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The Biblical Recorder, The Biblical Recorder. jADTHRTISIKQ RATZS. 'P l PUBLISHED T ' , 3) J:. .iL .0 M EVERY WEDNESDAY. Seacs, I Urn lao. 3 no. ftsao. lSsao, , Rev. C T. BAILEY, - - Proprietor. IT W. AYEB, - . Desiaese Maaager. " ' OFFICE s Corner IJargctt and Salisbury &., Raleigh, N.C Tmuis o Bubscrtftios: One copy, one yea. 2.00 0n copy, six months ..... .. . ; i . 1.00 Clubs of five ;..; 10.OO Clubs of ten (copy extra to sender) 20.00 Remittances most be sent by Revered Letter, PostofiBce Order, Postal Note, Express or Draft, payable to tat order of the Publisher. - llnch $1 00 9 00 8 00 S3S5 t 8 60$1500; $27 05 ' 9 Inches .' - m i 00 smo 00 hi 00 , A 00 W) 00 MOO m oo 37S 00 - aiocttea,,.. 8 &m 81 00 33 00 5000 incites.'... 1 4 00 It 001 IA 00 ar to Quarter cot. v , n ooj 7 00 MOO! TMrd eol,.;; JT 60 10 O' 83 00 (W 00 WOO Halt col 39O0 00 00 woo Si Oae eolasm 4S OOi tOO 00I1R5 001 I Special Notices charged 80 cents a Une. J j i , j-? t" ul np 7 j No contra els mad for vrv-other-weet aaer The Oigan of the North, Carolina Baptists, Devoted to Bible Rjeligion, Education, Literature and GamIntodlic t . .-JrJjr itU-:im- AikW iMJii Obitoaries, sixty words loeg, are Insetted tree Hi VoLTrnni.63. RALEIGH, :NV Q.y. WEDNESDAY, .MARCH : 14, 188 8 ; ..,-7,' 1 of charge., .Waao they: exceed this . lengthi oes, cent for sack word msst be paid ia adYaflce,H? jr v iO v.. f 1 . 1 . - , - i -.5 ' i m . 5 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON. March 18, 1888. -aWe;iT. t -s v , t- .S - .. t -THE SO?f REJECTED. Matthew xxi ; 33-46. GOLDEN TEXT. -He came oato his own, and bis own re ceived hun not. John i: 11. . , . IsTBODCCTtox. The triumphal en- try, in all probability, took plaoe on Snndaj. ' On the evening of that day, Jesos went oot to Bethany and spent the night with his friends there. Next day he retained to the city, and cleansed the temple, &i we faw in the last lesson. It la probable, also, that it was on the same day Monday of the Passion week that he enrsed the fruitless fig-tree. If such were the ease, the parable which forms oar lesson lor this week - was spoken on Taesday. As we shall see in future studies, the last 1 days o! our Lord were crowded with work. At the same time, too, his enemies were buey. They had already rejected him, and were now plotting his death. .. THE LESSON. . 33. Hear another parable:: There was a cer tain householder, which planted a vineyard and hedged it round about, and digged a wine press in it, and boilt a tower, and Mt it out to husbandmen, and west into a far country. Ps. 80: 8-16; Is. 5: 1-7; Jer. a: ai; Mark is: t; Lake so: o. :' 34. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, . that they might receive the fruits of it. 2 Kings 17: 13. 35. And the husbandmen took his servants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Matt. 23: 34-37; 2 Chron. 36: 16; Neh. 9: 26; Jer. 25; 3-7; Acts 7: 52: Heb. it: 36. - 36. Again, he sent other servants more than the first; and they did unto them like wise. ;"' ' -jk" 37. But last of all heent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves. This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his - inheritance. fHeb. ir 1, a. 39. And they caught him and cast Aim out of the vineyard, and slew Aim. Acta 2: 23; 4:25-27. 40. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husband men? 41. They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out kit vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the traits in their seasons, rs. 2: 4, 5; Zech. 12: 2;, Lake 211.24; Rom. 9:26. 42. fesus saith unto them. Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become , the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes ? Ps. 118: 22; IsaaS: 16; t Pet. a: 6, 7. 43. Therefore say I unto you. The king dom of God shall be taken from you, and J given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereoh Matt. 8: 12; Isa. 26: 2. 44. (And whosoever shall fatt on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Isa. 8: 14, 15; Heb. a: a, 3. 45. And when the chief priests and Fhari ' sees had heard his parables, they perceived that be spake ctf them. 46. JJut when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. Lake 7: .16; John 7 40.: t,: ,: . -EXPLAHATI053. 33. Another para ble.' f?h parable of the Two Sons had jut been spoken. See preceding verses. The design of both these parables was to show the Jews the eonaeqaeneea of their rejection of Jesas as their Messiah. A certain householder. Undoubtedly, intended to represent God the Father. A vineyard. Jesus here refers to Isa. 6: 1-7, a well known passage to his hearers, and understood by them as referring to the Jewish people. Hedged it. By divine restrictions, and protec tions. Winepress. Some think that this refers to the great altar, red with the blood of sacrifices. . A tower. Built for the use of keepers, who defended Jhe ? vineyard. Husbandmen.' The spiritual and civil leaders of the people. Went into a far country L e., left the vineyard to the immediate eare of those who had been pat in charge of it. 34. His servants. The prophets, and other extraordinary: messengers. 85 The statements of this verse are true to" Jew ish history. , 36. Other servants. .The allusion here' is probably to the later prophets, and especially to John (the Baptist. 37 His on. Jesus himself. 38. Thep said among themselves. Jesus thus intiffi&tnd to the chief prieata, and their allies, that be knew of their secret plottiogs against him, and the cruel purpose they had in view. 39. Cast him out of the :vineyard. Utterly rejected the Messiah, being unwilling either to acknowledge his authority or submit to his teachings. 4L They say unto him, .etc. If these words were spoken by the Pharisees to. whom the - parable was addressed, they unwittingly pronounced their own condemnation; if by our Lord, they4 form a solemn prediction which has long since been fulfilled. Other husbandmen. The followers of Christ, whether Jews or Gentiles. 42. The stone which the builders rejected; Christ himself. The head of the corners The chief corner-stone. 43, A nationJ While Christians belong to all nations, they at the same time form a spiritual i unity, and so are called by Peter a holy nation. (1 Peter 2: 9.) 