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HITCHCOCK & WALDEN, Publishers. YOL. 111. The Methodist Advocate • IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, In the Powell Block, Peachtree-Street, ATLANTA, GA. Two Dollars a year, Invariably in advance. All traveling preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church are authorized agents. All letters on business, orders for books, subscriptions for the paper, ordering changes in the address of subscribers, or advertising, should be addressed to the publishers, Hitchcock A Walden. All articles for publication should be addressed to the editor, E. Q. Fuller. Eamsa -jmJt- —*• ■* ——* • -W.-S ." - t - ■fl I I eats plainly as possible. Remittances mast be made by- Poet-Office Money Orders, Draft or Express. We take no rißk in currency by mail. Orders for periodicals or books should be on separate sheets, each having the address, date, Conference, and signature of the writer. This arrangement saves delay and confusion. Subscriptions must close with the volume. TERMS OP ADVERTISING: Single Insertion V. 12>ents per line. Any number of lines, 3 mo’s, each insertion, 10 cents per line. Any number of lines, 6 months or longer, each insertion 8 cents per line. The Spirit and Mission of the Church. Extrnrt from a Discourse delivered at tbe opening of tbe Loyd Street Methodist Epis copal Church, Atlanta, 6a., April 23d, 1871, by the Pastor, Bev. J. H. Knowles, A.M. 1 , It is her mission to foster amity and good will between man and man. The work committed to the Church of our times cannot be opposed to the Mas ter. This will be the decision of even unsanctified minds. Wherever this duty is unfulfilled, sad results follow. Infidel ity is supplied with the most plausible topics of invective; the consciences of the irreligious are hardened; the efficacy of prayer is impeded, and a powerful ob struction is reared to the ample effusion of the Holy Spirit upon the community. Ous Lord prayed for a unity among men, which the incomprehensible union of Father and Son symbolized, and which would convince the world that he was sent of God. In the bonds of such unity, we are taught by Christ, —“Who is our brother V” Our charity is not limited by social clan, or religious sect, or distinc tions of nationality. We are, in the broadest sense, our brother’s keeper, and are taught to offer the helping hand—to sympathize with human distresses—to re move by Clirist-like methods, blinding misconceptions of one another, often in nocently entertained —and by our gener ous demeanor to break the force of that sectionalism, in Church or State, which would lift impassable barriers to brotherly intercourse. Our mission cannot be of strife, but it is of good will. If Christ be with us, our hand is extended; Our greeting is full, frank, cordial; our bless ing is invoked upon the whole world, without regard to social or ecclesiastical limits. To be this is to be like God. My brethren, we seek to build on this foundation. The life-long convictions of your pastor have been in harmony with this sublime mission of the Church. He learned this lesson at the fireside of a Christian home; it was enforced in the solemn vows of his ordination; it has been the rightful boast of our connectional Methodism, and is this day the unuttera ble desire of that Episcopal Board under whose direction we now sustain the rela tion of pastor and flock. We rear these new altars not to intensify sectional dis cord; not to contribute fuel to a flame that must consume, unless arrested, the Church of the Lord Jesus. We are here to behold in others whatever is good and noble; to show to others whatever grace may have been wrought in us; to strive with others to win souls, and to extirpate the evils of human society. We have Srofound faith in our call to this mission. fay this Church be that positive, sancti fied force which shall hasten on the auspicious day of “ good will among men.” All this is accordant with truth and principle. The spirit of charity in which this discourse is conceived upholds us in what we humbly believe to be the truth. Charity toward all compels us to stand here, and to protest, on all proper occa sions, against evils wherever found, or of whatever form. Charity is no longer charitable when it ceases to be just.