Newspaper Page Text
74
episcopal supervision, for at the dose of
the General Conference, in 1864 we hau
nine bishops, eight of whom were vigor
ously effective, and our members and
preachers since then have increased one
third. It will be no advance to have
twelve effective bishops . Northwestern
Advocate.
The Methodist Advocate.
ATLANTA, GA., MAY 10, 1871.
K. Q.. FULLER, ». D., Editor.
COR&K3POBDINQ EDITORS i
A WKB9IER, D. D., (S. Car. Confidence.) Orangeburg, 8. 0.
Itev. Wm. G. Matton. fti. Oar. Conference. ) Jamestown.N.O.
ltav. James Mitcuell,, (Virginia Conference,) Leesburg, Va.
Hev. C. O. Fibueb, (Washington Conference.) Baltimore, Aid.
N, E. Cobleiqh, D. D„ (Ho)eton Conference,) Athens, Tenn.
Hev. J. Bbaden, A. M.. (Tenn. Conference,) ffashville, Tenn.
Bev. A. 8. Lakin, (Alabama Conference,) Huntsville, Ala.
Bev. James Lynch. (Mlsb. Conference,) Jackson, Mitt.
Rev. L. 0. Matlack, (Louisiana Con.,) J\ T ew Orleans, La.
Rev. G. W. Honey, iTeias Conference,) Austin, Texas.
The Dedication. —First Church, in At-'
lanta was appropriately dedicated to Di
vine worship on Sabbath last. Rev. J. M.
Reid, D.D., Editor of the Northwestern Ad
vocate, of Chicago, R>v.N.E.Cobleigh,D.D,
President of East Tennessee Wesleyan
University, Rev. J. W. Yarbrough, presid
ing elder of the district, Rev. Dr. Pretty
man, former pastor ot the Church, Rev. J.
W. Lee, presiding elder of the Dalton dis
trict, and others, were present and partici
pated in the services. The day was de
lightfally cool and pleasant, and the con
gregations were large and as intelligent and
genteel as ever assembled in the city. In
the morning Dr. Reid preached from the
text, I Coiiutians xv, 41. The sermon was
peculiarly appropriate and impressive, and
was greatly enjoyed by his hearers. This
was followed by one of the most successful
financial efforts of the kind we have made
in the South.
In the afternoon Dr. Cobleigh preached,
in his usual clerir and forcible manner,
from John xvi, 24. The debt being paid,
and funds raised for finishing the exterior
of the house, it was dedicated according to
the Ritual of the Church, Dr. Reid leading
in the service.
Dr. Reid preached again at night to a
delighted audience. The collection reached
the sum of $5,452 00.
The music was very fine. A more per
fect success could not have occurred. —
Much credit is due to the pastor, Rev. J. H.
Knowles, for this grand result.
The following are the Subscriptions Taken!
II I Kimball;.•••••••* ?• .......S6OO 00
E N Kimball 400 00
J C Kimball 250 00
John liice
S E Crittenden 250 00
George F Kimball, (805t0n)......... 3 ....... 250 00
George Cook yy- ••••
Dr S C Hitchcock.... 150 00
G W Adair 100 00
Rev JH Knowles. . . i 100 00
J II Farnsworth ... v . 100 00
T S King | IOO 00
' 100 00
R S TSggleston 100 00
(through H I K) 100 00
W H Parkins 100 00
William Goodnow *OO 00
Mrs H I Kimball 100 00
BD Holcomb 100 00
O II Hall, J H Hayden, V Dunning,
Pemberton & Taylor, C E Sargent,
William Doty, Cash (paid,) J Bou
tell, B P Frink, A Friend, (through
111 K.) Cash, M O Markham, James
Mallory, A B Floyd, Rev J W Yar
brough, J H James. R M Auten, Mrs
EN Kimball,John Harris, Dr Fuller,
A Friend, (through H IK,) J C Alex
ander, SSO each 1 1,100 00
R S Dunning, A Friend, (through H I
K,) J T Oswalt, J M Willis, Madison
Bell. Jacob Graff, Mr Merriam, Miss
Fossitt, Cash, Rev J W Lee, Mrs
Oldtield.T II Corkliill, F Thompson,
W G Knox, A Friend, (through J C
K,) H Bradfield, A Friend, (through
H I K.) C W Hunnicntt, M’Whorter ;
Hungerford, A Friend, (through J
C K,) Rev A W Caldwell, A Friend,
(through 111 K,) $25 each 550 00
T G Healey, A Friend, (through J C K,)
W E Carter, A Friend, (through 111
K.) Rev W Brewer, Three Little
Girls, (Misses Sargent.) Miss Laura
Kimball. Cash, J \V Hilton, R Sou
ders, L F Smith. Cash, Three Little
Girls, (Misses Cook,) A Friend, $lO
each. 140 00
