Newspaper Page Text
178
The Methodist Advocate.
ATLANTA, GA., NOVEMBER 5, 1873
N. K. COBI.KIGII. D.D., 1.1..D., Editor.
feraoo* (ieslrlng a change In the post-office address of their
periodicals, or sending orders for particular numbers of Tub
advocate, and for hooks, or forwarding lists of subscribers,
will please address their letters to the A gouts—ll itch COCK
A Walden**—not to the editor.
frrXiX business letters should be addressed to the Agents.
We will send The Methodist Advocate
to all new subscribers who remit us $2 from
the time their names are received to January
1, 1875. We hope and trust that all the
preachers in the Southern conferences will
work hard and make a vigorous canvass to
get all the cash subscribers they can, and
forward names as rapidly as possible.
HITCHCOCK & WALDEN,
Publishers.
We are indebted to Rev. J. W. Lee, the
secretary, for the report of proceedings of the
Georgia Conference.
The secretaries of the Alabama Conference
failed in their promise to furnish a report of
their proceedings in time for this issue of our
paper. Are. the mails or the secretaries at
fault?
We repeat once more that we can not afford
space in this paper to publish obituary notices
of infants or young children. We are willing
to announce name, age, and time of death, on
our third pago; but no extended notice can
bo given. Obituary notioes are reserved for
adult members of our church or children
which have given ovidenco of saving faith in
Jesus. This is not because we lack sympathy
for bereaved parents, but for want of space in
our very small paper. When wo reject such
notices of infants and small children, all will
or nt. least ought to understand the cause.
In our absence while attending the confer
ences some tppographical errors escaped the
attention of the proof-reader, and made some
things appear to a disadvantage. One short
article from an old friend read Georgia Con
ference, when it should have been General
Conference. We republish it this week with
correction. Some of the departments of the
paper wore neglected, as a matter of course,
while we were absent, which we trust will be
. better supplied hereafter. Wc shall do our
best to fill the paper with live interesting or
practical matter. Send on the subscribers.
During the sessions of the Evangelical Al
liance we wore absent attending the confer
ences, and wero not able to cull from the re
ports any thing of special iuterest for our
readers. Wo learn that the delegates had a
good time, made a few fine speeches, read
some able papors, and did the cause of Prot
estantism no harm, but, as wo fondly hope,
much good. It will undoubtedly tend to
Christian union, not in organic form, but in
ihc epirit of unity and brotherly love. The
different denominations having seen each
other, and shaken a friendly hand together,
will learn more than ever to lovo one another.
As the proceedings are to be published in
book form, wc may yet glean for our read
ers some of the wise and good things said
at tho meetings. That is the best we can do
at this late hour.
Hard times ahead. Tho financial crisis at
the North is reaching with terrible effect tho
classes which depend for u living upon their
daily labor. Manufacturers and most other
corporations are dismissing their laborers, and
leaving them nothing to do. It is said that at
least 20,000 girls, who hare been employed in
fancy work in the city of New York, have
been turned out of employment and are look
ing starvation in tho face unless tho hand of
charity shall be extended to them. Tens of
thousands of laborers in other departments
of industry, male and female, in that same
city are in a similar condition. Tho same
may be found in other Northern cities, though
not on so extensive a scale as in New York.
This, combined with tho ravages of tho pes
tilence in the South, and tho extensive deso
lations by firo in cities aud towns both North
and South, make tho outlook for the coming
winter any thing but gratifying. Much suf
fering, perhaps many deaths, from hunger
and cold seem inevitable. Open-handed
charity and large-heartod bouevolcueo will
have an ample field for oporation, and many
an opportunity will be afforded to learn, by
blest oxporienee, that “it is more blessed to
give than to receive.” May God give to all
the woalthy aud full-handed a heart to feed
the hungry, clothe the naked, to shelter,
warm and comfort tho poor. Jesus is ready
to accept such charity as work done for Him,
and He knows well how to reward tho faith
ful and how to punish tho guiltv and neglect
ful.
The brethren will seo in this column
the announcement by Hitchcock & Wal
den, that The Methodist Advocate will
be furnished to new subscribers from the
time of their subscribing to the end of
next year for one subscription, .$2.00,
thus offering them the paper two months
for nothing. Now is tho time to canvass
for new subscribers; and now, if our
agents, the preachers, will be active, they
can roll up a largo subscription for tho
beginning of the next year. All the
conferences recently held in the South
have voted unanimously in favor of the
most earnest and determined effort to
more than double thoir present list of
subscribers. Holston sets its lowest mark
at 2,000, Tonne3Beo 1,000, Georgia 1,000,
and we hope Alabama will not fall behind
Georgia. Our solo reliance is on the
preachers. If they do thoir duty—act
promptly, work energetically, and can
vass thoroughly, the Advocate will re
joico in a largoly increased circulation,
and in a much widor field of usefulness.
Do not put off till to-morrow what can
be done to-day. Tho dangor is that the
indolont will say,‘Time enough yot,” and
neglect the canvass until the most golden
opportunity has gone by. Let this bo
the main, absorbing business of the
preacher and the church until tho field
has been thoroughly gone over, and a
copy of the paper lias been put into :
«vcry Methodist family, and every
friendly family though not Mothodists.
This is the most effectual way in tho ench
to promote the interests of the church in 1
every line of growth and operation. Let j
promptness, energy, fidelity, thorough
ness, bo the motto and watchword of |
•every preacher and every canvasser! ... ; |
GREATLY DISAPPOINTED.
Who are disappointed, and at what? I
All those who were hoping and praying
that when Bishop Haven came to hold
the Southern Conferences our Church in
the South would “ burst up” and go all
to pieces. A certain church was expect
ing great accessions from the disrupted
fragments. They uttered predictions
with great confidence and some even ven
tured out to witness the fulfillment of
their predictions. But to their sad dis
appointment the exhibition prophecied of
did not come off; the anticipated explo
sion did not take place. The conferences
have been held; the wprk has been sur
veyed, carefully arranged and ably
manned for another year, and the preach
ers have gone with increased love and
confidence to the work before them.
