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jxeHibHcalRcordet -'t: ... : " rPr': ;lv; Uf-' TV ' '' 'i.': '.V'-X V; ThBiblical Recorder. , . , ,J , . i .;,-U;?. . .:. .: t-- . !- ' 1 . . .. - ,,, - -- ' . - - I ' ADVERTISING RATES. PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY j : )): l-r. l(lt3 S i ..'V :-.;-; j f - - ( Lf V ; I I C'' III rd " r-C"' ' linch...,,.. 1 00 $2 5o'$7 50 $1400 $2500 - 5 X J? .- I "? J"i 'J I . Sj! ii " ' 4 "'.I 1 -T' .11 f "TV'S 11 -1 J:- TV ' 1 2 ioches 3 00 5 00 U 00 WOO 40 00 . - ' ' ) :. W :.;'-J Al-r;pvV- ;vM . : -;- VVl" VNv'- '; VtU) Pj A U, - . iSfcr '8 SS SS 58 ! - ' ) J rAx Wr V?A'UtlV! VI ' WJ. I 1 " i X- 1 ' i I iJA WO Quarter co!.. 8 00 H 00 85 00 MOO 75 00 v' : v . I . , i ... f-.U ,n II tiof tv3l.,U .-' ' tf 'P'i . .j.:,-.-.-.. c,', i ' .,.,. J1 ' "J !--A 5 ' t I One column. 1 18 00 40 001 90 00l75 0125000 EDWARDS, BROUG 1IT0N A COn S ; RALEIGli, N. C. Z i. I x (Irf Corner Hargctt and Salisbury SLi. i ? TKKStS OF SUBSCRIPTIOjr: One copy, one year....... ...,..tS 00 One eopy, tdx month,. 00 Clube of fl A .' 10 ,00. Glabs of ten, (oopy extra to sender); 20 00 Remittances mast be sent by Registered Let er, Postoffice Order, Postal" Note, Express! or I lTfxT TrVrtt' - K1 As-: nraft. tTable to tie order of tie Publisher!. "t VXj u J1H1'! V ,a - , SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON. The. Orgaaf khebrdi- Carolina BaptiRevoted;y ; Bible ;Re1i RALEIGH N: OvWEDireSDAY; JUNE 23;' t ' July 4th,' 18S6. , T vi A Advtmttd, Quarterly CLOSE COMMUNIOK. L II. Quarterly Review. ' TITI.KS OF THE LKSSOSS. ! ; Thk GoiaiKs Texts. . J ill. Rktikw - Qukstioss as swkrstoEach3Lkssoh. - - f ' IV. Rkspossivk RktibwExkbcisk. Superintendent. In the beginning God c rented the hearen and the earth. Gen. 1: 1. ; ; ' - "5 - T- ' 7'eacAr.In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and J the Word was God The same was In the bednnicftr with God. : John 1 : 1, 2. Sholars. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. John I: S. AH. The World was made flesh, and dwelt among ns. John 1:14. ! ' LESSON ILf , Superinttv4en The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed J saa . John 1:' 87, ! " " ' ' - - - Teacher. Then said Jesus Unto his disciples,' If any'man will come after me, let Mm deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matt 16: 24. ' Scholar. These are they which fol low the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Rer. 14: 4. .LESSON III. , J Superintendent. This ' beginning of miracles did Jesna In Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory ; and his dis ciples believed on him. John 2 : 1L 5 t Teacher: Many of the 'Jews which had seen the things that Jesus did be lieved on him. John 11: 45. " --.t Scholar. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed. John 20:29, 'ti l'- Aa. These are written that ye may believe that Jesas is the Christ, the Son J of God ; and that believing, ye might have life through his name. John 20: 31. LESSON IV. -' Superintendent. Ye must be born again. John 3:7. - '' ' Teachers. -Except., a man oe; born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3.., Scholars. It any man be in Christ, he is a new creature ; old things are passed away; behold, all things are beetane new. 2 Cor. 5: 171 yI'V.'fJ LESSON V. "V V:'iV' SuperintendentJ-Jtsaa said, Whoso ever shall drink of.the water that I shall give him i shall never thirst, bot.T. it shall be in him a well of water spring 1 ing np into everlasting life, 1 - John 4: 14. Teachers. The woman said, Sir,1 give me this water, that I thirst not. -.John Scholars. Jesus cried, saying, If any mn thirst, let him come unto me and drink. John 7: 37. - . : AH Ho 5 every one that thirstetb, come ye to the waters. - Isa. 55 : 1. J; LESSON VI. Superintendent. They that sow In tears Bhall reap in Joy. Pa. 126: 5. - Teacher. He that reapeth : receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit onto life eternal ; that both he that soweth : and i he that reapeth may rejoice together. ' John4:36, r ' ; ' 1 Scholars. Other men labored, and ye are entered into their' labors. John 4: , 38. - -' - .''- AS. One soweth and another reap eth. John 4: 37. , . ' LESSON vn. . 'T ffnrintjmAent. The nobleman safth unto him. Sir, come down ere my ehfld die. John 4 : 49. . "' : Teacher. Jesus said unto him Go thy way thy way; thy son liveth John 4: Scholars. According o your faith," be it onto yon.1 Matt. 9:24. ; AM. Lord I Iwlievehelp thou mine " unbelief Mark 9 ;24. , wi ; " M;i lesson viil .. s Superintendent. The whole head la tick, and the whole heart faint.- laaiah 1:5. - v- - '' "- - . - Teachers. WUt thou be made whole? John 5: 6. ! - firti9r? ScJwlart.Wh&t must I do to be sav ed. Acta 16: 3Cb i .uicvi :mil, . AK. Believe on the Lord Jesus Clulst and thou shalt be saved. Acts 16 1 31r ; LESSON IX. . Superintendent tookj the five loaves and the twoiflshes, and looking ' np to heaven, he blessed, and brakeband gave the loaves to ms aisrapiw, n th mnltitnde. Matt. 14 : 19, reocAer.-And they did all eat, and, were filled Matti 14: 20. - ' AH. Jesus said, whoso eateth my flesh, and drlnketh my' blood, ., hattt eternal life. John 6: 54. . - LESSON 3L, - Suyerintendent. Labor not for -the meat which perisheth, bat for that meat which endareth ; unto everlasting lifev John 6: 27.- ' ' r. s ' j Ttachers Jesus said, My Father gir eth you the true bread from" heaven. John 6: 32. . Scholars. LorrLeTermore give us uus A Sermon Preached May 1, 18S6, ia V the-Baptist Charch, at Wilkes -r :'! " . fcert mt G. W. Greene. ' i. The Bapsists have often' been misun derstood and sometimes abased for their peculiar doctrines; and at no point has this abuse been more frequently leveled ithan at their practice commonly called Closb Commcsioh. - j They are called narrow, bigoted, and iaectarian, largely becanse their position as to this ordinance - ia not anderstood. Many candid Christian mas will say he likes everything about the Baptists except their Close Communion. tt ! -There are between us and other -denominations some differences concern ing the ordinance of the Lord's Sapper, lat of these I shall not speak! to-day. j I jdeaire rather to call attention to several inointa of . agreement with others, and tohow that it is a differenee farther back that makes an apparent difference as to Communion.'; .' s - : HiHi i 1, We all agree that the ordinance of the Lord's Supper ia of divins appoints ment and of perpetual obligation, a The 'Lord himself appointed this ordinance. It is not a human institution. We must, theref ore,inquire of the Lord,in his Word, how It ought to be observed. And ws find by his Word thathagave it to be ob served by his saints in all ages: " This do in remembrance of me " I Cor. 11 : 24, "For as often as ye eat this bread 'and drink this : cap, ye do show the Lord's death i till he com. I i Cor. 11:26. - : w--- : 1 2. We agree that certain acta are en joined. As to the proper method of per forming those acts, the; Lord has left it to circumstances. Some celebrate tb Ordinance in the forenoon, some in the afternoon, someJ at ; nights Souie-eat sitting, some standing, some kneeling. Some use leavened bread, some unleav ened. : Some celebrate the Snpper eve Ty Sunday,- somei every month, some four times a year, some once a year. bread. . John 6: 34,. T, "LESSON XL , , t Sttperneninc.What think you of Christl. Matt. 23:42.. . . reacAerf.