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The Methodist Advocate. Atlanta, Ga., June 20, 1877. E. Q,. FULLER, D.D., Editor. Corresponding Editors: Esr. J. Braden, Tennessee Conference. r,v. W. C. Gravrs, Holston Conference. Rev. James Mitchell, Georgia Conference. Rev. W. G. Matton, N. Carolina Conference. Rev. A. Webster, South Carolina Conference, Rev. S. B. Darnell, Florida Conference. Rev. C. O. Fisher, Savannah Conference. Rrv. Wm. P. Miller, Alabama Conference. Rev. H. R. Revels, Mississippi Conference. Our Educational Work. But few persons seem to have an adequate idea of the magnitude of the educational schemes of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the South. The Freedman’s Aid So ciety has been for years founding and sustaining schools. Under its care one has been established in Tennessee, one in North Carolina, one in South Carolina, one in Florida, two in Georgia, and an other, it is expected, will be built in LaGrange, two in Alabama, one in Mississippi, one in Louisiana and two in Texas. Several of these have college classes formed, and are do ing efficient work in the higher, branches of study, and some will become fully developed universities in the course of years. They are so located as to be accessible to the people of the whole South. From fifteen hundred to two thousand students have been in attendance during the past year., a large num ber, perhaps nearly half of whom will be engaged in teaching during the Summer. The secretary of the society, Dr. Bust, has already ac complished great things in this di rection, but what has been done is only the beginning of* a movement which coming generations will look upon with delight and wonder. Out of these schools will come, in a few years, thousands of well quali fied teachers and ministers of the Gospel. Little as the Church or public know of this branch of our work, still less is apprehended of our ed ucational efforts in behalf of the white people of the South. Last week we spoke of the East Tennes see Wesleyan University at Athens. One hundred and ninety students, of all grades, have been in attend ance there during the past year. In addition to this, our oldest school for whites in the South, there are several others in successful op eration, viz.; the Tennessee Confer- ence Seminary at Hollow Rock, Tullahoma Collegiate Institute at Tullahoma, and Holston at New Market in Tennessee, Candler Col lege in North Carolina, Andrews Institute in Alabama, and Ellijay Seminary in Georgia. Seven hun dred, or more, students have been in attendance at these schools during this year. Now they are going out by scores to teach in the country places among our people, thus diffusing the the Work. ~ XAun-'" areds of young men and women will thus be reached this year and in spired with ambition for a better so cial standing and with a desire to acquire fitness for the higher walks of life. Could our preachers realize the importance of this work and talk about it at the fireside and pray for the prosperity of the schools at the family altar as they visit among the people, they could easily add to the patronage of these institutions so that during the next twelve months not less than a thousand students would be found in attendance upon them. Will they think of it, and shall we have such a united effort as will place at least one thousand in these schools and two thousand in those of the Freedman’s Aid So ciety? We can and ought to have not less than three thousand stu dents in our Church schools in the South next year. Shall we have them? The preachers can answer the inquiry and give an affirmative response if they will. This is a part of their calling. They are sent out to gather the lost sheep find to feed the lambs as well. The best possible method of doing the latter is by bringing them to some good institution of learning in the care of the Church. The wealthy educate their sons and daughters for society rather than for Church work. This is proper and commendable. No one would have them do less for their offspring from such considerations as bear most heavily upon their minds. But those less favored in temporal affairs often strive to se cure an education in order to be more useful to themselves and to the community. Their circumstances compel them to activity. Teaching is a common resort of the student in working his way through college, and thousands of men and women follow this calling for a livelihood. Most of the patrons of our schools, not being of the wealthy class, spend more or less time in teaching, and any one can see that with proper effort we can have in a very few years a thousand white teachers and as many or more colored scat tered over the South from these in stitutions. We have the material in hand. All that is needed to re alize such a result in a short time is proper care on the part of the preachers. They are the agents of the Church, the schools and the peo ple. While the preachers interest themselves in this cause the teach ers and students in all of our schools should strive for the same end and send forth the most efficient teach ers in the land, the most useful members of society and the most faithful laborers for Christ. We are not half awake to our duties or opportunities. Rev. B. F. Powell has organized a class of sixteen members at Ros well, Ga. “The Two Churches.” Under this head Rev. W. F. Cook corrects the Constitution , and his letter to that paper is so candid and sensible that we give it entire, being prompted to do so more by a desire to do full justice to the brethren of the M. E. Church South than to fortify our position or to add to the rebuke given to the Constitution. It will be observed that brother Cook’s statements essentially agree with, ours last week. It is due brother Cook to say that he fairly represents the position of his Church in relation to fraternity and union. Formal fraternity in the official relations of the two Churches is established, though not by the efforts of the Church South in suing for the same. We have no doubt that the fraternal spirit will increase till good-will is estab lished in each Church toward the other throughout the land. As to reunion, brother Cook has not guarded that point more carefully than the General Conference and official authorities