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102 The Methodist Advocate, j ATLANTA, GA., JUNE 30, 1869. Rev. E. Q. FULLER, Editor. CORRESPONDING EDITORS: A. WEBSTER, D.D., Charleston, S 0. J. S. MITOHELL, D.D., Lincolnton. N. C. Rev. JAMES MITCHELL, Richmond. Va. N. E. OOBLEIGH, D.D., Athens, Tenn. Rev. H. 0. HOFFMAN, ShelbyviUe, Tenn. Rev. A. S. LARIN, Huntsville, Ala. Rev. JAMES LYNCH, Jackson. Miss. FOUR THOUSAND SIX MONTHS! This number closes the first half of vol ume one of The Methodist Advocate. Its success so far has passed the expecta tion of its most ardent friends. The last half of the volume will begin with a circu lation of FOUR THOUSAND! Let the preachers remember that The Methodist Advocate is their paper. How many more will try to put a copy of The Methodist Advocate in every family under his pastoral care ? The Joy Set Before Him. Os our blessed Lord it is said that “ for the joy that was set before Him he endured the cross, despising the shame.” A vol ume of philosophy in a single breath. The joy that was before Hirn we know but little about, but some of its influence over the mind we can readily understand. To most men, hope is a constant, cheering and stim ulating presence. Disappointment may choke and chill it for a time ; cloud-shadows may diin if not darken the skv for a day, but hope will soon spring again, beaming as brightly as before. The old man turns from a hundred failures to begin some new enterprise, by which he hopes to gain com petence if not affluence. It is,however,in the Christian’s hope that the heart’s strongest, surest, and indeed only real anchor is found. In earth’s dull est and darkest hours the man whose trust is alone in the Lord goes forth singing: “ Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines ; the la bor of the olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls ; yet will J rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength and he will make my feet like hind's feet, and he will make me to walk upon my high places.” In ad versity he hopes for a better to-morrow, and at the burial of his dead he knows of a joyous resurrection. Is his name cast out as evil, so was the Master’s, who for the “ joy that was set before Him endured ‘ttre truss deffianvg the shame.” —- Does the minister of Christ leave busi ness, sacrifice home, push out into the world’s furious tides to set up the cry of wisdom against mockery and jeers, amid poverty, persecution and peril, it is in great part as it was with Him whom he follows, for the joy that was set before him. So also, with the missionary in the cities of China or the mountains of India, the joy set before him makes the heart strong, so that one shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight. In what this joy consists it is not the purpose now to inquire, nor could it be told. Paul, the Apostle, saw and felt it for a time, and weul fnto such ecstasies as not to know where he was or whether dead or alive, but came back as dumb to disclose it as before ; but he ever afterward pressed wonderfully toward the mark for the prize. That this Apostle was correct when he said it could not be told, is evident from the ef forts at revelation through the beloved dis ciple. Who can understand the gorgeous imagery of the Apocalypse? Hut this refers mostly to things of time. The fields, the trees, the liver, the streets, the crowns, the thrones, the songs, the glory, the innu merable company, the king in his beauty, and to be like him, the eternal out-gushing of that more than fullness of joy the most saintly can only anticipate as a something too divine for description, and too infinite ly valuable to be put in danger of loss. He has entered into his joy, but through what conflict, enduring the cross and de spising the shame, and has left the assu rance to his disciples that where “ I am there ye may be also “in my Father’s house are many mansions.” Still more: Igo to prepare a place for you.” Herein also is that joy which was before him, the same that is promised to his followers. Have all our readers this joy before them? Have they hope, good and sure,of the same? Is it the thought of their days and the dream of their nights? An old man was fast sinking, four score years of disappointment, care and fearful sulFering had been his, but now he was falling asleep. His lips moved —he whispered—“joy, joy”- the joy that was before him —“ Jesus, Je sus.” He had entered into joy, the joy that remaineth for the people of God. PFMn the absence of the Editor, (who is in attendance at the dedication of our new College building in Nashville, Tenn.,) we have received the following “official” announcement. The Ohio Wesleyan Uni versity has no superior in the West. We congratulate both the University and the Dr. Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, 0., June 22. 1869. Rev. E. Q. Fuller: Dear Brother —I have the pleasure to inform you that the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Wesleyan University, at their session to-day, unanimously conferred on you the honorary degree of Doctor in Divinity. 