The Methodist advocate. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1869-????, November 02, 1870, Page 174, Image 2

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174 The Methodist Advocate. ATLANTA, GA., NOVEMBER 2^870. E. Q,. FULLER, D. D., Editor. 00BBESP0ND1NG EDITORS s A. Webstbb, D. D., (S. Car. Conference,) Orangeburg, S. C. Rev. Wm. G. Matton. (N. Car. Conference,) Lincolnton, N. C Rev. James Mitchell, (Virginia Conference.) Leesburg, Va. Rev. C. 0. Fisher, (Washington Conference,) Baltimore, Md. r. E. Cobleioh, D. D., (Holston Conference,) Athens, Term. Rev. J. Braden, A. M., (Tenn. Conference,) Nashville, Tenn. Rev. A. S. Larin, (Alabama Conference,) Huntsville, Ala. Rev. James Lynch, (Miss. Conference,) Jackson, Miss, Rev. L. C. Matlack, (Louisiana Con.,) New Orleans, La. Rev. G. W. Honey, (Texas Conference,) Austin, Texas. Volume Three. Begin the Canvass Now. The second volume of TEE METHODIST ADVOCATE will soon close. The third volume will commence with the first of January, 1871. All of our preachers should commence their canvass for subscribers at once. New subscribers for 1871 will be entered as soon as received, and no charge macro ~ v >t;.. Year’s. Send for specimen copies, carry them in the pocket, show them every where, and let the people know how im portant it is for them to become ac quainted with the movements of the Churches and the nations. These are marvelous times. All must have the paper. The editor now being relieved from the care of a district, will devote his whole time to the paper, and make it better than ever before. Crops are good, and money more plenty. Subscribe now, and pay the cash, or, if the cotton is not sold, have the preacher order the paper, and pay the money to him in days. Don’t fail to have the paper ordered imme diately. Old subscribers should renew now. Do not wait till New-Year’s. Have the preacher send on the names at once. The preachers should remember the promises made at Conference. Now is the time to give us ten thousand sub scribers for next year. They can be had, and the preachers can get them. That would enable us to pay our heavy ex penses, and begin to return to the treas ury of the Church the money used in starting this great enterprise. Begin now. Canvass thoroughly, and the ten thousand can be had. Never put money in a letter. Send the money by post-office money-order, by express, or pay it to the presiding elder. Address Hitchcock & Walden, Atlanta, Ga. _____ Annual Meeting of the General Committee of Church Extension. —The General Committee of Church Extension will meet in the Rooms of the Society, No. 1018 Arch-st., Philadelphia, Thurs day, November 17th, at nine o’clock, A. m. The editor of this paper represents the Sixth District on this Board, and will be glad to hear representations of the work from presiding elders and others. The district includes Alabama, Georgia, llol ston, Kentucky, Lexington, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas Con ferences. The Local Preachers’ National Convention met for its third annual ses sion in Union Church, Philadelphia, Oc tober 15th, and continued in session four days, including the Sabbath. The Some Journal says: “ Throughout, the meeting “was characterized by simplicity, fervor, “ and Christian harmony, and will be re membered as an occasion of primitive “power, and great mutual enjoyment.” Statistics of Alabama Conference. —The Secretary furnishes us the follow ing summary: Members, 11,842; deaths, 114; probationers, 1,791; local preach ers, 188; baptisms—adults, 805; chil dren, 744—1,549; churches, 107; proba ble value, $24,125; collected for Missions, $172; Sunday-schools, 89; S. S. scholars, 3,753. A handsome increase in all items. Illness.— We regret to learn from Rev. W. B. Crichlow that Rev. J. Thomp son, presiding elder of West Tennessee District, Tennessee Conference, has been quite sick for ten days past. He is im proving, however, slowly. This fact ex plains his absence from his appointments. Brother C. adds: “Let the whole Church “join in prayer for his speedy recovery! National Camp-Meetings. —The Com mittee have decided to hold two National Camp-Meetings next year —one at Round Lake, N. Y., and the other at Urbanna, 0. We hope that large numbers of our preachers and people in the South will attend at least one of these meetings. Pentecostal Meetings are becoming frequent in the Methodist Episcopal Church in the East. They are often attended with marked displays of Divine power in the conversion of sinners and sanctification of believers. The Bishops. —Bishop Janes, after closing the Rock River Conference, re turned to his home in New York, Oct. 22d. Bishop Simpson closed the Genesee Conference, at Warsaw, Oct. 18th, and immediately left for Girard, Penn., where