Bishop Haven is not such a firebrand as
our enemies have represented him. He
is genial and approachable, ready to hear
all sides and to decide all questions ac
cording to his best judgment the
circumstances. He has decided opinions,
and thorough convictions on all the vital
questions at issue in our work. He does
not disguise ki3 sentiments, but on all
suitable occasions frankly avows them.
He does not attempt, however, to force
his opinions upon any person who may
differ from him. As he claims the right
to hold and speak freely his own convic
tions, so, as a Christian gentleman, lie
accords the same right to others. This
he has always done, this he will ever do.
None need to fear his presence, nor
dread his authority. Like the rest of his
brethren, he seeks the good of the church,
knowing as well as any other one that
“united we stand, divided we fall.”
Nover since our church was organized
in the South have the ministers gone to
their appointments with so much to en
courage them a3 from the last sessions of
their conferences. The work is better
organized —society is less unfriendly to
our church—every outlook into the fu
ture is more encouraging—our people
feel more assured than heretofore, more
settled, and more determined. The feel
ing of permanency is taking hold of
them. The impression now is that we
are here not only to stay, but to grow
and prosper.
The M. E. Church is in the South to
preacli the Gospel and to seek in all
Christian way3 to save sinners, build
thorn up in holiness,.and to “present
every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” It
does not propose to descend from its
high calling to dabble in politics or to
intermeddle with social questions, but to
keep right on in the strait, high path.of
its Christian work of “spreading scrip
tural holiness over these lands.” Most
of our ministers are Southern born and
Southern, raised men— career
in our church must be their guaranty for
tho future. They, as well as all others,
will be guided in their future course by
the Discipline, and seek to carry out the
policy of the church as expressed by
its General Conference, taking no new
departures except in an increase of zeal
and diligence, of devotion and love for
the divine Master and his holy cause.
TO UPROOT PREJUDICE.
Prejudice originally meant n jwejvxdgment,
formed before investigation of a subject,
whether right or wrong. In present uso it
has come to signify not only a hasty but a
wroDg judgment—one that lias been formed
without a careful examination of the facts
concerned and the grounds of it, by virtue of
some strong, unreasonable bins of the mind.
Webster defines it thus: “An opinion or de
cisiou of mind formed without due examina
tion ; a bias or leaning toward.one side or the
other of a question from other considerations
than those belonging to it; an unreasonable
predilection or prepossession for or against
anything; especially an opinion or bearing
adverse to any thing, formed without proper
grounds or before suitable knowledge.” From
tho effects which prejudice usually produces,
Webster still further defines it: “ Mischief ,
hurt , damage, injury The word is of very
frequent use, because tho thing it signifies is
of very frequent occurrence. The uso, how
ever, is invariably in a bad sense. No one
intends n complimont to another when he
says, “you are prejudiced,” or “that in you
is the result of prejudice.” Prejudice, there
fore, is something wrong, unnecessary, and
should at once bo uprooted, nnd superseded
in every mind by sound, righteous judgment.
Tho people most likely to receive and en
tertain prejudices are the high-spirited, pas
sionate, mercurial, and hot-hoadod; the hasty,
tho rash; those that arc superficial in their
habits of thought find investigation, and
thoso who on the spur of tho moment jump
at onco to conclusions. To avoid prejudices,
a porson must be cool, patient, careful, and
thorough in his habit of investigation. Withal
there must be in his soul a controlling love
of truth for the sake, not of partizan inter
ests, but of truth nnd right. A Christian
should watch and pray against prejudice, nnd
avoid it as he would nvoid sin; for it is either
sinful in itself or it loads to sin. How watch
ful tho upright judge is not to come under
its bias; for when he yields to it, ho accepts
a bribe which will inevitably soil both his
ermine aud his soul. The truly honest man
shuns it ns he would a venomous reptile; for
it will bite like n serpent and sting like a
scorpion.
Prejudices, like all human propensities, in
i crease and strengthen by excitement and ex
ercise. They grow by what they feed on.
| Constant exercise keeps them in full strength.
Left to themselves, without exorcise, they
languish; without excitement, they gradually
die out. Tho latter, though sure, is a difficult
and slow process. There is a much riuicker
and more effectual way to destroy them. It
is not to lop off the top aud the branohos, for
they will grow out again; not to bend the
trunk by force to tho ground, for wheu the
i forco is removed the tree will spring back;
| not to cut it down, for it will soon sprout up
j again, for it has in it the elasticity and tho
i life of a doaen hydra-headed monsters. Proj
i udices must be uprooted—taken out of the
I soul, root and branch, and cast asido as uso
i loss and sinful rubbish. We know of but one
1 power in the universe that can uproot human
prejudices, especially when they have grown
to strength and maturity in tho soul. That
power is love, supernaturally infused into tho
heart. When the Gospol drives its redeem
ing plowshare through the soul, the tall trees
of prejudice fall ns by the lightning’s touch,
ancl tho long brauchiug roots, with all their
fibors unbroken, are suddenly yot gently torn
up and drawn out of tho soil of tho heart.
Quick and sure ns tho converting and renew
ing grace of God is this divine process. No
caso, whGn fairly submitted, is too hard or
too, desperate for the Almighty. Let the
Gospel come and empty the full measure of
its power into the soul of a penitent believer,
and the great work.ol uprooting prejudice is
done, well done, thoroughly done, and perma
nently accomplished. How much better this
than any other way under heaven! How
much better this than the insane tinkerings
of modern philosophy; than the senseless
methods of pretended philanthropists, or the
heartlesss schemes of latter-day politicians.