1 most heartily congratulate you on this hon orable recognition of your standing in your profession, and of your services to the Church. Tours, truly, W. G. Williams, Sec’y. Board of Trustees. Against Union. “The great stir for a union with the i church South does not meet the approba- ! tion ot many of us who refused to go with that church in 1844, but remained out in i the cold for twenty years rather than unite j with a pro-slavery church. You say slavery is gone. Nothing but the body the soul still lives in the M. E. Church South, and I fear will for generations to come. You might as well try to mix oil and water as loyalty and disloyalty, anti-slavery and pro-slavery sentiments in the same church. 1 joined the M. E. Church in 1828 ; have witnessed many changes in the Holston Conference; on the subject of human bond age have been anti-slavery forty years, and denounced as an abolitionist time and again. We could not receive the ordinan ces of the church at the hands of those men who prayed God to direct the bullets of the Confederates to the hearts of the loyal men. Without repentance and refor mation, before we would do so we would live in a tent or hunt anew home. The action of our Bishops seems to me to he humiliating.” The above dissenting words of our brother were not intended for publication, but we consider that he has as much right to express his opinion as others of us ours, and vve are confident that mutual forbearance alone and personal reconciliation can ma ture and justify any proposed church union. We assure our brother there will be no re manding of our members to another church, nor hasty action in this matter. Let us, however, continue to pray for divine light and guidance, and as these are given care fully and cheerfully follow them. Christian Greetings. While the General Assemblies of the Old School and New School Presbyterian Churches were in session in New York city, the Preachers Meeting of that place, con sisting of nearly one hundred and fifty members, appointed Rev. L. H. King, D. Curry, D.D., and H. B. Ridgeway, D.1)., a delegation to bear the Christian greetings ot the Methodist -Episcopal Church to the Presbyterian Church. The delegation was received with great cordiality, on the first of this month, and presented their greet ings in the following appropriate words : Mr. Moderator , Father, and Brethren— The paper which has now been read is the sponta neous outgushiug ot Christian charity. In it you hear the heart whisper of Metropolitan Methodism. The meeting which unanimously adopted this paper was composed of nearly one hundred and fifty ministers, and among them were many of our most learned and ven" erable men. I had prepared the paper just read, for the meeting of the previous week, hut fearing it might not be acceptable to some ot our number, did not present it. Upon its pre sentation, on Monday last, it was ascertained that the liev. Dr. Ridgeway had prepared a similar paper. Tims the Good Spirit; had been leading two minds ii the same diivetion, and to the same result. We were then, by the good providence of God and the direction of our brethren, instructed to say to you. *• lie loved. let us love one another;” let there be no strife between vour Church and ours, for the Jtkole land is before, us, and a thousand times as much work as we both can do. “ Nor is this friendly greeting unnatural. It is true we differ in some points of doctrine, but we agree in many more. We agree in all the great essentials, we differ in a few non-esseu tials. Shall we make more of the few non essentials about which we differ than we do of the many essentials in which we agree? Thus we are one in regard to the great doctrine of the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, a vicarious atonement, total depravity, justification by faith alone, and future rewards and punishments. And, examined closely, how slight the differ ences iu our economy and forms ot church government; except in the names, and surely •• a rose by any other name would smell us sweet.” You have sessions composed of dea cons and elders. We have the same tiling, only we call ours stewards’ and leaders’ meetings. You have a Presbytery, so have we; but we call ours a Quarterly Conference. You have a Synod, so have vve; but we call ours an An nual Conference. You have a General Assem bly. so have vve; but vve call ours a General Conference. You have a Moderator, so have vve; but vve call ours a liishop. With you, vve believe t hat. in the New Testament, Bishop Presbyter, and Elder all mean the same thing. Our Bishop is only an elder elected to preside over other elders, and so your Moderator is as much a Bishop as an> of ours, only ours are elected for life, and have this official title, ••General Superintendents.” And so when your excellent ex-Moderator demonstrates that Presbyterian forms of worship will be observed in heaven, vve do not object, for those forms will not be unnatural to us. "Our object is one; our great founder (John Wesley) declared that object to be " to spread scriptural holiness over these lan Is,” and being fully persuaded that the held is too vast to be fully occupied by one denomination, the sous of John Wesley are happy to greet the sous of John Calvin, and bid them God speed. It has sometimes happened among churches, as it did once during die late war, that friends of the same cause, instead of tiring on the foe, have turned their