Cash, Cash, N P French, Cash, Cash,
Cash, Cash, Mrs Hungerford, P TL,
J H Thurman, E G Moore. D K
Cushman, $5 each 60 00
W F Sellers, (paid) 2 00
Total .-$5,452 00
Not Bishop Wightman. —A corres
pondent says:
I regretted to notice in your paper of week
before last, that sermon attributed to Bishop
Wightman. Rev. John T. Wightman is not a
D.D , nor a Bishop. He is, I think a nephew
of Bishop Wightman. The Bishop's name, I
think, is William. How was you misled?
We are thankful to our correspondent
for calling attention to the confusion of
names indicated above. Our inadvertence
in the case is almost unpardonable, and
we hasten to make the correction. There
was simply a want of careful attention to
namos on our part. We ought not to have
been misled. Other bishops of that
Church have said so much of a kindred
character, that this passed with too little
scrutiny. We beg pardon of the Bishop
for attributing these utterances to him and
of the real author of such a sermon for
misrepresenting him as a doctor of divinity
and a bishop. In giving his personal
sentiments he expressed the avowed opin
ions of the leaders of the Church South.
A Contrast.—The Church Missionary
Record says the “Register” had an income
forty years ago of but $150,000, now it is
$750,000; then its communicants num
bered 318, now they are 21,705, including
the congregations transferred in 1862 to
the native Church in Western Africa. The
number of European missionaries then was
34, now it is 203. There was not then one
native ordained clergyman, now there are
109!
“Seceding Congregations and Church
Property.” —The Southern Advocate
gives an article with this title which we can
not pass without commendation. It re
peats however the “Southern” view of the
so called “Plan of Separation,” and cites
the recent case in Philadelphia,where per
sons seceding from a Presbyterian Church
thrifffby tost their claims in the church
property, and says “the decision seems
just.” We quote:
“This looks like a very simple question of
right, and we wonder that it is not acted on, by
people professing to be Christians.
It is claimed by those bolding fast to our
churches in Tennessee, that in Maryland and
Virginia, some of our people who have come
out of the Northern Church,hold their churches,
deeded before and since the separation to the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and claim, as
converts to Northern Methodism do in Tennes
see, the Church property because they built and
need*4ie house.
This reasoning is not good, if the decision
above stated be correct. For one, we would
insist on the surrender of a church if a seced
ing congregation can bring no stronger claim
to it than this is. We would demand such sur
render of others in like circumstances, and wo
would yield as much to them. Nor should we,
if iu posession of a church by such a tenure,
wait to see whether others would do right; we
should do right, independently of others’ acts.
We could not say. to a man we hart robbed, 'I
own the robbery, but it is extenuated by the
faet that your brother far away yonder robbed
my brother. When your brother restores to my
brother his property, I will give up what I have
stolen from you. 1 And yet tiie Southern llols
ton Conference had this confession in effect,
and proposition made to it, when it asked lor
its property. We insist that the principle of law
and equity announced above shall prevail every
where, and in each congregation without refer
ence to what others do.”
We gladly take occasion to thank the
Southern Advocate for giving so much
long needed counsel to its Church. We
should be willing to see the property ques
tion settled everywhere upon the basis
indicated,and where the Methodist Episco
pal Church should thus be left without a
place of worship in Tennessee, let the
Church Extension Society aid in building
a better one, as wfe have heretofore stated.
