Newspaper Page Text
Tte Rev- W. A. McSwain. f
We have received a letter from Rev. Jno.
R. Little, in which he gives substantially
the same account as that given our readers
recently, by Rev. S. H. Browne, of the sad
accident that resulted in the death of the
eminent minister named above. But there
are some additional particulars respecting
his last days, that will be read with melan
choly interest by his many friends. The
writer says:
“The brethren will remember that he did not
attend the last session of the South Carolina
Conference, held at Charlotte, not having re
covered, as he stated in a communication, from
a recent attack of illness. He was reappointed
to Laurens Circuit, where he had labored ener
getically and faithfullj* during the past year.—
Having measurably regained his health, he
seemed to enter upon his duties with more than
usual zeal. He said—‘The troubles of the coun
try being somewhat at an end, I anticipate a
larger measure of success in the present year
than I realized in the past.’ But, alas ! the
purposes of life are often thwarted and its pros
pects blighted by the varied events of time.
“On the 26th of November, while traveling
to church, an ambitious horse behind took fright,
and becoming unmanageable, he jumped upon
Bro. McSwain’s buggy, causing him to leap out,
which resulted in breaking both bones of his
left leg, the larger bone protruding. He was at
once conveyed to the house of a friend, and his
wound dressed by a physician.
“The following day he was carried to the par
sonage at Laurens C. H. For several days his
Buffering was intense, but the physicians had no
apprehensions respecting his case. About the
tenth day diarrhoea fell on him, which soon re
duced him to ptter prostration. He bore his
sufferings with Christian fortitude and cheer
fulness. In a few days, in spite of medical skill
and the unreserved attention of his family and
friends, his case became hopeless. Anxiously
and prayerfully did his friends watch over .him,
hoping that a change for the better might take
place; but, alas ! it was found he must die. A
few days before his death, he thought his hour
of departure had come, and calling the family
present around his bed, he said to his elder
daughter—‘Tell Doctor (his son, a physician,)
I die without seeing him again, but that I die in
great peace.’ He revived again; but on 31st
December, it became evident that his end was
near, and being asked if he felt that he had
served God in vain, he answered—‘l do not! I
do not!’ When the saint’s rest was mentioned
he began praising God, shouting Glory ! Glory!
These were about the last words he uttered dis
tinctly. He lay seemingly unconscious from
this time until a quarter past one on the morn
ing of the Ist of January, when, broken and
emaciated, surrounded by his friends and a
weeping family, he calmly fell asleep.
“In his death the church has lost one of her
ablest ministers, the country a good friend, and
his bereaved family a kind husband and loving
father.”
HEAR BOTH SIDES.
The N. O. Christian Advocate, speaking
of the churches and members reported re
cently by the Northern Methodists in New
Orleans, says:
“ All this sounds well and looks as if
something had actually been accomplished)
hut sifted down, it amounts te about this—
that the Church North has in this city pos
session of our colored churches and colored
members and colored congregations, with
the addition of colored Sunday schools. And
but for the absolute orders of President
Johnson, all of our churches would have
figured largely in the report of this famous
“ Mississippi Mission Conference.” By the
aid of the military the Rev. Bishop Thom
son and the Rev. Dr Newman rejoice in the
present possession of some 025,000 worth of
church property and some 2,000 colored
members —“another man’s line of things
made ready to hand.’’ It is a study in it
self, the almost unconscious simplicity with
which this result of the forty-horse prosely
ting power of the War Department is parad
ed as the legitimate triumph of missionary
enterprise —“ boasting of things without
their measure, that is of other men’s la»
hors.’’ Doubtless before some distant audi
ence the report of this “success’’ may
prove a very good thing financially.”
This has an ugly look ; but if we are to
believe the Western Christian Advocate,
this effort to use the military authority is
only a hit of practical instruction —some-
thing like an acted parable of the old
prophets It means nothing wrong. That
paper assures its “ cotemporary that there is
no disposition on the part of the Methodist
Episcopal Church to wage an unfriendly
warfare with other denominations already
organized in the South. Its sole aim is the
spread of Scriptural holiness.’’ It proposes
to do this, by showing parabolically what an
enormity the robbery of congregations of
their houses of worship would be, if tolera
ted—by making them grateful for being able
to retain those houses, and by evincing their
own patience and perseverance under seem
ing disappointment. This teaching is like
that of the father who used to get drunk in
order to say to his sons : “ boys, see what a
man comes to by drinking whiskey.”
-« « ♦ - ■
NOTICE THE CROSS MARK.
A cross mark (thus indicates that the
the subscription is nearly expired—and a
remittance will be necessary, if the paper is
desired longer.
THE NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN
ADVOCATE.
A recent number of that paper says:
The Southern Christian Advocate speaks
of having received the “Nashville Advo
cate. The Christian Advocate is mailed regN
ularly to that paper. Perhaps this is the
paper he means. ”
Os course it is the paper meant, as we
suppose every body, except our friend, Dr.