guns upon eaeli other. We pro pose hereafter to avoid the sad estrangements of tlie past, and unite with all good men in maintaining a sound morality, against Sabbath desecration, intemperance, and all other forms of vice; and a pure, primitive Christianity, against Rationalism, Ritualism, and Romanism. The time has fully come for the friends of Jesus to consolidate and close up their ranks, and present to the foe an unbroken front, and thus led on by the Great Captain of our salvation, victory shall perch upon our banners, and the nations commingle their shouts in that thun dering Al'-elujah, ‘The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.'” The Moderator responded to the dele gation as follows: “Beloved Brethren in Christ— The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church recipro cates the Christian salutations of tiie Methodist Episcopal Ch rch. The church of John Calvin responds to the church of John Wesley in the name of our common Lord and head. We are engaged in a common conflict against irreligion. It iseu conflict of Christianity against all the forces of anti-Christ. It is a' conflict of true religion against irreligion and false religion. We rejoice in the great work which your large and active Church has been able to accomplish in our land. All the agencies and resources of the Christian Church are needed at this critical moment: and we hope soon to hail the time when the final conquest of our Kii g, Jesus, shall be proclaimed in all the land, and in all the world. Be pleased to bear to your body our Christian salutations.” An accommodation train on the Western and Atlantic Railroad now runs as follows : Deaves Atlanta at . . , 2,30, P, M, Arrives at Dalton at . . 11,35, P. M, Leaves Dalton at ... , 1.25, A. M- Arrives at Atlanta at, , , . 9.50, A. ty. THE METHODIST ADVOCATE, JUNE 30. 1869 The Fourth of July. On the Fourth day of July, 1776, the colonial Congress declared in behalf of the American'people that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all mankind are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights ; that among these are life, liberty, ! and the pursuit of happiness; that to se- ; cure these rights governments are instituted ! among men deriving their just powers from ! the consent of the governed ; that when ever any form of government becomes de structive of these ends it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to in stitute anew government, laying its foun dations on such principles, and organizing its powers in such a form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness; and that these united colonies are, and of a right ought to be, free and ! independent States.” These majestic and thrilling words rung out over the land the morning peals of a new civilization. But by a strange contra diction, the application of these principles was then made to only a portion of the people ol the States; but like leaven in the meal, they have ever been working to ward the results to have been expected. “All mankind created equal!” How many thoughts have these words awakened ? how many hearts have they stirred? '•'■All n&n !” 'I hough some he slave, neverthe less the}* are men. and being men by what philosophy can the condition of slavery be justified? Hut as if by divine inspiration, that there might he no misapprehension in the case, the document adds that to all men liberty is an inalienable right. If that Congress intended to say all white men, only, are thus endowed, the Creator led them to utter the whole truth without qual ification, all men. Hy this Declaration of Independence, upon principles universally regarded as light, and just, and tho successful prose cution of the war of the revolution, the Fourth of July became the great American anniversary; one to be remembered while right and liberty endure. This anniversary is at hand, and we trust it will he suitably kept in all the land. Let the people gather; let the Declaration of Independence be read; let patriotic songs and speeches echo from hill top to hill top, through North and South. This is not the jubilee of a State, section, or class, but oi the people. Let all the peo ple rejoice that liberty has been proclaimed through all the land to all the inhabitants thereof. How wide the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Or dinances ot Secession ! The first was made after mature deliberation, long controver sies with the old government and repeated remonstrances against oft repeated wrongs and on a basis and in a manner that com mand the respect of succeeding ages. The latter was made in hot and indecent haste because ol a- pretended fear that something might be done against law but in behalf of mankind, and carried into effect by fraud, intimidation and gross violation of all that is light and sacred. Thank God, these days were short. This Fourth of July comes to us in peace. Let its morning be saluted with gladness and its evening be dismissed with thanksgiving. The South especially should celebrate this day as never before. Hoth white and colored should make it an occasion of pres ent joy and lasting profit. The national spirit fostered by the old time “ celebra tions ” lias been of untold value during these years of conflict, and