4.1. Whoso-, ever ' shall fall ' on this stone. In the way of unbelief or rejection. On whom : soever it shall folk In the way of direct . punishment. He that opposes Christ will only dash himself to pieces; he, or that upon which Christ falls, will be ground to powder. : 45. They perceived that he spake of them. ' And yet, in - . stead of taking warning from what be 0 had said, they went about to kilt him, , and so brought down on their own heads, and upon the Jewish people, the woes he had predicted. , -.::. c ;. : . ( t THXMXS VO& 1TJBTHXB THOUSHT ASXt - BTvmt. -; ;- -'! The eoorage of Jesus in speaking this parable. The clearness with which be , set before the Jewish leaders their reject tion of him, and Its consequence.'- s ;Th .- blindness and hardness of heart which Jesus vainly sought to overeome The ' folly of opposing Christ, and the danger of patting ourselves in antagonism to him.; Christ's .wonderful calmness in the midst of the dangers which he knew were threatening him, . v A ,ry . , PRACTICAL LESSORS. ' 14 4 1 God has done more for his people - than they could Justly askv . 2. It is but , his due that we should yield him the proper fruit of our lirea, 3. Those into whose charge God has given the inter ests of his kinsrdom should be specially faithful.' 4. The servants of God moat sometimes expect rough treatment. 5. la sending his Son, God gives men the highest proof of bis love. 6. To reject Christ is not only a stupendous folly, but the greatest of crimes. - 7. A guilty' conscience needs no : accuser' 8. Bad men are often restrained from evil only by their fears. ? v.: a Jjesoon Helps. j Mr. Sditori-l enclose sketch of the organization and working of a Bible School, which I thought might furnish you tv suggestion for the discussion : of the question of Lesson Helps, &c I was in : this sehool- not long ago, and was much impressed by Its "get up" and effi ciency. I have no mind to enter into the discussion of Peter; roek" &e.. but before fon had mentioned the matter, I had thought Of sending yon a word in connection with the 8. S. Lesson on that passage, ' 'If yon like, yon can pub lish the folio wing tv 1 TH KXIg Of THS KXBODOM OF ! X- HSAYES. . J - v I Matt 16: 18, 19 is a highly .figurative passage "rock," " build,' gates," "keys,, dtc To base interpretation on figures of speech is often to miss the meaning of Scripture, Here, according to the figure, Jesus is the builder; of course, 4he 'would not put himself into the foundation. -" Elsewhere in New Tes tament he Is the "chief corner-stone," according to the figute. 'Peter had dis played great spiritual insight in his con fession, such aa is alone given by the Spirit of God. And Jesus, in a highly figurative passage; says to Peter, "On this type of character which I now call into prominence by the name I give yon, i. e., on spiritual apprehension of the spiritual natare of nay mission not on stones hewn oot of the mountains I build my church. spiritual building founded on states of the heart aad con science, not on enforced submission. " Of coarse the powers of : darkness can not prevail against a spiritual kingdom, because it Is out of their range. As well might men undertake the conquest of tbe sun. Jesus goes on to say that to this type of character, which is seen to be in .communication with the Father, he will give tbe prominence in his kingdom: "I will give unto thee the keys." People have given exclusive attention to one service of a man who carries keys, and so heaven is a city entered by gates that s w'mg on binges. (Observe the transfer of emphasis here f roin'-kinfrdotn of heav en to heaven ) , And Pet -jr stands at the gate and opens and shur to whom be will. (Uotup. tne teebie pem a boat ae nominations going in ) Jesus has said with sufficient clearness, "The kingdom of heaven is- within you" & spiritual kingdom built of spiritual materials founded on fpiritual, not on earthly, carnal, temporal foundations. And those who like Peter see this by revela tion of the Father shall hare tbe prom inence In this kingdom. . ; Jesus said elsewhere, "I am the door" an open door, and offered himself as a way of access to all a way ox access to the com m no ion of God. To have the key a of tbe kingdom of heaven is not to keep the gate, but to have unlimited access to the kingdom. A keeper of the keys of a bank enjoys the confidence of the . trustees . and can go into every drawer and vault, and put his hand on all the hidden treasures. . .Certain char acters hold tbe keys to unlock all the vaults of heaven. : , "Enoch walked with God," and knew God's secrets. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him." The "Son of God hath given ns understanding, that we may know him." It is further said here that such char acters, having access : to all God s thoughts, come to know His mind, aad their moral distinctions are as ready and as accurate as an angel's "on earth," "in heaven."; Comp. the exqulsiteness of our time-sense. We can feel an error in the clicks of delicate machines of two or three hundredth of a second. Some men's spiritual insight is so fine, the poise of their conscience so delicate, that the decisions they ieach are the decis ions which would have been reached in heaven.' They are in such absolute ac cord with God ("Christ liveth in me"), that they make no mistakes in their re lations to their fellow men (Matt 18:18, context), and no mistakes in church dis cipline. (John 20: 23.) 'If sueh people ask anything (Matt, as: JW, it is gran tea them, "because, antecedently to their request, it is known that they will ask oniv what God will delight to give. f The christian masses live In utter Ig norance of-the possibilities, luminous and vast, which reveal themselves to bumble christian effort in these regards Eph. 1:3; 415). "Let It be acid that it is only while we bow in conscious sub mission to Christ, that these possibilities open before us. Bee Peters wretched seu-asaertion ana poverty oz insagnt in the verses that follow our passage, very soon after his confession, perhaps im mediately, Peter is thinking not the thoughts of God, "but the things of men." " Ed. M. Potxat Baltimore, Feb. 22, 1888. P. 8. I may say that the above was derived not from a study of the various interpretations of the passage I wish I had never hard them bat of tbe pas sage itself. It does seem to me that U one thing is needed in. Scripture inter pretation above others, it is that we should forget disputes about Scripture and come once more into naked contact . with the words of Jesus, and that in the simplicity, and: teachableness of . little children. . . "Except ye become as little children, ye can in no case enter into the kingdom of ' heaven," nor into the truth concerning the kingdom of heaven. Controversy oftener obscures than illu mines the meaning ox texts, ana in inter preting the New Testament we need to forget that these writings have ever ex cited controversial discussion. . 