he was engaged to dedicate anew church on the following day. He hoped to re turn, after the dedication to his home in Philadelphia. Mrs. Simpson, who jour neyed with the Bishop to Europe, has not yet returned. Bishop Ames has re turned from the Pacific coast. He left San Francisco Sept. 26th, in company with Dr. M. C. Briggs, transferred to the Cincinnati Conference, and reached Albia, the seat of the lowa Conference, in time to open the session of that body, Sept. 28th. The Bishop was in good health, notwithstanding his extended and exceeding busy tour. His visit gave great satisfaction to the Pacific conferences. Bishop Clark closed his tour in the North-West in much improved health, and has returned to his home in Cincinnati. Binimn Sftfttt. l#ffc Alokomo few tio residence, in Odessa, Del., October 18th, in fine health and spirits, evidently hav ing enjoyed his visit to the South. None of the bishops have more than a few days’ rest. The annual meetings of the Missionary and Church Extension boards now demand their attention, and the Winter conferences will soon com mence. Premium Cheese. —By the politeness of J. J. Toon, Esq., of the Franklin Print ing House, Broad-street, we are permitted to practically test the excellent qualities of the cheese that took the premium at the State Fair. The cheese is from Roseneath Dairy Farm, (Bell Buckle P. 0.) Bedford county, Tennessee, and was made August 17,1870. Roseneath Farm is sit uated in the richest blue grass portion of Bedford county, and is fully competent to sustain, in the best style, during the en tire year, from 450 to 500 cattle. From 80 to 100 lbs. of cheese per day were made during 1869; but the full capacity of the machinery and fixtures is from 250 to 300 pounds per day. It has been fully and satisfactorily demonstrated that as good cheese can be manufactured in the South as in any other section, and that there is sufficient enterprise and skill here to carry forward such an industrial pursuit. Williams, Langston & Crane keep the products of Roseneath for sale. Mr. Toon also took a premium on butter, and was equally successful in the exhibitions from his Printing House, the daily printed upon his press taking a premium. Holston Conference, Northern Church. —“ From the Statistical Secretary %ve have the following items: Members, 20,229, being a small increase.” — Methodist Advocate. Not quite such a flourish of trumpets as usual from that quarter. The Tennessee Conference shows a decrease of over 500, while the Hol s'on has “ a smaH increase,” Swallowing up the Southern Church, ! He then adds: “The Church at Jonesboro and one other, perhaps more, have been returned to the Church, South.” Returned! Ah, indeed! When you cduld hold them no longer by force. It doubtless went against the “grain,” but there was no remedy; they must be “returned.” The above is from the Christian Ob server and is a fair specimen of its fra ternity. The statistics of Tennesse Con ference show a decrease, because several charges were not reported; there was an encouraging increase in fact. The Ob server knows that our papers, conferences and churches wish to settle all property questions fairly, honorably, and that pa per knows that the Church South holds many of our churches in Maryland and Virginia, and refuses to give them up only at the end of a lawsuit. We believe that our people have won every case that has been put into court. * Write Briefly. —Every week ive are sorely perplexed to get into the columns of The Methodist Advocate all that is im portant to appear in them. Scarcely a week passes without something having been crowded out. The whole South is our field, and all must have a hearing, and if all write briefly, very briefly — briefly as they possibly can —they will help us greatly, and be sure to see their articles inserted early. We are glad to hear from every preacher, in every Con ference, but we exhort, Write briefly. Missionary Board. —The Missionary Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church meets in the new building, in New York, on the 10th of November. Presiding elders who have not represented their work should do so at once, to Rev. W. C. Daily, of Cleveland, Tenn., member of the Board for the Southern Conferences. Hoffman. —Rev. H. O. Hoffman, has been transferred from the Tennessee to the Illinois Conference, and stationed in Decatur. Our friends there will find in him a fine preacher, an excellent pastor, and a Christian gentleman. We con gratulate them. Clark University, Atlanta.