In this method the church should have
abounding faith, and on this alone her min- I
isters and her members should rely. Faith
in God, and in the power of the Gospel to ac
complish the grandest results for man and
for society, should be her pillar of cloud by
day and of fire by night to lead her battling
hosts triumphant through all their militant
work to the rest and glory of the millennium.
The Gospel, which is the power of God unto
salvation, if the people will accept it from
our ministry, will summarily destroy all their
prejudices and lead them to the practice of
every Christian virtue. We shall honor God
by having full faith in the power of the Gos
pel to do this thing.
The question now arises: How shall we
reach the people with this saving power?
How shall we induce them to hear the Gos
pel from our lips? How shall we approach
them with the Gospel message so that they
will have confidence in us as messengers of
God, and receive in love the saving word?
These are certainly practical questions of the
moat vital importance. Prejudice against
the messenger is prejudice against the message
that lie brings. The Gospel minister should
bo cautious aud not uunecessarily excite any
prejudice against him among the people whom
he seeks to save. He need not, he must not
surrender principle; vet every thing but prin
ciple he can afford to wave, for the present,
that he may win tho soul to Christ. Under
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul was
led precisely in this way. Ho says:
“For though I be free from all men, yet have I
made myself servant of all, that I might gain
the more. And unto the Jews I became as a
Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that
are under the law, as under the law that I might
gain them that are under the law; to them that
are without law, as without law, (being not with
out law to God, but under the law to Christ),
that I might gain them that are without law.
To the weak became I as weak that I might gain
tho weak; I am made all things to all men that
I might by all means save some. And this I
do for the Gospel’s sale, that I might be partaker
thereof with you.” I. Cor. ix: 19-23.
The import of all this is that Paul, as far
ns possible, sought to avoid exciting the preju
dices of the people against, him that he might
preach the Gospel to them under the most fa
vorable conditions for hearing aud accepting
it. Who will say that Paul in this line of
operation was not precisely right?
Paul was burning with zeal for only one
object that he might win the people to
Christ. He hod no hobbies of his own.
Christ even without other things was worth
to him or any one else more than all other
things. He did not take on all the other
questions of the day: did not spread himself
out thinly over all the humanitarian issues of
the times. He did not intermeddle with so
cial or political questions, but converged his
aims and his influence to one focal point,
around which ho burned with zeal, melted
with Jove, and blazed with intenscst Gospel
light. He succeeded. Ho saved souls and
founded churches.
Our church, our ministers, and our mem
bers in the South and cvery-wliere else will
do well if they attain to Paul’s wisdom and
follow him as he followed Christ. Following
him in labor and in spirit, they will be like
him in success. The Gospel in Paul’s ministry
uprooted the prejudices of the carnal Jews,
the cultured Greek, the unlettered plebian,
nnd tho educated patricians—prejudices in
terwoven with idolatry and lust as strong, un
reasonable and inveterate as any that disgrace
or curse our land to-day That same Gospel
has lost nono of its power to accomplish
among us a similar work, if it bo preached
•with the same faith, tho sarno love, the same
zeal, nnd the same oneness of purpose and of
labor.
DR. WHEDON ON THE SITUATION.
Wc copy tho following from the Methodist
Quarterly for October, even at the risk of
“hurting somebody’s feelings.” We do not
intend to “hurt” any one by it, and we hope
it will not have that effect, yet we want our
people as well as other people to see and
know what Dr. Whedon now thinks, who at
the close of the war was the warmest man
toward the Church South wo had in the North,
and the most active and zealous to bring about
a reunion of the two churches:
We record with great pleasure the fact that
tho present number of the Southern Review
contains not a single political article. We
do not sanguincly infer from this that it has
renounced its double character as a politieo
ccclesisastical periodical “under the auspices
of the M. E. Church South.” Far less do
we infer any renunciation by the Church
South of her politico-ecclesiastical position.
Dr. Bledsoe, as we have formerly stated, was
Secretary of War under Jefferson Davis; and
the full unison of the extracts we have given
in our Quarterly from his Review , with the
celebrated speech of Davis lately delivered
at the Sulphur Springs, fully evince that trea
son in the South is assuming permanent form
and biding its time. We suppose there is a
measure of truth in the extreme statement
of the ex-President, that he never yet saw a
reconstructed woman. And thus the true
hiding-place of Southern treason is under
the feminine pettieoat and the clerical gown.
And it is a truly painful thought that its most
unequivocal hiding-place is “under the aus
pices of the M. E. Church South.” Her
bishops, her press, her ministry, are the
propaganda of ultra-Oalhounism. For this,
among many now existing reasons, we pro
foundly regret any offer of fraternal recogni
tion, on the part of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, to the Church South. And know
ing, as we do, that a political bias underlies
all the repugnance of the Church South to
reunion, wo havo a strong presentiment that
no real fraternization will, for the present
generation, take place.
If wo rightly construe the antecedents of
the General Conference of the Church South,
it is pledged to reject all fraternity with us
on any other basis than what they call “The
Plan of Separation.” This mythical “plan”
requires our church to withdraw entirely from
the Southern States, and leave tho entire area
to said Church South. This was declared by
their delegate, Dr. Pierce, in 1848, to be their
only basis; his declaration was reaffirmed by
their bishops in their response to our bishops
at St. Louis; and their last General Confer
ence reaffirmed both declarations in response
to Janc3 and Harris. This condition has
been elaborately maintained by some writers
in the Southern papers. Wo doubt not, how
ever, that the proposal by tho Southern Gen
eral Conference of any conditions whatever
will settle tho matter promptly in tho nega
tive. Our delegates will doubtless forthwith
withdraw, and our church would then wait,
with perfect tranquillity, for Southcrndom to
make tho next proposition. The wholo aspect
of the case suggests that wo press our own mis
sionary operations over the whole South, care
fully regardful of others’ rights, yet boldly
maintaining ouv own principles," respectfully
independent as to what tho Churches South
arc pleased to think, or say, or do.