McFerrin, knew at once. We can assure
him, that every body else knows what per
haps his humility will not allow, that he
cannot publish any other than a Christian
paper. As we have been accustomed recent
ly, for the saving of labor and repetition, to
drop that word, in quoting from the numer
ous Advocate family where they would be
known by their place of publication, we
did not think it complimentary to him to
use it in mentioning his paper, as though
there might be some doubt as to its religious
character. No offence this, we hope. We
must make an exception in the case of the
New Orleans Christian Advocate, that it
may not be confounded with the northern
Methodist sheet that has filched a part of its
name—the “New Orleans Advocate,” in
order “ to spread scripture holiness.”
The Mississippi Conference*
We get from the N. O. Christian Advo
cate some items of information respecting
the Mississippi Conference, we have not seen
before. It was proposed to conform the
boundary between this and the Mobile Con
ferences, to State lines. “Heartfelt thanks”
were voted to Dr. C. K. Marshall “for his
constant, laborious and efficient services ren
dered to our noble soldiers, in the field and
hospi al, during the late war, and for the
honor he has reflected on the M. E. Church,
South.” The Conference renewed its pledge
to support its missionary to China—the Rev.
J. W. Lambuth. The following resolution
was adopted :
Resolved, That the delegates from this
Conference be requested to use their influ
ence in the ensuing General Conference to
change the mode of examining the charac
ters of the members of the Conference, and
if practicable, obtain the passage of a rule
requiring the appointment of a “Committee
on Character,” which committee shall meet
on the first day of the Annual Conference,
to receive, consider and report on all com
plaints and charges, if any be made, and
upon their final report the entire Conference
shall be passed.
The following were elected delegates to
the General Conference : Levi Pearoe, Jno.
G. Jones, W. H. Watkins, H. H. Montgom
ery, Benj. Jones, W. Harrington, J. Mac
lennan, C. K. Marshall.
A Layman’s Opinion. —We have before
us a letter from a distinguished jurist in
another State, who has long held a high po
rtion in public life. In the church, which
he joined near forty years since, he is a
faithful official member, highly esteemed for
his piety and wisdom. He says: “ I am
looking with much anxiety to the assem
bling of our General Conference. Some
very radical changes in our Constitution
need to be made before our church can oc
cupy the position to which she is entitled.
I am no advocate of what is ordinarily de
nominated ‘progress;’ hut I think the time
has fully come when we may take a step or
two in that direction, without entirely losing
sight of the ‘old blazes.’ ” We agree with
our friend and brother. He never gave a
wiser opinion from the bench.
More Church Papers. —We have re
ceived this week two more new church pa
pers, «r rather one new one, the other a re
vived paper. The New Orleans Christian
Advocate is re-established. With quite an
array of patronizing conferences, it must
soon be independent of all contingencies.
Its office and material were unharmed by
the war. Dr. Keener and Rev. It. J. Harp
manage it. Price, 05.00 per annum. The
Arkansas Christian Advocate is published
at Little Rock, Ark., by Cobb & Messenger,
the Rev. J. E. Cobb, Editor, at 04.00 per
annum. We are rejoiced to see the indica
tions of returning prosperity in our church,
as evinced by the appearance or re-appear
ance of so many A church papers) and we
wish them all that success they justly de
serve. We now have more “ organs,” we
believe, than the Northern Methodist
Churchi
The Arkansas. Christian Advocate
speaking of the movement at Louisville to
change the seat, of the General Conference,
asks : “By the way, is it altogether digni
fied, or indicative of much faith in Divine
Providence, on the part of Methodist preach
ers, to be ‘stampeded’ from an appointed
place of assembly to do God’s work, for fear
of invasions and epidemics ? Cannot the
army of the Lord dare to go and stay, where
human armies cheerfully march and camp ?
And we would quietly ask, whether the
South We* tern Conferences might not get
a few crumbs of accommodation once in a
while ?”
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
“The Charleston Papers.” —We are
requested to ask the “Weekly Record,” of
Charleston, to copy the account given of the
death of Rev. W. A. McSwain. If that
paper never sees the Advocate oftener than
we see the Record, the request will be made
in vain in these columns. We saw two or
three of the first numbers of it in the hands
of a friend. This is the only means we have
hid of knowing that such a paper was ever
published. The Charleston News used to
come occasionally to the Mirror, but that
has been long stopped. A subscriber sug
gests that we publish the Charleston mar
kets weekly. This we expect to do, as soon
as the mail communications will allow us to
get letters and papers from Charleston in
reasonable time.
Death of Ministirs. —The Rev. Wm. C.
Blount, of the Va. Conference, stationed in
Portsmouth, while walking in the garden
in rear of bis dwelling on the 16 th ult., re
ceived a wound from a musket, carelessly
handled by a negro boy on an adjoining
lot. He was highly esteemed, as a iaithful,
and excellent minister.—The Rev. Joseph
P. Davidson died in Richmond on 16th Jan.
He was once a member of the Va. Con
ference, but located, and for a number of
years devoted himself to school-teaching.
