NEED SUPPLIED.
To revive and keej) alive the spirit of Mis
sions in oar churches, our people need to
know—must know—what God is doing
through the brethren sent out and supported
by the churclies, in our mission fields at
home and abroad.
Paul and Barnabus under the guidance of
the Holy Spirit stimulated missionary zeal
in the home clmrches of Palestine by visiting
them and rehearsing all that God had done
through them, and how He had through
their toils opened wide the door of opportu
nity for the churches, by enlarged contribu
tions and consecration, to give the gospel to
the nations.
These first missionaries knew that the
churclies at home must have the facts, must
know how the battle was being waged, must
know the advances being made, or the spirit
of missions could not be developed.
This was like the return of our missiona
ries at the present day, and is one of the
most effective agencies that can possibly be
employed to beget and keep alive in our
home churches the spirit of missions.
The churches, however, at the present day,
are not located, as in the days of the Apos
tles, in only three or four cities, and in a
section of country not larger than the State
of North Carolina, but are scattered from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Balti
more to Mexico. And although we now
have the ‘■modern ways of travel,” the
Apostles could, in their day, most likely,
reach their home churches more easily and
at less exjiense than our return missionaries
can reach the churches of the Southern Bap
tist Convention. But at whatever loss of
time, or expense to the churches this stimu
lant, in some way, must be given. The vis
iting of the churches by our return mission
aries to a very large extent is impossible.
The missionaries have not the time or the
means for these visits. To meet this condi-
tioi^l^JUigii our religious and missij
and urged u
churches. The Biblical Recorder of'May
30th wisely says on this subject:
“ Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge
shall be increased.”—Dan. I2: 4.
“ Whatever may be the age of the world
the prophetic eye of Daniel saw or his pen
described, the language of Michael to him is
certainly descriptive of the stirring and pro
gressive'times in which we live. Says he:
‘ Many shail run to and fro, and knowledge
shall be increased.’
“ Never has the world enjoyed greater fa
cilities for the diffusion of knowledge than
we have to-day. Along with these increas
ing facilities have come increasing perils
and responsibilities. The duty of the pres
ent generation is to avoid the perils and
meet the resposibilities by a wise use of the
facilities and a firm reliance upon Divine
Providence.
“ The children of this world in utilizing
these facilities, are acting more wisely than
the children of light, or the people of God.
The steamer, railway .train, and postal de
partment have to increase their carrying
capacity from year to year, for the transpor
tation of the products and representatives
of the varied industries of the world.
“According to the census reports of 1880
of the 11,314 newspapers and periodicals
nublished in the United States, 653 are de
voted to religion. While the statistician
puts the aggregate circulation per issue
of the total number of periodicals at 28,-
213,291, he fails to give the aggregate circu
lation of those devoted to religion. Among
the 553 religious periodicals in the country are
the Biblical Recorder, Gospiar. Herai.d and
the Foreign MisSion Journal, three papers
that should be in every Baptist household in
North Carolina. We cannot hope for great
develo})inent among our people so long as so
many thousand of Baptists in North Caro
lina seem obiivious tT) the helpfulness of the
religious paper both in the fajnily and in the
church. Our brethren need to be awakened
to the importance and necessity of a wider
circulation of the religious newspapers
among the churches. For this awakening,
editors and publishers have to rely on the
co-operation of the more advanced brethren
who have learned by experience, something
of the potency of the religious press as a
factor in the edification of the church of
God.”
— President Elliott, of Harvard College, has
refused to allow a woman to deliver a temper
ance speech in a hall belonging to the College,
not that he objected to that special woman, but
for the better and more scriptural reason to
women’s addressing men publicly under any cir
cumstances. We honor President Elliott for
thus putting honor on the authority of the New
Testament. The more temperance speeches
■made by women the worse for temperance and
ihe authority of God’s word.
—This is a year when doubtful things are very
uncertain. Remember that, brethren, and keep
cool, push your church and Sunday-school work,
and send contributions for State Missions,
—We have received, since the publication
of the May number, more than one thousand
annual subscribers to the Gospel Herald.