— Charity is not distrust of truth; it is truth itself, uttered with a yearning de sire to bless all, friend or foe. “Charity rejoiceth in the truth.” Not -less is all that we have said in harmony with divergence of sentiment upon minor details and methods. Differ ences of opinion are leading the world, under Divine guidance, toward the blessed noon-day of spiritual unity. Who will say that the contrary judgment of Paul and Barnabas was not an episode in the Church of that day—significant, closely connected with the future progress of the cause, and necessary, in the Divine thought, to the more perfect enlargement and internal growth of Zion ? The wis dom of the world is not the exclusive birth-right of any particular individual, class, or section. Truth is to be won by tedious processes; only in the harmless collisions of thought may we reach the golden mean, and equip ourselves for the all-conquering activities of existence. — How limited is our view of this subject. What may seem unnecessary expenditures in erecting churches, or an erroneous judgment in organizing societies where affiliating branches already exist, may be the Divine method to quicken the foot steps of His Church on her way toward a perfect, spiritual oneness in Christ Jesus. ( Here, then, confident of the integrity or our purpose, seeking the true Tight which we would ask for all, we accept the mission of “good will to men.” In the imperfection of judgment, we may fail to reach the perfect mark before us; but in this, as in all other weaknesses of the flesh, the blood of Christ will be suf ficient for pardon. A Church such as is here proposed, having a broad catholicity of aim, will become a channel of blessing to any community. Guizot, the world-renowned French philosopher, unexpectedly entered the American chapel in Paris on the oc casion of its dedication to Protestant worship. Moved by the magnitude of the design, he arose and addressed the assem bly in these thrilling words: I came here without intending to address you, but you will bear with me while I express the feelings of deep emotion which I expe rienced on entering this building. We are as sembled here to bear witness to the greatest, to the noblest conquest of mankind —religious unity and liberty. No doubt we owe thanks to the authorities, but that to which we are chiefly Indebted is, that work accomplished by the hu man mind which for the last three or four cen turies has been marching on to this conquest —to a treasure far more precious than all these that surround us. Religious unity and liberty are won. For this reason my emotion was deep on beholding this humble structure standing where it stands, wherein you invite all to join who believe in Christ. Had such lofty sentiments permeated the French nation, her plains would not now be deluged in blood, nor her cities convulsed with intestine strife. We are taught a solemn lesson. Welcome, the Christianity that fosters‘the heaven-born spirit of peace! Hail, as a messenger of light, all who thus live and labor! Trans porting ourselves, j n thought, to that final seat of observation, where we may be ad mitted to the secrets of the Divine plans, and may measure the results of Church work as'we cannot now, what shall we then behold? In that morning, what a multitude ! The influence of this Church may not be seen to-day or to-morrow; but in the grand summing up of the present economy, when the godly counsels of this Zion have wrought out their full results, they will be found as far-reaching as eternity. Should misapprehensions in the judgment of others occur, we will never despond, nor become impatient. Wait!! God, to human thought, advances slowly; but God advances! The dawn of the morning is at hand. That day is coming—be it ours to hasten it—when “the wolf shall lie down with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” 2. The mission of the Church is, to give her powerful support to popular education, without regard to race or color. No more important subject engages the public mind. It is above mere partisanship or sect; it is at this moment, in the South, the grand question of virtue, morality and national safety. Indeed, we believe it is far more—the very life of an intelligent, holy, vigorous Church for the future de pends upon the education of the masses. How, then, can the' Church of the present answer to her God, and be silent? Her voice must be heard; it must not be the voice of timidity or apology. Every evangelical pulpit must give the distinct word. Where every interest of material wealth, of social’ comfort, of stability in government, of morality and religion, is at stake it is impiety to yield to prejudice or ignorance. Better, far better, that the minister of Christ abandon the sacred profession, than to degrade it by observ ing a time-serving policy. Millions per ish for lack of knowledge; not for their lack of ability to learn—not for want of an unquenchable thirst of soul—but for those sacred privileges of education which it is the imperative duty of every State to give. The awakened desire for knowledge, especially among the colored population of the South, will fill one of the brilliant pages of American history. In Georgia alone, more than forty thou sand of this population have learned to read within a few years. Has this noth ing to do with American citizenship? We have seen, on the streets and lawns of the South, the young and old perusing to gether the Sacred Word—an achievement won by their own perseverance, under singular embarrassments. As they