MORE LIGHT.
An oldcrly and intelligent gentleman of our
acquaintance sends us tho following note,
which refers to facts with which ho was per
fectly familiar at the time and soon after their
METHODIST ADVOCATE; NOVEMBER o, 1873.
occurrence. This will enlighten inquiring
friends as to how John C. Calhpun began the
work of “dividing” the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Our friend knows more about the
subject than he has communicated below, as
we have learned from private conversation:
Bishop Andrew, on hi3 way to the
General Conference olfcdß44, passed through
Washington without stopping there, and Mr.
Lalhoun hearing from other Southern dele
gates, that he had avowed his intention to
resign rather than be the cause of trouble in
the church, sent a mesenger to bring him
back to >\ ashington and there so interviewed
him as to induce him to change his mind and
let things take their course. The result of
this interview, it appears (from au item of
history given in The Methodist Advocate
some weeks since), was announced bv Mr.
Calhoun himself.”
Bishop Haven left Atlanta last Thursday
night tor New York, to attend the semi
annual meeting of the Bishops, the annual
meetings of the Missionary and Church Ex
tension Societies. He has been very busy
since he came South—in the conference, in
the cabinet, lecturing, making addresses at
tlie anniversaries, and preaching at confer
ences, camp-meetings, and other places. At
each of the four conferences recently held in
the South he has preached a very able, inter
esting, and eloquent sermon on Sabbath morn
ing, thoroughly orthodox in length, from an
hour and thirty to an hour and forty minutes
each, and yet the people did not grow weary
under his preaching. No member of the
Episcopal Board can labor more earnestly,
more cheerfully, or more abundantly. He ex
pects to return to his “episcopal residence”
toward the last of December.
Methodist Quarterly Review for October.
The first article in this number is the third
installment of a treatise on Theodore Parker,
by Prof. Geofgo Prentice. Mr. Parker’s
claims as a social reformer arc here exam
ined. Thirty pages aro devoted to this sub
ject, the whole of which will ho found reada
ble and interesting.
Article second is on the “Sonship of
Christ,” by Minor Raymond, D.D., Professor
in Garrett Biblical Institute. Dr. Raymond
is, by nature, a strong man, and here be man
ifests his strength on a theme congenial to
his mind. lie is a man who does his own
thinking, and adopts no man’s opinion with
out approval, after careful examination. It
is refreshing to read after such an author.
The article will furnish excellent food for
our young ministers, and for many of those
who are not young. Like most good produc
tions, the article is short, extending over
only thirteen pages.
Article third treats of Carl Immanuel
Nitzsch, an eminent German scholar and the
ologian. We aro glad to get so able and in
teresting a sketch of the life, character, aud
labors of so great and good a man as is here
given in twenty pages by Prof. LaCroix, of
the Ohio Wegleyan University.
In the fourth article, Rev. A. 11. Ames, of
Baltimore, Md., treats of the Nature of a
Christian Sacrament.
“Chamberlayne on Saving Faith,” is re
vived in the next article by Rev. Daniel D. D.
Buck, D.D., of Rushville, N.Y.
Rev. Gersbam F. Cox, A.M., of Salem,
Mass., gives, in the next paper, an argument
in favor of “ The Resurrection.”
An Inquiry iuto the Nature of Matter, by
Rev. J. W. Armstrong, D.D., closes the list
of solid articles in this number. This article
is a good one, and should be carefully read
and inwardly digested.
This brings us'to the Synopsis of the Quar
terlies and Higher Periodicals. The editor
extracts largely from an article in the Chris
tian Quarterly (Campbcllite) on “Our Repre
sentative Religions,” which are, in the esti
mation of tho author, four: Methodists,
Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Unitarians.
Tho article is racy and readable. All Meth
odists aro classed together, of which some
good things are said, and some not so good—
some true, and some not so true. The author
says some things for the eye and ear of our
warm brethren of the South side view. Read:
“ Tho Methodist Church, far more than any
other, suffered by losses and splits during the
war; for a Methodist always thinks far more
of his country than of his church. In the
South this same characteristic shoiced itself,
where the Methodists espoused the came of
their section , and were the first , most unani
mous and most rabid in the rebellion! The
Methodists fought over slavery long before
any other church thought of it, and had split
tho church in two twenty years before the
politicians tried to spit the nation on the
same issue.” That is the way outsiders are
bound to put this thing into history in spite
of all the efforts of partizans to prevent it.
The departments of Foreign Religious and
Literary Intelligence in this number are in
teresting and valuable.
The Book Table is, as usual, marked by
rich, racy, discriminative and pointed criti
cism. Tho next number will begin anew
volume. Subscribe for it now.
WHAT OF IT ALL?
The Springfield Republican says of the
Evangelical Alliance:
“And now the question comes —Cut bono?
what does it amount to? In the first place,
the question can only be answered in part,
because the tidal waves of influence that this
conference started have only begun to roll.
They surged against some of the New York
pulpits, last Sunday, and some of the Dame
rartingtons got out their brooms. One of
the excellent things about it is, that it has not
attempted to settle any thing by votes and
resolutions. Its authority is simply that of
the influence that rightly belongs to it through
the light it has disseminated and the convic
tions it has established.
“Another good result is, that it has taught
good lessons as to the best methods of polem
ical discussion; one of them, respect toward
the opponents of evangelical Christianity,
whether on the Romanist or Rationalistic side.
Some of tho ablest minds from European
countrios came prepared with tho best results
of their profoundest investigations. They
showed to us their sort of armor, and their
most skillful weapons, and how, in long aud
hard encounters, they are won, to use them,
and that it is altogether in vain to think of
putting down great superstitions or mighty
unbeliefs with superficial assertions, or old,
worn-out stock arguments.