Further, we have long-since advised that
whefe it is practicable in country places,
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the
Church, Snath, occupy the same house
on alternate Sundays in harmony, like
Christians and brothers in the Gospel.
Still our friends in Tennessee, in most
cases haye other and perhaps stronger
claims to churches held by them, but yet
in dispute. The Southern Advocate
wholly misi’epresents the Holston Con
ference in the illustration given. That
Conference suggested to the Church
South, a commission to be appointed by
both Churches, and proposed to abide the
decision in relation to the property in
Tennessee, without respect to that in other
localites. They have not stolen churches
from any parties. The Holston Confer
ence also advised trustees of Churches to
settle with the Church South, upon terms
of equity. Whjwfeje* the Southern Ad
vocate conceal thins fact from its readers?
The terms augjbsted by tha.y>aner would
11 in Virginia and Mary
land; at once inlour favor. We ask only
for that which ls^fiiayyifLequal.
—7—►>.—J-
Our Soldiers.—To whom do Congressmen
refer in the phrase “our soldiers?” Do
they include both Confederate and Federal, or
are those only who fought in the Yankee ar
mies to be considered and described as l 'our
soldiers?” If an affirmative answer is returned
to the first query, we are content, but if a neg
ative to the former and an affirmative response
is returned to the latter interrogatory, we are
not content, and shall never be content until
the Government of the United States forgets, in
the distribution of its bouuty, the difference be
tween those who wore the blue and those who
wore the grey in the late war between the
States.—lt is unreasonable to suppose that the
people of the South will be willing to pay taxes
to support the disabled men who fought against
them, while those who fought for them are ex
cluded from all Governmental aid. TJiitil jus
tice is done the brave Southern soldiers, let us
hear no more of “our soldiers.” —Nevvnan (Ga.)
Herald.
Were Lee, Davis and the Confederate
army in the service of the United States
Government? If so, the Government
should pay them as it agreed to do when
enlisting them into its service. If they
fought against it, they are no more en
titled to pay or thanks from the Govern
ment for doing so, than is a highwayman
for robbing his victim. Why should not
the Herald ask Congress to assess
whipped Negroes to pay the Ku-Klux for
walloping them ? The monstrous sugges
tion of the Herald indicates an obtuseness
and lack of moral sense on the part of the
writer that should excite commiseration.
Is there no room in the lunatic asylum
for such as he ?
The New Methodist Preacher. “We
congratulate our Methodist brethren on their
good fortune in having assigned to the Grecnes
boro’ circuit, Rev. George \V. Yarbrough.—
He Is no stranger to many of us, a part of his
boyhood was spent here, but it may be bard at
first to recognize the eloquent preacher in tlie
school boy we used to know. The hoy has
grown to be a man, not only in stature but in
intellect; that which shone so brightly in the
school boy ha 9 received proper care and atten
tion, and to-day be stands tiead and shoulders
above many of riper years. The writer had
the pleasure of hearing him preach at Dalton,
last Spring, his theme was, “Christian duties—
not unreasonable nor difficult —God requires
nothing impossible.” lie had bestowed much
thought and research on the subject,and treated
it with ability, and to the edification of many
who heard him. He is an out-spoken, frank
and uncompromising, old-fashioned Christian
—a preacher for the times.—May success attend
his tabors, and an abundant harvest be bis re
ward.”
The above is taken from the Greens
boro (Ga.) Herald. We are glad to ob
serve this commendation of one so justly
entitled to it as is he who is thus referred
to—the gifted son of Rev. J. W. Yar
brough, our beloved presiding elder of the
Atlanta District. We add that while he,
George, has been and is loyal to the South
ern Church, in which he was converted
at ten years old, he has clung with un
wavering affection to his father—who be
longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He adopts most heartily the protest of Dr.
Anderson.
THE METHODIST ADVOCATE. MAY 10, 1871.
• The Corrective.
