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About Weekly constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 185?-1877 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 1868)
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTIONALIST- Church and State- < Father Hecker, of the Catholic Church, de livered a lebture on this subject iu Chicago, a few days since, which was numerously attended. , The following is the gist of his discourse : ' Some men imagine that religion is not ne- ' cessary to political institutions, but religious ; sanction, all will agree, is necessary to the sta bility of political' truth. An examination of political truth will reveal religious truth as es sential to political success. Witness ancient Rome ; the emperor was ruler and pontifex maxima*. and to deny the existence of the gods was a great crime. With them religion and patriotism went hand in hand. Coming down to Christianity, the relation was the same—the support ot religion was deemed indispensable to the perpetuity ot the state. In the 16th century, the relation between church and state was changed ; the innovations ot Protestanism gave the supremacy to the state. The (founders of this Government did not believe in the supremacy ot either church or State, they believed in an identification of both. An Oath to support the Government, a recognition of religion, was required of all. In America, religion cannot be separated from our political condition. Christianity permeates everything, and cannot be separated from our institutions. The church and state cannot be divided. Our forefathers believed this, and Gregory XIX. exclaimed : “ Among all coun tries, the exercise of Catholicity is not so tree as in the United States.” Washington was in favor of the identity of church and state, and in his farewell address alluded to them. Plato said : “ Another religion, and you de stroy the state.” Religion is the foundation of the state. Political investigation comes iu con tact with religious dogmas. What form of re ligion then comes iu contact with our political institutions ? This Government was founded upon the principle that man has the inherent quality of self-government. Hence in this countrv the freedom of election and of fran chise. ' All that distinguishes America from other countries is the confidence which she places in the capacity of mankind. The ques tion then arises : What form of Christianity teaches those principles most in accordance with our political institutions ? Some person had said that Protestanism had given us our religious freedom. In examining this the speaker desired to be regarded as un biased or impartial. Protestantism tells us that by the tall man become thoroughly de praved and incapable of penitence. This is Protestanism; none can deny it. Luther said: “ Sin is not a phenomena of our nature, it is out nature itself.” Melancthon said: “It is sufficient for a Christian to know that all en deavors of man are sins.” The lecturer then went on to quote asser tions from. Protestant in support -err ins principles, adducing Calvin, Wesley, and many others. In the recent Evangelical alli ance in England, it was essential, according to one of the tracts of the organization, to believe in the depravity of man. Il man is utterly de praved, and Protestantism is true, how can man be capable of self-government ? One elimi nates the other. If one is true, then the other is false. The lecturer then alluded to the civilization and growth of America, and the decay of Pro testanism, because its tenets were incompati ble with the institutions of the country. [From the Chicago Times. Methodists and Baptists. It is not long since the Baptist brethren honored Chicago by assembling here, through their representatives, from all parts of the country. At the present moment, another equally powerful body has met in Chicago to discuss the situation" and arrange affair's per taining to its organization. One who belongs to neither of these bodies will find some curious facts in examining them together. In numbers, the Baptist and Metho dist denominations are more powerful than any Other two religious organizations in this coun try. Taken together, they include about one quarter of the population of the United States. One of the most singular of the facts shown by comparing these two bodies is, that, while they are the most powerful in numbers and in fluence, they are, in a great many respects, the exact opposites of each other. Particularly is this so in the matter of government. The Baptist denomination is the purest and most simple form of democracy in existence.— Nobody, in it, has any power over anybody else. Each church, while a member of a cer tain district, is yet entirely independent in its action. In no case is there any recognized authority, save the will of a majority. In all its acts, a deacon or a pastor amounts to just precisely as much as his vote counts, and no more. This other equally powerful denomination proceeds upon a course the precise reverse oi the Baptists. In its operations, ministers are everything—the people nothing. Lay members foot all the bills, and are the bone and sinew of the organization; and yet have as little to do with governing themselves as have the subjects of the Tycoon of Japan. In government, Meth odism is, in no sense of the word, a democracy. It is an oligarchy, or an aristocracy, which ap pears in the form of a species of episcopacy. Herein we have the curious fact that two forms of religious organization, which are dia metrically unlike each other, pave yet succeeded in becoming more powerful than any others.