—No people in the world give more, in
proportion to ability, than the Southern
Baptists. There is reported in the minutes
of the Baptist Associations for 1887 in 15 of
these States, |2.103,025.63. Our experience
teaches that, on an average, more than one-
third of what is given is never reported in
the minutes, and hence we conclude that
the chiu’ches of the Southern Baptist Con
vention gave last year about three million
dollars to the Lord's cause.
—If you wish to know just what churches
have sent contributions to State Missions
since our last Convention you can find out
from this paper.
—Six months since the Convention in Dur
ham, and only $1,337.12 of the $10,000 need
ed for State Missions this year has been sent
to the Treasurer, F. H. Briggs.
—Many of our missionaries are in great
need. Some of them have not been paid a
dollar this year.
—There are 15 churches, 10 preachers, and
1,839 members in the Alexander Association,
and in these six months there has come not
one cent for State Missions. But they will
help.
—Opportunity is the making and the test
of our missionary life.
—There are in the Anson Association 17
churches, 8 preachers, and 1,570 members,
and one church—Norwood, 62 members—
has sent $2.25. Sixteen churches not heard
fi’om. We are anxious to hear.
—Guard them well, for from acts come
habits, from habits character, and from
ch.aracter destiny.
—In the Ashe and Alleghany Association
there are 9 churches, 5 preachers, and 500
members, and they have sent ,$12.75. There
is more to follow.
—Step by step in the daily acts of life each
one makes himself and fixes his destiny. O
how solemn !
—The churches in the Atlantic Associa
tion are 22, the preacher 7, and the mem
bers 1,648. Five churches and one individ
ual have sent $39.04. When will we have
something from the other 17 churches'?
—Duties never conflict. There is but the
,uty at a time. Know what that is, and
Just seems to be the duty of
all to give something to State Missions. Pas
tors, please ask your jieople to help us.
—There are 18 churches, 9 preachers, and
1,454 members in the Beulah Associa#on,
and three churches have sent .$20.68. When
we hear from the other 16 churches this
amount will be larger.
—On the 4th of Juno our Foreign Mission
Board at Richmond examined 11 young
jireachers with a view of sending them out
to reinforce our I’oreign Mission workers.
Good.
—The Brier Creek Association has 25
churches. 24 preachers, and 2,215 members,
and the Brushy Mountain has 27 churches,
18 preachers, and 1,143 members : but no
response from any of these churches. How
it will enlarge the State Mission fund when
these 52 churches, 42 preachers, and 3,358
members all arouse themselves and send in
their contributions ! If these good brethren
could have the Gospel Herald their contri
butions would be large.
—During the past year the American Bajj-
tist Missionary Union received $411,385.89.
They now have 361 ordained ministers in the
Foreign field, and 10,602 converts were bap
tized during the year just closed.
—The Caldwell County Association has 20
churches, 22 ]ireachers, and 1.332 members,
and two of these churches have sent $18.
i The other 18 churclies are yet to hear from,
j Let us hear soon.
I —The Western Recorder, in order to get
the entire report of the Southern Baptist
Convention in its first issue after the close
of the session, telegraphed over 1,000 words
from Richmond to Louisville.
—Of the 48 churches, 16 preachers, and
3,737 members in the Cape Fear Association,
we have heard from one church, one union
meeting, and one sister—total, $14.24. The
other 47 churches could give a large amount
for State Missions. When shall we expect
it?
—Better tlie chance of shipwreck on a voy
age of high purpose, than to expend life in
paddling hither and thither .on a shallow
stream to no purpose. Think of that, pas
tors, and give your churches something to
do, and press them to do it.
—The Catawba River Association, with 26
churches, 19 preachers, and 1,538 members,
has not yet been heard from on State Mis
sions. These churches are in a good section,
and the Lord has greatly blessed them, and
they will be heard from.
—Rev. N. B. Cobb, one of our missiona
ries, says : “ Last Saturday I rode 20 miles
and preached at 8 o’clock. The next morn
ing superintended S. S., preached at 11—ad
ministered communion, preached again at
3, and administered communion, and then
rode 10 miles to preach at night.” What a
work our missionaries are doing! ’Ihe
churches, however, are slow in making their
collections. Can not the Pastors take col
lections for State Missions at once ?