— This school was re-opened this week. THE METHODIST ADVOCATE. NOVEMBER 2, 1870. After Conference. The Fall conferences have been held, and all of the preachers, we trust, are on their new fields of labor. We have heard from several who have commenced the new year in earnest. Some have gone around their circuits since Conference. That looks like work, like securing suc cess in advance. The year well begun is prophetic of prosperity. Neglect imme diately after Conference is double neg lect. The people are always anxious to see the new preacher, and if he goes di rectly from the Conference-room to his charge, and spends the first Sunday or two on his new field, becomes acquainted Avith a portion (at least) of his charge, and shows an interest in it, this fact goes far toward prepossessing all in his favor. Who, having hired a hand, would like to see him coming along at 9 or 10 o’clock, to do a day's work? Neither does a church Avant the preacher to come tar dily to his labor, as if he cared little for it, for himself, or for his Master. How many revivals can be held between the time of Conference and cold weather, if the preachers are promptly at their posts! The finances of the circuits need look ing after at once. Now, while crops are being gathered, is the best time of the whole year to lay in supplies, and if the preachers are in their places, caring for the flocks, the steAvards and people gener ally can be prompted to aid the preachers in getting a start for the year. Many churches need repairs before Winter sets in. Noav is the time to attend to them. Netv churches are to be built, and much of the Avork of preparation can be done before cold weather. October, November and December are the best months in the year to circulate the periodicals of the Church. Half of this Avork usually goes undone, because it is deferred till too late in the season. If all our preachers Avould attend earnestly to this work dur ing these months, they Avould give us ten thousand subscribers by the first of Jan uary next, and many for other journals of the Church. Will they do it? One month—October—is already gone; but tAvo remain. How many will present the periodical interests of the Church faith fully to all of their people, in public and private, on these tAvo rounds on their cir cuits. The Fall and Winter, when cotton is selling, is the proper time to take the principal collections of the Church. The collections for Missionary and Church Ex-' tension purposes should be taken early, and the money forwarded, so that it can be had when most needed. Now, while there is money in the country, is also the time to buy Sunday-school books for next Summer’s use, so that schools closed dur ing the Winter can open early in the Spring Avith good libraries. Commence now. Not a day should be lost by a preacher who expects to do any thing this year for God and the Church. One reason why preachers receive so little support is because some waste so much of the year before trying to do any thing on their circuits. He who lays around home half of the year discourages the Church and defeats his own efforts, and deserves no pay. We neAmr ask a Church to pay a preacher for doing nothing. Those Avho are early and late on their charges, doing the best they can, earn a support, and the people will generally divide with them such as they haA r e. A word to the stewards. If your preacher is on hand, and now doing his best for you, see that you—as steAvards— do your best to aid him in temporal things. The laborer is worthy of his hire; while he who will not Avork shall not eat. The Flag. —He who has no country is a vagabond, at the mercy of every vil lain. Oppressed, he has no redress; wronged, he has no protection. Whoso ever will, may abuse or slay him without fear of punishment. He who does not love his country deserves none of its fa vors. The flag is the emblem or repre sentative of a nation, a country, and he who honors not his nation’s flag is a trai tor, and will be likely to rebel whenever circumstances favor rebellion. During the war, General Dix was asked what should be done in case rebels should at tempt to pull down the flag. He replied, “If any one attempts to pull down the “American flag, shoot him on the spot.” No truer sentiment nor more correct prin ciple has been inculcated during our na tional troubles. Any man who would lower the national flag through malice is a traitor to the country, and deserves death. The American flag ought to float from ten thousand flag-staffs in the South ern States on all great public occasions. Dishonor to the flag should be visited with severe penalties. W rite Briefly. —Editorials, communi cations, and revival notices crowded out. The State Fair. We resume our notes from last Aveek: Os manufactured articles, useful and ornamental, from a steam engine to a gold watch, the exhibition was fine. We can not enumerate the tenth part of what we saw. In leather, boots, shoes and har ness, all were well represented. Cloths, cotton and woolen, of