— The difference extends even into matters of faith. The Baptist clings to immersion and close communion ; the Methodist to sprinkling and open communion. The priest of the latte? is a nomad, who is here to-day, and will be a thousand miles away next week. The pastor of the former is about as immovable as a rock, or a century oak ; and, if ever changed, he has usually no one to thank or blame but himself. Two bodies, each so unlike the other, and yet both outstripping all others in progress, pre sent a phenomenon in government and reli gious development that is worthy of more than a cursory notice. The view of a candid indi vidual who belongs to neither would be to the effect that the Methodist organization has made its extraordinary progress in spite of its form of government; and that the Baptists, in ac counting for their enormous growth, must at tribute it largely to the popularity of their democratic organization. In the same spirit, it may be added that, were the proscriptive dogma of close communion stricken from the Baptist profession of faith ; and were Methodism to admit of lay represen tation in its governing bodies—there is no limit to the progress which these bodies would make, judging their future from their past. The latter reform—that of admitting lay rep resentation—is being agitated among the Meth odist brethren; and we believe the time is not very remote when the agitation willl result in success. In the event that Methodism lightens itself of the weight it now carries in this mat ter of excluding its lay members from a share in their own government, it will shoot ahead of the Baptist to-day. The only way in which the latter can offset this is by revising its faith, and scratching out that portion which relates to close comm rmion. This will so lighten the latter that it will easily continue neck-and-neck with the former. The Methodist brethren who are assembled in Chicago will do well to reflect upon our suggestions. The spirit of the age is opposed to their form of government. They are an aristocracy in the midst of a democracy. They hoid and teach the unfitness of men to govern themselves to men who, very day, asssist in governing themselves and others in an organi- BOme ei £ ht lirueß ,ar « er than tmt wii i 0 Methodißt church. After awhile, they will begin to perceive that thene is an in consistency in the matter; and the discovery may result in something disastrous. . Tu E \ OTE IN Cherokee County.—The vote in Cherokee county is a rebuke to Gov. Brown that he should never forget, The vote stands: for Gordon, 698 ; 8u.10ck,396. Registered col ored vote, 213. White men in n flueneed by Brown-, 156. Poor Joseph Mil ton county, another of Gov. Brown’s strongholds votes : for Gordon, 509; Bullock, 57. Registered colored vote, 63. Thirty-four white men voting for Bullock. As Milton county was formed principally of Cherokee, the two comprise Gov. Brown’s old home, and show what influence ' he wields among his old neighbors. [Rome Commercial. [From the Savannah News * Herald. Episcopal Convention, OPENING SERMON—LIST OF OELEGATES—PRO CEEDINGS, &C. The forty-sixth annual convention of the Pro testant Episcopal Church in the Dioeese ot Georgia convened at 11, a. in., yesterday in Christ Church. A large number of delegates, and also a number of ladies were in attendance. The opening services were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Clarke and Dr. Henderson, after which Rev. H. K. Reese, of Christ Church, Macon, preached the opening sermon. Right Rev. Bishop Beckwith then took the ehair and called the meeting to order, and an nounced that it was ready to proceed to busi ness. The roll of ministers was then called and the following answered to their names: Rev. Sam’l Benedict, Rector oi St. John’s Church, Savan nah ; Wm. 11. Clarke, Rector of St. Paul’s, Augusta; Rev. Chas. H. Coley, ot Christ Church, Savannah; Rev. John J. Hunt, Mis sionary at Dalton ; Rev. Joshu i Knowles, Dea con Officiating at Washington; Rev. Geo. Ma canley, Rector of St. Paul’s Albany; Rev. John K. Pryse, Principal of Montpelier Female In stitute; Rev. 11. Kollock Reese, Rector of Christ Church, Macon; Rev. Charles W. Thomas, Rector of St. Philip’s Church, Atlanta; Rev. William C. Williams, Rector of St. Peter’s Church, Rome, Ga., and Rev. Wm. 11. Hunt. LAY DELEGATES. The credentials of the lay delegates were then handed in to the Secretary. Their names are as follows: Dr. C. C. Pritchard, R. S. Agnew, Henry Ed monston, Church ot Atonement, Augusta ; C. Wise, W. G. Woolfolk and Thos Pond, Trinity Church, Columbus; Wm. 8. Bogart, J. R. Johnson; Johu M. Guerard, of St. John’s Church, Savannah ; H. M. Anderson, Geo. W. Noble and Gen. Alfred Cumming, St. Peter’s Parish, Rome; Wm. Root, Henry Meigs and Samuel Lawson, St. John’s Church, Marietta ; Dr R. D. Aloorc, James Camak and H. L. Bloomfield, of Emanuel Church, Athens ; W. P. Hunter, W. W. Lincoln, John Screven, ot Christ Church, Savannah; T. P. Huger, J. Cooper and Geo. H. Johnson, of St. Paul’s, Sa vannah ; Col. L. N. Whittle, W. B. Johnson, W. Hazlehurst, of Christ Church, Macon ; E. ■ B. Walker, W. S. Walker and Col. Magill, of St. Philip’s, Atlanta ; L. Mitchell, Lewis Noil and J. L. Saulisbury, of St. George’s Church, Griffis; Gen. H. C. Wayne, J. C. Blain and P. M Nightingale, St. Mark’s, Brunswick, On motion, the credentials were referred to a committee, consisting of Rev. Messrs. Reese, Clarke and Benedict. The committee retired for a few moments, and returning reported that all were in due I form excepting that of St. Luke’s Church, in . | Montpelier. This gave rise to a most animated discussion I between Messrs. Whittle, Pryse, members of . the committee, Rev. Mr. Williams and others, , which was concluded by the Chair deciding the , discussion out of order until an organization . was effected. Mr. Whittle appealed from the decision of . the Chair, but received no second. The Secretary announced that a quorum was present. The election of a Secretary was next in order, and Rev. Wm. C. Williams, of Rome, was nominated. After adopting