The Hahnemann motto —“Like things are
eared by like”—is applicable in one sense,
at least. Moral evils must be corrected
mainly by moral fortes. The disturbances
in the South partake of the nature 6f moral,
social and civil evils. The full and final
corrective is to be found in the combination
of Civil authority, social influence and
moral power. The “South” includes a
vast extent of territory with millions of
inhabitants. The majority of these people
prefer peace, though many are too indiffer
ent in the matter to make an effort to ipaim
tain law. All portions of the South are
at this time extremely liable to mob vio
lence and 'barbarous disorders, and- sec
tions (though comparatively few and small,
it is true,) are shaken with revolt and ter
ribly cursed with repeated outrages. If
we were to publish all of the well .attested
accounts we have in correspondence and
exchanges of lawlessness in the South which
come to us, our columns would ba filled
weekly with the sickening details. Our
aim is to give as little of this matter as we
can and serve faithfully truth and justice,
not for political but for moral purposes.
There is, then, not a shadow of doubt iir
our mind that Congress is justified in its
recent legislation upon this subject or that
this action has come tardily and tamely,
while it should have been more prompt and
decisive. The Ku-Klux bill, a9 it is called,
is clear enough and strong enough to serve
important purposes, if it can fie enforced.
Here is the doubt. It has already, how
ever, done some good. As soon as it was
passed, those members of Congress who op
posed the measure addressed a circular to
their constituents, which must be regarded
as advice and warning to the Klan and its
friends. A class of politicians and of po-
litical papers are following this example.
The result of this counsel must be gener
ally beneficial. The question has assumed
such a form that disorders will inevitably
damage one party and aid the other. This
fact will prove a powerful restraint upou
violent men.
The great error committed by Congress
in this instance waS in striking from the
bill the provision by which damages frpm
violence to person and property could be
assessed upon the county and collected by
the authority of the Government. This
clause (had it been retained in the bill)
would have made every property holder di
rectly interested in maintaining good order.
The great mass who really prefer order to
disorder, but who now are silent on this
question, would thus have been led to
speak out with a voice that would have
commanded the peace. A few examples
of the enforcement 6f tile law Would have
settled the question forever. As an im
portant principle of wise legislation we re
gret that the occasion for its enactment
has not been improved. The community
ought to protect the individual, to protect
the weak against the encroachments of the
strong. This is one of the principal pur
poses of all government. Society has no
right to allow mobs or violence of any sort,
and whatever damages are thus committed
should be "VepaireiL out of the j£ominon,
trfcasury.'~Ydai'3£‘9jgD a mob
large amount of property belonging to tlie
Roman Church iu Philadelphia..
was compelled to pm the damages. Tiffs!
was right. (jovepjiment ought to be ro
strong and so well administered as to give
no opportunity to mobs, and should always
be made to pay dearly for its weakness.
Men who were loyal and stood up firmly
for the Government during the rebellion
cught to be paid for consequent losses* It
was a weakness on the part of the Gov
ernment not to confiscate the property of
those engaged in the rebellion to pay these
damages. They will yet be met by the
people, the loyal being taxed to pay heavy
damages of the war. If the American peo
ple thereby learn to appreciate the wicked
ness of rebellion, the occasion will not be
altogether lost. The States of Michigan
and Ohio now have laws by which all
damages resulting from drunkenness may
be adjudged against him who sold or gave
the drink. This is also just. No one has
a right to disseminate poison or pestilence
in the community, and if he does this he
should be held responsible for the harm
that may result. If the community,through
imperfect laws or weak administration, al
lows this to be done, then the community
should pay the loss that may’ occur to indi
viduals. Government ought to make pro
tection to person and property perfect or
sustain the loss in case any arises. In not
more clearly embodying this principle in
the Ku-Klux bill Congress erred.
The bill as passed is as good, perhaps
better than could have been expected.
Will it be enforced ? Generally it will not.
Where the majority are either against it or
weaker than a bread-and-milk poultice, it
will be easy to evade its penalties. But
where men are disposed to combine under
the law for self-protection, it will prove of
great service. The fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments to the Constitution, the En
forcement act, and the Ku-Klux bill, are all
leading in the right direction. The rights
of the individual and the dignity of man
hood are more or less defined and defended
by these progressive steps iu National
legislation. Every additional safeguard to
person and property adds to the sacredness
by increasing the security of life, and in
creases prosperity by stimulating activity
and securing to the individual the reward
of industry. Good pay is a better incen
tive to toil than cow-hide, however well
laid on.