-NeVer man spake like this man. John 7: 46. j ; -: ' Scholar. Paul preached Jesus iln the synagogaes,' that he is the Son of God. : Acts 9: 20. . i AQ Simon Peter answered lnou art the Christ, the Sonof the Uvlng God.. Matt.l6:16. i j : ' , -1 ; :.. s v LESSON XIL 's ; ; - Superintendent. It ye : continue 5 in my word; then are ye my disciples in-, deed. John8:3L . , - Teocftsrs. And ye shall know truth, aad the truth -shall make , you free. John8;32. - " ' &AoZar.-If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8 36. ' ' ' ,7 ' - Att. Jesus said, Abraham rejoiced to ee my day: and he saw it and was glad. John 8: 56. For every trial God sends. He gives ufflcient grace for its endurance ; but he promises no grace to bear anticipa tions -with, and we little know how a portion of mental 8uerics irises from anticipations of triaL t-'-inclard, These are minor matters tnat do not change the true meaning of the ordi nance. We may all have our preferences as to these points, but they are mere preferences, with no principle involved; But we all agree that it cannot be the Lord's Supper unless there is bread and !wine--bread to be eaten and wine to be drank by all ; the communicanta. The Catholics give the wine to the priests alone, while the laity eat only the bread ; but we all agree that this is a serious (change in the ordinance. The Quakers spiritualize the whole, and use no bread n wine at all; - and, in our estimation; neglect the Lord'a command. . ; For we are all agreed that the Lord meant foe n (a nerform these sneeifle aets .a-z ; S. We all agree that it is to be ob served v frequently Bapusm is to do administered once for aU. The Lord'a Sapper is to be of frequent recurrence. : 4. We all agree that certain qualifloa ri are reauired for coming to the Lord'a Table, and I think we shall find ourselves in substantial agreement as to what these qualifications are. No church invites the rhole . congregation to join in the Lord's Sapper. r - f .r Now, what , are mere - quauacauons i The answer to this question is the im portant point of our .discussion. And I think ail will ; agree ; with me when I say there are ' these Jthree qualiflca tiona : - . -": - -s (L) A Profesfflon Of Faith, i .(2.) Baptism. , (3.) Church membership, r -Almost all denominations invite only those who claim to be truly converted. One form of the invitation is addressed i Ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments hf Rod. and walking i henceforth in His holy ways, draw near," &c True, aome think that this invitation includes seek ers Of religion, but those swho truly re pent of their sins and intend to lead a ew life," are surely converted, peo ple. :And : this view agrees with the practice of the Apostlea. s In their day the ordinance waa uniformly obaerved by the believers in Christ. - v The various denominations that prac tice Infant Baptism are not agreed as to the position of those baptized in infancy. aAm a.v th are in 1 the church, while others say they are not; but all, Ibe lieve agree in declining to invite them trt thV- Turd's Table, until, they have made a profession "of personal faith In Christ, have been confirmed, or in some way have taken their places more fully among the members of the church. & . ; Just at this point the Congregational ehurches of New England had great trouble In the early part of the last cen tury. Johnathan Edwards, one, of the foremost preachers of America, was pas tor of a church in Northampton, Mass. He took the position that, only , those who had been truly converted were mem- bers ol tne cnurou auu cajv7va w wav to the Lord's table. But a large num ber of persona who had been baptized in infancy maintained that they had there-; by become memoers ox iuo suuiwi, iu they succeeded, in. driving Mr.Ed wards from the pastorate. h. But this ease by its very notoriety shows that the prevailing senumeni among yhsuu denominations y that only those . who have been converted should come to the LorcTs table. .. . i Moreover, we have all agreed that Baptism ia a qualification for coming to the Supper. 1 Conversion ia a requisite quaBflcation, but not the only qualifica tion; This foUows from the very nature of the ordinances. Baptism ia the ( ordi nance which comes atthe beginning of Christianize. it symoouxe. k1"' ntog ofsptrltual life. It is a public declaration Of an intention to lead a new life and to observe the , commandmenta of the Lord. So it comes at the . begin ning and the act is performed only once. The Lord'a Sapper symbolires a contin uance of spiritual life, s a feeding on Christ, an abiding faith in the merits of his death, and so it is often repeated. " tti- ia Mnirfin to the order or i. -. nnrnm ission : . Go ye ; and teach aU nations (. i. make disciples of lunations,) baptixing them ln the name of theFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to- ob serve all things whatsoever I have com Sanded yoL Hath, 28: 19, This is the order; teachiag people so that they believe In Christ, baptizing them, and then leading them to observe the commands t of Christ. -Prominent ttiexe eoiuuianun, is iu - Do this in rememberance or his words were 'baptised they continued steadfastly, in ihe apos tles' doctrine, and fellowship, , and in breaking of bread and in prayers. Acts,, 2:41,42. " . '. a And so throughout the gospel history ; as soon as men believed they were bap tized, and afterwards we read; of . their observing this other ordinance as churchj es of baptized believers..v J , .,'..? And this is. the theory of nearly : all the churches in our land. There are off ten persons in our congregations," who have professed faith in Christ, but have never been baptized." But they are hot Invited to the Lofd's . Table In any of the churches.'