Georgia manufac ture, good specimens were exhibited. The Concord Woolen Mills and the Phoenix and Eagle Cotton Mills’ goods were worthy of special notice. Clothing, quilts, table, bed and piano spreads, were in pro fusion, and some of superior quality. Needle-work appeared in variety, and of rare excellence. SeAving machines were plenty and attracted general atten tion. The display of silver ware Avas good but not so strong competition as there ought to have been. Knabe’s pianos were the only musical instruments on ex hibition. Cooking stoves, washers, Avring ers, and churns occupied important places. Huoatia & Hope, exhibited superb en amelled fire grates the best article of the kind manufactured, also fine willow ware, rattan chairs and various other household utensils. A little excellent furniture was to be seen. A business desk of ash was much admired. Steam engines, saws, mills for grinding grain and bones, smutters, a shingle mill, printing presses, sorghum mills and evap orators at work, “pitch pine and turpen tine” making, etc., were in such profu sion that a whole day might have been well spent in their examination. A splen did steam fire-engine was on exhibition. Farming implements, such as plows, har rows, reapers, planters, threshers, etc., were in good supply, and of superior quality. It made a progressive man feel at home to get among them. Echols of this city, exhibited the largest variety. It did one’s eyes good to see several real farm-wagons, nicely finished and painted, standing side by side. Hay and cotton presses, gins, cotton planters, and a cotton chopper, indicated that free labor and brains are taking to cotton growing. It is not too much to say that superior buggies and carriages of their several classes were never put upon a Fair Ground. Those from Kimball’s Manufactory, Bos ton, take the lead. Others from Hart ford, Ct. are very fine, while Georgia made made a good showing. Several col lections of minerals were shown though not in quantities to indicate the great mineral wealth of Georgia. In the de partment of fine arts there Avere pieces of real and rare excellence. Mrs. J. E. Bryant exhibited several oil paintings, one, the Voyage of Life, is beautiful, de serving a first premium. Miss Sonowski. a Prussian lady, noAV teaching in Athens, Ga., exhibited oil paintings of great merit. Several portraits from the pencil of Maier of Atlanta, were excellent. Wax-work of fruit and flowers, hair and feather work of several sorts, were beau tiful—some exceedingly so. In this de partment we observed several pieces of Mrs. Oldfield and her pupils’ that wen much admired, particularly two crayolithic landscapes. Photographs, large and small, plain and colored, from several galleries, were worthy of attention. If North Geor gia is not noAV, it is to boa fine grazing country. Durhams, a feAV Devons, Alder neys, and Brahmins were on exhibition. Ave observed some fine specimens of each Sheep and hogs were not numerous but those which we saw were good. The poultry department Avas highly creditable, ducks, geese, chickens, pigeons and tur keys, large and fat, filled the numerous coops. The noblest of domestic animals, the horse, claimed a large share of attention. In harness and under the saddle, the ex nibition merited high praise. There Avas altogether too much trial of speed, hoAv ever, to suit our vieAvs of propriety. More attention should be given to stock for the plow and Avagon rather than to fast trotters. Agricultural Fairs should not degenerate into mere races. The gambling attendant upon races, is terribly demoralizing; and the less running at Fairs the better for the morals of the peo ple, if not for the purse of the Society. We close as Ave began, by saying that the State Fair has been a decided success and Avill tend greatly to stimulate the activi ties and develop the resources of the State. American Board of Foreign Mis sions. The annual meeting of the American Board of Foreign Missions was held in Brooklyn recently, and was one of re markable interest. There were not less than five thousand delegates and friends from abroad. About fifty returned mis sionaries, and their families, added great interest to the occasion. A tinge of sad ness pervaded the entire convention, by reason of the withdrawal of the new School Presbyterians from the Board. This Avithdrawal was not the result of any disaffection, but only the legitimate result of the union of the NeAV and Old School Presbyterians in one body. The Ncav York Advocate, from Avhich avo take the foregoing facts, says; Representatives were also present from the Micronesian Islands in the South Pacific, live thousand miles beyond San Francisco. In these far-off Islands, where they receive the mail but once in the year,where the