of the M. E. Church South have done. Neither Church has taken action on that subject, except negatively as brother Cook represents. Neither is com mitted to any policy, nor has either marked out any course of action touching it, unless the various ex- pressions of the Church South on the question may be so considered. There are, however, a considera ble number in both Churches who favor organic union at an early day. It seems to us that such a consumma tion ought to be reached on a basis alike honorable to both. Churches, and in a way that would tend to fur ther the cause of Christ and national unity and pacification, but it must be admitted that probably the ma jority in both denominations are not now prepared for this measure. The only suggestion that we have ob served in its favor in any of the papers of the Southern Church is that of the Western Methodist , as a possibility on the part of the Church South, if the Methodist Episcopal Church would yield interests and principles more vital to its future than union with that branch would be likely to prove, that is, if the Meth odist Episcopal Church would prom ise in advance to change its base, the Southern Church might entertain the idea of reunion. This is the strongest position that we remem ber to have seen taken in the papers of that denomination, though many individuals, no doubt, would go much farther in approaches toward the Methodist Episcopal Church. We have always regarded fraternal relations as much more important than organic union between these bodies. These have been estab lished and whether the other follows or not, all parties involved may move forward in peace and love in endeavors to evangelize and purify the nation and world. The letter of brother Cook to the Constitution is as follows, viz.: Editors Constitution:— ln your edi _iy A i«l urnlf' Iteli#ofr Os- ’'i which appears in your issue of June 6th, you unintentionally, no doubt, but with singular misconception of the facts in the case, misrepresent the position of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, on the question of union with the Methodist Episcopal Church, North. It is very far from being true that the former Church has at any time, or in any way, manifested anxiety to unite with the latter; on the contrary, the authorities of the M. E. Church South have uniformly declined to consider any proposition looking to that object. No committee, of which “the lamented Dr. Myers,” or anybody else, was chairman, was ever appointed “to pro ceed to the North and fix a basis of union.” To represent Southern Meth odists as “continually suing for fraternity,” is wide of the mark, and betrays an entire misapprehension of the true state of the case. Indeed, if the writer of the article had sought, with malice aforethought, to mis represent the Methodist Church South in this matter, he could not have per verted the truth with more deliberate misstatement. We have no thought that evil was intended, but as you seemed to have fallen, unwittingly it may be, into griev ous error, and have given circulation, through your influential journal, to en tirely mistaken views of this question, it is fitting that the facts in the case should be given to the public through the same medium. I ask spaoe, there fore, in your columns for a little bit of history touching this matter, taken from the records. Soon after the authorized organiza tion of the M. E. Church South, the Rev. Dr. Lovick Pierce was delegated to visit the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, North, as fraternal messenger. The Church North declined to receive him, thereby refusing the offer of fraternal relations and intercourse, such as ought to exist between all religious bodies. Os course, after such rejection and refusal, if the proposition was ever renewed, it must come from the Church North. Such a proposition, having for its ob ject friendly relations, the Church South has declared itself ready and willing at all Jimes to entertain; but concerning the .question of corporate union, which is* altogether a different matter, it has never consented to enter into any negotiations whatever. In May, 1869, the bishops of the Method ist Episcopal Church North proposed to meet with the bishops of the M. E. Church South, in order to “confer as to the propriety, practicability and meth ods of reunion.” But the Southern bishops respectfully declined to con sider the subject. Again, in 1870, a deputation from the visited the General the Church South, proposing to treat on the subject of union. They were received and treated with great respect, but when the matter of their communica tion was formally presented to the con ference, a resolution was unanimously adopted to this effect: “It is the judg ment of this conference that the true interests of the Church of Christ re quire and demand the maintenance of our separate and distinct organization.” So all along since the war the Church South has adhered immovably to its position on the subject of organic union. And when, in 1874, the way was at last opened, in a manner credita ble and honorable to all parties for bringing the two Churches into truly fraternal relations, the report adopted by the Southern conference, accepting the fraternal greetings of the Church North, which they had consented after so long a time to offer, and appointing a delegation to carry most Christian salu tations in return, is careful to state that “organic union is not involved in fraternity. In our view of the subject the reasons for the separate existence of these two branches of Methodism are such as to make corporate union unde sirable and impracticable. * * * We believe that each Church can do its work and fulfill its mission most effect ively by maintaining an independent organization.” This was the last au thoritative utterance of the Church South on the subject of union with the Church North. The commission of which the la mented Dr. Myers was chairman, had nothing whatever to do with the ques tion of union between the two Churches. There were certain business questions which needed adjustment upon Chris tian principle—such questions as might arise between any two co-existing cor porations, and the commission was ap pointed accordingly. As to the statement made in the ar ticle we are