now every friend of union, peace and freedom, should not be slow to give public expression of appreciation of these things. How can that be done to better advantage than by a patriotic and Christian celebration on Monday next? Church Union. “A few weeks ago the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church made some overtures at St. Louis to the Bishops of the Methodist Church South, which it is hoped will lead to a union of those two bodies. The cause of the separation has passed away, and why any longer remain separated? In 1844 the famous “Plan of Separation ” was adopted—2s years ago. During nearly all of that time there has been a difference of opinion in the two or ganizations. One body holding and prac ticing that it was wrong to hold any one in slavery ; (which now is not denied by the most illiterate) not permitting any one to become members that held any one in bond age. While the opposite branch believed and taught just the opposite. These two bodies, differing upon this important point only—in other respects they are the same. And as it seems to be a natural law (proven by history) that two bodies of the same doctrines, etc., cannot survive, (one play ing out or emerging into the other) ; we say there ought and will be a union of the Methodist Episcopal and Southern Metho dist Churches, for they have a great work to do. “A great many are living yet —of both bodies of the two churches,that once labored together in trying to save souls; and as they then learned to esteem each other as Christian brethren, so the events of the past quarter of a century have not sufficed to change that estimate of their excellen ces ; these especially would be glad to see the “ good old days” come again. "The question is often asked if this union is actually one doubt ing but that it would be for the best) we are often surprised to hear the question asked, by those, too, professing to be fol lowers of Him whose name is the very es sence of love. Li the family circle, har mony, union and sympathy are better than back-biting, bitterness and discord. !So in the church it is the same; “ Christ is not divided.” The “peace of heaven should be preferable to the strife of hell and so it is by all. “ Then we say to one and all who desire a union of the churches—union of work and leeiing, (for many desire it that are not members of any churcb) to cultivate those principles plainly laid down by Christ and his disciples, instead of closing churches against and denouncing each other, which says against union with one loud, long, united, emphatic “ Never !” The question is then asked when will the union take place? We answer, when human na ture, or the “old Adam” is held in check by divine grace, and a majority of the church members become high minded Chris tian gentlemen ; and not before.” The above, from the Cookville, (Tenn.) Times contains views corresponding with those heretofore advanced in these columns. We give place to them here that our read ers may judge how the outside world looks upon this matter. Many who have no special interest in either branch of the church are deeply interested in this ques tion—believing that it involves to no little extent the welfare of the country. Another Decision. The Supreme Court of Georgia has been called upon to decide as to the law of the State concerning another question pertain ing to the relation of the races. This has respect to matrimony, and it is evident to the bench, for the sound sense, learning and integrity of which we have a very pro found respect, that whites and blacks are not permitted to intermarry in the State of Georgia. Very few will be grieved or even disappointed by the decision. Asa matter of right, some may claim that the law should not say whom one should or should not marry, but as a matter of propriety and good taste and judgment the law no doubt expresses the general sense of both races. Indeed, vve know no one who will feel personally afflicted by the opinion of the Court save the parties in suit and per haps the editor of Zion’s Herald, of Boston. Still, as this brother has already refused to do anything but “blow” for the people for whom he professes such unmeasured affec tion, we doubt whether the race will mate rially suffer through him from this cause, unless it be from sympathy for his sorrow. Hut if the sorrow is measured by the affec tion, neither party will be heavy losers. According to tbe Nashville Advocate, this rendering will, however, bar him from taking work in our State. But here, again, are prov idential compensations, for, firstly, he won’t work in our colored missions, and, sec ondly, it would be a serious damage to the cause if he did. He does much harm where he is, but in the field would do immeas urably more. His weekly aims at us are simply firing rockets at tbe moon. If he were to point at nearer objects he might frighten, though he never hit. In a na tional museum he serves admirably as a curiosity, in practical work here the case would be very different. Speaking of this paper, the Western Christian Advocate says: “If vve could hope for success in an effort to get the editor of Zion’s Herald to understand us. vve would inform him that the Western never opposed admitting colored preachers to