“Our preachers, too, havo had abundant
homilctical lessons. In the earnestness, sim
plicity and scripturalness of those foreign
preachers and the way to preach expositorily
and eloquently and yet effectively, they havo
been taught some things worth knowing. We
know, also, very much hotter, exactly what
Christianity has to contend with throughout
the world at the present moment —tho actual
tactics of its opposing forces, and that the
most powerful of them is Unbelief in its
various forms rather than Romanism.
“Wo have still further learned through
this uprising of popular interest, constantly
increasing to the cpd of these meetings, that
the people aro not so indifferent as wc might
havo imagined to the vital themes of Chris
tianity, and that there is a remarkable eager
ncss or the publio mind attending such dis
cussions when carried on with real thorough
ness and ability. ,
“One of the best of tho indirect results has
been and will bo the great amount of good
that has been generated in the meeting to
gether of so many thoughtful and influential
men from sueh divers parts of the world.
Permanent and valuable friendships) have
bees formed, that will tell on a great variety
of human interests. While'we Americans
have been benefited in return for noble hos
pitalities bv all this general intercourse of
thought and kindness, reflex influences will
go abroad to France, Germany, Italy, England
and other nations represented.
"But best of all were the humanitarian as
pects of the meetings, the deep and earnest
philanthropic impulses that pervaded them
in the elaborated discussions of social evils
and reformatory measures, missions, home
and foreign, the labor question, and all the
methods by which Christianity seeks to en
lighten and uplift mankind.’'
Notes and Brevities.
llev. A. T. Scott announces the reissue of
‘The Methodist Magazine, a Herald of Holi
ness.” No. 1 is in press and will be out
by the 3d of November. Price 10 cents,
sent post paid. It is now established on a
financial basis which guarantees its continu
ance.
A capital but irreverent hit, was at the Free-
Religionist Convention, when an interested
delegate rose while Mr. James Parton was
reading a paper, and desired the President to
request the speakers to specify what god they
referred to when that name was used. He
said that in attending the meetings he had
heard so many gods referred to that lie was
at a loss at times to know to which one the
speakers referred.
The enterprise of the New York Tribune ,
in reporting the Evangelical Alliance, sur
passes all previous feats in journalism and is
worthy of all praise. Its reports, given in
one week, amount to two hundred columns,
equal to one thousand pages of an octavo
volume. The reports were taken iu all the
civilized languages, translated and spread be
fore the public iu from five to fifteen hours
after delivery by the speakers. This immense
mass of religious literature is sold at twenty
five cents per copy!
The Christian Union says:
“Our Methodist brethren show themselves
in the advance as usual in proposing to make
a practical illustration of the spirit devel
oped by the Christian Alliance. Its first
fruits are to be their3 to enjoy. Rev. John
Parker and the congregation of the Seventh
Street Church, in New lork, have arranged
for a series of sermons to be preached in that
church by representative pastors, to be fol
lowed immediately by a protracted meeting.
Among the preachers announced are Drs.
Eddy, Tyng, John Hall, Hepworth, Cuyler,
and Armitage, who will succeed each other
during the evenings of the week commencing
on the 26th instant.”
Statistics of the Indiana Conference: Pro
bationers, 3,085; members, 28,082; total mem
bers and probationers, 31,167; local preachers,
219; children baptized, 634; adults baptized,
1,386; number churches, 348, increase, 94;
value of same, $789,900; parsonages, 73, value,
$79,400, increase,s3,9so; Sunday-5ch0015,339,
increase, 34; officers and teachers, 3,301;
scholars, 24,173; for Conference claimants,
$1,392.29, increase, $152.64; for missions,
raised in churches and Sunday-schools, SB,-
027.16, increase, $372.68; for Woman’s For
eign Missionary Society, $417.80; for Board
of Church Extension, $813.03; for Tract So
ciety, $202.15, increase, $75.25; for Sunday
school Union, $252.26, increase, $85.06; Freed
men’s Aid Society, $278.05; Education,
SIOB.IO.
, The following are the statistics of the
Southern Illinois Conference: Probationers,
2,439, a decrease of 457; full members, 22,238,
a decrease of 792; local preachers, 334:
churches, 3104; parsonages, 82; Sunday
schools, 343; officers and teachers, 3,098;
scholars of all ages, 23,119. Amouuts con
tributed for Conference- claimants, $1,627!77;
missions, $6,207.38; Woman’s Foreign Mis
sionary Society, $600; Church Extension So
ciety, $474.22; Tract Society, $209.35; Sun
day-school Union, $236.01; Freedmen’s Aid
Society, $309.50; Ministerial Educational
Fond, $211.78; lor support of bishops, $351.-
96; building and improving churches and
parsonages, $54,008.15; sustaining Sunday
schools within bounds of Conference. $6 621 -
36. ’ ‘
Bishop Haven, in a letter to the Pittsburg
Advocate , says of the site of the Knoxville
University:
“A ride of four milc3 takes us past the
beautiful grounds of our projected Univer
sity, the most beautiful location I ever saw
for such an institution. A softly-sloping hill
is the site, at least a quarter of a mile long
and five hundred feet wide before the crest is
reached, from which the land slopes slightly
off in the opposite direction. The rear is
well wooded; the front is clear. This latter
aspect opens on an exquisite panorama—the
city of Knoxville lies in sight— not a mile
distant, and being rapidly built out to the
grounds. The National Cemetery, with its
nag perpetually flying, rolls between, a low
hill crowded with lower hillocks, “ the happy
barrows of the blessed dead.” The city lies
on quijte lofty bluffs, and is jvell set off with
churches, stores and dwellings. Beyond, the
mountains of North Carolina rise against the
sky, ridge behind ridge, for forty miles, lift
ing their last sierra, the Smoky Mountains,
more than sixty miles away. Let this insti
tution have the money, and it will soon rise
to eminence, and the pre-eminence in this
southland. It will be open to all comers,
and should be speedily planted in buildings,
as it is already superbly endowed with land.