considering that “any fra ternity (italics ours) between the South ern and Northern Methodists would be a humbug and a delusion,” it is suffi cient to say that every man is entitled to his own opinion on any question, when in possession of the facts in the case. The language we have quoted is simply the expression of an opinion, and it is no part of our present purpose to dis cuss its merits, as our sole object is to correct a misstatement of facts. We will add. however, that no good ever comes from bitterness and strife between individuals. Churches or na tions. And if public journalists and speakers would carefully avoid the in justice of holding a whole section or a whole Church responsible for the unguarded utterances of a single measurably irresponsible individual here and there, it would go a long way toward abating strife and promoting that universal amity which must pre cede the reign of the Prince of Peace. No Sop, no Union. JHas it come to this, that a Meth odist minister determines his course of action on a question of general interest and of momentous impor tance by the probability of obtaining official sop? Must the great ques tion of unity between the two largest Methodist Churches be held in abey ance by personal interest or am bitious endeavors to obtain official honor? If such a charge was made by an outsider, we should repel it as slanderous toward the ministers of both Churches, but the Holston Methodist brings forward an appeal to selfishness and sectionalism based upon unhallowed ambition as an ar gument against the unity of Episco pal Methodism! The fact may well excite attention and thought, if not comment. That paper says: Dr. W. P. Harrison, of Atlanta, has recently been on a lecturing tour, North, to procure funds to complete Wesley Chapel, in that city. Some of the papers report that he takes the ground that there is no good cause for the continued separation of the Churches. We hope he has been in correctly reported. We hope he would not plunge our people into the social equality controversy, which is inevitable in the Methodist Episcopal Church, nor subject our preachers and people to the dictation of irresponsible majorities. What union do we want with people, however good and worthy in other re spects, with whom expediency is stronger than law, and the will of the majority more sacred than the plainest constitu tional provisions? Consider the case of Bishop Andrew, if you please. The political union has been restored for about ten years, and yet who has thought of a President or Vice-Presi dent from any of the Southern States? It is out of the question. The Southern States aasyret practically disfranchised, ’and uukSfTla solid South” shall wm to be considered as holding the balance of power, this disfranchisement will be continued indefinitely. Even the “mother of States and statesmen” is required to sit at the foot of the table, and to do obeisance to whatever Na tional Executive the Northern people see proper to select for her and her Southern sisters. Thousands of the good Union people of the South have connected themselves with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her annual conferences spread over the entire territory of the Southern States. Among her ministers in the South there is not wanting men of talent and piety; and yet a bishop has never been chosen from South of Mason and Dixon’s line. The entire Methodist Episcopal Church in the South has no bishop to the manor born, or permanently resident in the South. We have nothing against North ern people as such; but if it happened, some how or other, that all our bishops and General Conference officers came to us from Yankee land, we should begin to inquire whether the Church had not something against Southern people, as such. The facts to which we have alluded are, at least, suggestive. It is true that “official sop” in the Methodist Episcopal Church in the Southern States is very scarce and amazingly thin, but is that a suffi cient reason why the best interests of the Christian religion, or of the country at large, should not be sought by ministers of the Lord Jesus who claim devotion to Christ and to be seeking a kingdom not of this world? We commend to the editor of that paper the lessons of our Savior taught in the Gospels, especially Matthew chap, xviii, 20; and Mark ix, beginning with the 33d verse and going to the end of the chapter, not forgetting the last sen tence. The above extract does not sound very well when compared with the teachings or the example of Christ. Shall worldly ambition be allowed to hinder the Gospel? Bishop Wiley’s Episcopal Tour. Bishop Wiley will leave Cincinnati for his visitation to China and Japan about the twentieth of July, taking in his course westward the Colorado Conference at Denver, August Ist; the Utah Conference at Salt Lake City, August 10th, and the Southern California Conference at Santa Bar bara, August 17th. He will leave San Francisco by the first of Sep tember steamer, and will proceed direct to Shanghia, China. He hopes to reach Peking by the 10th of Oc tober, and return to Kiukiang by the 6th of November, and will prob ably reach Foochow about the 21st of November, where he will organ ize the Foochow Annual Conference. The Bishop desires to spend as much time as possible in this important and growing mission, and possibly may not reach Japan till in January. The trip will probably occupy eight months, and the dates givfcn above may have to be varied considerably in the actual working out.— West. Ad. Rev. John A. Thurman will preach the funeral sermon of James L. Thompson, at East Point, the second Sunday in July, at 11 o’clock, a. m. For What Purpose? Why the Richmond Christian Ad vocate villifies the Methodist Episco pal Church, as it has repeatedly done of late, we do not know. The fol lowing scandalous remarks were read in its columns with disgust and passed in silent contempt, and we are only constrained to give thent now because the Holston Methodist has set them adrift in East Tennes see, where they are calculated to do most harm. We give the para graph entire, with the introduction from Holston, so that our readers can judge for themselves and be prepared to meet it when it is flung at them, as it often will be. It is as follows, to-wit : “The Northern Methodist.