a resolution dis pensing with the vote by ballot, he was unani mously elected. He then said that with the permission of the convention he would appoint the Rev. Mr. C. H. Coley his assistant. No objection was made, and Rev. Mr. Coley was appointed. The discussion upon the action of the com mittee upon credentials in not recognizing as a . member the delegate from St. Luke’s Church ■ was again commenced ; and concluded, after a i warm debate, by referring the question to a special committee of three, consisting of Messrs. Hunter, Moore and Gen. Wayne. ~ [Note. —The discussion was of interest, and the substance of it would be given by us but for the reason stated by one of the disputants, that it was a discussion upon a subject about which the disputants could not agree at pre sent on the facts. Besides this, the discussion will come up again to-day, and the points at issue will be presented by the committee.] A resolution inviting the clergy from other dioceses to seats in the convention was adopt . ' ed. , A resolution from Mr. Benedict, thanking the Episcopal churches of Savannah, and the mem bers of St. John’s especially, for the satisfactory arrangements made for the consecration of Bishop Beckwith was adopted. The Secretary read two applications from parishes for admission into the diocese—one from Bainbridge and the other from Thomas ville. Mr. Hunter spoke in feeling terms of the late Nathan C. Munroe, of Macon, and moved that, in consideration of his usefulness to the church, a committee of three be appointed to draft suit able resolutions of respect. The motion was adopted, and Rev. Mr. Reese, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Whittle appointed the committee. A resolution to have the sermon of Mr. Reese , published as a tract was adopted. STANDING COMMITTEES. The following standing committees were an- I nouuced by the Chair : On the State' of the Church— Rev. Messrs. Benedict, Anderson, Clarke, Coley and Pryse. ' On New Parishes— Rev. Messrs. Reese and Thomas and Messrs. Whittle, Anderson and Bogart. On Unfinished Business— Rev. Mr. Coley and Messrs. Baker and Lincoln. On Finance— Messrs. Hunter, Moore and Wyse. After prayer bv the Right Reverend Bishop Beckwith, the convention adjourned until 10W o’clock, a. m., to-day. The morning prayer will commence at o’clock, and the convention opening at 11 o’clock. SECOND DAY’S PROCEEDINGS. The convention met at 10X, a. m., Friday. After religious services, conducted by Rev. Messrs. Hunt, of Dalton, Clarke, of Augusta and Coley, of Savannah, Bishop Beckwith took the chair and called the convention to order, to proceed with business. The roll of delegates was called and the first day’s proceeding read. Messrs. W. R. Gignilliatt, Chas. Spaulding and K. D. Morris, from St. Andrew’s Church, Darien, presented certificates of election as lay delegates, and were received. Rev. Mr. H. K. Reese, from the committee on . New Parishes, reported that the organi zations of the St. John’s Church of Bainbridge and the church in Washington, Wilkes county’, were in order and moved that they be received in the Diocese. Adopted. Mr. J. M. Ogden, Christ Church, Macon, vice Mr. Hazlehurst. Messrs. E. Waddey, S. S. Hunter and Green were admitted as lay delegates from the newly admitted church in Washington. Messrs. T. F. Hampton, J. Dickerson and J. G. Barnwell were admitted as lay delegates from St. John’s Church, Bainbridge. Bishop Beckwith here arose and stated that the next thing in order was the annual address and report of the Bishop, but that, owin' l, to severe indisposition on the only day on which he had time to write, he had been unable to prepare an address ; but that the report of his work since consecration was prepared, and would be read by the Secretary. Said he would take this opportunity to express his great grati tude for the cordial reception from all whom he had met during his work. He bad found that the lamented Bishop Elliot had accomplished his duties so well that little was left for him to do but continue the work so well begun and carried out by his predecessor ; was satis fied from his observations that the Churches of the Diocese were ready for the great work be fore it, and was in good condition, which was due to its catholic spirit, and the guidance un der God, of the hand of him who had departed to the better land. He congratulated the church upon the prosperous condition of its affairs, and said the church bad passed through all the sad and troublous scenes of the last six years unscatned, undisturbed by any of the great political questions or actions that swept through the land, and he hoped that in the fu ture, as in the past, that no political question would add one feather’s weight upon any I church question in this Diocese. He then again thanked the people for their encourage i ment given him everywhere, and felt assured that in the work ahead he would have the earliest co-operation of the clergy and laity of his Diocese. ' lhe Secretary then read the annual report of the Bishop, which showed that since his conse cration as Bishop, on the 2d of April last, he has preached eighteen times, confirmed two hundred and eighty-five persons, baptized a number, and done other ministerial labor. The report is as follows : Church. Confirmed. Preached. St. Paul s, Augusta go 1 Atonement, Augusta 8 Emanuel, Athens 17 y Christ, Savannah ". ” . 42 1 St. Stephen’s, Savannah..... 71 St. John’s, Savannah 20 1 Church at Covington.... ... i St. Philip’s, Atlanta 30 2 St. John’s, Marietta 1 i St. George, Griffin ’ 6 1 Christ, Macon 33 1 St. Paul’s Chapel, Macon.... 