'u:r cEd. M. P. The Work in a Portion of Nash j .-.'..County. ,S)t- Dear Recorder:! wish to say through your columns that we have one of tbe best Bnnday-scnoois at urove am Acad emy, Nash county, N C, that I have ever known in the eoontry, especially for the winters We have averaged about sixty or, seventy ail tbe winter, and we are about twenty or thirty miles from any town whatever. Tbe school is strictly Baptist Our vicinity is a poor one, though the souls ox the boys and girls are just as precious as if they were wealthier. Will all our brethren pray for ns In this great struggle for precious souls! There has always been a desire In my heart since I grew to know how precious tte souls of men were, to pro mote the cause of the children, to build op S anday-schools, to take 1 tbe little ones ty the hand and point to the Star of Bethlehem and tell them that it has long shone and is still shining to direct their little feet to a haven oz rest : Jas, L. CoTrnsGHASL ; Unionhope, Nash county, H. C i j The Preacher'8 Library, etc. 1 It Is presumed that every minister of the gospel of this day appreciates tbe necessity and utility of a good library. Unfortunately many who try to preach the gospel are poorly equipped , in this respect rTbeJ preacher, to succeed .in his cherished calling, must be a student. He must study to show himself a work man approved that needeth not to be ashamed. This he can not do unless he has opportunities and helps for mental training and the attainment of knowl edge. This he can not do unless Ee baa suitable books for study. Tbe range of knowledge in his sacred calling is ex tensive. Literature and science, as well as theology, may be tributary to it As his means are quite limited usually, and his time must be economized and em ployed with a view to the greater eff eo tiveness of his ministry, books most not be selected and studied at random. The choice of a library becomes a mat ter of the greatest moment to the young preacher. To one young and inexperi enced, the advice and assistance of an intelligent and wis friend is of great service. ; The best books that the writer had in His library (which be bad the misfortune to lose by fire five years ago), were selected for: him by : Dr, John A. Broad us. . As a method of close, analyt ical study, Dr. B. suggested, as an illus tration, an analysis of MeCosb on the Divine-. Government, one of the best works of the century in metaphysical theology. A young preacher's library of to day dif fers very much from the libraries of the old preachers of half a century ago. Then Gill's Body of Divinity and Gill's Commentaries on the Sacred Scriptures, Owen's and Flavel's works were thought to be Indispensable to a good library. Among the work of minor importance found upon tbe shelves of the preacher's book-case in those times were Dod dridge's Rise and Progress, Baxter's Saint's Rst, Hall's Help to lion's Trav ellers, Booth's Reign of Grace, &o. : Tbe old Baptist preachers were, as a general thing, rigid Calvinists They were pretty well up on tbe five points. Under tbe teachings and influence of Dr. Gill's theological sentiments,- tbe vast majority of our preachers became byper Calvinists. Some of tbe Gillites became Antinomians. Tbe grace ol God was perverted into lascivioasness. All christian activities were Ignored or disapproved. Sending tbe glad tidings of salvation to the perishing heathen was derided. These were of tbe same opinion of good old John Ryland in his attempted reproof of Carey : "Sit down, young man, when tbe Lord wants tbe heathen converted, he can do it without your aid or mine." Sueh was the ten dency of theological opinion among our Baptist fathers of fifty and sixty years ago. After awhile Baptist preachers of tbe Calvanistio creed became enamored with the theology of Andrew Fuller and adopted for -tbe most part bis peculiar views and became Fnllerites instead of Gillites. Fuller was, no doubt the greatest and the soundest theologian the Baptists of modem times have pro duced. Thirty years ago no Baptist preacher, thought his library complete without tbe works of Andrew Fuller. Then also D wight's Theology and Jon athan Edwards's Works were much ad mired. The works of Dr. Dwight have fallen Into disuse, and those of Edwards are not as popular as formerly. Jay's Works, especially his Morning and Even ing Exercises, so practical and so full of tbe spirit of devotion, were mueb ad mired and sought after. In polemio theology Booth's Pedobaptism and Car son's great work on baptism occupied a conspicuous place. '-, But this is a world of chanee. Ton may examine the libraries of some of our young preaehers just from the theo logical seminaries and find but few of the works named above. In some, it is doubtful whether you win find Fuller's Works or Carson on Baptism. In this age of change and so-called progress, a new theology bids fair to come into vogue In some places. The works al ready referred to do not contain the new theology: Mr. Spurgeon, if the papers represent him justly, has left the Bap tist Union on account of the new theol ogy, The Baptist preachers, whose the ological tenets are so objectionable to Mr. Spurgeon, certainly did not get their theology from Fuller and Gill. Are we going to Germany for our theology as well as for oar classics and literature t The preacher Is, to a large extent, what hie library makes htm. How necessary that be exercise profound wisdom in se lecting his books as well as n the choice of studies. Let all bis books be subor dinated to tbe book of all books, tbe in spired word of truth, the Bible. This gives ho uncertain sound, and Bible theology is always orthodox. R. W. Farnham, Va. ' Letter from Rev. F, II. Jone, Virginia. of Dear Bro. Bailey: The figures on the wrapper of my Rkcordxr remind me that my subscription;! out - Now the dear old paper has been a welcome vis itor to my home 28 years. She has strengthened and comforted me in many trials, and encouraged aad helped me in my work through all these years. Ever watehful of the interest of the churches, constantly helping the brethren, prompt in defending the doctrines of the Bible, ana laiuuai . to every interest of the Master's cause,; she has t come along through the years of her existence, i re proving sin, correcting error, helping every good work; and has thus, under uoa, aecompiisned sv grand work and noble work for Christ and for humanity within, the bounds of the Old North state. - uer ; influence has also been helpful beyond the borders of -North Carolina.; If I were asked what should be done to further