— Brother Lafferty is very skillful at pen pictures. He draws the average North ern Methodist as follows: ‘The Northern Methodist is a dark riddle to us. He is keen for fraternity. But when his Republican President, fearing to prejure himself, deals with the South as he does with the North — equal justice to all, and meddling with none —the loving Methodist voids his rheum upon Mr. Hayes. Voltaire said a Frenchman was half monkey and half tiger. Now our Northern brother is crooning over us, and by and by he is kicking us. He is like the Egyptian Thoth—the hand is the hand of a man, but the head is the head of a hawk.’ ” That is the way the Richmond Advocate treats our people, includ ing the two hundred thousand white members born and raised on slave soil! Why it does so, we do not pretend to understand. The promptings to the course of the Holston Methodist are manifest. That paper is struggling for a pre carious existence and also to keep the Southern cause alive in East Tennessee. Neither can be done except by continued strife and sec tional hatred. Hence, it seizes every bit of scandal that may serve this end and rehashes it for its readers not only con amore , for the love of it, but with purpose also; that is, to keep up the old lines. In its patronizing territory the Meth odist Episcopal Church is the stronger of the two bodies, especially in moral power, and this mode of defense is supposed to be about the only resort left to the brethren who aim to die with colors afloat, in the last ditch. We have always wished them a better destiny and still indulge a hope in their be half. Let us sing. Appropriate music is a good pacificator. Ex-President Grant. Ever since the arrival of General Grant in England, he has been the constant recipient of such honors as no American has ever before received from that nation. On his arrival at Liverpool he was met by the Mayor, and formally tendered the hospitali ties of the town, and the next day lunched with the Mayor in the town hall. On his arrival at Manchester, he was publicly received by the Mayor and corporation, andLwas treated with distinguished Jtsaor- Jacob Bright, M. P, upon for a speech said, “no gufest so distinguishd has ever before visited Manchester. Gen. Grant is a brave soldier, and he has pursued a gen erous, pacific policy toward the ene mies he had conquered. He should be honored and beloved, and deserved the hearty reception he would cer tainly receive throughout the realm.” On the way to London the train stopped at Leicester and Bedford. At each of these places the station was decorated with British and American flags, flowers and mottoes referring to different episodes in our late war, the Mayor of each city greeting Gen. Grant with an address of welcome. Arrived at London, a grand banquet was given in his honor by the Duke of Wellington, June 2d. He had the next day a private audience with the Prince of Wales, and was introduced to his household. The Queen has given orders to the Lord Chamberlain to waive the usual presentation ceremonies out of regard to the nation’s guest, and ex tend to General and Mrs. Grant in vitation to all court entertainments. This is almost unprecedented, and shows the great esteem in which he is held in England. A reception was given him on the sth by United States Minister Pierrepont, which was attended by all the members of the Queen’s cab inet, except Lord Beaconsfield, who was ill. It is described as a very brilliant gathering. He is in receipt of invitations from Earl Beacons field, Lord Houghton, the Princess Louise and Marquis of Lome, the Earl of Derby, the Queen, and the Lord Mayor of London. The Com mon Council of London have pre sented General Grant with the hon orary freedom of the city. This is an honor only bestowed on persons of distinguished eminence, and has been sparingly conferred. Blucher, the Prussian General that saved the day at Waterloo; the Emperor Al exander, Thiers, the Third Napo leon, the Shah of Persia, and the Sultan of Turkey received this honor, and several English peers hold it by inheritance. The latest from the seat of war reports a great battle in progress be fore Kars. The battle was begun on the 9th by the Russians, and during the following night a large number of them effected a lodgment in one of the outer earthworks. The Russians are reported to have' held their ground during the whole of Monday and Monday night. On Tuesday the Turks began the fight, assuming the offensive by making desperate sorties. The Turks suc ceeded in surprising the Russians by a flank movement, and the slaugh ter that followed was very great. Rev. E. F. Dean has been ap pointed to Mt. Zion circuit, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the dis appearance of M. S. Carlisle. Oar Book Table. In earlier ages when the held of knowledge was narrow a man coaid obtain a tolerable acquaintance with the whole; but the late advances of science render this quite impossible. Even the scholar must confine him self to a department, or be content with a general view. To meet this last want Prof. Baird,of the Smithsonian Institution, conceived the plan of giving a gen eral view of the advance in the va rious departments of human knowl edge. The Annual Record of Sci ence and Industry, for 1876, (Harper & Brothers,) is the sixth in the series of volumes. The volume consists of two parts. The first contains a general sum mary of scientific and industrial progress during the year 1876; the second contains abstracts of scien tific and industrial articles. In this volume, the names of the vari ous scientific men employed in the composition its parts are for the first time given. The work is the source of valuable data, indispensa ble to the student and highly in structive to the general reader. The Cruise of Her Majesty's Ship , Challenger , by W. J. J. Spry, R. N., (Harper,) is a sprightly sketch of scenes in most of the lands in the Southern hemisphere. The voyage was a scientific one, under the charge of Sir Charles W. Thompson, F. R. S., but the author takes occasion in connection with a cursory statement of the scientific results, to enliven his narrative by notices of the various islands and peoples visited. The breadth and strangeness of the field bringing to our notice the