5 1 St. Peter’s, Rome 14 2 Trinity, Columbus / 68 2 Presbyterian Church, Colum bus 4 1 285 18 Mr. Hunter, from the committee to which had been referred the question of admitting the delegate from St. Luke’s Church, Montpelier, reported that they had found the St. Luke’s Parish to be a parish, and the Rector entitled to all the privileges of his order and office, but as there were no Wardens or Vestry there could be no lay representative in lhe conven tion, and that there is a vacancy in representa tion to supplied as provided for in the article of the constitution of the Church. Col. Whittle moved that the report be laid upon the table, and offered as a substitute that Mr. Chas. S. Hardee, the lay delegate from that parish, be entitled to a seat. Col. Whittle then argued at some length in support of bis reso lution. Rev. Mr. Fulton, of Columbus, spoke in op position to it. Mr. Guerard moved that the substitute of Col. Whittle be laid upon the table. Carried. Mr. Guerard then called for the previous question on the report of the committee. Rev. Mr. Thomas, of Atlanta, offered the fol lowing : Resolved, That while in the judgment of this convention the St. Luke’s Church is not now entitled to a lay delegate, yet it is the desire of this convention to see that church represented by a lay delegate. Mr. Guerard moved to substitute it as fol lows : Resolved, That a committee consisting of three clergymen and three laynen, be appoint ed by the Chair to examine aid report to this convention the status and relaion to this ccn vention of the various parishis which have fallen into decay. The Secretary read the certifuates of Messrs. John Clarke and John L. Thonns, as lay dele gate from St. Stephen’s Church, Milledgeville. On motion they were received. The committee on New Parr,lies reported that the organization of St. Thomis Chtirch, at Thomasville, was in order, and moved that it be received into the Diocese. Adopted. The lay delegates ot this church, Messrs. Chas. Gran:, Hammond and Wright, then presented their certificates and were admitted. The resolution of Rev. Mr. Thomas, and the substitute of Mr. Guerard vere voted for together and carried. Rev. Mssrs. Williams. Clarke and Benedict, and Mess's. Whittle and Guerard appointed the commitee. Mr. Bogart offered a resolition providing that the Cnair should appoin' a committee to take into consideration the exiediency of some system of insuring the lives o the ministers for the benefit of their families—he committee to report during this session, aid to suggest, if found expedient, the most fesible and efficient plan. Adopted. A number of reports wee presented, and without reading, appropriate referred. Rev. Dr. Henderson moied that the next session of the convention b< held in St. Paul’s Church, Augusta, on the Vednesday after the first Sunday in May next. Rev. Mr. Williams m,ved that Thursday should be substituted iu place of Wednesday. Lost. Dr. Henderson’s motioa was then carried. The Committee on Uifinished Business re ported that they bad fouid that the considera tion of a substitute of Canon 111 had been postponed this convention. Rev. Mr. a resolution pro viding that a committ e of three clergymen, and three laymen, withthe Bishop as chairman, be appointed to revise the constitution and Canons and report at the next session of the convention. Adopted. Rev. Mr. Fuiton iffered an amendment to one of the Canons, providing that the Presi dent should have vco power, which was re ferred to the comnitte appointed under the above resolution. A number of oth<r reports were submitted and appropriately nferred. The Chair annomced Rev. Messrs. Clarke, Fulton and Williaps and Messrs. Guerard, Whittle and Screvm as the commiltee to re vise the constitutioi; Messrs. Bogart, Screven, Woolfolk, Clayton aid Pond, as the committee on the Life Insurance question. Mr. Clarke, of the Standing Comnittee, read an interesting repori, which stated, in conclu sion, that Mr. Gerrge S. Baker had been re commended for Holy Orders, S. Lawrence, Robert W. B. Elliott, S. Elliott, 8. U. Thomp son and James Porter for Deacon’s Orders, and Rev. Joshua Knowles and T. Coke Stanley for Ordination to Priesthood. Rev. Mr. Thomas moved that tin Chair ap point a committee to draft resoluions of re spect to the memory of the late Re'. Mr. Staley. Adopted Rev. Messrs. Thomas and Benecict, commit tee. Mr. J. R Johnson offered a resolution, pro viding that a committee of five be appointed to make an assessment of the paishes for the support of the Bishop. Carried and Messrs. J. R. Johnson, W. B. Johnston, and Clayton, Wise and Screven appointed on be committee. A resolution of Col. Whittle, p-oviding that until further orders the Missionary operations be under the control of the Bishqiand request ing him to state what he though was best to be done to push forward the Misionary work, was adopted. The Bishop stated that he woild like to meet this morning all delegates from parishes which he had not visited, in order to make arrange ments for visiting them. The convention then adjourned until 10%, a. m., Saturday. A writer in the Rochester Denocrat has some good ideas on a subject that cones home to the business and bosoms of all people who are con cerned in keeping house. “Tiere is no more reason,” he contends, “whv tie cooking and washing of a family should be lone within the dwelling than the tailoringand the shoemaking. The time must come when that kind of labor will be done by association, aided by steam ma chinery, appropriate buildings, and other spe cial adaptations. In this way the cares and anx ieties, the labor and vexations ot housekeeping will be relieved, housekeeping will be a pleas ure, and one-half the expense will be saved.