liberalize' the breth ren and develop the churches in North Carolina, I would say. "Pat the R. COSJDXH in every Baptist famOr in the State," It seems to me her Editor has of late renewed his youthful vigor.: ' He never wrote sounder, more vigorous, more ebeerful and- more helpful edito rials than he has recently done, 1 weraore, move tuat arrangements be made in the month of April at the con ference meetings of all the churches of North Carolina to put the Biblical Rscokdeb in every : Baptist family in the Su; Enclosed find t3.00 as aa invitation to tbe RxcosczBto continue ber visits to my borne. t I still give the church at Chatham half my time. There-it not as much material here as in some towns of the same size, but we have bad additions every year since we came: besides the church has Increased her gifts to benev olence fourfold in tbe last three years The brethren of this church are agltat mg tbe subject of building a new house of worship, but, as yet, have taken no steps in the matter., , ,L . s The two churches in the country that have tbe other half of my time are In a tolerably good condition, , spiritually, but I .have failed to get them to do as well for benevolence as the .Chatham church has done. One hundred and eighty persons professed at the meetings 1 aided in last vear. ' I baptized 45 of these into the fellowship of my churchesv i I Dreached last Sunday for the first time this year. vHave been suffering j from rheumatism.' bronchitis and tired nerves, all of which was aggravated bf severe cold. - I feel I am nearly myself again, and have, consequently, resumed my work: Love to all the dear brethren in North Carolina T F. H. J05K8. 1 Chatham, Va., Feb. 25, 1888. J What has Seen Done. I On the 11th of May, ' the Southern Baptist Convention will assemble in the First Baptist church, Richmond, Va., and the record of another year's work of Southern Baptists for God and man will close At that time there will pass In review2 before us the grand opportu nities God has given us for work at home and- abroad, the urgent calls he has made upon ns to enter in through many open doors to take possession of lands for him and the wanner in which we have improved or, neglected these op portunities, heeded or left nnbeeded bis calls. - What sort of record have we, as a people, made during the twelve months now nearly closed I Confining our at tention now to tbe work entrusted to the Foreign Mission Board, what sort of record have we made this year? i In China i our force of workers is smaller than it was a year ago. and in spite of earnest calls from the field and from the Board, none of our well-trained young men are offering themselves to fill tbe gaps in tbe ranks of our workers left by those who have fallen on tbe field dead or wounded. Out of 7,542 ordained ministers in our Southern States, not one is saying in answer to tbe strong cries for help coming from China, "Here am I; send me." We must turn away from this record with shame, and as we read bow few, com paratively, have been the conversions in China this year, say, " Lord, even these are more than we have deserved." Into Mexico we have sent and are send ing our money and our men, and in Mexico God is greatly blessing our work. Responses have been made or are be ing made to every call for missionaries or money, and God Is giving there anew proof of tbe sincerity of bis purpose to pour out blessings upon those who bring their tithes into bis store-house.- As yet brother McCormick has not heard any answer to bis call for a house of wor ship at Zacatecas. A church already gathered wants a home. Some yean ago we ponrcd Into Italy a stream of money, somewhat as we have been doing into Mexico of late, and at that time oor work there made rapid progress. We are not doing any enthusiastic work for Italy now, and God is doing no specially great work for ns In Italy now. We are stinting the work there, and God is stinting the blessing. We have much to be thank ful for in the work there this year, noth ing to glory In. Not much holy bold ness can well be ours as We present oar work there to the Lord, since oar evan gelists are barely supported and several of our churches are homeless. Africa has been stretching out her bands in earnest appeal for help all this year, bat to this we have replied, " We have nothing more for yon than we have given," and have sent out no new men and have given our mission aries no means for advanced work. Tbe Board has done all it could for Africa, but tbe denomination has not No holy joy will fill oar hearts as we carry oar African mission before God in May and have to say, " Here it is, Lord, like a buried talent, only what It was a year ago. We have done nothing with it" Our missionaries have labored hard and have seen some fruits of their labors, but they sadly need additional workers. From Brazil nave eome tidings ox bap tisms in various fields, bat we cannot point to any really great advance any special manifestations of God's power and grace, any great thing (done for us by our God. Bahia wants a mission house, bat none of oar people have said, "Here is the money, bay the bouse." Bio needs very mueb a church-building, but we have given tbe Board barely money enough to pay part tbe mission aries, and tbe house cannot be built . How abont oor gifts! Ten months of the Conventional ' year have passed and tbe 1,063,171 white Baptists in the South have given tbe Board, for all its work, 153,228.83. And we wonder why God 1 does" not opes the windows of heaven and poor oat great blessings on oar missions I ' The servants of this mil lion of Baptists have ventured to ask for only 100,000 with which to carry on their work for whole year, and thoagh only two , montne remsin in which to get it, some $47,000 remains to be raised." Even if it should all be paid in, bow small an offering it will be for oor God. .;, ; ..; 1 . Instead of a time of boasting, let ns make oar approaching Convention a sea son for calm, honest review of oar work and a time for humiliation, confession, prayer, repentance. Then will tbe next year witness more work done by as for God, and more blessing upon our work from Godi n i, ,: -T P. Bxll. . Richmond, Va. ; iSm'-i' -i rxvi - ' ' ' -. - -1 i ; i '. i',-:,:. A JFleaeant Surprise,: On Feb. 10th our hearts were made glad as the brethren and sisten of 81 loam, twenty odd in number, eame In, bringing with tbem baskets, v boxes, trunks and bundles containing proviso Ions, cooked and uncooked. This party of christians remained with as all day, and their warm hearts and cheerful spirits greatly animated as, and we will not