most distant lands and a general outline of manners and customs of nations and tribes rarely visited, cannot fail to afford much to interest and profit the reader. Shakespeare's Tragedy of Mac beth, edited with notes, is another instalment of Rolfe’s fine edition for schools. Each play is contained in a separate volume and enriched with a general introduction, a his tory of the play, the historical sources, and a critical commentary with ample though compact notes. In this little volume the student will find all needful helps to enable him intelligently and profitably to read this great work of this immortal bard. A Text Book of Harmony is a clear exposition of the grammar of music by Charles Edward Horsely, (Harper.) The treatise is brief, clear and neat —much in little. The Life , Times and Character of Oliver Cromwell is a fresh and incisive statement of the defenses of the Protector, by Hon. E. H. K. Hugessen, M. P. The volume is one of the beautiful Half-Hour Series of the Harpers. The au thor shows that Oliver was justified in rebelling against such a tyrant as Charles I; that he did well to aid in securing, hisexemttion; and that his of jwwni igated ills to EngAftd. The history of this remarkable man shows how people are prone to kill their proph ets and to come too late to garnish their sepulchres. His volume gives you Cromwell in a nut-shell; but though the picture be small the lines are distinct. The Epochs of English History, to be completed in eight volumes, will be an attractive portion of the same series. Os these we have two —Early England, up to the Nor man Conquest, by Fred Y. Powell, with four maps; and England, a Continental Power , from the Con quest to Magna Charta, 1066 1216, by Louise Creighton. Though brief the volumes are ad mirable for their clear and simple style, their breadth of view and in terest of treatment. The author's happily avail themselves of the fruits of the most recent researches in this field. Those unable to read extended works will here find an instructive epitome. Schools will find these brief volumes convenient. Juliet's Guardian , by Mrs. H. Lovett Cameron, is a fresh addition to Harper's Library of Select Novels. Miss Nancy's Pilgrimage is a story of travel by Virginia W. Johnson, author of Joseph , the Jew , and The Catskill Fairies. Harper's, for May, opens with another illustrated article on our familiar birds. The Gateway of the Catskills and On the Usk are a couple of those admirable travel articles so frequent in Harper's. Florence is done in picture and story, and an old, gentleman gives his Boston Recollections. The stories and am ple tables and drawers always juicy, round out the number. The Atlantic, for May, is an in teresting and valuable number. E. H. Knight gives a second article on the Crude and Curious Inventions at the Centennial; G. E. Warring indicates the Life and Work of the Eastern Farmer; Charles Francis Adams, jr., rehearses the curious story of The May-Pole at Merry mount, (Quincy,) of earliest colonial days. Longfellow sings of the Cas tles in Spain, Story, of Gitolamo, and Whittier furnishes anew ver sion of the Dunker Hymn, of 1738. In story, James continues The American; Lothrop gives Joe Croombie, and Sarah J. Pritchard On Sand Island. Henry T. Finch tells of the Wagner Music-Drama. The Contributors’ Club Contributions serve as an excellent dessert to the whole banquet. The National Repository com mences volume second with July. This number is more than usually attractive. The first article, “Among the Trees,” a poem by William Cul len Bryant, with nine beautiful illus trations, is especially fine. The ta ble of contents gives promise of much pleasure in its perusal. With its clear, open type and excellent pa per it presents an appearance second to none of our magazines. Up to the date of going to press, the election returns from about one hundred counties of this State have been received. The vote from them stands: For constitutional con vention, 16,841; against, 8,515 — majority in favor, 8,326. Probably the additional returns will not mate rially affect the result. The con vention is to meet in July. The delegates from the thirty-fifth dis trict —Fulton, Cobb and Clayton counties—are L. J. Gartrell, John Collier, N. J. Hammond, P. L. My natt, B. E. Crane, J. T. Spence, G. W. Roberts, J. W. Robertson, and A. C. Mclntosh. The best evidence that we have seen that the editor of the Holston Methodist is golden is the fact that he has been elected President of the People’s College, at Pikeville, and at the same time remains editor at Knoxville. A conundrum might be formulated thus: Why is the said editor like pure gold? Gold spreads very thin. # East Tennessee Wesleyan University. REPORT OF EXAMINING COMMITTEE. Quite a number of the committee were present and witnessed examinations in the common and higher English, Math ematics, and Languages. We mention some classes in detail as specimens: Prof. Beaman’s method of teaching Logic was excellent. The student was required to write out on the blackboard the topio-and then explain it fully, as if lecturing on it. The class showed a clear and accurate knowledge and mas tery of what they had studied. The Botany class, taught by Miss Austin, was nearly or quite perfect. The subject was simply announced, and the student took it up and went through in detail, without prompting or questions. This they did with perfect ease and readiness. The same mode of teaching and the same clear and ready knowledge of the subject in hand was shown by the class in Rhetoric. In Higher Algebra, taught by Prof. Bolton, the class solved many difficult problems and demonstrated several im portant formulas reflecting credit on students and teacher. Classes were also examined in Trigonometry and Survey ing by Prof. Bolton, and in Geometry by Mr. Fowler, tutor. The tutors are doing good work. In the Latin Reader, the class trans lated very readily and correctly and parsed well. In the beginners’ class in Greek, they have had a thorough drill in primary principles and showed a clear knowledge of syntax. Classes were also examined in Virgil, Cicero, Homer, and Anabasis, all exhibiting the same careful, accurate instruction and drill. The class in Grammar (English) did exceedingly well. In the Primary department, classes