! once had a young friend who hadiprofessed religion nnd, was In nraetical accord with the Baptists ex cept as to thisu bugbear of 4CIose Coia' manlon. But while he was "hesitating, over thlsldifScuIty, he attended, a;conv mnoion meeting of another denomina tion audita. his aurprisetbey ,dld not invite him to: commuae.t They count: ed hldi a believer, bat be had not been baptized.; So he found that others "were as elose In their communion asare: the Baptists. 1 ' . . ,t.t J, w -V....- Where then Is the difference; between Baptists and others on : this subjeetf How comes it that so many lay such stress on the Close r Communion of the Rar.ttt.titf Wo all sjrree that onlV con verted persons should come to the Lord's Tabled and all should be baptized be fore coming. But we differ as to what is baptism. You believe that either one of three things la baptism, sprink ling, pourlg or imJiersion. We believe that only the last of. these Is baptism.; Yoo believe that infants inay : be bap tized. We do not count it true baptism, unless the candidate has prof eased ' per-, sonal faith in Christ,' You 5 commune with those' whom you regard. as believ-; ers and baptized. We do the same. The difference then is not as to the terms of coinnianion, Jbut as to a proper baptism, t We eannot commune with tliose who' were sprinkled in infancy, because we .do not count '' sprinkling, baptism, wot do we regard unconscious: infnnts as; fit jsabjecto for , baptism. The charge against us then ought to be Close Baptism, instead of Close Com muulon. '(, - -.;;-' ' I Do we uot also agree as to the third qualification, continued , church-mem-: bershlp Aa to this little need be said, : If for any reason ; a 1 man is excluded from a church of any denomination he is not invited at the next communion to participate; with the cnarcn Jn zne ori tt mtcrht bo ' and ioin " a church of; some, other denomination 'and then cqine in under the general in vitation. Bat all recognize that this Is not to be expected that a man from whom the fellowship of the church has been withdrawn, should expect still to enjoy all the rights and privileges of that Ichurch. 1 -k -I--- - yi i .The theory of the Roman Catholics is 'that there is no salvation outside "of the easrea; so exclusion from, theehoreh is called '.'Excommunication," putting out of the communion of the , church, and so debarring the i wan from the : aacra- ments and taking Zrom. nim ine means of salvation. But the theory of the Baptists is far removed from this. ,W(e do not , 'pronounce the ban of excom-' municatlon;? we "simply ." withdraw fellowship.". To the wan whose, life is not in accord with the requirements :of of the moral law,, we say. " We can not have feUowship.with you, while you live Buch a life; we wltndraw irom you." Thus, so to speak we move j away from him, and leave ; him outside of , the e.hnrch. To the man . who neglects his duties to his church we speak in a simi lar ; manner, ;, "We cannot maintain says, ' Accordlingly, we find that on the day of Pente 'they thatgladly received i.Tiimh fellowshin with vou. unless you discharge the duties of a "member of this chunm.w . So from w him we with draw fellowship and he is outside of the church. If he teaches doctrine which we believe to be false, we must, proeetd in like' manner; we withdraw fellowship. Bo when a : member of . one of . pur ehnrches loins a church another denom ination, he is giving aid and comfort to What we believe to be error. He is by his example, by his membership in that church, giving his - influence to .infant baptism, which we believe to be con trary to the Scriptures.- There may be nothing wrong in his moral life J we may have confidence in: hi- piety ; yet, be eause he gives his influence in favor of error, we withdraw fellowship, i Now; obviously, If he could come .back and enioy all the privileges of church mem- hershin. tne .aiscinune oi uie cuurcu is a mere farce. Ui.-, -n-t& : 1 So we give the invitation to persons who might,- If circumstances1 made it desirable, bV members of this J church without other, form or ceremony than a simple vote of the- church.; -We invite members in' full fellowship in other churches, of the same . faith and order wlth'ua?4;iiw;'v'i &v.i n fi. I I think we have thusshown' that we ire all in substantial agreement as to many points about the Lord's Sapper. that we all require the same three qual ifications and that the real : difference la Is not as to the terms tof - communion, but as to' what constitutes baptism.-' . - ' But after ail tws prooi ox agreement as to the termss ofctAnmanionr:many will stillbring forward objections to our nractice, '-' J- ' ' '" - . .- 1 il I X, A very oommuuiou w;ecuou-'iB; irr is TH31 toaD's s tablk,? and you have no right to keep us away, If it were our own table, ;we 'might invite Our brethren whom we love, whenever we believe in their piety. ! ; But it is the Lord'a Table, and he; has fixed -the terms, of laittihg there-We idare not change these terma.- - The rword of the Lord teaches these three qualiflcatlona Shall we i be: wiser than het He f has fixed faith in himself as the first requl ' slte.' May we Invite those who have not believed! He requires baptism. : ?May we invite those --who in; ear judgment have not beea baptized t uTbe Lord bids Us withdraw from tliOMrDoi walk ais-i orderly-- May we invite them again' af ter we have withdrawn from tLeinT'ii 2.; Another says thai we hope tosee all commune together: to J)eaven and so we ought here. : Bat in thla objection they use tff commune " in two senses: When we speak, of taking; the Lord's Sapper as Communion, let as rememoer that this communion is only 4 tempor ary ordinance, "till haeome. Id heav en we shall not need : the - emblems "of his body broken for us; we shall aee his body itself, r We shall haver. Christ ian communion there and so do we here. We meet in our' ehurches, around' our flrMtdea. we feniov eweet communion. and Hour. hearts burn; within us" as we walk by the way. ' Such communion, furI2ed . and exalted, ;-we shall enjoy n heaven, but we shall n it" there - unite in the Lord's Sopper. l . And bear in mind thatlthis ordinance is coiunii-Ir 3 with Christ, f and the prominent i-Iea Is fellowship with - him; The idea of fellowship with our breth ren Is veurbordinate.' t' And here let us note an important difference between christian fellowship and church fellow ship. We have Christian fellowship with oar brethren of , other denomlna tions: We believe them to be earnest, sincere, pious i Christians. We cannot have church fellowship with them, ! be cause In our judgment they have never been-baptized. 