But the Ku-Klux bill will not eradicate
the Ku-Klux evil. The wrong is social and
moral as well as civil. “The whole head is
sick and the whole heart faint. From the
sole of the foot even unto the head there is
no soundness” in the body politic. Con
gress has not handcuffed and shackled the
iniquity, but only poulticed its hands and
feet. The cure is to be applied by society '
and the Gospel. Line upon line, precept
upon precept are to be givon upon the
principles of loyalty to government, obe
dieuce to law, the rights of man and obli
gations to God. Here is a grand field for
the Old Church and one which it is provi
dentially called to fill. Every day-school
and Sunday-school maintained by it, every
church built, every revival enjoyed will
tend toward the good, not by special effort
against Ku-Klux &nd mob violence, nor
because of any political bias of the
Church, but because our preachers and
people cnltivate love to God’and njan, and
cheerfully grant to others the rights which
they demand for themselves. The Gospel
idea of the brotherhood of the human race
generally taught, believed and observed, is
tlie real correct ive of the evils here alluded
to. In some sections this law of Congress
will afford onr brethren and Union people
generally no little protection. Trusting in
God rather tty an in-the Government, and
with charity toward all, our chief duty is
to. push forward the columns of the--Old
Church. To the Methodist Episcopal
Church more than to all others the Gospel
of this reconciliation is committed. The
faithfulness of its ministry may save the
country from another rebellion. If we keep
in the right, God will give strength for tlie
day.
Dr. Prettyman—The University.
Rev. Dr. Prettyman has accepted the
agency of the East Tennessee Wesleyan
University, and has entered upon that fieffl
of labor. He will travel extensively
through the Conferences near to and more
remote from the institution, and hopes to
be able to put it upon a basis of liberal
support and to enlarge its facilities. There
is no interest of greater importance or of
more lasting benefit to our Southern work
than that of providing educational oppor
tunities for the youth of the Church. We
congratulate the Trustees on their happy
selection, and shall rejoice in the largest
success of their agent.
(Miter's Sabir.
The Prince op Pulpit Orators: A Por
traiture of Rev. George Whitefield, M.A. —
Illustrated by Anecdotes and Incidents. By
Rev. .1. I>. Wnkely. New Y'ork: Carlton &
Lanalian. Cincinnati : Hitchcock & Walden.
Whitefield stands pre-eminent among pul
pit orators in ancient or modern times.
He was not a man of the profoundest learn
ing, but in eloquence perhaps he has never
been excelled. His work was that of an
evangelist rather than of a pastor. Like
an angel of light he traveled over Europe
and America, preaching to gathered thou
sands in the Old World and the New.
While not nominally united with Wesley in
the great reformation of his day, White
field was in some respects his most efficient
helper. Whitefield was the reaper, some
times receiving word of as many as a thou
sand conversions under his, ministry in a
week, while Wesley gathered arid housed
tlie grain. We have in this entertaining
volume a brief record of bis life and a large
collection of illustrative incidents.
Lectures on tAe Bible and Modern Infi
delity, by Rev. Jag. M’Cosh H D.D., LL.D.
Subject —“Renan’s Life of Jesus,” Price, 25
cents. Rev. J. P, Thompson, 1).D., LL.D.,
Subject—" Unity of the Bible.” Price, 25 cts.
Rev. William AdaifiS, D.D.
vantages of a Written Revelatsbri.”
25 cents. Rev. Philip Schaft, tU»‘.