equal,rights in any of our Annual Conferences. All the Herald’s representations to the contrary h ,ve been without the shadow of a foundation. The only real difference between the Herald and the Western is, that while the Western fa vors allowing the colored people to have Churches and Conferences of their own where they desire it. the Herald is unwilling to allow them this privilege. Will the Herald allow its readers to see this?” The Days of Martyrdom. —The follow ing letter speaks for itself. Who is it for bids vve should preach Jesus? Let the Christian press and people of the South condemn such acts as they ought, and they will cease. They cannot apologize for them. Holding their peace, they are alike guilty of these murderous attacks. The} 7 have “killed the prophets and stoned those sent unto them.” On Wednesday night, the 23d inst., one ot the most influential colored ministers of the Mississippi Conference, Rev. Alexan der Phillips, pastor of our church in Ox ford, was shot in his own yard, and se verely, if not fatally, wounded. While Divine service was going on in the church, a desperado named Roop came upon the rear of the lot on which the church and parsonage stood, and fired two shots. A number of the men passed out of the church and came back where Roop was standing, and while holding a parley with him brother Phillips, who had quietl} 7 stepped out of church into the parsonage, opened his back door, and stepping into the yard, asked, “What does this mean?”* The would-be murderer instantly leveled his navy six shooter at brother Phillips, and emptied the four remaining shots, one of which took effect in his mouth, cutting his tongue, knocking out his teeth, and shattering his left jaw. He then threw down his weapon and attempted to escape, but was pursued, knocked down and se cured, and is now in the hands of Mr. Pat terson, United- States Marshal for North ern Mississippi. There had been no pre vious acquaintaince between the parties, and as brother Phillips is one of the meek est and best of men, no assignable cause for this murderous attack has been ad duced, except political animosity. Brother Phillips had great influence with his own people, and as politicians could not sway him to their purposes, it is supposed that this desperado was employed to put him out of the way. A. C. McDonald, P.E., Holly Springs Dist. Holly Springs, Miss., June 25, 1869. The Double Game.— The efforts of Ro manists to appear intensely Southern in the South and Northern in the North are com ing to be well understood. We give a clear, pertinent and timety article this week from the pen of Rev. G. H. Pattillo, taken from the columns of the Southern Christian Advocate, entitled “Romanism Again.” We ask for it a careful reading. Our thanks to Rev. J. S. Beyer, Secre tary, for a copy of the Minutes of the Vir ginia Conference. The Conference held its first session March 3-9, 1869, and reports three districts ; 3,515 members ; 865 pro bationers ; 29 local preachers; Church property to the value of $69,200. Methodist Advocate six months for sl. The Andersonville Miracle.— A cor respondent of the New York Independent, writing from Andersonville, the locality made notorious by the great prison pen of forty-four thoasand boys in blue, says : Many wells still remain which were dug by the prisoners, now dry. and said never to con tain much water. At one time they were fam ishing with thirst. All means had failed to supply them. What could they do? They had a great and earnest prayer meeting. To God did they cry for water. Now mark the result. That very night a terrible rain storm came on, such as that country sometimes witnesses. The wind howled among the trees, and the rain poured down in torrents. Amid the darkness of that night to the rebels, many of our pris oners escaped. The torrents of water gullied deep down yonder hillside, inside the stockade. In the morning a pure spring of water was running from the excavation ; and it continued to run while the prisoners abode there. And still this *• Provideutial Spring” gives forth its pure, overflowing water. I liave just tasted of that sacred water. Let skeptics laugh, if they will; but I choose to believe that God heard their prayers. Cincinnati and the South. —Cincinnati has shown wisdom in so earnestly voting to bind the South to her by railways. Our map published last week, shows the con necting lines. We clip the following from the Atlanta Intelligencer of the 27th : Cincinnati Southern Railroad Triumph ant. —The following telegram which vve are kindly permitted to place before our readers, communicates the gratifying intelligence that Cincinnati, by an overwhelming vote has as emphatically decided on building the Cincin nati and Chattanooga Railway, as the City Council had previously decided to make Chat tanooga the Southern terminus: Cincinnati, June 28. —Col. E. Hulbert, Su perintendent—Vote very encouraging; opposi tion small. More than eight-tenths for the railway. (Signed) A. E. Chamberlain. Political Assassinations. —The Chris tian Index evidently doubts whether there have been any political assassinations in the South. We believe there have been as much as we believe our own existence ; so these forcible words, which that paper hurls at a possible evil, we aim at a certain one. Assassination for political ends is the last ex treme of folly and the lowest depth of infamy. Nothing can be more dastardly in cowardice, nothing more atrocious in brutality. He who commits, or counsels, or conceals it, is, beyond all other men, the deadliest enemy of his peo ple. Let no wretch of so flagitious a stamp lind shelter from universal execration and the utmost rigor of law. We would say these things with emphasis.