— We shall hail the day when our dwellings shall be free from soap-suds, burn’hg grease, and the usual accessories of the kitchen.” An important decision has just been given by Judge Blatchford that wi l interest and af fect many applicants for discharge in bank ruptcy. The law requires that debtors should file their petitions in the district in which they resided or carried on business for the six months next immediately proceeding the time of filing the petition. The debtor in the case in question resided in New Jersey, and had been a bookkeeper for a firm in New York du ring the six months next immediately pre ceding the filing of his petition. Mr. Register Dwight, before whom the matter came, held that keeping books for a firm was not “ carry ing on business” within the meaning of the law ; in which view he was sustained by Judge Blatchford. A citizen of Massachusetts died recently aged eighty-eight years and seven months, having been a rigid temperance man for over forty yearn. A few days before his death he was advised by his physician to use a little brandy as a stimulant, necessary to support life, but declined doing so, lest he “might acquire a fondness for liquor.” [From the Noifolk Journal. Can the Bible be Improved. The above seems an impious question ; but our answer may seem even more impious—for we declare unhesitatingly that it can. Hear us for our cause ; for that cause is the salvation of man. One great reason why the Word of God is so little understood is, that the Bible is so absurd ly arranged, especially in the books of the New Testament. The holy Scriptures were written like any other books, and such a division as that of chapter and verse was never even dreamed of by those who wrote them. It is but a modern invention, designed simply for convenience of reference. These divisions are often made arbitrarily.— L . is especially the case in the argumentative Epistles of St. Paul. Os these about two-thirds ot the chapters begin wrong; for instead of ea s, chapter containing a whole argument, with its premises and conclusion, we find that tne premises are generally laid in one chapter, the argument and conclusion in the next. In , addition to this great absurdity of the division into chapters, that into verses is equal ly preposterous, and both together tend greatly to obscure the meaning of the sacred writings. Most people read by chapter and verse, and if these are not properly divided, many parts of the Bible, otherwise easily understood, become unintelligible. This very faulty method of arranging the Word of God is entirely human, and not at all divine—unless printers are divine beings, and from our experience they certainly are not. In these days when the little faith once pos sessed by the world seems to be in danger of being extinguished, every means should be employed to keep the flickering taper from going out. Among these means a very import ant one, is to make the oracles of God as plain as possible. The printers have obscured them by absurd arrangement. Let this be corrected as soon as possible, and let the future editions of the Bible be so printed that the ordinary rftider can understand the connection between the various ponions of each book. This great evil is easily cured, and the Bible Society should attend to it at once. Let all the books be properly arranged in paragraphs, and let the minor divisions, now represented by verses, be marked on the margin. We shall thus have ease of reference secured as well as under the present arrangement—or rather dis arrangement, and the meaning of some of the most important portions of the Scriptures now unintelligible to the mass of readers will then be rendered as clear as day. Rev. Dr. W. T. Brantley.—Of this gifted divine, who has just entered upon his sacred duties as the successor of Rev. George C. Lori mer, in the pulpit of the Walnut street B iptist Church, a writer in the Richmond (Va.) Herald says : Rev. W. T. Brantley, D. D., is, without doubt, I should think, the most finished preacher we have. His fine intellect, adorned with such rich and varied culture, his beautiful and graceful oratory, and withal, his handsome, prepossessing person render him the bon ton preacher of the city and State. He has occu pied several of the most prominent pastorates in the land, including the Greene street Church of Augusta, the First Baptist Church of Phila delphia and his present charge, the Second Baptist Church of Atlanta, which, in point of intelligence and high social position, is equal to any congregation I have ever seen. Many of the most prominent merchants, physicians, lawyers and politicians of Atlanta are connect ed with the Second Church. Not long since, in his morning congregation were seen repre sentatives of five of the gubernatorial families of Georgia (Schley, Macdonald, Rabun, Cobb and Brown,) all of whom were in some way connected with his church. And by all the in telligent minds that attend upon his ministry he is not only honored as a first-class preacher, but loved as a devoted and earnest pastor. He is popular with all denominations.of Chris tians, and is frequently invited to preach in their pulpits. Not long since he was appoint ed to deliver a eulogy on the life and character of the late Hon. Joseph H. Lumpkin, Chief Justice of the State—a work which he perform ed to the entire satisfaction of all. This ad dress was delivered at the commencement of the State University, in which college he was for eight years the accomplished Professor of Belle Lettres. Just after the war he was elected to the Presidency of Mercer University, which honor he declined, believing he could accomplish more good as pastor. Dr. Brantley is an elegant writer, his style in richness and perspicuity resembling that of the great Addi son. In his private, social life, he is no less distinguished than in his public relations ; and is one of the most jocund, pleasant, com panionable gentlemen I have ever known. [ Louisville Journal. The Oldest City in the World.