missionary’s wife was the only white woman, glowing accounts were o-iven of the saving power of the Gospel ot Christ. But the interest in these reports cul minated in the representation of the work in the Sandwich Islands. The Rev. Mr. Coan, Avho with his wife had labored thirty-five years among this people, spoke with reference to this mission. There were none lower or viler than these heathen at the beginning of his mission ary labors among them —addicted, as they were, even to cannibalism —although the way had been somewhat prepared by missionary effort for the fifteen preceding years. He gave a simple, but wonderful, account of the great revival in these Islands. lie himseli after care ful and repeated examinations, having baptized seventeen hundred converts in one day. As lie expressed it, the tears upon that occasion were as plentiful as the water used in baptism. He received into the Christian Church in all twelve thousand, lacking forty; and the converts re main. There is no State where a larger pro portion of the population read and write. Schools, enterprise, civilization in its highest set»e©. have here toiioweil in tin* wake of mis sionary Christianity. The Islands are now Christianized. The proportion of the popula tion who are church members is larger than in the United States or Great Britain. The churches are supplied with native pastors, and are self-sustaining. And the Sandwich Islands are now dropped from the list of missions of the American Board, simply because the work is done. Merited Commendation. With pleasure we transfer to our col umns from the Brunswick (Ga.) Appeal, the following deserved commendations of the brothers Kimball. It is but just to say in addition, that H. 1., E. N. and J. C. Kimball, now all of Atlanta, and their families, have for years been active, in fluential and greatly esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. No one could bring attestations of personal worth more highly to be esteemed than those of H. I. Kimball from mutual per sonal friends including in the number some of the leading ministers and laymen of Chicago, Governor Evans of Colorado, and Bishops of our Church, to the editor of this paper, unsought by either party. No more estimable Christian families, or efficient Christian laborers, are to be found in Georgia or elsewhere, than these have been for years past. We count it a mark of special providential goodness that has placed these pillars of the church in this city. They are fully identified with us, and with the Divine blessing will prove of as much moral as they are of commercial value to their adopted State. The Ap peal says: Among the new comers attracted to Atlanta by its promise of future prosperity, and the field it would afford their almost superhuman energy and towering but honest ambition — not only to amass wealth and secure fame, but to accomplish great good in attaining these— were two brotners of quiet habits and retiring, modest deportment. They were unobtrusive, comparatively strangers, without noticeable qualities. They located in a small room on the second floor of a building on cue of the most public streets, commenced business, and laid the foundation of a reputation now unequalled in the .south, and probably not surpassed in the Union, for energy, industry, business sagacity and integrity, and uninterrupted success. These two persons were H. I. Kimball, and nis brother, E. N. Kimball, co-proprietors and managers for the South of the world-renowned gorgeous Palace Sleeping Coaches of Pullman, Kimball and Ramsay. Encouraged and emboldened by well-merited success, and seizing “the prompt occasion” af forded by the sale of the unfinished opera iiouse building, they at once entered upon a career of startling enterprise which has made the name of 11. 1. Kimball a household word in i lie South, and given a Union wide fame. When the purchase was made in May, 18tiS, there was nothing but the unsightly bare walls, which, nowever, were most substantially built, three stories high. A contract made during ihe Sum mer to have the building changed and subdi vided into apartments suitable for the accom modation of every department of the State Government, and ready for occupancy the en duing January was more than complied with. Scarcely had it been made known that he had concluded a liberal contract for preparing in magnificent style the Grounds for, and conduct ing the State Fair, the present Fall, before the additional announcement was made that he had nought the site of the Old Atlanta Hotel, and would proceed at once to erect the greatest and grandest hotel south of the Potomac, and have it ready for guests during the Fair. The an louucement was startling and almost incredi ble even to Atlanta. But the promise iias BEEN MADE GOol>. These great undertakings—the complete out iitting, in the most substantial and beautiful manner of the Fair Grounds, and the eonstruc tion of an elegantly finished and faultlessly furnished Hotel, 210 feet front, IGS feet deep, 6 -tories high, containing 350 rooms, and of ca pacity for accommodating 1.000 guests, in less than seven months’ time, have been successfully accomplished, and the 11. 