1 Sometimes it happens that we i have ; church ; fellowship with those with whom we have little s Christ ian fellowshipJ Theirs lives may make it plain to us that ; they have little or none of the Spirit of Christ. ' and yet, until they have bad a formal trial and the fellowship of the church has been withdrawn, we must retain church-fellowship with them, r .r : : ' - i flwoi weeks ago to-day .two youngpeo;, pie came beforeCab Creek church ask ing :f or membership, te After examina tion the church voted to receive .themj and we gave them the hand of Christian fellowship; i but-? theyj had y not yet been baptized and the ; church r did not fellowship with thein4 At the conclui si on of the .service we celebrated the Lord's Supper; but they ; did i not unite with na bui thev had not been baptized.1 That, afternoon they were baptized and are now members of that ehurch. ; t Soon ;' after the organization of thia Church, a lady came before as and ap plied for membership, and the church voted to receive her; but she has never been baptized, and so has never be come a member of this church. 8. Another says, "I never can believe that Is right which separates husband and wife." Then no ehurch organiza tion is right. Many a pious woman sits down to the Lord's Table while her un eodly husband is not invited. Many a lnvinsr wife at the iudement will be on the right hand and the husband on the left, . Besides the Lord says we must disregard family ties when they conflict duties to him.. '"Whosoever loveth fath r'or mother more than me. is cot worthy of me." It may not be pleasant thus fionn.ra.ted at the Lord's Table; but rf not asking what is pleasant but ht ia aAAordintr to the command of Christ, v - 4 Still more common is the objection.- "It is not charitable in you not invite to ns." And must we violate what we be- liAve to be theteachines of God's word, do violence to our own consciences, dis- roim.id th reanirements of Christ, to be charitable to our fellow men! Nay, that ia not the charity of the Scriptures, : for "charity . rejoiceth in the truth." Hrintnro . eharitv is that which has tronir and decided views and acts them out, and at the same time gives the RAtnA rtoht to others. . - v . .. . , i ; x - On what principle couia we m vim others to the Lord's Table with us? Must we say to them, "We do not believe you have ever been baptized, and although the Lord has made that a requsite qual fication, yet we disregard that teaching of his word and invite you to commune ; with u I" How many would accept such an Invitation! Shall we stultify 'onrselves. and civeuD our distinctive principles and admit that sprinkling and pouring are baptism, and that infants maybe baptized! Then we have co longer any reason for a separate exist ence, and we ought to sell our houses of woiship, dismiss our pastors, disband our churches and unite with others, so as to have fewer sects in the world. But so long as we hold the principles whicn make us Baptists, so long as we believe in baptism only on a profession of faith in Christ, and that only immersion is baptism, we must firmly declare the faith that Is in us by our practice in the Lord's Supper. i And whieb shows most charity, for us to stand firmly iy our principles, prac tice them, Jefend them in our preach ing, granting to you the right to hold, practice and, teach your peculiar doc trines;. or for you to demand of us that Sve abandon our solemn convictions of Hntv that -we niav show love to thoye who do not .agree with as! Which is most uncharitable, for us to do what we think the Scriptures teach; or for you say hard things about us for so doing! i But after all our reasoning some will Still sav. VYour Close Communion does not look right and I never shall believe that it is right." In other words, it does hot matter to them what the Scriptures teach or what Christ requires. They Will set op their ' ideas of what looks right above the . plain teachings of the Scriptures, and the unmistakable com; mands of Christ.. My brethren; I should greatly rejoice If all christians might be rmited in doc trine and practice, keeping the ordinan ces as Christ and his -apostles delivered them to us. "But an outward union when we are not In agreement : about these essential doctrines of church or dinances, 'would be a solemn mockery. You believe that certain things taught by your church are according to Scrip' ture. 'Cling to those doctrines.build them n the Bible.i' And if they express t Be mind Of the Lord, may the time' soon Come when: when we who are in error shall See the way 6f the Lord more per4 fectlv arid ' unite with those 4 who have the truth! " But give us a right to do the' same with our opinions, to hold them 1 and tn' teach them, and if you should find that we have the t ruth, Some to the truth.and let us be one in the truth. Seco are a great evil and hin drance t tVe cause of Christ; but a union of organization without a union of beliefs would be a geater evil. But when ail shall See " the truth alike, be Heve ft alike, practice : it alike, then shall there be 4one fold and one shep herd," "one Lord, one faith, one bap tism." - ' to the amount of 1143.000. aided of 4000 castors, and 11.000 Sunday schools; nas given over 300,000 people the Bible or Testament; its colporters have visited pver 800,000 families, organized f over 6,000 Sunday schools last year aione 462. - I - - The Society has printed over 557V mil lion copies of books, tracts and periodi cals. Receipts last year $526,898.. " When we take the above facts into. consideration surely we have ia this So ciety an institution which of every Amer can Dapiisi can greauy xeei pruuu ,uu for which he can devotedly thank God, arid to which he can give cheerfully and liberally of; his means.?;4 4 fv " ; Though a Southern man by ptrtuana by raising,1 1 must express, as was so neartiiy done. at our insx uon veniion, my want of sympathy " with ' the late rather : savage attack made upon ' the this Society by some unknown brother through the columns of the Recorder, Ab,i brethren, can we not cultivate a love that, will . permit our ; sympathies and our prayers to cross not only Mason and Dixon's Line, but all other lines drawn by the hand of man! ; ; What if It can be proven tnat tne so ciety realizes a profit on Its publications, does that fact lessen its hold upon the good will and confidence of our, great Baptist brotherhooai 5nayTreruy me Society is conducted on business as well as; j benevolent principles. Has not a christian merchant a right to a reason able profit on his: goods! Can! he live without it! Has not tne society me same right!' Would the