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Baptist News from the States
The Tennessee Baptist, 1885
      TENNESSEE. - The mission meeting in Smyrna church, Duck-river Association, held recently, is reported to have been quite profitable and enjoyable, notwithstanding the weather was unpleasant. - A correspondent of our Chattanooga contemporary writes thus from this city; "The Central church is jubilant over the prospect of the early completion of her house of worship. The building committee [sic] have received instructions to proceed forthwith. Pastor Lamar is having large Sunday-morning congregations, who are attracted by sermons on the life of Christ. Additions to the church by letter and baptism are frequent." - We are pleased to report that the First church of this city is still making progress, receiving members from time to time. Two were admitted to membership the third Sunday evening in December. The congregations are quite full and appreciative, and Pastor Venable's sermons are such to awaken spiritual life and activity. The question of improving the old building is being agitated to some extent. - Missionary Hughes of this city is vigorously prosecuting the work committed to his charge. The Chelsea mission Sunday-school had quite an interesting entertainment Friday evening of last week. - Though confronted by much opposition the cause is prospering at Boon Creek. - A good report was sent out from interesting meetings In Jonesboro church a few weeks back. A correspondent writes from there to the Chattanooga paper: "The interest has been growing in our church for two months, or more, till now we are in the midst of a glorious revival. We have had daily service during the past two weeks. Many have professed conversion, and others are inquiring. At the beginning of the meetings the converts were mostly from the children of the Sunday-school, who surprised many old Christians by their intelligent understanding of sin and salvation. The work is now taking hold upon the old ones." The Bartlett church, twelve miles from this city, has a real gem of a house now, since she recently submitted it to a thorough course of repair. - J. D. Anderson writes to Chattanooga from this county: "My dear little church, Eudora, has been kalsamined, and will soon be carpeted. The Ladies' Aid Society turned over one hundred dollars to the church for improvement. How many members in this society, do you ask? About eight. Out; West Tennessee sisters are workers. The brethren rejoice with them, and work hopefully themselves. Our house, being built by Sister Brooks, assisted by her husband, will be completed next week." - Little-doe Baptist church, Johnson county, was much revived through twelve days' labor of our missionary, Eld. J. J. Cole. There were There were twenty-five additions, twenty-two by baptism. So reports our correspondent from that section. - Eld. C. C. Brown recently aided Pastor J. W. Whitlock in meetings in Jonesboro.

      ALABAMA.- Revivals have been quite general throughout the State. The short crops seem to have dampened the ardor of the brotherhood, and produced quite a degree of Indifference. - Bro. King of Georgia has moved into the vicinity of Howel's Cross Roads. - Bro. Ewing was lately ordained to the diaconate by the Tate's-chanel church. - The Board of Ministerial Education has asked Pastor Davidson of Marion to meet the young ministerial students of Howard College, in a class, one night each week, to instruct them in theology. - The Oxford people hope Eld. I. U. Wilkes will preach for them next year. - Eld. E. K. Baber will preach two Sundays in each month for the Shiloh church. - Eld. J. M. Fortune is pastor in Coillrene. - Eld. T. P. Gwin reports ninety-six additions to the four churches he serves since last August. - G. W. Coker of Mount Willing has recently been bereaved of his wife and of his father. - Dr. W. C. Stewart of Twin Creek rises before day on Sunday, and rides many miles to see his patients, no matter how inclement the weather, that he may return in time to carry his family to the Sunday school, and to meet his class.

      GEORGIA. - The wife of Eld. J. W. Pullen died in Cave Spring December the ninth [1884]. - The Index has been much improved, now being issued in a tinted cover. - Eld. J. A. Ivey preached his farewell sermon at Talbotton the seventh of December. - The New Era of that town says of him: "Our people love this good man, and are sorrow-stricken at his departure from our midst." He has gone to Texas. - The church in Harrison is going to build a new house. - Eld. J. T. Kimlbell has retired from the pastorate of the McDonugh church, at the end of the twelfth year. He leaves only five members in the church who were there when he first became pastor. - It has been found necessary to heat the new house of worship in Washington with stoves instead of a furnace. - Eld. H. Hatcher of Richmond, Va., took Dr. Wharton's place on the Christian Index. - The ministers of Augusta and Columbia, S. C., and those near the railroad between the two places, have organized a Berean club, for mutual improvement. - Eld. S. P. Callaway will be pastor of Long-cane Baptist church this year. - The music of the choir of the Savannah church is not surpassed south of Baltimore. - Eld. B. M. Pack will be the pastor of Shiloh and Milltown churches this year. - Eld. H.P. Buchanan has moved to Conyers. - Eld. W. L. Geiger takes up his residence In Alapuha, and will preach to churches in Berrien county. He in also a teacher of much ability. - One hundred and seven persons have been immersed into the LaGrange church since last April. - Eld. W. A. Brooks has gone from Madison to Monroe, Walton, county.