—In the Cedar Creek Association there are
27 churches, 14 preachers, and 2,579 mem
bers. and Mt. Pisgah, with 181 members, the
only church heard from, has sent $2.60.
There are still 26 churches, in which there
are 2,448 members; that have sent nothing
for State Missions. These are good brethren,
and they will help.
—The mistake made in many of the
churches is waiting to take collections for
State Missions till the month before the As
sociation meets. Please do not make this
mistake this year, brethren. We need your
help now. Let us have it.
—Now we come to the “ Central,” in
which there are 21 churches, 20 preachers,
and 2,721 members ; and 7 churches, 2 breth
ren, 1 sister, and 1 “Friend,” have sent to
FI H. Briggs for State Missions $68.84. When
shall we hear from the other 14 churches ?
The Central meets in August, and the time
is short. What say the pastors ? Must we
still wait?
—The Baptists of North Carolina gave last
year, according to the minutes of the Asso
ciations, $203,104.20. We think it safe to
say that fully one-third that is given is never
reported in the minutes of Associations;
and if so, the Baptists of North Carolina gave
last year not less than $270,805.60.
—The old Chowan has 41 churches, 20
preachers, and 5,982 members, and 31 of the
churches, one union meeting and the “ As
sociation,” since Dec. 1st, have sent $896.65.
This Association has just been held, and it
will do much more for State Missions before
the Convention in Greensboro.
—Paul, though a Foreign missionary, was
greatly interested in his day in State Mis
sions. See Rom. 1: 16, and Rom. 9 : 3.
—The Eastern Association has 50 churches,
16 preachers, and 5,489 members: and 5 of
these churches and two union meeijngs have
sent $25.27 for State Missions. There are 45
churches, and 4,832 members in this Asso
ciation that have sent nothing. They will
certainly respond, but, O my brethren ! how
the missionaries need your help now ! Will
not the Pastors bringVthis duty to the atten
tion of the churches?
—Luke was a strong advocate of State
Missions in the first century. See Luke
24: 47.
—In the Elkin Association there are 18
churches, 20 preachers, and 929 members ;
but, up to date, we have heard nothing from
these dear brethren. The Lord has been
good to them.
—Far back in the time of David, he and
others were working away at State Missions.
See Ps. 137 : 5 and 6.
—Flat River Association has 30 churches,
12 preachers, and 8,097 members. Four |
churches and one sister have sent us 828.14.
This Association meets in August. We look
to you, brethren, and expect from you.
O how wonderfully blessed you are in a
thousand ways 1 Now is the time of our
need. Help, help, please.
—If you don’t believe in State Missions,
then reject Moses. See Exodus 33 : 82.
—Green River is our old home, and she
now has 37 churches, 24 preachers, and 4,-
548 members. Ten of these churches have
sent $35.53. The church at Rutherfordton
is one of the banner churches in the State.
It has been heard from, for State Missions,
since the Convention at Durham, five times.
—Some people weep freely enough, but it
don’t amount to much. They don’t seem to
weep for anything. Old Jeremiah was a
strong advocate of State Missions in his day,
and his ■weeping resulted in something.—
Jere. 9:1.
—When a boy 15 years old, I was baptized
into the fellowship of one (High Shoal) of
the churches of the King’s Mountain Asso
ciation. This Association now has 40 church
es, 37 preachers, and 6,242 members. From
6 churches have come $29.18. When the 30
other churches are heard from it ought to
be at least $500. If each church in the As
sociation had sent as much as the one into*
which I was baptized, the amount would
now be $287.20. Brethren, we do very great
ly need your help. You are strong, and
greatly prospered of the Lord. Now is the
time.
—Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master, while
here on earth, urged very strongly the claims
of State Missions. Acts 1 : 8.
—Rve of the 21 chui’ches (with 15 preach
ers and 1,854 members) in the Liberty Asso-
tion have sent $18.84. There are still 16
churches to hear from. These churches are
in a most delightful section, and they will
help soon.
—M. T. Yates, though for 40 years a mis
sionary in China, realized the importance of
tile State Mission work. He said: “The
hope of the heathen world is in well organ
ized and well trained churches at home.”