—Damas cus is the oldest city in the world. Tyre and Sidon have crumbled on the shore; Baalbec is a ruin ; Palmyra is buried in the sands of the desert; Nineveh and Babylon have disappeared from the Tigris and Euphrates ; Damascus re mains what it was before the days of Abraham —a centre of trade and travel—an island of verdure in the desert—“a Presidential capital” with martial and sacred associations extending through more than thirty centuries. It was near Damascus that Saul of Tarsus saw the light above the brightness «f the sun; the street which is called Strait, in which it was said “ he prayed,” still runs through the city.— The caravan comes and goes as it did a thou sand years ago; there is still lhe sheik, the ass and the water-wheel; the merchants of the Eu phrates and the Mediterranean still “ occupy ” these “ with the multitude of their wares.” The city which Mahomet surveyed from a neighboring height, and was afraid to enter “ because it was given to ftan to have but one paradise, and, for his part, he was resolved not to have it in this world,” is to this day what Julian called the “eye of the East,” as it was in the time of Isaiah, “ the head ot Syria.”— From Damascus came the damson, our blue plums, and the delicious apricot of Portugal, called damasco, damask, our beautiful fabric of cotton and silk, with vines and flowers raised upon a smooth, bright ground; the damask rose, introduced into England in the time of Henry VIII., the Damascus blade, so famous the world over tor its keen edge and wonder ful elasticity, the secret of whose manufacture was lost when Tamerlane carried off the artists into Persia; and that beautiful art of inlaying wood and steel with silver and gold, a kind o? mosaic engraving and sculpture united—called damaskeening—with which boxes and bureaus, swords and guns are ornamented. It is still a city of flowers and bright waters; the streams of Lebanon and the “river of gold ” still murmur and sparkle in the wilderness of “ Syrian war dens.” ” Bishop’s Meeting.—The Bishops of the M. E. Church South, meet in this city to-day. The meeting is private, and to attend to their official business, in which the public is not in terested. Bishop Paine is sick at Nashville, but will probably be here before the Sabbath. Bishop Early, of Virginia, is not expected. Bishops Pierce and Wightman arrived yester day, and other bishops probably arrived during the night. Drs. Green and MeFerrin, of Nash ville, and the venerable Dr. McMahon, of the Memphis Conference, and quite a number of Kentucky clergymen, are in the city. Dr. McMahon is probably the oldest minister who will be here. He has been fifty-eight years a minister of the gospel, and is now eighty-two years old. He preached in this city as pastor in 1814, and preached across the river in Indiana in 1811. He is one of the few men of pioneer times now living. [Lotiisville Journal, 7th. How to Cure a Cold.—The momenta man is satisfied he has taken cold, let him do three things: First, eat nothing; second, go to bed, cover up in a warm room; third, drink as much cold water as he can, or as he wants, or as much herb lea as he can ; and in three cases out of four, he will be well in thirty-six hours. To neglect a cold for forty-eight hours after the cough commences, is to place himself beyond cure, until the cold has run its course, of about a fortnight. Warmth and abstinence are. safe and certain cures, when applied early. Warmth keeps the pores of tlie skin open, and relieves it of the surplus which oppresses it, while ab stinence cuts off the supply of material for phlegm which would otherwise be coughed up. [Journal of Health. [From the Savannah Advertiser. Ootton and Provisions. J. N. Cardozo, the veteran of the South ern Press, now an octogenarian, has pub lished in Charleston a cotton statement, in which his usual comprehensive views are detailed, harmonizing experience with gen eral principles. The summary of his ’con clusions embrace the following proposi tions : 1. That the loss of pjoductive power by the Southern States, by the disorganization of labor and destruction of capital, will ne cessarily change the industrial relations of those States. 2. That the prices of those products pro duced by slave labor must be correspond ingly enhanced to meet these changed con ditions of the cotton trade. 3. If there is a limit to the consumption of the raw material, as well as to the en hanced price of the cotton manufactured products, there is a limit also to the pro duction of cotton in these countries which, being densely peopled, incur great hazards from famine in consequence of the diversion of labor and capital from the cultivation of the cereals to the raising of cotton, from the stimulation given to that culture by high prices. 4. That British India, particularly Lower Bengal and Egypt, have furnished pregnant illustrations of this truth in 1866, by the loss of large numbers of their people through famine. It was estimated, in a late number of the North British Review, that the famine of 1866 destroyed 10,000 lives in Lower Bengal. The final conclusion from this state of facts is, that it holds out an admonition to the planter not to suffer the lure of high prices to seduce him from the path of caution, inducing him to neglect the culture of those products for fobd which are essential to the support of human life. We would not have our agricultural friends to put aside the profit which the chances of the market may have thrown in their path, but let them by all means cultivate a share of breadstuff's that will place them beyond the peril of the want of the necessaries of life. Let our planters read over these ideas carefully, and heed the suggestions therein made. Raise provisions and be indepen dent ; raise cotton and make a few dollars for present use, and then pay out for provisions more than a double what you received. Which will you do ? [Froru the Trenton N. J. Gazette. An Original Letter of General Washington. We are indebted to Philemon Dickinson, Esq., of this city, for the privilege of copy ing a letter written by General Washing ton in 1780 to Dr. Franklin, then in Paris, and which has never before been published. Mr. Dickinson obtained the letter from a relative, a lady residing near Germantown, Pa. This lady’s father" was a ward of Dr. Franklin, and resided with him for some time in Paris. After his death the follow ing letter was found among his papers. It is in Washington’s handwriting, and bears the marks of the care and method that always distinguished him in the small as well as the great affairs of life. Mr. Dick inson intends to present the original letter to the Historical Society of this State. The following is an accurate copy of the letter: Bergen County, in the State of New Jersey, Oct. 9, 1780.