forget this token of theirp preeiation, bat will bless God for giving as sueh kind friends, and will ever pray that He win feed their souls epos the oreaa ox lue, ana tnetr bodies with the good'thiogs of this world. :" - I This little eharcb was organized last fall with 35 members; it now has more than 50, and we are expecting others to join us soon. The Sabbath school is in a fionrishinr condition, conducted ty Bro. J. F, Lewis, sided by a working band of brothers and sisters. The pray-er-meeting, though not largely attended; Is interesting, and we hope very beuo ficiaL - - ' - f May the Lord make us faithful to the trust committed, and bring, ns' safely home at last s B C. SakxiLXxa. Rev John Smith Replies to his i , i" I - ' Uncle. ' " 1 RKV. A. SYDffKY SMTTHB, D. D., i Hy Dear Uncle.' Yours of a recent date reached me in doe time through tbe Recorder, and I hasten to reply; using the same medium you employed in addressing me. t .... -. m. M am sure your letter has given me cause for serious thought, especially as I am anxious to avoid your displeasure, and do my entire duty at the same time. But to do both these things seems to me now to be simply impossible. . ; One thing which did much to bring me into the ministry was an earnest de sire to begin at once the work of preach ing tbe gospel to lost . souls. My sense of their danger is so great that I cannot get tbem off my mind long enough to enable me to ge needed rest Men are perishing every day: in the week, and every hour in the day; and the number of those engaged in preaching tbe gos pel to them is so small, It seems to rue I cannot escape grievous sin. if I suffer another day to go past without calling them to repentance; and now comes your letter urging me to spend ten years in college, seminary and university 1 Surely, my dear Uncle, yoa mast be simply trying me! Yoa cannot be in earnest 1 v , f . ; Besides, it does not seem to me to be necessary to take the long coarse yoa map out for me. Yoa know I am a very good English scholar.' I have read muoh history, and I am moderately well ac quainted with literature. By judicious theological reading; and by daily study of the Bible, I ought to be able to make a useful preacher of myself, without another day at school. Do not you really think sol : . Then, the course of study yoa mark out for me is so expensive, I . see not how I am to find the means to pursue it You know my father cannot spare the money from his business to send me to school, as you suggest .How can I get the means to spend ten years in the study yoa recommend! I am not ambitious to be esteemed a great preacher, and occupy fashionable pulpits. I want to be useful in soul saving, and if I can secure that modest distinction for myself,I shall be satisfied. I am all impatience to begin my work, and I do not see how I can ever get my own consent to spend the time yoa men tion in special preparation before I en ter into that work. I am sure uncle, if yoa should see a great building, fall of Kople, on fire, yoa would not wait to come a trained fireman before rushing to their rescue 1 You would say to the fireman, " Use your special skill as fire man to the best advantage, I will rush in, and do what I can to save these peo ple now I This is no time to talk about special training 1" Vear Uncle, It seems to me this Illus tration Is apposite to the ease I am con sidering. If I am wrong in my reason ing or in my conclusion, please take the trouble to set me right I shall look for your answer in tbe Recorder with much anxiety. Yours affectionately, JoHir Smith. Letter from Texas. Written by a former Wake Forest Boy Dear Bro. Bailey: You have doubt less seen In some of the secular papers printed in Texas an account of the Con vention's convening for the purpose of obtaining excursion rates of fare for any person wishing to visit the Lone Star State. These excursion trains will run about twice per month, so as to enable any and all who are desirous to visit Texas or to immigrate here and settle, to come cheap as these times permit With reference to this movement it will not be anything bat jast for yoar readers to have both sides of their Interests clearly set before tbem ; then if anybody wishes to eome west, there is plenty of room for a great many settlers. - I am pleased with my surroundings and expect to make my home in the west; that is, near the center of Texas, in tbe town of Meridian. Should it be yoar desire to Inform yoar many readers who are strangers to Texas farms, Texas merchandise, Texas habits, Texas cli mate, Texas sunshine, Texas wind, Texas water, Texas mud and Texas po nies, it would afford me pleasure to be of any service that I may be able in that line. My stay in Texas is becoming more and more pleasant each day as 1 learn tbe better ways of life. My pas torate has been a happy one and is more so now than any time past My present home is with Col Jenkins, formerly of North Carolina," He Is a fine lawyer here and a good Baptist ' I have all the work I ean do and a reasonable salary.' I have one good hone, one good hoase,' one good lot and sometimes wish I had one good , well, a man by himself is rather lonely. We have had a great deal of rain and snow in this part of Texas this winter raining now. There is a fine' season in the earth. Wheat and oats Are fine where the farmer planted it early. There Is some sickness in this section, thoagh the general health Is good. My health is much better than it was before I eame to this State. -t .'; . .. I wish to attend the Southern Baptist Convention at Richmond, if I , ean get off that far and long. , Yours fraternally, '1 E. Ward. Meridian, Texas, Feb. 23, 1888. Ordination. Oa first Sunday In February, 1888, at 11:30 o'clock, a large congregation was assembled at Tolarsville Baptist church to witness the ordination to the full work of the ministry of Brother , E. Blount The ordaining presbytery.called by the church, consisted of Elders A. R, Fittman, J. G. Fisher and E- D. John son. Bro. Johnson was not present ; After a satisfactory examination of the candidate as to christian experience, tne coctnues ox tne tame and ca'i to the ministry, the presbytery proceeded to the ordination as follows: Brother Fittman preached the sermon (in which was also the charge) from 2 Cor; 4 : 0 "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus tbe Lord; and oorselvr your ser' vanis ior jesus' sake." The sermon was Impressive full of the gwpel. -The ordination prayer was offered by Bro." Fisher. He also presented tb Bible with appropriate remarks. , Bro. Pitt man then gave the eharcb a charge, affer which the congregation 'was dismissed; xro. jMoani pronouncing tne- benediO, tion.