* They express the sense of the great body of our citizens. On this point, there are no parties among us. As a people, vve give no more countenance to political murders than to any others which make the course of events unsightly with their crimson blot. Fulton Cos. Grand Jury Presentment. —The Grand Jurors selected, chosen, and sworn for the county of Fulton, Ga., make the following presentment in relation to a certain game called Keno : We declare it to be a common nuisance, in this: that it encourages idleness, gaming, and drinking; that it debauches the morals of those who come in contact with it; and that it is cal culated to draw in and ruin, by inculcating bad habits, tbe unsuspecting and young men of the county. And we hope that His Honor Judge John D. Pope will give such orders to the Sheriff and his deputies, or any lawful officer iu tnis county, that will compel them to enter and break, if necessary, any room where such officer may suspect that such game of Keno is being car ried on, and at such houses as he may sus pect that said game of Keno is being carried on, and arrest and cause all parties found therein playing at said game of Keno to be committed to jail in default of bail, in terms of section 4471 of Irwin’s Revised Code of Georgia. A Perb'ect Safe. —A few weeks since we purchased a “Macneale & Urban” Safe, and are so well satisfied with it that, un asked, we desire to say that we think no recommendation of its merits can be too ex travagant. Its combination lock makes it impossible to pick or blow open. Its steel face secures it against the chisel or crow bar ; and its fire-proof qualities have been so thoroughly tested as to make it abso lutely perfect. This safe is beautifully fin ished—its workmanship unsurpassed. It is the ne plus ultra of fire-proof safes. Kimballs’ Opera-House. —Our new, beautiful and commodious State Capitol was designed and erected for an opera house, with business houses on the main floor, and is still known as Kimballs’ Op era-house, though leased for State purposes for the term of ten years. We have re ceived from the proprietors a beautiful photograph of this magnificent building, for which our thanks are hereby given. Read “Taking our Bearings,” on the first page, and “General Sherman’s Letter,” on the fourth page. Atlanta University. —This building is being rapidly carried forward. Already a part of the building is under roof. Nashville and Knoxville Railroad.— We see from the Lebanon Herald x Register tdat 28 sections of the Nashville and Knoxville railroad have been let out. for grading, to re sponsible parties, and that dirt will be broke in a few days, at an average of a little more than $6,000 per mile, for grading. The estimated cost lor grading and cross ties from Nashville to Lebanon, is only about $7,400 per mile. In the opinion of the Engineer the total cost of preparing the track ready for the reception of the iron will not exceed SIO,OOO per mile. The contract for the building of the bridge across Stones River (a substantial wood bridge) has been closed at $14,000, independent of th» ma sonry. The bridge across Mill Creek is to be a Fink Truss iron one. and is contracted for at 87,000, independent of masonry. According to contract, the grading, bridging, etc., is to be completed by the first day of January next. The Wheat Contest.— The following is the result of the contest between four gentlemen of Athens, Ga., to see which one of them could gather the largest quantity of wheat from an acre of ground: Dr. J. S. Hamilton, forty-six and five-sixtieths bushels; John W. Nicholson thirty-nine and forty-sixtieths bushels; Col. D* Barrow, thirty-nine and thirty-five sixtieths bushels; Mr. E. Bancroft, thirty-five and four sixtieths bushels. —[Cartersville Express. The Middle Georgian says that T. J. Three keld. of Griffin, Ga., has just threshed out a lot of wheat, and the result is fifty-eight bushels to the acre. Methodist Advocate $1 for 6 months. 33. Tennessee Wesleyan University. We wish the readers of the Methodist Advocate, and the Methodist people in general, throughout Tennessee and Georgia especially, to know that the interests of mental and moral culture are largely repre sented and diligently looked after by the Trustees and Faculty of this University. It is located in Athens, a magnificent little town which is the county seat of McMinn county, one of the most desirable counties in East Tennessee. The East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad runs througli the place, and makes it approachable from any quarter of the South, East, North, or West. The scenery around Athens excels any of East Tennessee. This is called the Switz erland of the State, and the town is one of the coziest little snuggeries nestling un der the shadows of the surrounding