Let it get its projected hundred acres, of
which only thirty are now secured, and it
will be without a rival for beauty and loca
tion South or North. Middletown is the
only one I have seen that approaches it, and
she has only a front and depth of a few rods
compared with this magnificent sweep. She
also has a river nearer in view, a superior
charm, but her mountains are hills, and her
horizon narrow to the height, breadth and
sweep of this visual rim. 1 hope the ardent
friends of the Knoxville, comprising some of
the first men of the city, will soon see her
first towers rising on this superb spot. Help
her, ye rich brethren, help her now! You
can not do better than to give this university
a building or an endowment. Money it needs,
and that alone, to make it as beautiful in its
structures as it is in its site.”
Os the National Camp-meeting, he says:
“ The ‘tabernacle’ is in a clearing beyond
the woods, and this is well filled. The
S readier, a quaint native, brother Hayden, is
iscoursing on ‘Blessed are the pure in heart.’
He is very easy and fresh and piquant. He
even puts liis familiarity to unwonted tests,
such as saying, ‘You, Jin), want this blcssiug
too,’ and ‘Sam, there, you need it.’ He was
racy, modest, and full of unction, and at
times soaringly powerful. The Spirit was
present to approve.
“Some criticism has been mado on the mode
of conducting meetings, adopted by these
brethren. Their soft singing on their knees,
silent praying, lifting up of bauds, and other
novelties, liavo been censured. Certainly
never was there greater occasion for censuring
the censor. The same feeling would have
condemned the mourners’ bench when it was
introduced, and the invitation, aud the camn
mceting itself. These novelties are valuable
beoausc they arc novelties. There is no
more objection to new varieties in the modes
of worship than to holding on to those that
are old, or than new fashions in dwellings
and dresses. We don’t live as our fathers, in
houses or clothes, We could ns properly
modify our forms of worship a150.2
Wo copy the following from the Christian
Observer
“While Hr. Robinson was dangerously sick
last winter, the Chicago Evening Post asserted
that he ‘advocated from the pulpit the ship-
Sing of yellow fever infected clothing to
forthern cities.’ As soon ns he was able to
attend to any business, Dr. liobinson ordered
suit agajnst the Everting Post, laying the
damages at *IOO,OOO. Onr readers will be
glad to hear that he has gained the suit. It
went to trial without a jury, and the court
assessed the damages at $20,000, with costs;
and Dr. Robinson immediately, through his
attorneys, reinitted all of the amount, except
six hundred and fifty-four dollars for attor
neys’ fees and costs of conducting the suit.
“The Interior remarks on this announce
ment: ‘Dr. Robinson deserves the thanks not
only of ministers, but of all who value their
good name, for having tested the question in
the courts of law, in regard to the extent to
which newspapers are responsible for the
libellous paragraphs which uppear in their
columns.’ ’
Literature and Art.
Thurlow Weed has the first volume of his
autobiography in press. The second is prom
ised shortly.
Professor Tyndall has been elected Presi
dent of the British Association for the Ad
vancement of Science.
Report says the Harpers are to publish, in
book form, all the proceedings of the recent
meetings of the Evangelical Alliance, includ
ing speeches made and papers read.
George Carey Eggleston, brother of Edward,
editor of Hearth and Home, is writing a se
rial story for that paper, tinder the title of
“A Man of Honor.” It is intended to rep
resent life in Eastern Virginia before the
war.
The last Harper's Weekly has an illustrated
article on Philip Embury, with portraits
of Embury, his wife and Barbara Heck, and
views of the old John-street Church, New
York, and the new Embury monument, at
Cambridge, N. Y.
Church South Items.
F. W. D. Mays was transferred from llol
ston to Columbia Conference.
The next session of the Ilolston Annual
Conference, M. E. Church South, will meet
in Asheville, N. C.
The Holston Methodist informs us that J.
N. S. Iluffaker and John Alley were received
into the Ilolston Conference at its late ses
sion from the M. E. Church.
Report says that SBOO has been raised in
Baltimore for the relief of the family of Dr.
Wm. E. Munsey, and sent to Mrs. Munsey,
at Jonesboro, Tenu. Also, that Dr. Munsey
has abandoned tho use of spirits, even as a
medicine.
Delegates from the St. Louis Conference to
the General Conference: Clerical —A. T.
Scruggs, W. M. Leftwich. Reserves—D. R.
McAnallv, J. H. Linn. Lay—T. Polk, J. C.
Moore. Reserves—N. Handy. I). N. Bur
goyne.
The following are the delegates elect to the
General Conference from the Holston Con
ference: Clerical—ll. N. Price, C. Long, E.
E. Wiley, J. M. McTeer, W. G. E. Cunning
ham, J. S. Kennedy. Alternates—James
Atkins, sr., F. Richardson. Lay-Delegates
—H. S. Bowen, j. AY. Gaut, W. AY. Striniield,
Pres. It. W. Jones, John W. Paulett, F. W.
Earnest. Alternates —J. P. Kelly, A. AY.
Boy).
Holston Conference Statistics : White
members, 35,205—increase, 1,212 ; colored
members, 171—increase, 3. Indians, 129—in
crease, 9. Local preachers, 291 —increase, 16.
Infants baptized, I,2oß—last year, 978; adults,
1,940 —last year, 2,011. Sunday-schools, 418-
last year, 399; teachers, 2,617 —last year, 2,-
508; scholars, 18,123 —last year, 19,210. Nec
cessary for claimants, sl,6oo—last year, sl,-
500; collected, $1,188.74 —last year, $969.31.