-,- -. f ; The services were Impressive, solemn and enjoyable. 1 Bro. Blount was raised among us, enjoys our confidence, and we pray for his success. - J. A. Fisher, Church Clerk. '' Tolarsville, Feb. 23, 1S88. - i , Letter ftotn. Brother Cobb.. Lilesville aad the, Baptist laterests of ! ; -nliie Section, ,-1 M ,ir., ,t i There Is just now av splendid opening at Lilesville for a young; active. Intelli gent , Baptist physician. The commu nity U largely Baptist one of ourreai 'dent physicians has 1 left said : tbe other, has been sick for some time with a ehronle trouble. If yoa know the right man, send him on. The man of whom I wrote to yoa and .Woodson lives at Morven.'7 He wants to leave the county, and locate near a female' college to complete the education of his daugh ter. , : There . is a ; splendid opening here now for a Baptist physician and a drug store. 1 We have two schools, one primary, taught by Mrs. , Dr. Jackson, and one preparatory for college, taught by my daughter. This is decidedly the healthiest place I have' found In North Carolina, and I've tried every section of the State from the seaboard to the mountains ; but oar Baptist hosts are not as aggressive as they are in some other sections, and there is, great finan cial depression among the farmers owing to short crops, all cotton, mortgages, &9.t before last year. r " : f 1 i Many valuable farms have been sold under mortgage' for eaSh in this and Richmond county. Lands are remark ably low lower than they have been for twenty years,, . It Is a good time to boy farma in Anson, because they can "be had for cash for about half their real value, and there' is not a county in the State where the average Intelligence of tbe country people surpasses this. There are fifteen Baptist churches in the county with a membership' of about 1,500. Tbe Executive Committee of the Anson 'Association is composed of a board of seven members, with tbe officers of the Association and all the pastors ex officio members of the same.. This enables tbem to speak on any subject aa the representatives of tbe sentiment of the Association. At a called meeting held last December, they recommended the purchase and equipment of Carolina College at Anson vi He on condition that neighboring Associations would Join tbem in tbe enterprise, and that the cost of the property should not exceed a lim ited amount Tbey have a great oppor tunity now before them if they can only raise the money to purchase and equip this property. Six thousand dollars will buy and equip school property, such as cannot be had elsewhere in tbe South for three times that amount ' I'm glad that you've been able to con solidate the two Baptist papers of the State. - It would be a good idea to consoli date the two conventions, provided the State were divided into, three sections, eastern, middle and weetern,wlth the un derstanding that the annual sessions of the Baptist State Convention should ro tate from one of these seetions to the other. The extension and multiplica tion of our railroads la the State and the rapid growth of oor towns in the welt and Piedmont section will very soon en able us to do this. ' I need not assure yoa egain that I am more than pleased with the editorials In the Recorder. That on public libra ries In a recent Issue is as timely as those: on State and Foreign Missions. The farmers are now organizing.;:, Why not suggest that they establish small public libraries In connection with their clubs and alliances. Tbe majority of oor peo ple are farmers. ' To reach these we most have means of Information beyond the public libraries in the towns. We must have them in the country. Why could not oar churches make arrange ments for schools and libraries connected therewith not simply S. S. libraries, bat libraries of general information. The farmers' boys and girls would thus have an opportunity of improving them selves. During the long winter-nights tbey might have their reading-clubs and public debates, and these school-houses and tbe eoontry society might be made as attractive as that of the town, and this would be one means of stopping the rush from the country to the town for the sake of more cultured society, Good academies with public reading rooms and libraries would do a great deal to-ward educating and uplifting the Jireat majority of our Baptist people who ive in the country. ' Youn fraternally, ' N. B. Cobb. My Opinion of 1'rotractetl 1 ings, " Meet- : 1. Preaching ones a month Is better than none at all; preaching twice a month Js better than once a mouth) bat preaching . every Sunday and prayer meeting ones or more during tbe week is better still. ; Now if more frequent religious services, are A blessing, it will, certainly be a good thing for God's' people to . meet every day, or twice every day, for a week , or a month, at some suitable ; time : during . tbe year. - Many a time persons hear the gospel and receive impressions at our regular services; but it is so long before another service, that the impression is dissipated. Obviously when another sermon Is preached the next day after the Impression is made-there is greater probability of continuing and deepening the Impression. Hence 1 believe in pro tracted meetings, - because tbey: bring more preaching of the Gospel. . , ; 2. The Scriptures teach that it is the duty of christians to be ," diligent in business" as well as "fervent in spirit;" "to labor with their hands," as well as "to forsake not the assembling of them selves together.! These duties ought not to conflict Where there Is real eoofllct between these things, the claims of tbe spiritual must be paramount to! tbe claims of the temporal; baft it will' rarely be necessary for as to neglect the temporal- to give proper attention to tbe ' spiritual. Hence it seems to me that, as a general rule, protracted meet logs should be held at a time of com parati ve leisure among tne people of the ecmmanltyv;fcfr?v im" - S. There Is danger that annual pro trscted meetings 'Win '.be abused by some: and preaehers . and people need to keep It constantly Impressed on their tulnds y that Iber Gospel, ! ' whenever preached, lsf "the. power ? of 'God ttnto: salvation fHeoe we ugbt to labor, and pray and expect that sinners may be inverted at oor regular ; services,' without waiting fbt the protracted meet Jug. ' Bat the fact that some are In dan ger of ' depending too taaeb on : the protracted meeting does not demand th otter abolltlotj .of these epeelal services. - - ' 4. Tbe 'means to be nsed In these