1. Kimball House stands, to-day, a splendid monument to the brilliant conception and grand constructive ge nius and combinations, no less than to the un paralleled and untiring energy of him Avhose name it deservedly bears. It is a gratification to know that a gentleman combining such a rare intellectual grasp and tremendous business energy and power, with such daring enterprise and comprehensive pub lic spirit, is intimately identified with the Bruns wick and Albany Railway —an enterprise n aught with interests of such momentous im portance to our city. It has been suggested that while the financial head will continue in New York, a majority of the Board of Directors, or its Executive por tion, will be in Georgia, and that of this State Road 11. I. Kimball, Esq., will be the President. As this road is regarded as a part, or a contin uationof the Grand Southern Pacific, destined to unite the tAvo oceans on the 32d Parallel, it is not improbable that Mr. Kimball may be in vited to become the head of that. In that event “ the hour and the man” will have met, and the speedy and successful accomplishment of that grand enterprise may be regarded as assured. Thanksgiving. —Read the President’s proclamation, in another column. We hope that suitable services will be held in all of our churches. The Methodist Episcopal Church, Natchez Dist., Mississippi Cons.—Moses Adams.— Our third quarterly meeting for Fa yette, held August llth-12th, Avas a glorious meeting. Brother Hurt had been engaged in a powerful work. A large number had been converted, thirty-five had joined the Church du ring the last quarter, the Sabhatli-school had increased from ninety-three to one hundred and tAventy-five scholars, he had gathered in two new societies, forty-eight members. in one, and twenty-five in the other. A good minister, Rev. Bird Jeffers, from the Baptist Church, has joined us here. We raised SI4G in cash, and 500 on subscription for our church buildings in Fay ette. Ten dollars were handed the pastor du ring the meeting, also a fine suit of clothes Avas presented to him by Sister M. Holt and a num ber of other sisters. From Fayette Ave went to Natchez, here we preached on Sunday. We have no doubt of the success of our work in Natchez if AA r e can have some aid from the Church Extension Society. From Natchez we went to Brookhaven. Brother Barney reports large accessions at Monticello, at Meadville forty-eight had joined the Church. At this place they had bought a brick building for a church, 30x45 feet, two story, standing on a lot of one acre, for four hundred dollars. In the north part of Frank lin county and in the western part of Lincoln county Ave have two large societies, two hund red members, Rev. A. J. Thomas, who came to us from the Church South this year, has charge of them. At Crystal Springs Ave found Rev. Sumpter Doby and members hard at Avork preparing for the camp-meeting, Avhich began September Ist continuing eleven days. Instead of building bush arbors, these people built a room 100 feet square of plank, and built their tents of plank. The people left their corn and cotton to come to the meeting, Ave had sixty con versions and ninety-three joined the Church. Rev. Isom Burrill, an excellent young man from the Church South joined us here, he has charge of part of brother Doby’s work. The Sabbath-schools on this Avork are flourishing. ,<ohn Bell, an exhorter, died September stli, he was superintendent of the Sabbath-schools on this work, he died, happy in Jesus. At Greenwood we found that brother John Wesley Dunn had been having a poAverful work, he has built a church in Greenwood worth together Avith the lot S2OOO, they have a good Sabbath-school, numbering about sev enty five scholars. Three ministers have come to us here Avith their congregations from the Church South. We had about GOO present at our meeting, 12 joined the Church, forty-one dollars were raised for the preacher. At M’Nutt Ave found brother Harris’ Avork quite encouraging. On the 27th I preached at Jones’ Chapel. After the sermon Ave called for mourners to come to the altar when it seemed as if every sinner on the ground came forward. We raised $535, on subscription to build a church here. At Winona Ave had a good quarterly meeting. Five joined the Church, here Ave have a good Sunday-School and excellent day school taught by Miss A. Neal. The brethren are at work on our new church here, it is to he 30x50 feet, two stories, the lower story for a school. Thus ended our third round of quartely meet ings. The Lord has been with us and Avonder fully blest our labors. Cabarrus, Stanley and Meeklinburgii CT., N. C. Con.