Wilkins is to resign the secre
taryship of the B Y. P. U. A.
about the first of the year. We
regret to hear this, although it is
not altogether a surprise. The
reason given is that he desires
to enter the pastorate again. Dr.
Wilkins has been very outspoken
in his opinions as to the Southern
Union, and has always declared
himself as favoring it. Some
elements have not been favorably
inclined io him, but that is no
disparagement in a country with
so many sections and so many
different ideas. His resignation
will, for a time at least, bring a
great loss to his organization.
From the very inception he has
been influential in its work. He
has probably traveled more
widely than any man in the
country and he better under
stands the varying conditions.
His resignation but emphasizes
the need of a separate organiza
tion for the South. The af
fairs of the B. Y I’. U. A. are
not conducted by the Annual
Convention, but by an Executive
Committee located in Chicago,
who now have power even to
modify the constitution, at least
in some of its particulars. This
committee, now that Dr. Wilkins
is to leave, has not a single man
in any way conversant with our
affairs. If some Atlanta business
men should endeavor to decide
the ass tirs of Chicago University,
we would have a parallel case.
Even the Southern representa
tive, who is a most capable and
estimable gentleman, is not at
all acquainted with the Southern
Baptists. If we had already
formed any alliance with the
B Y. P. U., this resignation
would have been generally de
plored and we are sure it will be
so regarded by the special friends
of the organization in the South.
It is reported that negotiations
have been carried on with Rev
E E. Chivers, of Brooklyn, as
Dr. Wilkins’ successor. He is a
tine man and will be a good
leader. The editor of the /tap
list I'nion, Dr. Cuppy, is also to
retire, it seems.
A WORTHY ANSWER.
All concerned about the relig
ious progress of our country
have watched the great work
done through Mr. Moody’s in
strumentality in New York City,
with unusual interest. It re
quires something of exceptional
powei to stir New York. When
Mr. Moody began, the interest
was limited and the planscovered
but one week. He has actually
preached there a month and the
interest has spread out into the
churches and a widely extended
work has been done. Mr. Moody
has been the same simple
hearted, straightforward, Bible
preacher, relying on the Holy
Spirit for power.
The power of these meetings
may be judged from the fact that
the Manhattan Liberal Club
sent to Mr. Moody a letter con
taining a challenge to debate the
merits of Christianity with two
of the leading secularists of the
world. The newspapers of New
York gave space to the sermons
of Mr. Moody; so even these
| gentlemen feel the force of his
work. It is significant that the
apostles of culture should desire
the plain, everyday, Biblical
preacher, Mr. Moody, as the
representative of Christianity.
Doubtless they realize that he is
one whose preaching and life is
largely what the Bible is. Tnis
challenge was promptly declined.
The letter of declination is
worthy of preservation. It
strikes the right notes. We
venture to give it in full :
"Your letter of December 5 reached
me on Monday. I cannot accept your
invitation to debate with leading secu
larists for many reasons, of which I
shall only refer here to two. In the
first place, my mind is made up on the
question proposed, namely, the relative
merits of Christianity and infidelity,
under whatever other name it appears.
Somebody once asked Charles Sumner
to hear the other side of slavery. ‘Hear
the other side?’ he replied; ‘there is no
other side.' 1 would as soon discuss the
relative merits of Christianity and in
fidelity. Nobody who studies history
need hesitate in answering the question.
And 1 know what Jesus Christ has done
for me during the last forty years since
I have trusted him Let the members
of your club accept Christ as their per
sonal Savior, and they need not wasie
time discussing such a question. If I
had a remedy that never failed to cure
disease for forty years. I should not stop
to compare its merits with another
remedy.
"My other reason is that the times
call for action, not for discussion.
Hundreds and thousands of men and
women are dropping into drunkards’
and harlots’ graves every year right
here in New York. Now let us all join
hands and try to save them. 1 will try
to reach them with the Gospel. 1 will
tell them of a Saviour who came to
seek that which was lost, who died a
cruel death on the cross in order that
their sins might be blotted out in his
precious blood. If there is any merit
in infidelity, let your members likewise
put it into practice. Let them reach
out a helping hand to those unfortun
ates who are sunk in vice and misery.
"Then, when they are restored to
purity of life, we shall have time to
turn aside to discussion.