brethren have the Society to become a grand eleemos ynary Institution! Tne publications oi the Society are first-class. It is a uni versal rule that, if one gets a first-class article, he has to pay ; for it It is re freshing to me tnat this society gets up booksS. S. literature &e: that cannot be surpassed by any House in America and: then asks a fair price for them. - It is a real comfort to me that the Society has such an income and such financial backbone that is not always crying " Help brethren or we die," I am glad to notice that the editor of Kind Words and other Southern S. S. periodicals has made decided improvement in the litera ture preferred by many of our people and is asking a price that enables him and his publications to live. . Let Amer ican! Baptists then, while supporting State and local institutions that have the interests of our people at heart, stand by this grand Publication Socie ty, a Society truly national In Its work. and national in its claims lor support. ' It Is a fact well known to any one familiar with the current literature of the day that some of the great pub lishing houses of America, do not waste any love on the Baptists. The hostil ity ofthe Frank Leslie Publish ing House is too open to be concealed. That hos tility assumed the cast of ridicule in a cut contained in a somewhat; recent issue of- their Illustrated Weekly repre senting baptism administered by a wor thy sect in Pennsylvania. So again the ill disguised hostility of the Cen tury i Company to the Baptists must be patent to any one who studies : the pages of their great periodical, the Cen tury Magazine r The evident gusto with whicn a re markable article from the pen . of the Bishop of Kentucky" was published in which he' assumed that his religion was what the poor Methodist and Bap tist negroes of the Bouth need to ele vate them to a higher plane of Christ ianity ; the usual habit of the editors and ieontributors when they mention the church connection of some of the buffoons, ignoramuses or mountain hoosiers, whom they introduce as char acters, to locate them in the Baptist or Methodist churches sufficiently indicates their animus. There are thousands of Baptist or Methodist dollars ; flowing every; year into the colters oi tnese houBea It may be a beautiful exhibi tion of charity for ns thus to kiss the hands of those that smite us. I do not think it necessary to continue this, how ever, now that it is evident that this smiting is by the hands of enemies in stead of friends. Why cannot our great Society issue an Illustrated Weekly and a monthly magazine the equals in every respect of Frank ftslie's and the Century. Let the magazine at least be forthcoming and then let every; Baptist in Ameriea that can spare $4 per year take it and in the near future it would be known that no publishing company: that bids for popular favor could ven ture to cast open or overt ridicule at one of the strongest and most influential denominations of Christians in Ameri ca. Justice compels me here to say that, so far as I know, the Harpers have dealt fairly with our people. : It may be that apurely literary mag azine may not come within the sphere of work contemplated by the Society. The Jfome Circle certainly was a venture however in that direction. At any rate I take off my tat and I open my heart to Dr. Griffith, Dr. Bitting, and the rest o! the ' Publication men and say, Godbles8 you brethren in your Work, h God forbid that 1 should by word dr deed attempt to write "Icha bod " On the walls of your great house. ; I s ! a A. Woodson. Enfield, If. a Oxford. Brethren J. A. Stradley, K. H. Marsh, R. I. Devin, pastors of conn. trv churches. ; living in town Jn most charming residences that refresh ,u the eve of the visitor to behold them, are alt active in word and deed.' with Bro. Hardaway, the town pastor; and all har moniously laboring together, with God, to overturn the evil tide of rum, and to plant the blessed - principles of Prohibi tion in the hearts and minds oi. tne Oxford oeonle. . v Their labor will not be in vain in the Lord." We have, ourselves, been a Pro hibitionist for thirty years; and for eighteen years (the time we have been in the ministry) we have advocated it, at home and abroad i in thepulpit and out of it; here, there,; and everywhere; in season' and :ont; and -we- expect to preach It, and talk it, and sing it, and pray It, and vote It till death closes our eyes, and stops our breath. V But we can say ' Hitherto the Lord hath helped us;? and Prohibition, in the future, is just as ture to comet . as , the Dav of Judgment, no doubt.; . We spoke ot Granville county. The work of brethren. Marsh, Stradley, Devin,- Hardaway and there Is -manifest all over the county; and chtfroneS'fh Granville, are, a living power showing their liberality to the Orphanage, as well aa to all the benevolent enterprises fo our people. ; u;' v Hospitality is a gospel grace and duty well understood by the good people of the FlatRiver Association; and when one visits the cosy and elegant mansions, and sees the beautiful grounds and lawns around the residences af the Bap tist preachers in Oxford,'he Is constrain ed to think that some Baptist preachT ers at least, are not such poor men after all. What lovely homes are those of bethren Stradley, Marsh,- and Devin; and how pleasant the genial occupants! But we forbear till our next, to name others. W. B. HARKKM.. ThomasviUe, N. C. , ; bers of her band that she thinks enough : of them to have them- at her own home, ! and her Influence will be greatly -in- . creased. . ' . 4. ' How to conduct the meetings. With' older' members it is desirable to have a constitution and by-laws though there should be short and flexible. The officers should be regular appointed from the members of the band; the lead er reserving : to herself the - position of general : directress. j Eyery .. meeting should be conducted according to a reg- ular : programme; . The 1 followmg .has j been successfully used in a young men's ; band : devotional exercises, (those who ; are christians being called -on in order j to lead in prayer) reading tne minutes, roll call, collection of does, unfinished business, new business,'' general - literary j and social exercises.' But whatever the i ordereverything should be prompt, ayav tametic. and business lika r- While the ' the leader sbaold allow the greatest I freedom of discussion, she : should, ; at the same time, be careful "to check all disorder, and keep the attention of the band to the great purpose which it has in view, .j i:ys-;';i-;,':v-rT;"' .w. . . 