"Testimony of Christ to Christia’iify.” p,
25 cents. Rev. William Hague JJ.O. .suh-4
abject —“The Self-Witnessing Cka<icrer' nf4j*S
’'New Testament Christianity.” .price. 2a
Rev. E. O. Haven, D.D., LL.ff||S|hgHfl
This volume is a colleetiomof lectures
upon the subjects and by the aqjghors given
above. They are elegantly on
tinted paper and neatly The lec
tures separately are sold for 25 pents each,
but bound together the price, in paper, is
$1; in cloth, $1.25. These topics are of
general interest to the religious public and
their treatment by these authors able. But
few works combine so much force against
the varied forms of unbelief in so little
space as this. Sent by mail, post-paid, on
receipt of price, and for sale by booksellers
generally. Zeigler &M’Curdy, Publishers,
16 South Sixth-street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Whenever we take up a hew number of
the American Agriculturist we arc ready
to exclaim, “Surely this number is more
beautiful than any we have seen yet!” We
greatly admire its illustrations, from the
cover all the way through.* But the pic
tures are by no means its greatest merit.
No family (especially a farmer’s) can read
this publication one year without being
greatly benefited. Published monthly by
Orange Judd & Cos., 245 Broadway, New
York, at $1.50 a year, or together with the
Hearth and Home, a large and excellent
weekly paper, for $3.
Little Corporal for May is an
excellent number, full of pleasing and
instructive reading matter for boys and
girls, and older people who have young
hearts. Terms, $1.50 a year. Send
stamp for specimen number and Premium
List to John E. Miller, Publisher, Chi
cago, 111.
Singing Books. —We have just received
from Philip Phillips, publisher, a large sup
ply of “Standard. Gems,” “Hallowed
Songs,” newly revised,“Hallowed Hymns,”
a companion of Hallowed Songs, and the
“New Standard Singer.” These are ex
cellent books for the Sunday-school, the
prayer meeting, and the social circle. Or
der of Hitchcock & Walden, Atlanta.
The Old and New for May is received.
“The Preacher” is a valuable article. —
“Lifted Up,” a beautiful poem. “Pink and
White Tyranny” is full of interest and
capital points, snd “Zerub Throop” is a
fine story.
The Charm is anew Sunday-school music
book, by P. P. Bliss, of Chicago. The mu
sic is mostly original, and, judging from the
specimens from its pages to which we have
listened, is excellent. Hitchcock & Wal
den.
Bishop Clark.
Bishop Clark reached home greatly pros
trated, but not materially injured by the
jouftiey. Ho has been very ill for some
time, and his life has been despaired of, but
he is how considerably better. His disease
is nervous prostration, together with func
tional derangement of the heart. His phy
sicians do not yet consider him out of dan
ger, but tie aggravated symptoms of dis
ease have yielded to treatment, and the
prayers of the Church are (as we trust) pre-
vailing‘With God in his behalf. He cher
ishes tlie deepest interest in our Southern
work and sympathizes with the noble men
who, aruid so many perils, are engaged in
its extension. R- S. Rust.
Editorial Correspondence.
Methodist Quarterly for April.
The April number of the Methodist
Quarterly Review contains sflgen articles,
besides the editorial sujlpy* of book
notices, and other religious and literary
intelligence.
In the first article, Rev. George Pren
tice, 5- of Boston, in a little more than
twenty pages, gives an account of Rev.
Edmond de Pressense, probably the ablest
Protestant theologian in France. Pres
sense is a remarkable man, a great and
good man, and his history is well worth
studying. This article presents a brief
outline of that history, of the struggles,
dangers, trials and labors through which
this staunch evangelical has been brought.
Spectrum Analysis (a second paper), is
the subject of the second article, by Prof.
Bush Emory, of Genesee College. ’ This
is a comparatively new development of
science, but it is throwing important light
on several questions of great interest to
scientists. Solar spots and protuberances,
and nebulas, are treated in an able man
ner. The reading of this article will
prove a rare treat to all persons interested
in scientific subjects.
The third article is entitled “Wesley
and Methodism,” translated from the
French of Charles de Remusat. As it is
followed by First paper, other papers may
be expected to follow. If others shall be
as interesting as this, we say “let them
come.” Wesley has many followers in
France. A desire on their part to have
a popular life of their venerated founder,
induced the preparation of the work of
which this is the first instalment; A true
Methodist never tires of reading about
John and Charles Wesley, arid the rise of
the Methodist movement in England.