—Dear Sir: I was very much obliged by the letter which you did me the honor to write me by our aimable young friend, the Marquis De La Fayette, whose exertions to serve this country in his own, are addi tional proofs of his "zealous attachment to our cause, and has endeared him to us still more. He came out flushed with the expecta tions of a decisive campaign and fired with hopes of acquiring fresh laurels, but in botli he has been disappointed; for we have been condemned to an inactivity as inconsistent with the situation of affairs as with the ardor of his temper. I am sensible of all I owe you, my dear sir, for your sentiments of me, and while I am happy in your esteem, I cannot but wish occasions of giving you marks of mine. The idea of making a tour together, which you suggest, after the war, would be one of the strongest motives 1 could have to post pone my plan of retirement and make a visit to Europe, if my domestic habits, which seem to acquire strength from restraint, did not tell me, I shall find it impossible to re sist them longer than my duty to my coun try calls for the sacrifice of my inclinations. I doubt not you are so fully informed by Congress of our political and military state that it would be superfluous to trouble you with anything relating to either. If I were to speak on topics of the kind, it would be to show that our present position makes one of the two things essential to us : Peace, or the most vigorous aid of our allies, particularly in the article of money. Os their disposition to serve us we cannot doubt; their generosity will do everything their means will permit. With my best wishes for the preservation of your your useful life, and for every hap piness that can attend you which a sincere attachment can dictate, I am, my Dear Sir, Yr. Most Obed. & Hbl. Servt., Go. Washington. His Excelly, Doc. B. Franklin. u 11 I Education of Mechanics.—The neces sity of the technical instruction of artisans, the New York Sun is showing is admitted in all European countries, and strong ef forts are made to foster it. The low stand ing of English manufactures at the Paris Exposition was due to the want of such instructions for British workmen, and the superiority of French productions in its possession. This fact has excited much discussion in England, and measures are set on foot to supply the deficiency. The editor, after telling us that these facts deserve the attention of Americans, goes on to say: “ Our mechanics greatly need the same training which foreigners have found so advantageous. Our apprenticeship sys tem is defective, and we have no means of thorough technical instruction. The few scientific institutions that we possess are mainly intended for the wealthy, and the classes at Cooper Institute are "almost the only ones available to mechanics. Schools of this kind should be increased. Our arti sans have a good foundation of general knowledge, and with proper training would never fall behind the best workmen of Eu rope. A few of our public schools might be selected for this purpose, with courses of study better adapted to suit the wants of working people. Something of the kind has already been tried in the night schools.” The marriage of Prince Achille Murat and the Princess Salome of Mingrelia—dressmakers and lawyers being willing—was to have taken place on the 28th April. The bride is cer tainly worthy the brave Murat’s descendant, for her father defended, most obstinately the Principality of Mingrelia against Russia, in the days when the Caucachs gave great trouble to the Czar. He was killed in action, and his Process of Mingrelia, herself then headed the troops, and led them to a fleetino- Victory. '-vnu ß The Ladies’ Toilets.—The exquisite toilets of the ladies, the splendor of the carriages, the display of military, which adds to the picturesque effect of these scenes, arc blended most naturally and suc cessfully, and one cannot wonder that the attraction proves too strong for the preju dices of the English and Americans in Paris, who, spite of the fact that these race meetings take place usually on Sunday, nevertheless duly attend. I may add, at once, that the most noticeable among the beautifully dressed ladies in the more sash- ’ ionable stands, are, decidedly, les Ameri caines. They have a jaunty "air, an inde pendent manner, which the French and English belles cannot attain, and they dress with undoubted taste. It must be owned, however, that the American ladies do make a rather liberal use of rouge and bloom of youth, that they do flirt rather openly, and that at times they are rather too loud. Os course the result of all this is that some of the French ladies—those who feel that they are being distanced— speak ill naturedly of the Yankee ladies— but perhaps the latter care not for these ebullitions, and imagine it fine fun to beat the former at their own game. Be that as it may, it is now understood at the race course that whenever there is seen a crowd of gallants about a lady, to all of whom she talks, and smiles, and nods, the fair creature must be “izne Americaine." In the way of fine turnouts, the Americans take a front rank also. Os the four mail coaches or natty four-in-hands which made a show at the last Longchamps, three of them were owned and driven by Ameri cans, and among the most stylish caleches and other carriages on the grounds, were those of several noted American families here. I was amused, appropbs of this dis play of show, at the remark made by a French Journalist: “What a fool these people must deem Senator Sumner to be, with old fangled no tions about Republican simplicity of cos tume for the United States Ambassadors.” And in fact the contrast between the talk of the Massachusetts Senator and the ac tions of the Americans who grace Paris with their presence, must seem strange, to say the least of it, to the more reflective Parisians.