5.; The course of ; study. Tne most i MISSION BANDS. Prepared for the Woman's Mis sion Meeting, Montgomery Ala. BY MRS. J. ROWLAND, MORE, MD, BAliTI- The object of this paper . is simply to offer a few practical hints, as to the for mation and management . of Mission Bands. It ia taken for granted, that the grouping of young people into such bands, is a wise and excellent thing, both for the young people themselves and for the cause of missions. ,' Every body must admit, we think, that the' organization of Mission Bands will great ly broaden and deepen the. interest of young people in. missionary operations, and so prove a valuable auxilliary in the missionary work. Without stopping, therefore, to argue the wisdom and de sirability of this form of christian activi ty, we proceed at once to suggest some things , which are vitally .necessary to make Mission Bands what they ought to be. - First of all,' there must be the right sort of a leader.. By this we mean that the leader must be an earnest devoted christian a praying" woman, earnest prayer to God, that he will prepare the hearts of those with whom she desires to labor, will not only make her own heart tender but, will greatly help her In what she undertakes to do. She must also be a woman of strong faith and full of missionary interest and enthusiasm.' A true leader will have the deepest sym pathy with young people and will do her utmost to make the members feel thia. A cordial shake of the hand, a low spoken welcome," a whole-souled T7ie .American Baptst Publication l Society. - - ' i Having occasion recently to exam ine afresh the work of this great Society, 1 was so Impressed with ' Its present status and its future possibilities, that I feel ,nioved ; to call v attention again through your columns to uu lustitntU.it Whicn is aotng sucn grauo wora ior tne truth and for Baptist principles,, that we ought to thank God every day for its exlsteuce. : : -;:--!--icvv V The- Society waa organized in 1824 and was first known as the Baptist Gen' era! Tract Society. The Young Reaper was the firsts, s. periodical isoea oy the Society, o This was in 1857. ! The Society now publishes twelve Sunday school periodicals having a circulation of 22 million copies per year. The main building of the Society in Philadelphia has a marble front of 40 feet, Is 200 feet in depth and five stories high. The lot and building cost $258,586. The Socle ty has four large branch bouses, loca- ted in .Boston, jnbw xora, unicago ana St. Louis. On the books there are sixty-one Trust Funds aggregating $351, 501. - i ' - The Society has given away literature Notes of Recent Trips Continued. ; :.;r- .! - - 1 -t On 1 reaching Henderson, in .Vance conntvl we found the whole of that busy. bustling, booming young city, at fever heat oh the subject of Local -Prohibition. The friends of good order, peace, sobriety and sound morals, all alive and sanguine of success; while the friends of Liquor License, which ; means friends of disorder, confusion, drunkenness, and bad morals seemed ; rather thoughtful, and subdued, apparently "looking with fear onl the things which were coming," for the; Mi . ' powers " seemed ' to be- shak- . . a . fi.A .1 en " in juenaerson, ana weu uiiguw iu enemy fear and tremble- i1-1: h The Baptist pastor in that wide-awake town, Brov M. V. McDuffle is a force In himself, and a X host against the 4 ovil doers; and a most active workman In the gospel cause of Prohibition. 1 ' h There are others also in Henderson who stand shoulder to shoulder with Bro. McDuffle in this cause. Rev. T. J. Horner; another Baptist preacher; ia a warm .- advocate of ' Prohibition also: and when we run over - to .Oxford, in Granville county, aa we did after a few days, tnere we touna every Baptist preacher in that lovely little city, not only working for Prohibition th "their little town, baton every Hunaay airer noon the pastor of the Baptist church, holding special preaching services In his church, on the subject, to which all are invited: and be does not feel that he is stepping out"bf his sphere in preaching against the Liquor Traffic, neither do the other Baptist ministers who reside in -the beautiful and refined and classic I am triad you came " will fan the flame which God has already kindled. She must not content herself with mere ly making the meetings of the band In teresting, but must also go to the homes of the members, and strive to enlist the help of their fathers and mothers. In a word she must be a leader in the truest sense of the word, sparing her self no pains and yielding to no difficul ty that may stand in her way. ; A devot ed, tender and sympathetic woman, who is not easily discouraged, and who throws her whole soul into 'the: work,- will be sure to accomplish the largest results. :- '" ; ' ' . ' "' " ' '' 1' But who, it may - be asked, should be members of Mission Bands! We reply Unhesitatingly all classes Of children arid young people.' Let the' teacher of the infant class make a band of that.' The Older classes may, if not , large enough Separately, be grouped together so as to secure the requisite number.; - It la our judgment, after a , considerable experi ence in this work, that It is better to keep the boys and girls in . separate or ganizations; still, if it cannot be done otherwise, mixed bands may be formed. It is not at all necessary that ibis work should be restricted to children. Some of the best bands now In existence are com posed of young ladies or young gentle men. -Above all do we urge that the boys should be gathered together in tbi Way. Th'se wh'i try itrwill be surpri ed to ee bow readily they take hold of the work and at the contributions which In a little while they brtogV- The size of a band will vary, of course, according to the material ,of which It Is comDOsed. and - the; end bad ih view.. Ten or twelve young people, In ordinary: circumstances, will be sufficient to make the meetings interesting,' and secure a considerable sum for the specific work the band seta before itself. : If the band is composed of little children a hundred or more are not too many. Ab a general thing we would say that smaller bands are better man larger wict, u"ui where there are aeveral ibarida in the same church, or school, a spirit of gen eroos rivalry is promotedrfl which ; tells Buightily on the aggregate results. : ,f As to the . working of Mission -Bands we can probably best discuss the matter Under the following heads. . i l.,The name. In, choosing a name let it be suggestive, one that will convey a distinct idea to the minds of the mem- Knr ..." . . -" ' -s .!'' 