read the story of redemption, and accept it in the beautiful simplicity of their faith, can any one be unmoved? Would not the Master himself, if upon earth, exclaim, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and ATLANTA, GA., WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1871. righteous men have desired to see (with such clearness) the things which ye see, and have not seen them, and to hear those things which ye hear (in the depths of your souls), and have not heard them.” Sublime mission before the Church! ‘May she not be unfaithful, and lose her crown? Fearful is her responsibility, though the grandeur of her opportunity fill the angels with admiration. Timidity, servitude to prejudice —whatever imposes silence upon her—should be overcome. One united voice from the evangelical churches of the South would secure uni versal education to every community. Who can doubt it ? We take pleasure, in this connection, in referring to a recent report of Rev. Dr. Sears, of Virginia, Agent of the “Peabody Fund.” “Nothing,” he says, “ can be more grateful than such evidence of the progress of public opinion on the subject of education, and of a just appre ciation of our aims by those whom we seek to benefit. Whatever differences of opinion there may be on other points, there is a general agreement on this,that the safety and prosperity of a State depend largely upon the means of in struction enjoyed by the people. Conflict ing views may be entertained in respect to the expediency of a particular system of public schools; but none are found to exist, in any respectable body of men, in regard to the necessity of some effective system. Persistent efforts have been made from, year to year, by the State Teacher’s Association of Georgia, a highly intelligent body of men, and other friends of education, to prepare the way for the passage of a school law adapted to the circumstances of that State. The Legislature has at length been induced to take action upon the subject. The law thus passed was approved October 13th, 1870. It makes it the duty of the State Board of Education to determine the amount which, in addition to the income of the school fund, it will be necessary to raise by general tax in order to support a school three months in every district in the State.” The education thus furnished is for both white and colored, though they are taught separately, according to the law. This work, so auspiciously commenced in Georgia, is now prosecuted energetically, under the direction of Col. J. R. Lewis, the able State School Commissioner. Whatever modifications in the present plan may be needed hereafter, one thing is clear— the Christian Church in Georgia should come forward immediately, and give to the cause of popular education a combined, moral support. 8. The Church pursuing her mission un der the direction of Christ , will he powerful in arresting social evils, such as intemper ance, prof anity, corrupting entertainments and the insecurity of human life. — Drunkenness, with all its polluting attend ants, is ravaging our whole land. Our country is beneath the iron rule of Alcohol. The poison enters every vein and artery of social life; it controls capital; it per petuates animosities', it defiles the public conscience; it is the source of innumera ble woes among helpless orphans and widows. Down, down, the steps of drunk enness. thousands are daily rushing. The yawning gulf is open wide to receive the victims; an awful retribution awaits them. We blush with shame. The Church is, for reasons incomprehensible to us, well nigh asleep. How tardy in her protesta tions ! How weak in her efforts to extir pate the vice, is she everywhere! Why cannot the Church hear Christ’s voice: “Up! up! Oh Zion—pining, fainting away in spiritual poverty. t Cast the net on this side.” Here, in these caverns of despair, the wretched multitude wait for a helping hand. Nor are the venders of alcohol to perpetuate this infamy without the rebuke of the Church. The two hun dred and sixty-four liquor dealers in Savannah, Ga., paying into the treasury of that corporation annually over one dollar for each individual of the entire city population, should hear the warning voice of every pulpit in that city. But can any one affirm that Atlanta suffers less? The awful pestilence sweeps through every street and sits upon almost every hearthstone, like a spectral form of Death.' Shall we be silent? How then are we innocent of this guilt? How then do we mock God with our religious pro fession, and pray for the descent of His reviving Spirit? Our atmosphere is tainted with foul profanity. Paternal love trembles to lead children along crowded thoroughfares, lest innocent nature catch the infection. Barbarism has returned upon society in this boasted nineteenth century, in this cherished day of Christian civilization. Shameful sights of blood, of brutal in stincts unchecked—the mere mention of which chills the frame—have recently dis graced our own city.