Y’ours very truly,
D. L. Moody.”
Can the position of evangelical
experimental religion be better
put? Mr, Moody knows by ex
perience that the power of God
is with him. He knows forgive
ness and rejoices in a present life
with God. Like Philip, he de
clines to argue, but says “Come
and see." If Christianity is true
it admits of no debate as to its
superiority. Mr. Moody knows
it is true.
Equally strong and convincing
is his appeal to the Manhattan
Club to enter into labors for the
1
THE OHKISif AN INDEX: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24. 1896.
lost and fallen of the great city
in which they live. The question
as to which is best for the cult
ured and strong is settled by Mr.
Moody’s first rejoinder. That
which is true and has God’s
power in it, That which is su
perior for the fallen and depraved
is proved by the power in it to
save and redeem. Mr. Moody
has not quibbled, h*> has invited
these gentlemen to a contest that
is legitimate. It is the only one
in keeping with the needs of the
great city in which these men
live.
For all of us the emphasis on
these two things.will not be mis
placed. An experimental re
ligion and an aggressive theolo
gy are our great advance forces
When we get men to know Christ
personally, all doubts are on the
way to be dissipated. The legit
imate criticism is: Can the Gos
pel help me to a life with God?
God invites this kind of criti
cism. After it has been an
swered in a 'regenerated heart,
he tells us to go and let others
know of the same power Mr.
Moody speaks with authority be
cause he believes in the Bible,
and because he believes in the
Bible he believes in a religion of
power. Let us who believe with
him be as strong in our faith.
A CAUTION.
It is never a pleasant thing to
have to utter a word of caution
which may seem to be intended
to check a generous enthusiasm
on the part of others. And yet,
if that enthusiasm is in danger
of expending itself unwisely, he
is to be censured who sees the
danger and does not utter the
word of caution.
Much has been said of late
about the sending of boxes of
clothing and other supplies to
frontier missionaries, and quite
an enthusiasm has been awaken
ed among the women of our
churches in this work.
It is a blessed work, blessed in
its effects both on those who send
and those who receive, and we
would not, under any consider
ation, say a word which would
check this flow of blessing. The
missionaries need the boxes and
the women need the heart ex
periences which accompany their
sending. The zeal which has
been awakened is a holy zeal,
worthy of cultivation. Yet it is
also worthy of right direction,
direction which shall lead to the
best results.
The caution which we utter is
this : Let not our women be car
ried away by every appeal which
they see in the papers, especially
when those appeals are made by
men in their own behaJJ, setting’
forth, in telling way, their own
needs Every man in such case
is apt to make known in strong
terms his needs, while he fails to
note the things in his condition
which mitigate the severity of
his condition, and he does not
mean to be one sided in his state
ments either. It is always well,
where a movement of this kind,
extending to hundreds of cases
in a widely extended region, is
taking place, to have some means
of investigating the cases which
call for help, and of somewhat
regulating the output of that
help. If the sympathies of our
sisters are stirred by individual
appeals in newspapers and they
rush to answer those appeals at
once, several evils may, and fre
quently do, follow. We note one
or two.
The men who are most willing
to make known their needs to the
public will have those needs
more than abundantly supplied,
while more modest men, possi
bly more deserving too, will fail
to receive any aid at all. Often
times the men whose needs are
most real, and whose deserts are
greatest, shrink from letting the
public know of their poverty, and
so are in danger of being passed
by, while he who “cries aloud”
receives much attention.
And sometimes really unde
serving men will take advantage
of the occasion zeal presents and
impose upon it.
We believe it will be far better
for our ladies to act in this mat
ter with some regard to system,
and in a manner in which they
will be protected from the evils
above mentioned. And fortu
nately this is an easy matter.
The sending of boxes to our
missionaries was inaugurated un
der direction of the Executive
Committee of the Woman’s Mis
sionary Union, auxiliary to the
Southern Baptist Convention.
This committee, in Baltimore,
working in co-operation with our
Home Board, keeps in more or
less constant touch with our mis
sionaries on the frontiers, and
learns from them and from the
State mission secretaries under
whom they work, their real con
dition, where they are, what sort
of fields they occupy, what sala
ries they get, and all the facts
necessary for forming just opin
ions as to their necessities.
These facts are on hand for any
society, in any State, which wish
es to help a missionary by send
ing him a box.
If any ladies in any church in
Georgia want to send such a box
we would advise them to write to
Mrs. J. B. Gambrell, Cor. Sec.
of the Central Committee Wo
man’s Miss. Union, at 58 W.