had been well taught. We do not attempt a detailed account of all the classes, but give these as ex amples. The committee were somewhat sur prised and very much gratified at the success attained by the students and teachers, especially in view of the num ber of new students gathered in during the past year. The faculty are doing superior work. If parents and guardians want their children and wards well and thoroughly taught—if they want them to have a complete knowledge of, and go to the bottom of what they are studying, and then be able to tell what they have learned—let them send them here. The committee commend the institution most cordially anjjaMfcJififidly-lQJihflj 'community and cdimtrJPlWarge. - We close by a simple reference to the deportment and music. The habit of quiet and good order seemed to have been formed, and this habit was so strong and all-controlling in its influ ence, that the best of order and quiet and gentlemanly and ladylike deport ment existed without any apparent ef fort on the part of the teachers. Self government seemed to exist. The mu sic in the chapel was congregational and inspiring. Judges of music pronounced it very good. Some one who is a musi cian should speak of the music. We join with Dr. Fuller in saying that if there are not as many boat-clubs, etc., and not as much money spent at the East Tennessee Wesleyan University, they are nowhere doing more solid, real brain-work than here. B. Grist, Chairman. R. Pierce, Secretary. Another correspondent sends the fol lowing account of the entertainment of Thursday evening, which “consisted of the graduating exercises of the Senior class, together with orations from four young men of the Junior class. These orators did exceedingly well. No manu script was referred to during their speeches. Careful research and a choice of best language was exemplified in the orations of the evening. Two young ladies, having completed the prescribed course of study, received from the hands of the President their diplomas,entitling them to the degree .of Mistress of En glish Literature. The essays read by these.young ladies were of a high order in literary merit and reflected great credit upon themselves and the institu tion. Miss C. S. Ludlow had charge of the music for the evening, and together with ladies and gentlemen of the Uni versity, sang and played to the gratifi cation of all present. At the conclu sion of each performance, both musical and literary, there came a shower of bouquets.” Young Men’s Christian Association. The Twenty-second Annual Conven tion of the Young Men’s Christian Association of the United States and British Provinces assembled in Library Hall, Louisville, Wednesday, June 6, at 11 A. m., about three hundred dele gates being in attendance. The conven tion is a fine looking body of active young men, representing associations from almost every State and Province, and coming as they do, from every Evan gelical denomination, it is a body the like of which is seldom gathered together. The hall is beautifully decorated with flowers, mottoes span the stage, such as “All from the Father,” “All in the Son,” “All by the Holy Ghost,” and over the stage gracefully entwined are the English and American flags, emblems of the two great Christian na tions of the earth. The most luxurious homes of the city are occupied by the delegates, and the pastors and Churches of the city are heartily in sympathy with the Christian Association of Louisville in in its efforts to care for the convention. The convention was called to order by Russel Sturgis, jr., of Boston, Presi dent of the Toronto Convention. After devotional exercises, in a brief address he spoke of the success that has at tended the associations in every phase of their work, in all parts of the land during the year, and of the increased responsibility resting upon them for a faithful prosecution of their work in the future. John Y. Farwell, of Chicago, 111., was elected president. The following are the topics that have been discussed: I. The International Work intrusted to the Executive Committee. —1, At the South; 2, Od Behalf of Colored Young Men; 3, At the West; 4, In Canada; 5, Among Railroad Men; Among the Germans. 11. The Work intrusted to State and Provincial Committees.—l, In New England; 2, In the West: 3, In Canada; 4, In the South; 5, In States without State Secretaries. 111. How I use the Bible. —1, For myself; 2, With Christian Workers; 3, With the Unconverted. IV. The Evangelistic Work of the Associations, its Limitations, and the Qualifications of those who engage in it. V. Association Work in its Peculiar Adaptations to the Wants and Tempta tions of Young Men. Each session is opened by a Bible reading or half hour devotional ser vices. The most important item of business was the report of the Executive Com mittee, which was presented the first day’s session. It gave a detailed state ment of the work of the committee for the past year and of the general asso ciation work. In 1864 there were but 65 associations, which were isolated organizations. Now there are over 1,000 organizations bound together un der international, State and provincial committees, with over 100,000 members. The work then was indefinite; now it is largely in the interests of young men. Then moral men were admitted to act ive membership, and the work was lagely benevolent and superficial; now professing Christian young men control the societies, and the work looks to the conversion of young men. Then there was not an association building, now there are 48, valued at $2,000,000, and with other property owned by the asso ciation, aggregate almost $3,000,000. The expenditure of the committee for the year was $16,000, and added to this the State and association expenses paid amount to almost $500,000. Eighty three hundred men were provided with employment. The average weekly at tendance on the association Bible classes is 8,138. Then two general secretaries were employed; now there are 123 general secretaries and agents. Mr. Robt. Weidensal and L. W. Mun hall presented reports of the work in the West; Thos. K. Cree, Geo. A. Hall, Joseph Hardie and S. A. Taggart, of the work in the South; George D. Johnston, of the work for colored young men in the South; Thomas K. Cree, in