—In the Little River Association there are
20 churches, 12 preachers, and 1,664 mem
bers. Bro. J. H. Mills says this is one of the
best Associations he attends, but as yet only
tliree churches have sent contributions for
State Missions—$5.35.
—We now have seven colporteurs at work,
and all are doing well. They all find very
many families without the word of God.
They are doing a great work. Can you not
send us a contribution for this work ? You
can do nothing better.
—Of the 13 churches, 11 preachers, and
1,132 members in tiie Mecklenburg and Ca
barrus Association, none, except the little
mission church at Concord, have been heard
from for this object.
—If we had the means we could profita
bly engage at least one colporteur for each
Association. Who will help with this im
portant work ?
—Now -w( must tell about the Mt. Zion.
Here we spent 13 years in the pastorate, and
it ought to be the best Association in the
State. It has 31 churches, 12 preachers, and
3,670 members. Seven of these churches
have sent us $63.67. The Durham church
has been heard from, for State Missions,
since Jan. 1st,- five times. This is, like the
church at Rutherfordton, one of the banner
churches of the State.
—The church that takes a public collec
tion for missions every Sunday will not only
be heard from before the end of the year, but
will be made a blessing to other churches.
— In the Pee Dee Association we have 23
churches, 10 preachers, 1,512 members. Three
of these churches have sent $8.14. The other
20 have not been heard from. How long? How
long?
—If the Biblical Recorder or The Gospel
Herald was taken in all of our churches, and
was in each family, every church in the State
would have, months ago, sent something for
State Missions. Now is the time to subscribe.
—When the 2i churches, 15 preachers and
1,630 members of ^he Pilot Mountain Associa
tion come together next August, it will be a
warm time, if only the 3 churches, with $8.47
have been heard from for this object. Brown and
Conrad will want to know where are the other
18 churches?
—The Chowan Association strongly commend
ed the Biblical Recorder, The Gospel Herald,
and the Foreign Mission Journal. We voted
for the report.
^Here, just at us, is the Raleigh Association
with 45 churches, 24 preachers and 4,497 mem
bers. Only 16 of these churches have sent con-
trilrutions—$115.92. Bro. Broughton, the Pres
ident of the Board, wishes to know how long till
we shall hear from the other 29 churches. How
long, brethren ?
—Now is the time to order your Sunday-school
Supplies for tlie 3d quarter. Don’t wait till the
end of the month and then be disappointed.
Order in lime, if you expect to receive them by
the 1st of July.
—The Robeson Association, with 34 churches,
17 preachers and 4,076 member, has, from 3
churches and one Union meeting, sent $44,67.
Will not Itrethren Meeks, Pittman, Smith and
others, be greatly disappointed if the other 31
churches are not heard from soon?
—There never has been a time in our mission
work when we more needed the-wisest vigilance
and unceasing toil.
—The Sandy Creek, with 41 churches, 18
preachers and 3,030 members has sent from two
churches and two individuals $7,18. Where are
the 39 churches? Who can tell us?
—Saloons, theatres, balls, clubs, &c. &c., are
the order of the day in Chicago on Sunday.
There is perhaps, no more flagrant example of
the desecration of the Sabbath in any professed
Christian city in all the world.
—In the South Fork there are 26 churches, 6
preachers and 2,332 members. Four churches
have sent $15.67, but 22 churches-have sent noth*
ing for State Missions,
—There are nearly 16,000,000 church mem
bers and 310,000 churches and Sunday-chools in
the United States.
—-South Yadkin, with 21 churches, 10 preach
ers, and 1,539 members has sent $43.40, Fifteen
churches to hear from before August. Quickly,
brethren, if you please.
—The sickness of his wife prevented Bro. A.
G. McMannaway from furnishing original mat
ter for this issue; and a revival meeting in pro
gress at Reidsville prevented Rev. W. L. Wright.
These brethren will be heard from next month.
—Stanly, with 12 churches, 16 preachers and
845 members, has not been heard from since the
Convention.
—The churches of the Southern Baptist Con
vention gave last year for Home Missions $129,-
700.15, and for Foreign Missions $129,768.95,
and of these amounts North Carolina paid for
Home Missions $1,803, and for Foreign Mis
sions $7,789.31.