meetings Is the faithful presentation of the word of Gor "publicly and from hoose to bouse," Tbe only hope fomal good from this labor Is in tbe blessing of God upon the means used. Men are naturally disposed to trust to human agencies, and there Is great danger that laborers in such meetings will put feel ing, - or excitement, 1 or the altar, (!) or the v mourner's . bench, or the anxious seat, or some other human device above the God-appointed., instrument the preaching of the word. There, is dan ger' that persons' seeking religion will trust in something else besides the in working of the Holy Spirit applying the blood . of Christ to cleanse from sin.' There Is need, therefore, of great care at this point' ' v. ; 1 5. If persons are received for baptism during such meetings, more , than usual "care should, be exercised in -examining them publicly and privately that none may be received Into the church with out the grace of God in the heart -tm ;vtsi -5S:nG.:WGKKKatBui .WQMAS'S MISSIQXAUr DEPARTMENT : Http tkost wmtn liek tahrttt wit A mt 1 - tht ctjt:' phu. 4: 3,-.. - t A Question Answered. t - BY JKffiriB HAW A. . f: , , (Conclude..) ' M Ladles, you who are seeking for Its own sake that worthy and beautiful possession which we oall " culture," do yoa know another ; calling . where- you can nse a broader culture, or vitalize It with a loftier purpose ! The Obstacles which hinder bur reaching the ideal are manifold. : The women who do the mis sionary work: are generally the ones who carry the hardens of . church work in every department.' " Children and homes U be cared for, inefficient servants or none at ' all, - little money i to buy iuls. slonary literature, little .time to read if we had it; all these are but a few of hindrances so real and so common that I have digressed from what to do to bow to do it, because any plans for hard working women must face the difficul ties of the situation.. Let us,' however, aim no lower than the ideal. Remem bering that if there be "first k willlDgf mind, it is accepted according to that a man AoXA, and not according to that he hath not" What we want then, sec ondly, Is a short, bright; breezy pro gramme, which shell inform the Inter ested and interest the uninformed. I think a plan I have recently heard sug gested, of a few minutes devoted by the leader to actual Instruction, might be made to work well. The magazines are of necessity always ia the middle of tbe subject It takes muoh time and' re search to go back to the beginning.' Statistics are necessary to full knowl edge, yet not often fascinating; though they sometimes prove startling facta. Let the leader then begin with her con densed statement of facts concerning the country for the day; Let ber be fol lowed by members with earef ully pre pared papers, talks or . extracts which will bring oot the salient points, , One person is better than a committee to jlan such a programme, as onltf will be insured thereby Don't try to tell all there is to ; tell about a field, or to put an encyclopedia Into a ten-minute talk. For instance; . Two graphic pictures, each or which ean be given In four mm tea, of an itinerating ' tour In China twenty years ago, and to-day will give a truer idea of the progress of the gos pel during that time, than an hour tell ing wno went to emus and when, and who went next, where they lived, and when. they went home again, etc, etc What we want to know is what God has done through those laborers toward Dnnging unina into tne kingdom, it reads Uk a romance sometimes, and so 00 tne letters ox tne missionaries. - Our magazines have some of the brightest and spicest of letten. Have one read occaslcnally. Tbe' whole ' question of 'missionary literature is pertinent to, this phase of the subject, but I must not touch upon it Une cannot teach without knowing. One cannot present the essential fea tures of a subject without a fair know! edge of the whole. There Is the greatest abundance of material to make a meet ing both instructive and entertaining. Study thoroughly, select judiciously, throw your whole soul into the work, and It would seem Impossible to fell of success, and yet without oor third point carried, the other two may fail of at least half their fores. . Just because our work does require spirituality, energy and faithful study, must we see to It that no effort is lost, or comes at all short of accomplishing Its greatest possible result by lack of business-like transaction of all proceed ings. .,,s j: rf 1Jr ...... -r,.j ,'4 .. ; This does not mean strangling the life' of tbe meeting with unnecessary yards of red tape, bat It does mean obedience to the command, "Be ; not slothful in business, fervent In spirit, serving the Lord." Do we not forget sometimes that it is tbe Lord we are to serve In every detail I i What soul will be lifted by the most earnest prayer, inaudibly murmured t What thrilling Incident will not fall flat If read in a lifeless monotone, or stumb ling over because It has not been read beforehand I, , , ,,, . ! If repeating Scripture, prophecies and promises is part of your programme, don't wait until yoar time comes and than despairingly torn over the pages of your Bible for a suitable verse. What ever time be set, begin promptly, move briskly and close on time. Most of tbe papers and talks will be more valuable if boiled down to eome within required limits. The . simple rules of parliamen tary practice necessary to make things rah smoothly, are within the reach of any woman, Is it not a fact that five, ten, fifteen minutes, on fourth ol our Srecious hour, are often wasted by the ragging of business: by waiting for the second to a motion, for a name to be written on an envelope while tbe trees urer standi 1 j by the necessary repeating of remarks which the speaker made first behind tbe ladles and sitting down. and when the should have stood facing tbem f J tn-thi, .' f ui H & t 4 How ean ice impress outsiders with tbe dlgtlty of a work In which we are eo laborers with God himself if we coo duet It la any snob slipshod fashion f i 1 It may be hard td lead ls prayer or to cju-et lutttrial lor av paper, in some few ca-a it may even be impossible. but to be clear, prompt methodical, wb any woman of average brain (do any of us lay claim to less I) ean be that If it i uot tiatural It ean be cultivated by the same patient persevering deter- mioatloB, by which we learn to be pro flcient in hoflsrkeepine, literature or arc If we eould .but get bold of the troth that there f nothing little, notb lug nnlmportant in our service for God, bow maty of these easy things, which we make e.s bafd. would we do differ' eolly. 