* Dramatic license, that feeds a vitiated public taste, that tears away the lines of moral distinction and paralyzes the form *Tbe r*oent cock-fight in Atlanta, continuing three dare. mg conscience of our youth, is openly patronized and defended, f Alas, that we are obliged to confess it. Where is the profound sense of the Value of human life? Human society cannot long subsist in peace, where the conscience is benumbed in regard to this subject. The blood of thousands calls unto God for vengeance. Alarming as the fact may be, of blood shed by man and unexpiated under the majesty of law—the low estim ate of human life which is so widely prevalent, is even more terrible ; it is the fearful pTOphecy of social tuiu. Our only hope is in a reversal of public sentiment through the Christian Ghurch. What, now, is Christ’s word? No longer standing by the sea of Galilee, but watching His Church from His Throne, He issues the command—“ Stand forth,” “be true to me,” “Cast in the net,” “rescue souls from these depths.” 4. Lastly , The mission of the Church is comprehended in this one grand design — Salvation for guiltv men. In this word is included all else. Less than a present, full, and free salvation, is a Gospel unworthy its divine Author, im potent to arrest the evils of the age, in sufficient to meet the yearning desires of immortal mind. We go forth, my breth ren, in this faith. We will proclaim in this pulpit, the depravity of our nature — its helplessness—the guilt of neglecting Christ—the terms on which forgiveness may be found. Standing at the cross, we will bid the penitent cast one believing look toward the crucified. The voice of our Master fills this tem ple. “ Cast the net on the right side.” We will give heed. In the solemnity of this hour we obey. Oh ye who live in conscious guilt, who sigh oftimes for a cer tain hope that will anchor you in the quiet waters of peace, come near ! Ye who are fainting beneath the burden of this life, come! Ye who must soon appear before God, come! Ye who now rejoice in life’s spring-time come! Come while the morning of thy life is glowing, Ere the dim shadows thou art chasing die. Ere the gay spell this earth is round thee throwing Fades like the crimson from the sun-set skj! Life is but shadows save a promise given, That lights the future with a fadeless ray; Come I come to Jesus, win a hope of Heaven, Come 1 turn thy spirit from this earth away. t The late drama so largely attended. Sunday-School Agent’s Report. To the Board of Managers of the Sunday- School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church: Brethren —ln presenting my annual report I desire to refer first to my recent labors among the Southern Conferences, undertaken by the request of your Execu tive Committee, and as embodied in a reso lution of your last quarterly meeting. Upon the 23d of February last I entered upon my labors in the South. En route I met the Superintendents of Washington, D. C., also a large meeting of our Sunday school workers in the Metropolitan Meth odist Episcopal Church. I attended the Virginia Conference, in session at Alex andria, where I had a most favorable op.- portunity for consultation with the breth ren in regard to future work in their midst. The Committee on Sunday-schools pre sented a series of resolutions to the Con ference commendatory of the action of the Board, and assuring the Agent of their hearty co-operation in his work. Vir ginia Conference is a promising field of labor, and should receive a large share of attention at an early day. By invitation the sermon before the Conference on Sab bath evening was preached by the Agent. At Richmond I found a well-organized so ciety and a growing Sunday-school under the pastoral care of brother Hemenway. Previous to my trip southward I corre sponded with the presiding elders and oth ers throughout the field, suggesting the time to be spent and number of meetings to be held. To my letters I received the most prompt responses, assuring me of their assistance, and naming the localities where these meetings should be held. I held Sunday-school meetings of an insti tute character, gathering the pastors, preachers, parents, and teachers; also children’s meetings, as follows: In North Carolina, at Greensboro, Summerfield, and Thomasville. Brother W. G. Matton, pre siding elder, accompanied me through the State, rendering me great assistance. In South Carolina, joined by Rev. Dr. Web ster, President of Claflin University, I held meetings at Columbia, Cheraw, Darling ton, Florence, Sumterville, Orangeburg, and Charleston. These gatherings fur nished a series of successes, increasing in interest and numbers, culminating in our Charleston Institute,where I met audiences of twelve and fifteen hundred persons. At several points in this State I met a number of our preachers from distant parts of the