hills, that we ever saw. There is, surely, no other place in the State that equals this for beauty of scenery and health of climate ; therefore, it is the place for a University. We had the pleasure of attending the closing exercises of this University, which began on the 10th of June and lasted till the 16th. As one of the examining Com mittee I must record their expressions of joy and surprise at the great thoroughness evinced in every class and department of the University. It is but justice to say that in all our history—in our attendance upon the examinations of other colleges and academies, we have never, so far as our judgment goes, witnessed examinations that surpassed these, if indeed the} 7 ever equaled them. The Academic Department, presided over by Miss M. M. Hauschild, was a model of good order, thorough drill, and at once impressed you that the lady at its head thoroughly understood and did her work. The classes in this department ac quitted themselves with much credit. The classes of Prof. Barb, of the Colle giate Department certainly excelled. The Professor has a rare faculty for instructing, and no one need fear a failure here, for he must learn if he has any brains. The classes taught by Dr. Cobleigh were masters of their studies. We were struck with a peculiar feature of the recitations of these classes, which was, that in scan ning the Greek of Homer, the Doctor re quires each student to scan the characters of the heroes of the glorious epic. Thus the student is taught to converse. Thus he is taught self-reliance, and with these accumulates historical information which will lend a grace to his other attainments. The exercises made a profound impres sion upon all the citizens of Athens, as well as upon the various visiting brethren from various parts of the State. Dr. Cobleigh, the efficient President, aided by a devoted Faculty, is entitled to much praise. The foundation is being laid here which will support an immense struc ture after awhile. But we must not close these remarks without speaking of the efficiency of the prize declamations, essays, and orations. Twelve young gentlemen* competed in the first, twelve young ladiesin the second, and ten young men in the third. In the first the prize was awarded to W. H. B. Rogers. In the second to Miss Jennie Brient. In the third to Mr. E. A. Atlee. Other prizes were given, one to Mr. Foster for highest standing and scholarship of the males, in the Collegiate Department, and one to Miss Moore for the same in the la dies, in the same department. Prizes (class) were awarded to Messrs. Cobleigh, Curry, and Milburn. The presence of the editor of the Meth odist Advocate gave no small degree of interest to the occasion, and his Sabbath services in the pulpit made him many ad mirers. Were he not a modest man we would tell the truth in more forcible terms, but as it is, we are fearful he might mark us out should we venture. Dr. Stevenson, of Indiana, lent a charm to us, by his brilliant social and intellectual attainments. Col. Wm. Brown, of Middle Tennessee, showed a profound interest in the educational advancement of the State, by his presence and counsel. We are thankful to God for such laymen. May their number be multiplied. In conclusion, we would advise our Meth odist people, and all people who desire the* advantages of education for their children, to be sure and visit Athens University be fore sending elsewhere. God bless the President and the Faculty in their noble endeavors to promote the intellectual andi moral interests of this people. Committee. Jonesboro Female College. Rev. L. F. Drake, of Jonesboro, Ten nessee, in a note says : The Commencement exercises of the Jones boro Female College came off June 15th and 16th. The examination and other public exer cises were held in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The pupils acquitted themselves well, and some of them remarkablv well, as they were thorough in all the branches studied. The President, Henderson Pressnell, lias sus tained himself well as an educator and Chris tian gentleman. His heart is in the cause of education, and every man who loves his pro fession is sure to succeed. On Tuesday evening, the 15th inst., Rev. John. F. bpence delivered an able address on ••The Conflicts of Life,” which was very well received by the audience. Ihe compositions of the young ladies were very well written, evincing much thought, and,, all things considered, well read. The Musical Department, conducted by their teacher, Prof. Charles E. Dillwarth, was a sue cess as the pieces had been well selected, and! al * of them highly entertaining. Miss Mollie B. \Y illhait, the assistant teachotv has given general satisfaction as an efficient teacher. . ale informed that the next sessiou opens -1 n.,, u "ust, and we trust that the coming year will exceed the former, as the College has a’ lino reputation in every tiling True Bi l l Found.—The Knoxville' Whig learns that the Grand Jury of the Circuit Court, in Blount county, has found! true bills against a number of persons for participating, aiding and abetting in whip ping Rev. Mr. Smith, of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, some time since. Let exact justice be rendered, and. law and order maintained.