1 4 1 have not inenllaned many tblntrs which help to produce a successful mis ooary meetings i Those-three aeeomi pushed will Involve most of the others ,) Whether we have much or little time, , s or strength.' or Intellectual ability, let 1 us give our' Lord and Master our very best. !' "- .'- -;n '-54 h-i He can use very few loaves and very ,;i small fishes to feed a multitude, and we f , may rejoice that " God's greatness flows , i - ' -1 JProgree$i-'-'- :-s-'? Rev. a F. Smith. D. D the author , of " America," , and -many , beautiful ehrlstatn hymm sends io the young p&o-: . Ke who read Tht Ainy s Messengers tna llowlng statement Of lmrxrtaht facts. They prove that our mission work la no douotlul experiment bulk an enterpriie, ,t upon which the Lord hat shed hU rich est blessing la-the past; and which 1s' " full bf hope for the fatoraJ-laM r f -- The . missionary work 01 American i n Baptists, oovers a - period. , of seventy ,, tbree yean. The first station was com menced in 1814 j the first baptism was in -1 1819: so that the flfsti six; years wereT' purely seed sowing, and not reaping. r.it.,?, At the end ox ten years, mere was one . church in the Asiatic field, with eighteen '"!, members.1 ' The 'first' ten yean Included rr .discouragement self -denial persecution, But from, the beginning, including tneee , , ten years,' one Baptist church has been" organized lu our mission Held on ah' at-il erage; every twenty o&e days, 1 that Is ohe every three , weeks, or seventeea.it.. every j-ear, during the entire period, t)t; j lot Dumotro uspuiiui uu.vecu, vu ah average,' m6re than 8,000 every yeaf."'1 or more than 238,000 Id all 1m the ivi enty-three years; that Ms, about elgbt,, every, day, or one every three hqun.day and night, for the whole period. '"Many of the baptisednearly one half 'have ' joined the multitudes in heaven,, slng-T teg tne new song ox redeeming love. i In 1819 there was one baptism in ooti- . nection with bur' work fin-188$, 9,341 In e 1824 there -werey living eighteen members In 18S6,a23,88CW -n - vi The work was begun in .1814, with a t treasury containing $1,230.26: in 1887,' '. the amount received was e5i,8a.oi.' ! In 1814 the whole missionary force was two,? Mr. and Mrs. Jadson ia 1887 m r S4 - JJir LiiiUw-tiis . ; 10 xoit vur uuiy uitstuouary ueiu mm Burma; in 1886, Burma; India, "Assam,1 ' China, Japan, France, Spain. Germanyit ' Sweden, Denmark,: Norway, ; Finland, i Turkey, Kussia, Ureece, .the gpngo I Do you BettevzUft, i Not very long' a go a Hindu lady'hadT With a group of other ! listener, been i drinking in, from a missionary, tne xt planatlon of the way "God so loved tbe, . world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth In Hint should not perish, but have everlasting" life,", when she suddenly eiclaliuedi-Tu; 1 I VJDOTOtt eHilkBJM yon believe Itt" , . " 7 . , ' s "Yes, Mohlnf ; of course I"beHeve itA It Is God's own message to us alL'J I ant i reading it to you from His word,'? t! .,iai i i "Ah, I know; but Mem Sahib, do you believe He gave His' Son to die tot ut ' miserable ' Hindu women as well as 'for-f you English ladles; do yoa believe thatM and do your people at home believe IttlV 1 "Mohini, yes; we all, believe it; It Is i ( God's glad tidings to. us all, to you and to us allks; yes, we all believe It " '' 1 "Then why, oh why, dld;younota dome sooner, and bring more with you. to tell us all, this good news T sobbed, poor Mohini. Hindu Women. ' " " : i . -t ' -i-- t u a j s-a.'l wn-t'-vMion . ) ! br iHw'l...iAiflit ,4iJ8i'.t1i, irVhat Is a Chinese woman like! Bh ti !t Very like you and I, let us never forget that Few Chinese women are "huuior 6us," few, alas, are "handy with a bee die," very few, to me, are 'fascinating, f and yet they have loves, and cares, and V; anxlettes,and hopes, much like ours, and christianized, they become one with en, some of tbem such characters as we truly enloy. who, with their loving; childlike s faith, can teach us grand lessons. Many . r Such, I am not ashamed, to say, t have , ; learned from two of our Bible womeb, ' one of them,5 for over fortyyean wor shipped idols, and burned ineense In the temples and In her home, but 'cever , got peace," she heard through a. little' child one day, of a Sunday-school; Mrs. Farnham bad started for "outslden," J and asked if she might attend. A .There ; t She .beard of, the , true way, and almost j Immediately accepted It; . For ten years' and more she has lived; and worked and' grown into the knowledge of Qod, Hill t to day she is such a lovely chritlfln4 eha.raetar as. we rarelv see at home.. A K few vears airo. God took ud hlzber the i one little cnna tnat came, to ner axier her conversion s she had kVed btr taore-!' than the other children, because she had t loved ber in the Lordi bn when , tbe H child died she. was afraid she would: bring disgrace on Chttst by seeming tor grieve Over what He bad done.'' Sbet' went among her inends and neigbP0BT it telling them they must not imagine she) f thought hard of God; He had done all, right, He had taken her little girl first only to take " better eare-' of ber, and leave herself iteet to work for Hlm.-.i Selected. .f.-.yh if w5 Tbe Baptist women ol South Caro Una, through their women's missionary societies; gate' last " year ; to 1 missions ! f 2,788.74. fa Let their good works stir the j North Carolina . women; to greater , en , deavors. , -, - , .-,..,. The women of the Methodlst.Chureh; South, gave to missions last year $30, -000. ' f Tbe "North Carolina women's- mlssloosry societies giving 41,700, and the children's societies soven- ors eighty hundred. '''.' ' vv, . 1 , The foreign Minion Journal makes, a strong appeal to the " Trained Young Mloisters of ? tbr South, ; that two of their number flW themselves for work f in China, - Of the forty applications be,f fore the Board, none are willing to enter . this flldl where men must be sent noil). The klng'idMues requires baste-; i l A un. deal of t stent Is lost to .the -world for, the want of a little courage. Every day sends to their grates a tiura-'' ber of obscure men who hsrsonlv re mained obscure because their timidity f bas prevented them from making a first -a f ': Any Sodefy not receiving monthly as' package of missionary literature, rwilt greatly oblige - the Woman's Cenfrftt Committee of 'Missions by Mnd'iog 'the name and postofSce adrts of Us prefi dent and secretary to ' : " 1 1 " Miss FAXiril5. lliat Raleigh, N.C.
The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 14, 1888, edition 1
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