work. The Sumterville meet ing was made unusually interesting by the presence of a procession of Sunday school scholars with banners and mottoes, in waiting at the depot and escorting us to the church. Turning our attention next to Georgia, I held large and quite enthusiastic meet ings at Augusta, Oxford, Atlanta, New nan, and Rome. This State is full of promise to faithful labor. At Augusta our Sunday-school workers have been very much encouraged by the fraternal expressions tendered to them from St. John’s Sunday-school of New York, pre senting them with a beautiful banner and other helps, thus establishing the pleasant relation of patron to the Augusta school. We found here great interest manifested in our meetings, which grew in numbers Till the church could not contain them. Brother Spilman, presiding elder of the district, gave us much help, arranging for the meetings and assisting in all the ses sions. Atlanta is beautiful for situation and a stirring place. Here we have two churches and a fine colored seminary. Rev. J. H. Knowles, lately stationed with the society here, [Loyd-Street Church,] is accomplishing a grand work. Being an earnest Sabbath-school man, and as sisted by brother J. C. Kimball, an ener getic Superintendent, they have a well organized school. My meetings held in their new church, which nears completion, and will soon be dedicated, as well as the meetings held at Clark Chapel, were of marked interest, and awakened anew zeal among the teachers in this locality. At the solicitations of the brethren I con tinued the sessions one day longer, and devoted them entirely to methods of study and teaching in the Sunday-school. The gatherings at all points in Georgia were encouraging, and cannot fail to furnish a rich harvest to all who attended them. The Sunday-school Institutes which we conducted at Chattanooga, Shelbyville, Nashville, and Cleveland, Tenn., were at tended by considerable numbers of preach ers, teachers, and children of the white population. At Nashville I held meet ings in the chapel of the Central Tennes see College, at the request of Professor J. Braden, President of the institution, for the benefit of the students, many of whom are preparing for the ministry and to teach. On Sabbath evening I ad dressed a union meeting of the students of three educational institutions the Baptist College, Fisk University, and our own, named above, in the chapel of the latter. In this city we constituted an institute of teachers on the quarterly oc casion of the Davidson County Teachers’ Association. Here we met all of our own laborers, as also many of other de nominations. Great and lasting good must be the results of these efforts to our Church. • Our next point of interest, New Or leans, was reached after two days of con tinual travel. We commenced the insti tutes at Ames Church on Friday, and continued them at four localities of the city, among our thirteen Churches, for seven days and evenings, consisting of sixteen sessions. We shall not forget these occasions very soon. Drs. L. C. Matlack, Wm. M. Daily, Rev. J. C. Hart zell, and others afforded much aid in all these services. We shall not attempt to describe the scenes of pleasure, of devo tion, and great spiritual power which these occasions afforded. Nor do I at tempt to make a detailed report, but have confined myself to an outline of my tour and labors. The many notices of these meetings which have appeared in the columns of the press, religious and secu lar, will suffice. In submitting the report, it may be important to give in brief my observations and impressions. My views accord with the observations and recom mendations of the Secretary, Dr. J. H. Vincent, communicated to your body in his recent report. Further allow me to say that the whole country is impover ished, in some localities to an extent be yond description. Whatever, therefore, our brethren might desire to do is much embarrassed by the lack of funds. There fore, for the present the benevolence of our Church cannot be more wisely applied than in behalf of these destitute portions of our work. Should the plan of patron age recommended by your resolution be generally adopted by our wealthier schools in the North and West, it would accom plish wonders in a short space of time. Again, there prevails among all classes much ignorance concerning Sunday schools. The work to be accomplished, therefore, at present is the qualification of superintendents and teachers for their positions. We would recommend to this end the furnishing of our teachers’ helps, as “Sunday-School Organization,” “Help ful Hints,” and other small tracts on Bi ble study and methods of teaching. We were glad to find so much interest taken by our brethren in the establishing of suitable institutions of learning among them. At Summerfield, N. C., we are to have a normal school in connection with the work. At Orangeburg, S. C., wo have the Claflin