Ontario; E. D. Ingersoll, among rail road men, and R. C. Morse as secretary of the committee. The committee thank the secular and religious press for the assistance given the work dur ing the year, and recommend that $20,- 000 be devoted to the coming year. The topic that elicited most enthusi asm was the one on “Work among Rail road Men,” a large number of railroad men were present and the discussion was enthusiastic and interested. The topic, “Work in behalf of Colored Men” was one in which the convention evinced a deep interest. The addresses were entirely from Southern men, all of whom were deeply interested. The topic “How I use my Bible,” presented by Rev. James H. Brooks, D. D., of St. Louis, was one that interested all the delegates more than any other ques tion, and the questions which came from all over the house showed how real was their interest in the subject. Deeply interesting and encouraging reports were made by many delegates, of the work carried on by the Interna tional Committee in the South, in the West, in Canada, among the railroad men, among Germans and lor colored young men. The time of the convention was natur ally taken up with the work of the State and Provincial committees, and the very important and growing Interna tional work, conducted by the commit tee of the convention. The distinctive work for young men of the individual associations, though considered here, is more thoroughly discussed in the twenty-four State and Provincial con ventions, which have grown out of this parent convention. The questions con sidered were all practical and full of instruction^..— *- —J, The subscription to the International work amounted to six thousand dol lars, which will be largely increased by private subscriptions. The convention concluded its busi ness sessions Saturday evening, and Sunday a children’s meeting, a meeting for young men and the farewell meeting were held. Many of the most prominent associa tion men of the country are in attend ance, and have taken a prominent part in the deliberations of the convention. The convention adjourned Sunday night to meet in Baltimore in 1879. T. K. C. The Need of Plans. We have long been persuaded that no church, better than one of the old fashioned log houses of the frontier, should ever be built without first pro curing plans showing in detail how all the work is to be done, from foundation to turret, so that the end may be clearly seen from the beginning. Such plans can be prepared only by a competent architect, and, if possible, one should be found who has experience in church building, and who knows something of the special wants of a Methodist church and a well-organized Sunday-school, and is familiar with all modern im provements in providing for them. We know right well how hard it is to con vince pastors, building committees and trustees —all of whom must always be consulted —of these things, but we de clare our convictions, founded in the uniform experience of church builders, as we have learned it, and give all an opportunity to profit thereby. We recall an il stance, in which it was proposed to build a church in a small town, at a cost of about SB,OOO. An architect was consulted, and offered to furnish plans, all complete, for $l6O. They thought the price too high, and the carpenter, who desired to do the work, and who did it, encouraged this view, and proposed to furnish his own plans without charge. He had put up a great many buildings, and knew how to do it, and could, they thought, do it well enough. They employed him. Fre quent changes had to be made, as the work progressed. The building was of brick. The walls were a plain surface, without pilasters; the windows Gothic pointed. The front was perfectly plain, with a low narrow door in the centre, the roof about the pitch of that of an ordinary barn, and upon it was saddled what was intended to represent a spire, with no support from the foundation. The interior was a regular oblong, with level ceiling, and the pews were for the punishment of the victimized peo ple. At the end of all, the good car penter, who had furnished his own plans, without charge , came in with a “bill of extras" amounting to over $800; and, within five years, they spent over $2,000 in remodeling their church, whioh, when done, was still unsightly and inconvenient. In another case, a plain country church was to be built. Os course plans were unnecessary for that, for it was to be as plain and cheap as possi ble, so they agreed with a carpenter, and he figured out a bill of material, and they sent their committee to purchase it. They made inquiries of the lumber merchants, and before purchasing, called, at the suggestion of the pastor, upon a friend, an architect, and asked his opinion. He looked at their bill, and asked what size the church was to be. They answered, 30x40, twelve feet posts. “The propor tions are bad,” said the architect: “why don’t you make it longer and higher?” “Can’t afford it,” was the reply. “You can save eaough on your framing timbers alone,” said he, “to cover the difference.” “What size should it be?" inquired the committee; “30x50, with posts 16 feet high, if the ceiling is to be level.” “Give us a bill of quantities, and let us see,” said the committee. This was done, and they were surprised to find that, by reducing the needless thickness of sills, and posts and plates, and joists, etc., they could build the larger size and better propor tions suggested, and save over S2OO on the lumber bill. To make any approach toward per fection in building, the model must ex ist in somebody’s mind before it can be put into oatward form, and he must be capable of comprehending the want to be supplied, and of seeing the building in detail, as it is to rise into the neces sity to be filled by it, and to put it on paper, in pictures and words, describ- ing its various parts, so that every one, who has any part of the work to do, shall see clearly how it is to be done, in order that every part shall fit in its place, and all conspire together to real ize the perfect model which existed in his mind, while as yet the stone was in the quarry and the timber in the forest. Such a one is the architect; and his ex cellency is determined by his ability to devise a pefect model, and to describe it clearly and