For missions, $3,401.89—1a5t year, $2,145.45.
Educational.
Mercer University, at. Macon, Ga., lias in
attendance 117 students.
Nine Chinese students are in the Freshman
Class of the Michigan University.
The students of Brown University have
determined to put an end to hazing.
An anti-secret-society journal has appeared
at Yale College, edited by some of the stu
dents.
One hundred and sixty young ladies are
registered already in the Cincinnati Wesleyan
College.
The Wisconsin State University, J. 11.
Twombly, D.D., President, opens' the year
with an increase of 70 students.
Dr. William Adams has been unanimously
elected President of tho Union Theological
Seminary in New York, and Professor of
Sacred Rhetoric.
Mr. J ames Brown gives $300,000 to com
plete the endowment of the professorship
called by his name in the Union Theological
Seminary, N. Y.
Rev. Prof. George N. Boardman, D.D., of
Chicago, has accepted the office of President
of Middlebury College, and has already en
tered upon its.duties.
Mrs. James B. Colgate, daughter of.the
late Gov. Colby, has given the New London
Seminary, in which he was so deeply inter
ested, the handsome sum of $25,000.
The Boards of Education in the cities of
Jacksonville and Springfield, 111., have voted
to admit colored pupils to their public schools,
which shows that the world moves.
The llcv. Caspar R. Gregory, D.D., of the
First Presbyterian Church of Bridgeton,
N. Y., has been elected Professor of Sacred
Rhetoric in Lincoln University.
A lady who lost her son by death has given
to the Young Men’s Christian Association of
Brooklyn SI,OOO as a memorial, to be invested
in the library of the institution.
Rev. C. R. Pomeroy, A.M., pastor at lowa
City, has been elected President of the Kan
sas State Normal School, at Emporia, and
will enter upon his duties January 1, I$T4.
Dr. Loomis, late of Allegheny College, is
to take charge of a Collegiate Institution for
ladies, at Clifton Springs, N. Y., in which Dr.
11. Foster, of the Sanitarium, and others, are
interested.
The North-western University rejoices in
120 applications to enter its Freshman Class
this year, which is one hundred per cent, more
than in any previous year. This is certainly
complimentary to President Fowler.
The Chicago Advance says it is informed
by the secretary of the Western Education
Society that not less than twenty-seven of the
members of the Chicago Theological Semi
nary must receive aid this year, or suspend.
The editor urges the churches to furnish the
necessary aid.
The Central says: “Rev. E. J, Harnil, we
are informed, has resigned the agency of
Johnsou College, and intends to remove to
Lebanon, 111. The Executive Committee of
McKendree College have tendered him the
financial agency of that institution, and it is
probable he will accept.”
Prof. Taylor Lewis, of Union College, is to
deliver a course of lectures the coming win
ter before tfic students of Rutgers College
and the Theological Seminary at New Bruns
wick, N. J., on the subject of “Modern Infi
delity.” He occupied a thoroughly orthodox
position, and is entirely competent to examine
the subject taken in hand.
The McKendree Repository says: “The fac
ulty havo established regular Sunday after
noon lectures, preceded by dcvotion.il exer
cises. A college choir has been organized to
lead the singing. The Scripture reading is
responsive. Dr. Allyn has delivered two
lectures, and Profs. Jones, Edwards, and
Deneeu, one each. The students arc de
lighted with this new feature.”
Mr. Philbrick, the Boston Superintendent
of Schools, bears testimony to the excellence
of the educational institutions of Vienna.
Sonic. of the higher schools for extent and
magnificence were not surpassed, nor for
thoroughness. One school that he saw ex
tended entirely around the square, and even
its main hall was as large and superbly fin
ished as one of our churches. The great su
periority that he found was the mode of teach
ing by practical illustrations, and by the
teacher working with his class, the text-books
being subordinate and recitations being at a
disoount. The thoroughness of special prep
aration on the part of teachers, and the ex
tent of the apparatus provided and actually
used, wa3 one reason of the superiority of
Vienna schools, this system running down
even into the lowest gehools.
Personal Items.
Drr Henry Slicer’s health is reported very
poor.
Brigham Young is again reported in bad
health.
Sir Henry Holland,an author and physician,
died in London, October 29th.
John Bright was on the 18th ult. re-elected
to Parliament without opposition.
Pere Hyacinthe on the 19th of October was
made a real lather by the birth of a son.
The late Dr. Nekton, the eminent French
physician, left a fortune valued at $1,400,000.
Ilev. Robert S.Candish,D.D., of Edinburgh,
Scotland, an eminent divine, died October IU.
aged 81 years.
Commodore William Jameson, of the Uni
ted States Navy, died October 7th, at Alex
andria, D.C., at the age of 82.
Rev. D. 11. Cummins, of the Presbyterian
Church in West Tennessee,died in Covington,
Tenn., October 17, aged 60 years.
Rev. W. J. Parks, of the M. E. Church
South, died at his home, in Oxford, Ga., Oct.
14th, of congestion of the lungs.
Robert Saxburg, a noted hunter in northern
New York, died recently, aged 110 years.
Hunting must be a healthy employment.
The editor of Godey's Lady's Booh , Mrs.
Sarah J. Hale, is eighty-five years old, and is
said to bo still vigorous in body and mind.
Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe gave readings
from her own works, to a large and appre
ciative audience, Indianapolis, October 11th.
The grand jury of Brooklyn has indicted
Whitelaw Reid, of the New York Tribune ,
and Charles N. Dana, of the New York Sun,
for libel.
General Thomas Cadwalader, for many
years Adjutant-General of New Jersey, died
at Trenton recently, aged seventy-seven
years.