— Paris Cor. N. Y. Express. A New York Scandal.—New York is as grateful for a new sensation as was the Roman Emperor who ennobled a cook for furnishing him with a new sauce. Just now the fashionable portion of the city are revelingin a new excitement. We have here a gentleman who, through his busi ness, is as well known as is Bonner, Harper or Stewart. He lives in fine style, has a splendid house, and is surpassed by no one in the elegance of his turnout on Central Park. It was long supposed that his housekeeper was his wife. It turns out that he does not live with his wife, and that she has been for a long time support ing herself in this city by her needle. She is a very elegant and accomplished lady. For her children’s sake she held her peace for a long while. The elegant gold em broidery which macle such a sensation at the Paris Exhibition was from her needle. She found a friend in the head of one of our fashionable establishments, and the fash ionable and elaborate embroidery worn by the ton of New York was the handiwork of this lady. Recently her husband made a proposition to her. He promised to settle on her a handsome sum of money if she would allow him to obtain full divorce under our laws. The proposal was so in famous that the lady resolved to bear her neglect and sorrow in silence no longer. She issued a beautifully printed circular, announcing herself by her husband’s name; stating his business, so there could be no mistake about the identity; offering her services to the fashionables of New York ; assigning as a reason for the offer that she wished to obtain bread for herself and children, and stating that she could be found daily at a fashionable dress-making establishment on Broadway. These circu lars were scattered broadcast among the fashionable families of New York, and any quantity of them were sent by private hands to the husband. His indignation is unbounded, for he has great personal pride. New York has a nine days’ wonder. Peo ple crosvd the rooms where the lady is advertised to be seen, and where she sits day by day, with “ stitch, stitch, stitch,”- with the eolden thread of her embroidery. What the issue will be remains to be seen.— N, Y. Cor. Boston Journal. High-Heeled Boots.—The Evenement Medical shows the impropriety of wearing high-heeled boots, which have become the fashion of the day, and says that it is attended with more serious inconvenience than may be supposed. Without reckoning the distortions of the foot which the fashion produces, owing to the narrowness of the soles, it is extremely apt to cause women to fall, accidents which are sometimes attend ed with serious consequences. Woman is not, in fact, made to wear these high and pointed heels, which ought to be especially avoided when in an “ interesting situation," and who then can be in no way prepared for a somersault of any description. The chiropodist trade was never more prosper ous than at the present moment, originating in the high-heeled boots, which thrust toes into a tangled lump and impede circulation, while the surgeon is frequently called in on account of accidents which the glazed flooring and polished stair-cases of Parisian houses are frequently causing. The corn cutter is now as indispensable to French ladies as is the dentists to the female beauties of America. Fashion appears to be always bentjupon committing outrages upon some portion of the human form. It is not long ago since the medical profession was continually exclaiming against tight lacing of stays, and the deformity and injury to health which this fashion pro duced upon the female form. We must expect that they will not fail in continuing to attack this equally pernicious practice of deforming the feet, and ere long we may expect to see drawings of the hideous over lapping toes, and the distorted anatomy of the foot, produced by high-heeled boots.— Mormncj Post. Excellent Whitewash.—As the house cleaning will soon be here, it may not be amiss to say a few words in regard to whitewashing. There are many recipts published, but we believe the following to be the best that can be used: White chalk is the best substitute for lime as a wash. A very fine and brilliant white wash preparation of chalk is called “ Paris White.” This we buy at the paint stores for three cents a pound, retail. For each sixteen pounds of Paris White we procure half a pound of the white transparent glue, costing twenty-five cents (fifty cento a pound.) The sixteen pounds of Paris White is about as much as a person will use in a day. It is prepared as follows: The glue is covered with cold w.iter at night, and iu the morning is carefully heat ed—without scorching—until dissolved. The Paris White is stirred in with hot water to give it the proper milky consist ency for applying to walls, and the dissolved glue is then added and thoroughly mixed. It is then applied with a brush like the common lime whitewash. Except on very dark and smoky walls, a single coat is sufficient. It is nearly equal in brilliancy to “zinc white,” a. far more expensive article.—Gw’. Germantown Telegraph.