The subject is here set forth with the
vivacity peculiar to the French style 1 of
thought and rhetoric.
The General Conference of 1844, still
continues to supply themes for the Quar
terly Review. Dr. James Porter,’ ex-
Book Agent, writes this the fourth article.
He was a member of that General Con
ference, also one of the famous committee
of nine, who reported the so-sailed plan
of separation, which never became a plan,
but failed according to its own provision
—that is, it was never ratified by the
Annual Conferences, and was repudiated
by the subsequent General Conference.
In this article the Dr. knows whereof he
speaks, and speaks to the point.
Dr. J. F. Hurst, gives in the next arti-
Jycle the Modern Theology of Holland.
I This is a very readable and instructive
■article. Do not faif-fco read it.
“ Ezekiel’s Vision,” comes next. This
S. Terry, A.M.
This is To abided ,on the
Topography of Ephesus, J. Si
Jewell, M.D.
This brings the reader to the dessert of
fine things served up by the editor. For
eign, Religious and Literary Intelligence,
Synopsis of the Quarterlies, and a spicy
Book-table, as usual. M. E. C.
invitation.
We, the undersigned, invite to attend
as delegates to the Convention to be held
at Athens, Tenn., June 15th-18th, such
persons, ministers and laymen, members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church,within
the bounds of the several Annual Con
ferences of that Church in the South as
feel a special interest in the future pros
perity of our cause, and especially in the
following topics which have been selected
for discussion at the Convention:
1. General Church Statistics in the
South.
2. Church Literature.
3. Relation of the Church to Moral
Reforms.
4. Our Educational Work.
5. The relation of the East Tennessee
Wesleyan University to the prosperity of
our work in the South.
6. Our Benevolent Agencies.
7. The Support of the Ministry.
8. The Sunday-School Work.
9. Duty of Methodism in Maintaining
a High Standard of Personal Piety.
10. Church Extension.
11. Sacred Music.
12. The Development of the Social
Power of the Church.
Committee.
A Wise Provision.
In our opinion the provision in Mr.
Shellaberger’s Ku-Klux bill, holding
counties in which they occur responsible
for all damages committed by Ku-Klux
outlaws, was one of its wisest and best
provisions. We are satisfied that it would
have done more to put an end to lawless
violence, school-house and church burning
and all other outrages. It may at first
sight seem hard that loyal m n, and oth
ers, who disapprove the Ku-Klux opera
tions, should be taxed to pay damages
done by them. But it is one of those in
stances in which private interests should
yield to the public good. The principle
that the whole people should be held re
sponsible for the peace and protection of
society is one that underlies all good gov
ernment. In many of the Northern States
laws exist making the people of a county
liable for the damage done by mobs in such
county. The principle of the law is that
the people are bound to protect the rightß
and property of each citizen against mob
violence. If a man breaks his leg by a
defective «i&ewalk or bridge within the
corporation of Washington, the city must
pay the damages, though the injury was
due solely to the negligence of some mu
nicipal officer, of which the tax-payers
were absolutely ignorant. If all the peo
ple of the Southern States had been made
liable for all damages done by bands of
lawless men among them, they would have
found means to disperse them and pre
serve the peace. It would have been to
the interest of rebel sympathizers as well
as Republicans to see that murder and in
cendiarisiri cease, and that the laws be
enforced. In striking out tfcat feature
the best thing in it was destroyed. But
it still has much virtue. —New National
Era. _
Bill. —The following syn
opsis of this bill we take from the Hearth
and Home:
Section 1 provides that any person deprived
under color of any laws or custom of the State
in which hte resides, of any of his rights or
privileges secured by the Constitution, may
bring suit in the District or Circuit Courts of
the United States. Section 2 provjdes that if
two or more persons conspire within any State
or Territory for the subversion of the laws of
the United States, or to hinder any officers of
the United States from performing the duties
of their office; or shall disguise themselves and
offer violence to arty person, they shall, on
conviction in a United States court, be subject
to a fine of SSOO to $5,000, and to imprisonment
for a term not less than six months nor more
than six years. Section 3 provides that where
any unlawful combinations shall deprive any
portion of the people of a State of their rights
and immunities, and such conspiracy is not put
down by such State by reason of inability or
refusal, the President may employ the militia
or land and naval forces for the suppression ot
such conspiracy. Section 4 stipulates that
wherever unlawful combinations shall be so
organized and powerful as to set tlie laws and
authorities of the State and the United States
at defiance, the President, when in his judge
ment tlie public safety requires it, may
suspend the writ of habeas corpus provided he
shall have first made proclamation to the in
surgents to disperse. The provisions-o$ this
section remain in force only until the end ot
the next regular session of Congress. Section
5 provides that juroi-s, where deemed necessary
by the court, shall take an oath that they have
never been engaged in unlawful combinations,
or aided them iu acts of violence. Section 6
provides that persons refusing to aid in the
suppression of conspiracies, shall be liable to
the extent of $5,000 for damages done by such
conspiracies.