-—W. G. Matton.— The Metho dist Episcopal Church at Mount Mitchell, Ca barrus county, was dedicated September 17-18, with appropriate exercies. On Saturday the Sunday-school numbering one hundred and eleven scholars (with a number of visitors from neighboring schools) marched from their school room to the new church, headed by a neat banner. The services at the church con sisted of brief stirring addresses and singing by the school under the. leadership of brother Cook, after which a bountiful dinner was discussed by preachers, scholars and friends, this being a very successful feature in the exercises. In the evening the meeting was continued, marked interest being manifested. Off Sunday , the iSttfU the congregation was overflowing and deepiy interested, Rev. Win. Rawlings preached an excellent and impressive sermon from I Kings 8:59. The dedicating service was performed by the presiding elder assisted by Rev. J. A. Huggins and S. A . Roper. A lecture on the Methodist Episcopal Church was delivered bv Rev. VV. G. Matton at 3p. m. At night two penitents were at the altar, one of whom was converted. On Monday night the Lord gave us a Pentecostal shower, some twenty penitents (mostlyyoung persons, members of the Sunday school) were at the altar weeping and agonizing for pardon, when a blessed wave of salvation swept o'er us; and almost simultaneously seven souls were converted and rejoiced in* anew found Savior. It was a gracious season, long to be remembered. On Tuesday morning a meeting for counsel and encouragement of the young converts was held, at which two peni tents, also, presented themselves. At night the work was renewed, and some ten precious souls were happily converted to God. Truly the Lord God of our fathers was with us, and sanctified the edifice by his manifested power— To him be all the praise! The building is 30x45 neatly and substantially built, ceiled inside, and comfortably seated. The pulpit and altar rail are of black walnut finished in good style. The pastor. Rev. S. A. Roper has been pros pered this year, and reports 100 additions to the membership. Wesley Chapel, Baton Rouge, La. Con.— S. M. Small. —We held a basket meeting in the Church in this place recently. Sabbath servi ces commenced with a lecture on the 32d Psalm, by the pastor in charge, Rev. S. M. Small, followed by a prayer meeting, after which preaching begun, and with short inter missions, was kept up throughout the entire day. The power of God was manifested in the conversion of one precious soul, and the re claiming of two backsliders. Fifteen mourners came forward for prayers. The Church was much revived; sufficient interest was evinced to encourage us in continuing the meeting during the week. Chestnut Creek Ct., Ala. Con.— ll. W. Lawi.ey. —Our fourth quarterly meeting was held at Big Rocky Mount on the 17th and 18th ult. Brother Parker was with us, and preached Saturday and Sunday. Brother J. W. Jones was also with us —They left Sunday evening, and I continued the meeting until Thursday night with great success. Twenty-two professed faith in Christ: twenty-three joined the Church. This is anew work, organized in August last. The entire membership of the Church is thirty two. My work is in a growing condition. National Thanksgiving Procla mation of the President. H7tereas, It behooves a people sensible of their dependence on the Almighty publicly and collectively to acknowledge their gratitude for His favors and mercies, and humbly to be seech for their continuance; and ichereas , the people of the United States, during the year now about to end, have special cause to be thankful for general prosperity, abundant, har vests, exemption from pestilence, from loreign war and civil strife: Now, therefore, be it known that I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, con curring in similar recommendations from Chief- Magistrates of States, do hereby recommend to all citizens to meet in their respective places of worship on Thursday, the twenty-fourth day of November next, there to give thanks for the bounty of God during the year about to close, and to supplicate for its continuance hereafter. In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Lone at the city of Washington, tills twenty first day of October, in the year of our Lord * one thousand eight hundred and seventy, and of the Independence of the United States the ninety-fifth. (Signed) U. S. Grant. By the President: Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State.