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' • . I THM LUTUEKAN VIHITOH Pebmary 6, 1902 NBIDFUL PUBUCITY. That tbe poino of tbecbriat«DiT feaHt ia over we rejoice; bat li.o pendulum baa now arayed to an- otberexireme do leas deplorable. We refer to a popular deaire for private baptism when there is no neoeaaity for its being private. People want tbe pastor to come into their homes and baptise their children, thus making them i.em- bera of tbe church without tbe knowledge or oouaent of tbe cborob. Bat tbe aacrament of baptiana and likewise the rite of confirmation are both services of tbe chord) and should be poblie. When childred are baptised, we repeat, they are thereby received into tbe church, and has the cborob nothing to do with tbe re ception of new memberst The church is a spiritual prieett >od and baa tbe priesthood of beluv- rs nothing to do with tbe eona<<'ia- lion of fsllo*'priest t Moreover tbe eoogregan n is boond ins measure for the penp« r training of tbe child as it i« rt- aponsible for tbe proper condoot of all its members and most dis cipline tbe offspring. Hence it follows (bet bsptism sboold be ad* laiuiatenil in the presence of tbe congregation at the repolar or a special service, "that tbe entire congregation may not only be re minded of tbs necessity and use of baptism, bat sleo admonished aod moved to invoke tbe name of Qod over toe child, by which through baptism it ia planted in onr Lord Jems Christ and received into tbe oommauity of His church.” This is not saying the child may be baptised nowhere else bat in ihe church, for if on account of weakness or other hindrance it cannot be ao baptized, it may be baptised at any suituble time and. place. But, ordinarily, baptism should bo administered at a public service "at tbe earliest time possi ble after biith.” E A. R. request baa been presented every December since, and there are some who read their Bible every year, bat tbe Dumber has been growing gradually leas until the ptat December only 14 handed in their names as having read tbe whole Bible. I still find profes sors of religion who have never read tbe whole of God’s will. 1 think it will be a sad time for one who can read to tell God on the judgment day that they bad never read Bin will. Now aod then we find • hone where they have no Bible, bot most home* have them, but they do not lead them. If it were tbe will of any other person they would stadionsly look within to see wbst was there for them. In the fall speciNl efforts of a week's preaching were held in three of our chmchee wjjb bnt little apparent success, but tbe good seed has been so «n and we look to God for the hervest. The new year ba« b-ought very inclement weather «•••( some Sun days no one can get to chorch in the country. Oar work is still go ing on with signs of improvement along some lines. W. Y. Cline. Hpnngwood, V» , Jan. 20, 1902. VROM JACKSORVILLI, FLA. BIBLE READING. In order to stimulate Bible read ing in December, 1894, I asked my people to join me in reading tbe whole Bible daring tbe year 1895. As a result in December of that year 43 persons handed me their names as having read the Bible and 15 the New Testament within tbe year. Some bad read the New Testament and psalms; some bad read the, Bible twice and some the Testament twice, &o. The same As reference has been made in a recent issue of The Visitor to tbe work here and tbe delay in rebuild- ing tbe chorch it will not be ont of place to say a few things. We are well aware that very many are interested in ns and are anxiously . waiting lor the news to go ont that tbe new church is in process of erection. The delay thus far has been unavoidable. Bat it is hoped matters will soon be in shape to begin. As yon, Mr. Editor, have already told yonr readers how much money has come in for the building fnnd it is needless to re peat here. We trust no one will conclude that the'amonnt is quite enough, or that we sbonld receive no more. To any snch we say we are still calling for what was first asked. Doubtless not a few who have not yet put some bricks in tbe new structure are debating the subject with themselves and will be content to see others struggling to accomplish a work that they could easily facilitate. Let every one keep this in mind: When we begin to boild and find fonds run ning low onr call will be renewed with as moot) urgency as at first. Kind friend, don’t spoil yonr good intention to help ns. We shall most thankfully receive any and all contributions, however/ small. Many littlea will make something large. Make yonr prayers for us effectual by your contribution that will help and cheer. In asking God to help ns rebuild tbe church in Jacksonville, don’t forget that yon are asking Him to open yonr heart and hand to send yonr share. Occasionally a friend suggests that we keep tbe matter before tbe churches. We have tried to do this. And in many instances promises and pledges have preceded tbe contributions. Nor are all tbe promises yet re deemed. Bat they will be. Let this serve as a gentle reminder to all who have said: "Will send something later on.” We need tbe contribution from every pas tor and friend who expressed a willingness to assist in rebuilding onr chorch. Whatever yon send will bs well invested, and will re turn to yon and yonrs m spiritual blessings, for so is tbe divine promise. Some contnbntions, sent months ago by check and poateffle^ order, were only recently received. Tbe originals being lost duplicates had to be obtained. A few are etill “wandering up and down creation,” or are hopelessly ob •cured. We kindly rrqnest tbe generona senders to secure dupli cates and forward to us. We also request those who sent something for “immediate relief” at first, aod promised to “help rebnild the church,” to send their contribution. It is necessary that we get all we can at an early day in order to go on with our plans. 8. 8 R AS OTHERS SEE US. y It happened in a business office the other day. Indulging tbe lax- nryofaspare moment the prop rietor sat down for a little talk with a near by pastor who chanced to come in. The order of discus sion was sermons of the preceding ■Sunday. The business man was very much pleased with what he considered a particularly fine ser mon by bis own pastor and be was eloquently reviewing it for the benefit of his clerical visitor. Finally, as if to account for snih sermomo success, he observed, “a well paid ministry generally preach es well.” The puzzled expression of all present, tbe pastor included, induced the following explanation: “When a scarcely living salary has long been nnpaid and temporarily becomes a serious qnestion indeed, a minister is to a certain extent nn- fl t^d for tbe duties of his high cal ling. He is not so much con cerned abont the wants of a most literal tomorrow aa be is perplexed at tbe demands of a most sadlyim- provided for today. The cold is upon him and he has no fuel for bis fire, his larder is empty, the cloth ing of himself aud his own is sore- iy insufficient for winter's chill. When a man gets up a sermon to tbe tone of on empty floor barrel and unpaid bills interrupt tbe stream of holy thought and when the wolf of nomerons want comes bowling aronnd his door; bow esn a man preach as though be had never a care in the world f And when Sunday comes the peopls ex pect a man to be as brilliant as if bis salsry was paid op a hondted years in advance and a grand com petency settled on him for life be sides.” Bnt, said a bystanding mechanic for whose religions inclinations ws cannot vonch, “if 1 wereaminister and my salary promised quarterly was not paid at tbe end of the first quarter, I should not preach again till it was paid.” This declaration provoked n Inugb, bnt Ihe man was serioos. “If a man does not pay me,” be eontioned, “wbea he promises, I simply qait till bs l does or seek employment else where.'' That ie tbe way tbs world does business, aod most tbs church fall behind! Now, no minister would think of doing snch a thing, bnt who will cast the first stone at the mechanic! It is sometimes interesting to se« our troubles as others see them. These reflections may set some to thinking—perhaps yon have paid every one else, bnt bow abont yonr pastor! Poorly Paid. ^ The dedioition of a new German Lutheran church in Florence, Italy,' is the subject of special mention by a correspondent of tbe Herald and Presbyter. The church i consecrated on December 1st. Tbe correspondent says that the cert' mony made a good impression on the public, which seems not willinfi j at all to renew the persecutions of the past.” Mr. Sanders, a United Norwegi* 1 Missionary in Madagascar, nonnees tbe baptizing of 26 nativ in one day, who were thus added] to the congregation.