A proclamation.
The act of Congress entitled “An act to
enforce the provisions of the Fourteenth
Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, and for other purposes,”
approved April 20, 1871, beiiig a law of
extraordinary public importance, I con
sider it my duty to issue this my proclama
tion, calling the attention of the people of
the United States thereto, enjoining upon
all good citizens, and especially upon all
public officers, to be zealous in the enforce
ment (hereof, and warning all persons to
abstain from counseling any of the acts
thereby prohibited. This law of Congress
applies to all parts of the United States,
juid will be enforced ewary-where to the
extent of the powers vested in the Execu
tive. Bnt inasmuch as the necessity there
for is well known to have been caused
chiefly by persistent violations of the rights
of citizens of the United States by lawless
and CnWififecled peracuMun certain localities
lately tbe theater of insurrection andmili
tary conflict, I do particularly exhort the
people of those parts of the country to sup
press all such combinations by their own
voluntary efforts, through the agency of
local laws, and to maintain the rights of
all citizens of the United States, and to
secure to all such citizens the equal pro
tection of the laws. Fully sensible of the
responsibility imposed upon the Executive
by the act of Congress, to which public at
tention is now called, and reluctant to call
in force any of the extraordinary powers
thereby conferred upon me, except in cases
of imperative necessity, I do, nevertheless,
deem it mv duty to make known that I will
not hesitate to use the powers thus vested
in the Executive whenever and wherever it
shall become necessary to do so for the
purpose of securing to all citizens of the
United States the peaceful enjoyment of
the rights guaranteed to them by the
Constitution and laws. It is my earnest
wish that peace and cheerful obedience to
law may prevail throughout the land, and
that all traces of our late unhappy civil
strife may be speedily removed. These
ends can be easily reached by acquiescence
in the results of the conflict now written in
our Constitution, and by the due and proper
enforcement of equal, just and impartial
laws in every part of our country.
The failure of local communities to fur
nish such means for the attainment of re
sults so earnestly wished, imposes upon the
National Government the duty of putting
forth all its energies for the protection of
its citizens of every race and color, and for
the restoration of peace and order through
out the entire country. U. S. Grant.
“Recall, or stand by us.” —Rev. Dr.
Fox, of the South Carolina Conference,
has a most excellent article in the New
York Advocate of the 4th inst., on out
work in the South with the above sugges
tive heading. We would be glad to give
the entire article in our columns, had we
space to do so. Ho asks, in view of all
the difficulties that surround them and
dangers to which they are exposed, that
Churches of the North should by their
sympathy “stand by or recall us.”
Deceased. —We regret to learn that Rev.
Mr. Henry, late pastor at McMinnville, died
there about the middle of April. We will give
further particulars uext week.
A magnificent carpet presented to President
Grant by tbe Sultan of Turkey has been laid
down in the White Rouse.
The Eastern Pennsylvania Experi
mental Farm raised, last season, one hun
dred and fifty varieties of potatoes, be
tween thirty and forty varieties of wheat,
and thirty varieties of oats.
A lecturer once said, when he looked
at tobacco,he pitied the mouth; when ho
looked at the chewer’s mouth, he pitied
the tobacco.