Baker St., Atlanta, and get from
her the name of some missionary
needing a box, and directions as
to how to send. All this she can
get for them from the Executive
Committee in Baltimore, and the
ladies may then be sure that they
are making no mistake Then
three or four societies will not
send to the same man, while they
overlook the claims of some other
man equally needy but less will
ing to ask publicly. If they see
an appeal in the papers, instead
of hastening to send a box at
once, let them write and inquire,
and perhaps they will learn that
another society has just sent a
box to that very man. No one
will be hurt and many will be
helped by the employment of
system in this good work.
Interest in Cuba still grows.
Rumtfr follows rumor as to
Maceo’s death. It seems toler
ably- certain he is dead, but not
certain as yet just where and
how he died. The Spaniards
deny any treachery, but they
have a good reason for so doing,
as the report has greatly increas
ed the chauces of interference
by the United States. The Sen
ate Committee have agreed to re
port advising the recognition of
Cuba’s independence and tender
ing the good offices of the United
States to Spain to secure an end
to the war. It seems certain that
this will pass. Mr. Cleveland’s
attitude is not known, but Mr.
Olney expressed himself to the
Senate Committee. He made
three suggestions. First, that
it was not wise for Congress to
do anything; second, if Congress
did anything it ought to act
promptly; third, that in any
action taken importance should
be given to the necessity of
promptly bringing the war to a
close. This probably means that
negotiations to this last effect are
already under way and reflects
Mr. Olney’s desire that the action
of Congress shall lead to the
sime result. Meetings are being
held all over the country and
something seems sure to come to
pass.
The Baptist churches of At
lanta are planning for a united
evangelistic campaign with the
beginning of the new year. The
first week in January will be the
beginning of the effort. At this
time each of the churches will
have a week of special evangel
istic meetings. At the end of
the week the pastors will consult
together and will then plan to
carry on the work wherever the
outlook is favorable. All the
1 nreacGirs of
J he the
work ’’ir re ve r
it will do This
is another of the signs indicating
the cordial co-operation that ex
ists between the Baptist, churches
of Atlanta. The Church Exten
sion Society has gone to work in
earnest and will take up its first
collection the last Sunday in
March. Great interest is shown
in its work and brethren from
all the churches give their time
to its affairs. We are sure these
signs of better days will be wel
comed by the brethren through
out the State.
It is frequently urged byway
of a motive to the exercise of
church discipline, that such ac
tion will bring the blessing of
God. An example has just been
set up for us in the First church
of Chattanooga. One of the
deacons of that church and an in
fluential man, was divorced for
other than Scriptural reasons,
and while his first wife was
living, and a member of the same
church, remarried. The church
promptly excluded him. Now
comes the report that a meeting
of unusual power has just been
held. About one hundred con
versions and sixty additions to
the church have already been re
ported. Dr. Carter Helm Jones
was the helping preacher. We
rejoice with the church, and Dr.
Garrett the pastor, in this great
meeting, and all the more as we
symphatized with them in their
previous action of discipline.
Some of our papers are taking
their customary holiday which is
made possible through their only
issuing fifty numbers a year.
This is the first year in which
The Christian Index has ap
peared on every Thursday in
every month. As a matter of
fact we have given fifty three
issues during 1896. The year
being leap year and beginning on
Wednesday and closing on Thurs
day it contained fifty-three Wed
nesdays and fifty-three Thurs
days. So our readers got good
measure and running over this
time.
As we go to press the signs of
Christmas are multiplying on
every hand. The observance
seems likely to be rational and
sensible. As we hear no com
plaints of poor trade from the
storekeepers we presume the
hard times are over. Christmas
may not be properly set apart as
a religious day, but it certainly
has taken to itself a spirit that
does this old world good. To
think about other folks is no lit
tle thing, and that Christmas
requires.
the saptUt
(Editor e
The Standard: By the announce
ment of a possible change in the
secretaryship of the Baptist
Young People s Union of Ameri
ca the Boston Watchman has
placed the board of the union in
an embarrassing position, to say
the least. The statement is made
that the board of managers of the
union has offered the secretary
ship to Dr. E. E. Chivers, of New
York, now district secretary of
the Missionary Union, and that
Dr. Wilkins is expected to retire
from the position Jan. 1. Those
of us who are conversant with
the affairs of the young people’s
organization have known for
some time that a change might
occur in the office of secretary.