accurately. When God, through Moses, said to Israel, “Make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them,” he gave par ticular directions about every part of it, and charged him repeatedly, “See,” saith he, “that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.” The pattern showed to Moses in the mount was the perfect model devised by the Infinite Architect for that holy place. —Church Extension Annual , 1876. Our Southern Conferences. SAVANNAH. Bev. A. N. Jackson, Cartersville: Notwithstanding the hard times and scarcity of money, we are moving along very well. Although the spiritual af fairs of the Church are not as we desire to have them, we are trying to improve our church property. We have newly fenced in the church lot, with palings in front, have our church ceiled, pulpit built, and likewise a fine front gallery which will seat a chair of thirty persons. Sunday, the 27th ult., at 3 P.M., Rev. Col. Harris, of the M. E. Church South, of this place, preached an able sermon for us from the epistle of Paul to the Hebrews, xii, 1. The Bth instant was the day of our quarterly conference. Our good presiding elder, Rev. J. Sams, was with us. We received a local {>reacher in the quarterly conference by etter. Sunday, at 3P. M., Rev. W. C. Gaines, pastor of the A. M. E. Church, preached for us to a crowded house, after which the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered. The blessing of the Lord came down upon us. At night our presiding elder preached on the duty of husband to wife, and wife to husband. Monday night he delivered one of his able sermons to the sinners. He encourages us much when he comes around. For the last two months we have been having better regular congre fatious than we have had since I have een here. We believe the old mother Church is on the winning side in the South and elsewhere. We are not for getting our benevolent collections. TENNESSEE. Bev J. L. Chandler, Memphis Diet.: The Sunday-school Convention at Clarksburg was a success. Owing to the busy season, but few laymen were present, but the ministers were full of zeal and the reports from the charges were encouraging. Since leaving Shi loh, we, (that is, “my wife and I”) have been at Saltillo, Decatur, Lexington, Clarksburg, Camden, and Dixon. On each charge the work is more or less prosperous, owing to the amount of energy with which it is pursued. With faithful pastors, success is constant and permanent. But the man who is satis fied with simply meeting hjs .preaching engagements (when the Weather is fa vorable) and spends a large portion of his precious time sitting around stores, smoking and jesting, [Can it be possible that any minister of the Methodist Epis copal Church thus squanders his time? —Ed.] not knowing who his members are, or where they live, will doubtless fail of accomplishing any permanent good, even though his revival meetings may be very demonstrative. God is raising up faithful men who are willing to do at least six days of solid work every week, and as they do His work He takes care of them, so that they find little time or inclination for grumbling about poor support. We find,invariably, those who work the most complain the least. And yet there is often cause for complaint. Men whom God has blessed with property amounting to five, ten, twenty or thirty thousand dollars, and sometimes even more, abundantly able in some cases to support a minister, giv ing the miserable pittance of from one to ten dollars a year, will have, we fear, a heavy account to settle in the Day of Judgment. May God rid us of idle preachers and covetous members, and raise up a host to work and give, to the extent of their ability, for Christ’s sake! Then all along the line will be heard the shout of victory— not simply for a month or two in Summer but through out the entire year. We are hopeful, for we see the vanguards of such a host already appearing. Noble illustrations of self-denying toil and generous giving have appeared during the year. At Clarksburg, Dr. McCall has purchased and improved a house and lot, at an ex pense of over four hunded dollars, and donated it,unencumbered,to the Church as a parsonage. At Dixon, through the unyielding perseverance of the pastor, Rev. O. O. Knight, generously aided by a faithful few, a parsonage has been built, which is a model of convenience, at small cost. Brother Knight is not only a first-class preacher but a good mechanic. At present he has two hard hands as w'ell as au abundance of hard sense. Dixon will have reason to be glad of his labors when his labors will have forever ceased. Other instances less prominent but equally worthy could be mentioned. Carroll has purchased a parsouage property. Camden has also ground for that pupose. Other improve ments will be noticed in due time. And still, in the language of our illustrious dead, “The best of all is, God is with us.” Eev. J. W. Droke, Decatur circuit: We have no remarkable victory to report, yet I am thankful to God that we are not called upon to chronicle any sad defeat. We are moving along slowly, gently, and, I trust, permanently, bat tling for the right. An unpleasant state of affairs existing on this charge has had a great tendency to paralyze its vitality. However, every thing seems to be adjusting itself more amicably now, and we hopefully anticipate the dawning of a better day. The Sunday-school department of our work especially has made rapid strides in the march of im provement. Class-meetings are sus tained at every society. They meet bi weekly. We are dividing our large societies into classes of twelve or fifteen, and appointing leaders. The plan works well. It gives the leader a better op portunity to visit his class and report their condition to the pastor. The be nevolent collections, so far as they have been taken, are greatly in advance of any former year—the Sunday-school Union collection being one hundred per cent, better than ever before. Colgate & Co.’s Cashmere Bouquet Soap has acquired a popularity hitherto une qualed by any Toilet Soap of home or foreign manufacture. A reputation begun early in the century made it easy for this house to impress the public. The peculiar fascinations of this luxurious article are the novelty and exceptional strength of ita perfume. . , - «rr» » vj v \