University, Clark Seminary at At lanta, Ga., Universities at Shelbyville, Nashville, Athens, and other points in Tennessee, all of which seem to be well directed. Throughout our route the meet ings were characterized by great enthu siasm, increasing in numbers at every E. Q. FULLER, D. D., Editor. succeeding session. Much interest was displayed by the preachers and teachers, some of whom walked ten and, in one case, fifty miles to be present. Every where and by all was manifested quick ness in memorizing, promptness in an swering, delight in illustrative teaching, devotion to our Church, and many ex pressions of gratitude to the Sunday- School Union for the privilege enjoyed. We feel ourselves under many obligations to the brethren, all of whom gave us a hearty welcome, and who assisted us in our work. Wc report for the year end ing with this meeting of your Board our labors as follows: Attended 8 Sunday school conventions, 4 conferences, 47 vis itations, 42 institutes, 7 ministerial meet ings, 45 sermons, 252 addresses, written 1,245 circulars and letters, 8,617 speci mens distributed, sold 1,702 copies of Sunday-school helps, visited 19 States, traveled 13,834 miles. James S. Ostrander, General Agent Sunday-School Union. The Two Reports. The best way we know of to give a full understanding of the facts on Jacksboro’ Circuit, East Tennessee, in relation to the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Church South, is to give the reports of both preachers, and allow the people to judge for themselves of the merits of the case. Chnrcb South Report. BY REV. D. H. CARR. Jacksboro’ Circuit, Holston Cons., April 11.—I have been thinking of giv ing for publication a few items in connec tion with this work, stretching out in al most a direct line from Caryville, the ter minus of the Knoxville and Kentucky Railroad to Cumberland Gap, which is known as Powel’s Valley—a,healthy, pro ductive, and beautiful valley, the grand old Cumberland mountain overlooking the valley all the way. We have here a few Presbyterians, some Baptists, and North ern and Southern Methodists. Here we are not troubled with Campbelliteß, and hope we never shall be. We are at peace with our Presbyterian and Baptist breth ren. We have had, and in fact still have, a good deal of trouble here with the North ern branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The greater portion of the best people here are becoming satisfied that the original Church South, is sufficient here; and were it not for one man here, the strife would be over; and I cannot think any thing else than that he is a good meaning man, but honestly mistaken. Owing to old acquaintance here, our peo ple hold him up; whereas, if a stranger were here, he would receive but little no tice ; and by being thus sustained he still keeps up the show of an organization, and while there are two Churches here strife will continue, and while strife con tinues souls will stumble and go to hell. A few days since one of our own churches (Cawood’s Chapel) was locked against me. Somebody is responsible, and must give an account in judgment. Will it not be those who keeg up these organizations? Some who are ignorant of the workings of the Church have got to believe that a union of the Churches is to take place in a few months. I wish you, or some of your correspondents, would set this forth in its true light, through the Advocate. I am aware of the fact that this has been done, but the Advocate is now taken and read where it has not been heretofore.— Nashville Advocate. Methodist Episcopal Church Report. BY BEV. J. B. LITTLE. I see in the Nashville Christian Advo cate, of April 29th, an article from D. H. Carr, pastor of the Jacksboro circuit, Church, South, which (justice to myself, and the Church I represent) requires a statement of facts from me. It is well known that I have been conservative in my course on the Church question, doing all that I could to promote peace and quietness between the two branches of Methodism; nor would I say any thing now, in regard to the article referred to if the writer had not implicated me as the cause of strife, and of souls stumbling and going to hell. Now lam willing (if the writer has reference to me) that the good people of Campbell county, irrespective of denominations, shall say whether the above statement is true or false. He represents the Church, South, on this circuit as having a great deal of trouble from the Methodist Episcopal Church. Now so far as the Methodist Episcopal Church is concerned, he is having no trouble from it, so far as I am informed; no church doors locked, none bolted or barred against him, no unkind words or strife to encounter; but on the contrary, according to his own showing, he is living in pleasure, and faring sumptuously. He says that “the greater portion of the best people here are becoming satisfied that the original Church, South, is suffi- NO. 21.