As the board of managers has not
met since last July no action
whatsoever of that body has
taken place since the Milwaukee
Convention. Furthermore the
executive committee to whose
charge is confided the manage
ment of the union ad interim, nat
urally has taken no action to till
a vacancy which does not yet
exist. The truth of the matter
is that the executive committee,
knowing that a vacancy w T as like
ly to occur in the office of secre
tary, Dr. F. L Wilkins for some
months having 'Contemplated re
entering the pastorate, has in
formally and unofficially taken
some measures to fill the position
should it become vacant. Some
negotiations of a nature which
should have prevented any pre
mature announcement have been
entered upon with Dr. Chivers,
than whom, should Dr. Wilkins
resign, no one more fitted for the
most important duties of theposi
tion could be chosen. This is the
exactstateof affairs, the facts of
which are not given officially,
however, but of knowledge. It
is probable, too, that should it
become necessary to choose a
successor to Dr. Wilkins, the ex
ecutive committee will at the
same time be under the necessity
of making some now arrange
ment with regard to the editor
ship of the Baptist Union. Since
Oct. 1, Dr. H. A. Cuppy has been
in charge of one of the depart
ments at the University of Cnica
go besides having oversight of
the work upon the paper. Should
he remain at the University nat
urally a change of the editorial
arrangements must follow.
The Biblical Recorder: Now we
have come to that word practical.
There is a deplorable problem in
the towns and cities just here.
Unworthy beggars sap the vitali
ty of the plant of love. There
are hundreds and thousands who
beg for a living because they
would rather do it than work.
No almsgiving to them is practi
cal. It just occurs to us that we
have never heard such a com
plaint from the country, though
we know that our readers who
live in the country have the poor
with them always. The problem
of practicability in almsgiving
does not hinder them. They may
bring gladness into the homes of
their worthy poor without much
fear of encouraging an unworthy
impostor in the evilness of his
way. We think we know the rea
son of this. It is because thepeo
pie in the country know their
poor better. They see them in
their homes; they know them as
neighbors. Herein is the secret
by which people in the towns and
cities can solve their problem:
They must know their poor bet
ter, must go into the homes and
talk with them. Indeed this is the
only way to bring real gladness
with almsgiving instead of mere
ly relieving want.
The Evangel: Recently the
Richmond Times had the courage
to denounce severely the specta
cular play called “The White
Crook,” exhibited in Richmond.
Yet hundredsof church-members
take their families to see an ex
hibition which a secular paper
pronounces as demoralizing in
the extreme. Is it any wonder
we hear of gross immorality in
the higher circles when the
imagination is fed upon such food
as most of the spectacular plays
now produce upon the stage?
Booth, the great actor, and Law
rence Barrett, his worthy associ
ate, both denounced such pander
ing to the baser passions of hu
man nature as most stage mana
gers are guilty of, and they en
gaged in a brave struggle to re
form the stage, But they died
disappointed men. Nothing short
of a moral cyclone will sweep the
vileness out of the playhonse.
But church-members certainly
should »not give their money to
support this vice. If not for their
own sakes, certainly for the sakes
of their boys and girls, they
should not attend such plays.
The Baptist News: The work of
a pastor is a delight to the true
pastor's heart. He knows not
what it is to him until he gets out
of it. He may preach every Sun
day and may be engaged con
stantly in some sort of religious
work, but if he has the pastoral
instinct he feels that he is suffer
ing a great loss.
The Journal and Messenger: It
now looks as though Dr. Whitsitt
were going to be fully and
triumphantly sustained in his
view that this immersion of be
lievers as the only true baptism
was first practiced in England in
1641, or thereabouts. His book
has come under the notice of some
of the very best historical stud
ents among us, and none of them
has been able to proved him mis
taken. Professor A. H. Newman,
of the Mac Master College, Toron
to, who is probably the most
learned of all, in such questions,
is writting a series of articles for
the Christian Index, in which
he criticizes Dr. Whitsitt’s meth
ods, but virtually agrees with
him in his conclusions; and now
Professor H. C. Vedder of Crozer,
who has won a good degree as
a historian, has written an article
for the Examiner, in which he
fully indorses Dr. Whitsitt, say
ing: “The proof of Dr. Whitsitt’s
thesis, both positive and negative,
is complete; unless further evi
dence can be produced, the con
clusion of those who study the
facts, without having a theory to
support, will be that the case is
closed.” And again he says: “To
put the thing in a nutshell, I find
myself in entire agreement with
Dr. Whitsitt on every matter of
the least consequence relating to
the case of immersion among the
English Baptists; so far as the
facts are known, any other con
clusion than this seems impossi
ble.” Professor Vedder thinks
there may have been more bap
tisms on the Continent than Dr.