Rev. J. It. Spaulding, now rector of Erie,
Penn., has been elected Bishop of Colorado
and Wyoming, in place of Bishop Randall,
deceased.
ltev. O. S. Munsell, D.D., ex-President of
the Illinois Wesleyan University, it is said, is
about to engage in the banking business at
Shelbyville, 111.
Rev. R. L. Roberts, eldest son of Bishop
Roberts, and in the third year of his itiner
ancy in the Liberia Conference, died lately,
after only a few days’ illness.
Prince Bismark, on the 20th ult., at Berlin,
resumed the Presidency of the Prussian Min
istry. The restoration carries with it the ef
fective control of the whole cabinet.
Dr. Curry says: “Peter Akers, a veteran of
eighty-threo, is still able to go in and out
among his brethren, and is, both in mind and
body, a remarkably well-preserved old man.”
Prof. Donati, the director of the Astronom
ical Observatory in Florence, died, Sept. 10,
in A r ienna, where ho had just arrived to at
tend to duties connected with the exhibition.
Edward Stokes, the murderer of James
Fisk, jr., has been found guilty of murder in
the third degree, and sentenced to four years’
hard labor in the penitentiary.
Ilev. M. L. Ashbaugh, a young and promis
ing member of the Erie Conference, died Oc
tober Bth, which is the third death among the
Erie Conference peachers since its session in
September.
The telegraph on Friday morning last re
ported the expulsion of Theodore Tilton
from the Plymouth Church, for not putting
iu an appearance before the committee ot
trial when cited to do so.
The Western says: “AY. C. DePauw, Esq.,
of New Albany, lud., has given $9,000 for
Church Extension during the past conference
year, besides many donations directly to indi
vidual churches.”
James K. Medberry, literary editor of the
Christian Union , and connected at one time
with the New York Evening Post, died re
cently 7 of consumption, in London, whither
he had gone in quest of health.
Rev. Green Clay Smith, ex-Governor oi
Montana, ex-General of federal forces, ex
member of Congress, and now Baptist minis
ter, has accepted the chair of Political Econ
omy in the high-school at Ky.
Mrs. Jennie F. AVilling, A.M., lias accepted
the Professorship of English Language and
Literature in the Illinois AVcsleyan l niver
sity, located at Bloomington, 111., and will
enter upon her new duties there next January.
The Christian Intelligencer states that Mr.
Oliver Johnson, managing editor of the
Christian Union, made a little speech in ad
vocacy of the right and the charm of “free
thinking” before the Free Religionists Con
vention.
An exchange says: “George W. Childs, of
the Philadelphia Ledger , has been allowed
by the Dean of Westminster to contribute the
cost of a memorial window to be placed in
the chapel of Westminster Abbey, as a mon
ument to George Herbert aud Wm. Cowper.”
Rev. Dr. Rigg, Wesleyan minister from
England, on the 24th ult., addressed the stu
dents of Drew Theological Seminary on “the
best method of theological study,” and in
the evening had a cordial reception at Dr.
Hurt’s with all the professors and their fami
lies.
Her Majesty, Caroline Auguste, late Em
press Dowager of Austria, made a great many
charitable bequests in her will, and testified
her loyalty to the Catholic faith by setting
apart five thousand florins to defray the ex
pense of having five thousand holy masses
read for her.
The Duke of Saxony, eldest son of the late
King John, assumed, at Dresden, October
29th, the succession to the throne. His Ma
jesty has issued a proclamation, in which he
promises to uphold the constitution and an
nounces that the present ministry will remain
in office.
Dr. Thayer, who recently resigned his more
than thirty years’ pastorate of the United
Church at Newport, on account of ill health,
has been presented with sltj,ooo by several of
his parishioners, with further thought for his
comfort by voting him an annuity of SI,OOO.
That is a good way to treat aged and retiring
ministers.
A student of the Cornell University, named
Leggett, while being professedly initiated into
a so-called secret society, was recently killed,
by falling from a high cliff, while blindfolded,
as a preparation for the bogus initiation. Is
it not time for the authorities to put an end
to such terrible fooling by severe and sum
mary treatment of the guilty parties?
M. Guizot, an eminent French author and
statesman, lias passed his 80th year. These
are his habits: lie rises at sijj. in the morning
and works at his “History for my Little Chil
dren” until breakfast. Then he takes a walk
in his garden, attended by his children and
grandchildren; and in the afternoon he writes
again,passing the eveningin social enjoyments.
Dr. Strauss, author of the “Life of Jesus,”
writes to the editor of tho Gcffeicart , of Ber
lin: “Since last spring I have suffered from a
disease for which 1 have sought cure at.
Carlsbad in vain—a disease which physicians
have declared incurable, aud which has com
pelled me this long time to cease my literary
labors without the hope of ever being able tq
resume them.”
Rev. L. A. Rudisill, pastor of St. John's
Church, (Methodist Episcopal), in Memphis,
has gone North for the purpose of securing
some pecuniary aid for his church, which has
suffered so much this season from cholera
and yellow fever. The cause is eminently
worthy, and we hope he will easily secure
what is needed.
The North-western says: “Rev. Dr. S. Fal
lows, the new President of Illinois Wesleyan
University, has transferred from his old field
in Wisconsin Conference to Illinois Confer
ence. Asa parting personal testimonial, and
as an acknowledgment of his long services as
Secretary in Wisconsin, his friends have pre
sented him a set of silver plate.” That is a
good way to treat a good fellow.
The Christian Advocate says: “Rev. Geo.
W. Evans, the late competent Assistant Se
cretary of the Nsitipnal Local Preachers’ As
sociation, and just elected Corresponding Se
cretary, designs to take steps to reach the
f>roper officer of every district and conference
ocal preachers’ association in the M. E.
Churoh, in order to secure statistical informa
tion respecting each organization, to enable
him to prepare a complete statistical report for
the aext sessioa of the convention at Balti-