      MISSISSIPPI. - Eld. A. Gressett has resigned the pastorate of the Calvary Baptist church, Meridian, on account of lack of time to attend to the duties required. - Eld. W. W. Crawford has been invited to assume pastoral relations to the Calvary church of Meridian. -The Columbus church has not yet made a call to any one to become her pastor. The committee of correspondence is making inquiries as to a suitable man.

      TEXAS. - A course of meetings in Crockett resulted in seventeen joining the church. Bro. J. T. Heflin writes of the pastor: "He is a true minister, and one of the first preachers of Texas. His congregations are growing fast, and his preaching is listened to with profound reverence; in a word, he is the man for our town and church." - Mrs. and Bro. T. J. Donaldson both died pneumonia about the middle of December. - Eld. J. C. Bumpass has gone to Farmersville, Collin county, from Milwood. Eld. R. A. Massey has resigned charge of the churches at Anderson and Navasota. - The Baptists of the State are not only supporting the missions in Saltillo, Mexico, in charge of Bro. W. D. Powell, who is under the appointment of the Southern Baptist Convention, but are building a house for our Northern brethren in their station in Monterey. - The Kaufman church has enjoyed very great blessings during the year just closed. - The cause in Webbervllle has recently been blessed by the Lord, and six were immersed into the fellowship of the church. - Bro. E. W. Holman of Dennison has been elected pastor of the church in San Saba.

      VIRGINIA. - Mrs. W. W. Landrum is reported in quite feeble health, and is with her parents near Boston, Mass. - Eld. A. E. Owen has been pastor of the Court-street church, in Portsmouth, thirteen years. - Eld. Donaldson's church, in Portsmouth, is moving boldly in favor of a new house. - Bro. C. W. Wooldridge of Richmond has presented the Powhatan church a handsome Bible and hymn-book. - Sister Margaret Rogers of Accomac county died December the fifth. - Sister E. A. Johnson died at her home in Scottsville two or three weeks since. - Bro. J. D. Bagby of the Peterville church died two or three weeks ago.

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Miscellaneous Baptist News

      Furman Unlverslty has enrolled seventy-three students the current session, of which number fifteen expect to enter the ministry.

      The first Baptist church In Newbury, Mass, which is nearly two hundred and fifty years old, has lately installed its twelfth pastor.

      Irish papers say that Hugh D. Brown, barrister-at-law has accepted the pastorate of the Lower Abbey-street church, Dublin.

      Rev. H. A. Woods of Toledo, Ohio, has been called to succeed the late Dr. Hornberger in the Gethsemane Baptist church, Philadelphia.

      The Trinity church of Camden has received two hundred members within the last two years, and the income has been more than doubled.

      In 1792 the first Baptist missionary society was formed, with the slender sum of seventy dollars as a nest-egg for future operations.

      The Ongole Baptist Association held its second anniversary in August. The native churches are progressing in church-life and in self-support.

      Rev. George Dowling not being willing to accept a call from the Marcy-avenue Baptist church, Brooklyn, he is looking southward for a pastor he has long desired.

      The Indians in East Mississippi, who have been baptized, are remarkable for their fidelity to their profession, not one having come under church discipline.

      The oldest church in the Southern States, the First Baptist church of Charleston, S. C., dates her organization at Kettery [Kittery], Maine, whence she emigrated, in a body, to the neighborhood of Charleston.

      The work In Japan continues to grow, and additions are reported from all parts of the country. A theological school has been opened in Yokohama, to prepare young men to be pastors of the Japanese churches.

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[From The Tennessee Baptist, January 3, 1885, p. 8. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall]



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