Whitsitt thinks probable; and as
to Roger Williams’ baptism, he
says: “I am still inclined to re
gard it an immersion, but I do
not cire sixpence which it was.”
The Arkansas Baptist: Cuba,
poor Cuba. The Spanish censor
ship is such that it is only by
leakage that any word comes
from the struggle for liberty
being made by the natives, who,
in the dispatches, are called “in
surgents ” But enough is known
to warrant the most earnest sym
pathy of all lovers of liberty, in
behalf of the Cubans. If only
half of Spanish atrocity is told,
Weyler is more blood thirsty
than the Sultan of Turkey. The
Cubans are as deserving of sym
pathy as are the Armenians, and
they are our neighbors. A word
from Cleveland and Cuba will be
free, Will he speak that word?
We do not believe the recognition
of the independence of Cuba will
bring on a war with Spain, and
if it should, as long as Spain is
unable to suppress the Cuban in
surrection, it could do us but lit
tle harm. Nations, like individ
uals, should dare to do right,
and it is right to help the oppress
ed.
The Examiner : We have become
so accustomed to the tale of hor
rors from the East that our ears
have grown callous to their
enormity. The massacre at Egin,
a town on the Euphrates, passed
almost unnoticed, but the Mis
sionary Herald tells us that it ex
ceeded in horror all of the series.
The town purchased exemption
from massacre and murder by
paying $70,000 last year to the
Kurds. The Turkish governor
expressly promised protection to
all the people; but at noon, Sep
tember 15, at the firing of a gun,
a general slaughter began. Five
sixths of all the male Armenians
were killed, and five-sixths of the
houses were burned. During
three days, every possible out
rage was committed. Many wom
en were killed, many were car
ried off, others threw themselves
into the Euphrates. There was
absolutely no resistance made by
the Armenians.
The Western Recorder: We quot
ed last week the saying of a
prominent theological professor,
“all the truth needs is to be fair
ly pitted against error in the
hands of competent advocates.”
If the truth be fairly pitted
against error, the truth will be
defeated every time. The moral
soil and atmosphere of the world
are not favorable to truth. If
good seed be fairly pitted against
weed, the weeds are sure to
triumph. The good seed needs
help, and must have it if they are
to bring forth a harvest. The
earth brings forth weeds and
thorns spontaneously, they re
quire no cultivation; while good
seed must be carefully tended and
guarded. In a fair contest be
tween weeds and good seed, the
good seed are certain to be de
seated.
The Central Baptist: Year by
year Christian people are coming
to recognize the beautiful pro
priety of making Christmas pres
ents to some department of
Christian work. The gifts of
the shepherds as they laid their
gold and incense at the feet of
the infant Savior, set an exam
pie worthy of perpetual imitation.
Too often our gifts are but ex
changes of friendship, or mis
guided favors to children who
do not need or fully appreciate
what is given them. Much Christ
mas giving is an ex ravagant
waste—a positive burden without
commensurate benefit. Christ’s
day is a good time to give to His
cause.
gtaptiet yews.
FIELD NOTES.
Christmas gift I Send us a new sub
scriber -that s it.
The Index from now until July 15th,
’O7. for one dollar cash. Send us one
new subscribers.
Next week will be our first Christmas
Index—send us that new subscriber.
One more Index and another year
will be gone. How is your date?
Look at your label slip and send ns your
renewal.
Is your date away behind? We are
giving you a great Index now. Make
us and yourself glad by sending us
your back dues. See ?
Dr. W. M Burr has resigned the care
of the church in Dothan, Ala. Dr.
Burr is without a superior as a true
Gospel preacher in the South. Any
church in any State wishing a pastor
could do no better thing than to secure
Dr. Burr.
We have gotten wind of the death of
a deer down about Baxley, Ga. Now
the trouble with us is to find out who
killed that animal ? that’s the question.
Did you read "The Silent Deacon" in
a back number of the Index of recent
date ? If not, go back and read the
article; it will be found in the Home De
partment
Bro. P. B. Grant from Kentucky is
the new pastor at Guyton. We failed
to see him. We were sorry.
Sister T. W. Lanier, of Guyton, took
us in, thawed us out, and gave us a nice
warm breakfast last Thursday morning.
We thank her much. Sister Lanier is
the sister of President Rufus W Smith,
of the M. E Female College at La’
Grange, Ga. A sister of a sweet spirit.