5 2. The time of meeting. Thia may be once a month, or twice a month or every week if necessary. v. Find a day or evening that will Suit most of tne mem bers and then keep it. Nothing so para lyzes the band as constant changes in the time of meeting.. fM? iiZ&i f 3 The place of meeting. The opin ions 'with regard to thia are various. Successful bands have had their meet ings in the church; but, where there are boy a and young gentlemen, '"we would strongly advise the leader to bave the band meet,' if possible, at her home. There ia a social power in the home, which it is very important to bring' to bear in thla work- The church will awe the young people, the home will thaw them. Let the leader show the mem- successful plan we have ever seen tried is the one adopted by ai band In one of oar Baltimore -churches-In-this band special countries are" studied. The geog raphy, history, " customs of the people, religion, and mission stations, are each taken, in -tarn, some one preparing; a. short paper on; each subject. . Recita tions and music are sometimes interspers ed, and are found of great service in en livening and . brightening the meetings. , It would be well we think if aome such Erogramme were followed t by . every and. . Other methods,' however, may be adopted. One : lady suggests the following questions as being helpful, m Who are our missionaries on the field 1 With what difficulties do they have to contend t What are the results of their labor1 What other denominations are laboring on the same field! What are the characteristics and customs Of the people! etc etc She also suggests that the band secure a map of the country; under discussion, with the mission sta tions marked on it, to which constant reference may be made.' ; These are'ex- cellent suggestions and will help to indi cate the coarse necessary to be pursued in order to make the meetings of ; the bands bear directly upon the important matter of increasing and concentrating interest in the cause whieh it is de signed to promote. But,' after all, each leader should try to invent methods adapted to the particular circumstances in which she" finds herself. Methods, like everything else,' wear out, and, from time to time, need constant freshening and renewal. An earnest leader , seek Ine suldance from on hieh. will not be likely to fail ih this regard f ' " 6. Method of contributing. In all bands it is a very important thing to teach the members to give their own money. Let them understand that a penny earned by them is more precious in the sight of the master, than a dol lar given by their parents, ' Teach them that God loves a cheerful' giver, and that it is more blessed to give than to to receive; From older members a Teg ular monthly due 1 should ; be iked.! This may be five or ten cents a month, as the bands deem proper. Money boxes or jugs may be used to supplement the dues. ' Occasional concerts or entertain ments may be given. A leader of fertile mind will never be at a loss for exped ients. , - "- - '- : - .'- ' 7. The jobject. This should : be spe cific. We are aware that we are tread ing here on dangerons ground. " Oar boards are likely v to say A? we know best wiiere the money should go, : and it i should therefore b put in oar haoda without beiiig designated to any 'partlc-; ; ular object." But - experience has' taught us that, however just and 'right this claim of oar boards may be on. many grounds.it is, nevertheless, bett In the work among the young people, to set before these, some speeial part or phase of missionary activity. - The best' object to set beiore gins ia ine Bupport of souie particular girl .in a ' mission school, or a Bible Woman 'with 1 whom they can hold correspondence. So boys should support boys or native preachers, from whom they can occasionally have a letter.1 It is well also to aim at the rais ing each year of a specific sum. We know of a band which for several years raised annually the earn of $30. ; If this band had not felt itself pledged to raise this amount, a very much smaller . sum 'would have been realized. ' Where bands are - composed of little - children fwe can, indeed, hardly expect a definite sum to be raised. In such eases it is better perhaps to rely on stimulating the band by ether methods." Spedal Notices chained 20 cents a line. :: No contracts made for evefy-otber-week adver tisements, nor for special position in paper, - '" : Obituaries, sixty words long, are inserted free : of charge. When they exceed this length, one cent for each word most be paid in advance. charming pieces, though very .difficult to sing, waa Donizetti's vocal solo, "Poor tho my cot,n sung by Miss Edna 'Webb. .While her voice is better suited to the sweet melodies than to high art, (for she is a creature of God and not made by hand) Miss Webb sang thia -with ' magic J effect 1 - Other very r fine aolos were ? Mountain Stream," by Miss Lillian Homesley, -."Dost thou know that eweet land,'! by Miss Mamie Gar-" rason, and . Joap of Arc, by Miss Ida Mallary. The rendering of the -vocal . duet, 'Rldente comerllride,' by s Miss ' Ida Mallary ;and ; Miss Murray , would have done great honor to professional SihgeraT Everybody who heard it would like for as to ' say that ' nothing in the line of animated t music could sutpaaa the vocal quartette,. ? Jack aiid Jill;" but we bave left only space In which to aay tnat tne instrumental quartette, Semiramlde by Misses B Willing ham; Garrason, A. Mallary and Webb, . was the grandest piece of music we ever r beard at a college commencement. It thrilled the entire audience and awak ened feelings akin to the sublime. :: .. s i We cannot neglect to say in this con nection that the art department of Shelby Female College will compare favorably with ' any; institution in the - State.--:;-- 9 tifrX-.