—In the Tar River, 5 churches, i Union meet
ing, and I brother, out of the 62 churches, Ig
preachers and 5,359 members, have sent $79.36.
When can we hope for a contribution from each
of the other 57 churches?
—There are 25 churches, 31 preachers and
2,017 members Three Forks Association; but
we have not heard from them. We are expect
ing help from these churches.
The West Chowan, 42 churches, 22 preachers,
ank 7,311 members, is the largest in the State.
From it 24 churches, 2 sisters, and i Union
Meeting have sent $191.37, Our expectations
are large for this Association,
—In the Yadkin, there are 33 churches, 17
preachers and 2,475 members, but. Brother K.
Thompson’s $5 is the only amount from the en
tire Association.
—There was given last year for State Missions
by the churches connected with the Southern
Baptist Convention $127,727.46.
CLOSE COMMUNION.
There is practical agreement throughout
Christendom about the correctness of the f un-
damental principle of close communion. At
least, there ought to be. Nearly all Chris
tian denominations in practice have adopted
it. While this does not prove the principle
to be Scriptural, it prepares one for the ac
ceptance of proof that it is. This funda
mental principle is : The Lord’s Supper has
been committed to the keeping of the
Church ; the Church, consequently, has ju
risdiction over it—the right to examine the
credentials of any seeking access to the ta
ble, -with power to refuse it for sufficient
reason.
An acknowledgement of this principle is
found whenever discriminations are made
in the invitation to the Supper; the power
to grant or refuse access is exerted whenever
some classes of persons are invited and other
classes are not invited. And what Christian
denomination, pray, when the table is
spread, extends an unrestricted invitation
to everybody to come and partake, without
respect to creed, character, or condition of
soul ? By w'hat authority could such an in
vitation be given ?
But the fundamental principle of open
communion requires just such an invitation;
According to that, the individual has juris
diction over the table, and not the church.
He can, therefore, upon his own motion,
without question or objection from anyone,
approach the table with right to partake,
whether saint. slnneE,, infidel, or-haatha-a.
And who holds any such principle as this ?
The differences, then, between Christian de
nominations on the communion question,
are not about the correctness of the funda
mental principle, but are such as arise in
the application of that principle—differ
ences, not about clo.se communion, but about
how close communion should be. It is of
great importance to grasp this essential dis
tinction. The communion question is not
one of kind but of degree. All Christian
people are close communionists. Not all
are equally close. Baptists boast that they
are as close as the New Testament requires
them to be—no more, no less.
But some one has heard quoted in defence
of the monstrous principle of open com
munion the requirement of self-examina
tion : “But let a man prove—examine—
himself, and so let him eat of the bread and
drink of the cup” (1 Cor. 11: 28). But the
tenor of the context is quite opposed to gen
eral participation in the Supper. The un
believing and sinful world is clearly exclu
ded (verse 33). Self-examination is enjoin
ed upon members of the church, professed
Christians, “called to be saints,” “breth
ren” (verses 33, 30, 38 : chap. 1 : 1-3). The
injunction proves only against heedless or
compulsory participation. These are to be
avoided because of the possible commission
of a grievous offence—an offence the penal
ties of which "are weakness, disease, stupe
faction, with the danger of final destruction
unless the Lord, in mercy, send dispensation
of chastisement.
But the right of the individual to self-ex
amination and self-determination does not
exclude the right of the Church, subsequent
ly, to examine and act. And the New Tes
tament authorizes the Church to exercise
this right. To deny this would be to deny
Ne-w Testament authority for church discip
line, the excommunication of members, or
that excommunication excludes from the
Lord’s table. Such a denial could result
only from great ignorance or great rashness.
For, not to refer at present to other Scrip
tures, the Apostle, in this same epistle (I
Corinthians), affirms the judicial power of
the Church over her members (5 : 13), en
joins the Church to exert this power in dis
cipline to the extent of expulsion (6 : 11, 13),
and in such wise as that the expelled mem
ber shall be excluded from the Supper (5 :
11). Which Scripture alone is conclusive of
the whole argument.
It may, perhaps, be well at some future
time to discuss the application of the close
communion principle thus established.
J. M. McManawat.