Pastor A. L. Brantley, of Summer
town. Ga., serves about five country
and village churches. We had a few
minutes chat with him on the railroad
train. He loves the INDEX much.
We had the pleasure of a few moments
chat with pastor R. G. Cartin, of Tus
culum, Ga Bro. Cartin serves four
churches: Elim, Corinth. Goloid and
Turkey-branch.
Since our last visit to Statesboro,
Ga., pastor J. A. Scarboro has finished
his nice new home. He preaches to
four new churches, viz : Ways, Perkins
Junction, Clito and Fellowship.
Bro H. J. Arnett has been recently
elected County School Commissioner of
Screven county. He will move to Syl
vania, the county site, in January.
At Waynesboro we found pastor W.
S. Rogers quietly moving into the
hearts of the brethren of his new
charge. The church is building him a
nice new pastorium, into which he
hopes to move soon. Bro. Rogers gave
himself up to the Index man com
pletely and did the to rn for the Index
in short order. Bro. Rogers serves our
churches at Waynesboro and Millen
conjointly. We wish for him the Lord's
blessings in all things.
At Oliver. Ga., brother and sister
John Kennedy gave us the shelter of
their nice home for a night, for which
we are grateful. Bro. H. J. Arnett
succeeds brother G. Wm. Hurt as pas
tor at Oliver.
Cousin Milton Battle took the place
of Cousin Nina, his sister, in our work
at Wadley. We should have mentioned
this last week, but we plead slipperance.
See?
The town school at Sylvania, Ga.,
Screven county, wants a male teacher
to take charge of school. Write Rev.
H J. Arnett, Dover, Ga.
Look out for the ‘ ‘ annual soliloquy ”
of the Field Editor of the Index in next
week’s paper. We warn editor Bailey,
of the Biblical Recorder, beforehand,
that he must not mention the matter to
Field Editor J. C. Caddell See ?
We- expect to begin work- on the East
Tennessee R. R. between Macon and
Brunswick next week. Brethren and
sisters, get ready for us, we are coming.
My! my! How Dr. Newman’s review
of Dr. Whitsitt and his reviewers has
put the tremendous would-be Baptist
historians of these United States to
calling for and reading the Index.
We would not be surprised that after
Doctor Newman gets through with his
reviewing, some of the Baptist histo
ries now being written and others on
the press do not have to be overhauled.
The Index is certainly on top. See ?
There will be gotten out a Mer
cer edition of the Index on Jan
uary the 7th, 1897, of fisteen thou
sand copies. The country and vil
lage pastors would do well to send their
address at once to Bro. Bernard at
Athens, Ga., for as many copies as they
desire to give away, all gratis. Bro
Bernard is with the editors on this issue*
It now comes to light that there are
fifty thousand Cubans in the United
States, mostly of the wealthier and bet
ter classes. We suggest that they go
back to the island and help their breth
ren gain their independence.
A new departure. We see from
the secular press that Mr. Stuyvesant
Fish, the great millionaire, president
of the Illinois Central R. R., is taking
his thousands of employees into co
partnership as joint stockholders.
Why not ? The honest laboring man
is not an anarchist because he is a toiler
for his daily bread. The sooner the
rich men of the nation find this out, the
better forusall. James F. Edens.
380 Woodward Ave., Atlanta, Ga.
ATLAN FA BAPTIST CONFERENCE
Prayer by Bro. Jameson.
Bro. Marshall. Usual services.
Bro. Jameson held usual services.
Bro. Motley. Usual services. Three
deacons elected.
Bro. Bell preached at Capital Ave., at
night; the pastor in the morning,
Bro. Stovall was at Hapeville at
night and East Atlanta in the morning.
Bro. Collier. Dr. Montgomery, of
Tennessee, preached in the morning; pas
tor at night.
Bro. W. A. Montgomery, of Tennes
see. was present and spoke kindly words
to the conference.
Bro. Hillyer preached at Kirkwood.
Two received by letter. After January
Ist, will preach at Kirkwood every Sun
day.
Bro. Ward. Usual services. Two re
ceived by letter. Will begin a special
meeting next week, Dr. McGregor as
sisting.
Bro Winchester, preached in the
morning and Bro. McGregor at night.
One received under watch care of
church.
Bro. Reed preached at Peachtree
Creek, and Bro Stephenson twice at the
jail and at the Presbyterian church at
Inman Park.