-i . ' - - THE ART' EXHIBIT SHELBY FEMALE COLLEGE. Musical Concert - Art Exhibit 1 j. .Sweet Girl Graduates. ? The closing exercises. of the' Shelby Female College occurring 7 just at the tine when j oar : mammoth edition " Wad. going to press, the Aurora was un able to publish last week any thing more than a simple programme of the" first two days, if It Is not too late yet for the Aurora to step to the front and aay something about the most interesting commencement in the history of this ereeltent institution. The music, the display of art, the speeches, the essays, the very looks of the "sweet girl grad uates' are all still fresh in the memory lea of those who were present; while the best of all, over and above the simple order of exercises, and that Which made the occasion bo full of joy and pride, ia wholly unreportable, any way!, ;; 4 Here a conscientious critic mignt oe excused from going farther, through fear of marring a beautiful picture by making one more stroke of the brush at a paint ing not his own,' ;But the. V , . ,' " vi'v"- I AHH0AL CONCERT i " 1 was of such a very "high order of excel lence that it merits more than a mere passing notice; "? If Miss Murray7 has an .nnni aha has 1 - had no w suoerior in thia community as a, teacher of music. Tuesday night's concert is the highest testimony to her musical genius, r In love with the acience of music for jits own sake, a close student of . the mas ters, possessing a good share of woman-' ly ambition to excel In the art, gifted with a voice as aweet in Its melody aa It is strong in its compass, she is already a very superior teacher whose real genius is far in advance of her reputation. ' As m. tnvnr of that art which sweetens life and links man with Divinity, the future has for her a very bright name. The programme for this concert was arrang ed by Miss Murray with' great taste, taking in a wide range of vocal and in atrumental pieces. One of the most this year is all the more remarkable in that this department is conducted by a - , lady to whom this is the. first, year In teaching art Prior-to the session which has just closed Miss -Draugban ; was art teacher and it was hot Until last Octo ber that Miss Ida Mallary took "charge of tills position. ' She has made a great " success and in a single year established her reputation beyond dispute. On the ' chapel walls during commencement were hung a number of drawings that would do credit to pupils of two or three years practice, and yet we were surprised to learn that these drawings had been done c by first-year pupils under Miss Mallary ; they began with her last October, when ' " they drew their first lines. It is aaid of the late Dante G. . Rossetti, the poet- -painter of England, that his greatness consisted in not what he did bat in what he Inspired others to v do.'- Thia also has been the secret of Miss Mai- : lary's success.' Her pupils have become enamored of the work ; she has taught'. -them to love art for its own sake, and she has inspired them to do what ' they A could never have -done , under mere " technical training. To understand the ' technique is one thing; to do the work -is another. '.It is the province cf genius -to inspire and create -without knowing , every time the rationale of the process. It is this knack which Miss Mallary . possesses in an eminent degree. ... Out side of. her duties as teacher; she has found time to do some original work, adding to a very considerable collection of paintings which she has already made, i "Hope,' a painting which she haa made this year, displayed on the chapel wall, is a very fine piece of art, and it attrac ted great attention from persons of good taste. j. - - i - - . - a -.i-, Wednesday was commencement day, and it was full of joy and 'pride as the season before had been fall of hope. The exercises of the day L opened , with the anthem, . " Gloria,?, by the vocal class, preparing the way of the class of seven charming young iadiee who had to read their graduating essays. Miss Edna Webb read first, . her ! subject, " Trifles as light as air;" Miss Ella Rob erts, subject, f Chronic Grumblers;" ' Miss ' Peesrie Quinn, subject. Queen - Fashion ;" Miss Mary Harrellv My Pro phecies Concerning my Class-mates;' Sliss Belle WUlingham, 4! Man, an Ano maly;" Miss Lizzie Earle, subject, .' 0, life! O, Beyondl Art thoa fairf art thou sweet!" Miss Lillian Harris, subject X.' The essays of the class were mature in thought, well written and read with all 1 possible grace and ' sweetness. ; We be- - lleve connaenuytnat a oeuer ciass oi ifirirls. in talents, in scholarship, in ac complishments of mind and heart, .have never ' been graduated from a North. Carolina college. As an Interlude to . the essays of the class music was inter t spersed here and there. The : bappiet-t selection was a vocal solo,;?.'We met by r Chauce," sung by Miss Mamie Garrason, . This is a most unique composition and Miss Garrason did the art to perfection, Her eweet voice, her facial expression, ; her mischievous glance .of ? the eye as 'she came over the . words, "in the usual way," fairly set the' audience to rapture. The class exercises done, President Mai-7 lary conferred diplomas on the young ladies, making a speech that will not ; Soon be forgotten!, a speech fall of wis-: dom and of tender solicitude for the welfare of those who stood for the last : time within the College walls. - - I i Wednesday night waa aet for the - lit- erary address, by Dr. W. A. Nelson, ol . Raleigh.. Before the address began Miss . Edna Webb, by special request, sang A acain the boIo Supposing," which she had sung on Tuesday in such a bewitch- ? ing way. This lightened every heart and put the audience in a pleasant state . of mind to hearJh. Nelson's lecture on f ' Girls "one of the happiest speeches he ever made and it - was- heartily ap- laqdeL ; Thus, closed , the most bril- -iant commencement in the history of nn institution of which Shelby is so justly , prood.' From Shelby Auroral v..-- "Kind Words," m Our Sunday School Paper. ,- Tt ! not universally known among our t people that Kind Words Is no longer pub- , ; I thed by a man not nimseu a .oapiist, 7 but It ought to be khown. Heneefor- wardbrother H. H. Calvanlss, a worthy ;; member of the First Baptist ehurch, in v Atlanta, ia to publish the paper, . . The . Same excellent editor, Dr. S. Boykin, ; Will eontlnae to edit it, but the place of ' publication will be changed from Macon i to Atlanta and from a Methodist 'to a : Baptist publishing house..-. , ; r ' . -.. 5 Kind Words belongs to the Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and Eaya a large bonus to the jkBoard, and ence it ought to be supported by oar j, An Rnndav schools, for - not only will they get one af the very best papers,but at the same time will be contributing to oar Home Mission work. ' . ! : -' ' " i t In a short time,suitable Quarterlies of , r different grades will issue from the same . Office. I beg our Sunday schools to send tot specimen copies of Kind Words. Ad dress H. H. Cabanisa, Atlanta, Ga. ' I bave written the above because I , find that many of our Sunday school workers are unacquainted with the facts and especially the fact that in helpiDg Kind Word they not only get one of the very best Sunday school papers, but that they at the same time, are helping the Southern Baptist Convention in its mission work And these things assur edly ought to be known by our peop'.e: - :w.A Nelsox. .