He was more than sixty years of age. He
was extensively known, and sustained a
good religious character.
Texas Advocate. —We are, at a ven
ture, sending the Advocate to a paper of
this name in Houston, Texas. If it be
published there, we should be glad of an
exchange.
The Rev. George W. Carter, D. D.,
of Texas, was recently in Richmond. He
is now engaged in the legal profession.
Btfos from fjjt C{mrc|ts.
The Riv. C. H. Hall, who located at the
late session of the Virginia Conference, has ac
cepted an invitation to become associate pastor
of Trinity, (Independent Methodist Church,)
in the city of Baltimore. Hs is the co-past
tor with the Rev. Mr. Wilson. The Rich
mond Advocate says, that there is work enough
forbeth of these talented gentlemen, is an encour
aging evidence of the prosperity attending the
cause in which they are engaged The exper
iment of independent churches seems to be de
veloping, in Baltimore, anew form of Method
ist enterprise that is daily fhcreaiing in influ
ence.
A Ksiting was recently held in Baitimore
to devise means to aid the Presbyterian churoh*
es in the Southern States in the support of
their ministers. It was stated that there were
some seven hundred ministers in the South
representing a membership of about thirty-five
thousand, hardly one of which could be sup
ported by their congregations. A commit
tee of ten from each church, to carry out
the purpose of taking collections, was then ap
pointed. A eolleotion was then taken up,
resulting in the realization of a handsome sum.
towards the furtherance of the object for which
the meeting had besn called.
Arkansas.— Desolation. —ln Arkansas the
Episcopal Church presents a sad picture; parish
es almost everywhere have been broken up by
the destroying hand of war. At present, only
one clergyman of the Episcopal Church is in
the active discharge of his duties in the whole
of the State.
The Rxy. J. R. Dow, (Presbyterian) re**
cently visited his Church on the coast, John’s
Island and Wadm&law. The white members
have all been driven away from their homes:
but the colored members, numbering two years
ago upwards of live hundred, very earnestly
desired that ho should resume his labors among
them.
The Rev. llznry Slices, is reported by
Rev. J. E. Edwards now on a visit to Balti
more, to be growing o’d«gracefully as pastor
of the Seamen’s Bethel. He is the same in
dependent, outspoken man that he has been
for years. He is, *3 ever, uccompromising in
his opposition to certain acts and measures of
the Northern Methodist Church; but still he
holds his connection with the East Baltimore
Conference, and takes a peculiar pride in hav
ing his name enrolled among the minority of
eighteen who have stoed like a wall of brass in
opposition to the radical policy of the Northern
Methodist Church*
There is a report in circulation in Method*
ist circles in Washington city, that one of ®ur
best circuits north of Washington has cast her
lot with the portion of Baltimore Con ference
which, at Staunton in 1861, declared itself in
dependent of the General Conference of the
M. E. Church. Rev. Samuel Register will
superintend their interests in Maryland if re
ports be true. He owns a farm between Bal
timore and Washiagton, which would enable
him to reside north of the Potomac, and work
for his section, at least, without pecuniary em
barrassment.
Thb Venkbablb Dr. Nott, for sixty two
years President of the Union College Sche
nectady, Mass , died recently, at the advanced
age of ninety three years. He was a great
and good man.
Thk Rev. Dr. Sehon preached lately in
Cooper Institute, New York city. Dr. Deems
was to preach there, the following Labbath,
Ildus of tjic Mult-
Congressional.
Washington, January 30.—The report of the
United States Revenue Commissioners on the
subject of cotton, recommends that a tax of five
cents per pound be levied on all cotton raised
in the United States after the Ist day of Janua
ry, 1866 ; that a tax on cotton consumed in the
country be levied on the manufacturers, the tax
on that exported upon the merchant at the place
of export, and that no vessel shall be allowed
to clear without a certificate that the tax has
already been paid. The Commissioners also
recommend that so long as there shall be a tax
upon American raw cotton, there shall also be
a specific duty on all imported fabrics of as
many cents per pound as shall be levied on raw
cotton. A bill embodying the above, together
with other recommendations, is appended to the
report. The official correspondence between
General Weitzel, the American commander on
the Rio Grande, and General Mejia, of the Im
perial Army, regarding the Bagdad affair, has
been published. Geu. Weitzel states that three
hundred men were sent to Bagdad as an act of
humanity, and not for the’ purpose of military
operations. Gen. Mejia represents that he had
instructed the bearer of dispatches at Vera Cruz
to report matters officially to the Imperial Gov
ernment. He also protests against the invasion
of Mexico by American soldiers. General
Sheridan, acting under instructions from Wash
ington, has issued an order refusing to allow
emigrants to leave N. 0. for Mexico. The order
places no restrictions on the departure of ves
sels.
Jan. 31. —The Senate was engaged to-day in
discussing the bill to protect all persons in
their rights.
In the House, Mr. Stevens, from the Recon
struction Committee, reported back the Consti
tutional Amendment referred to them yesterday,
the Committee refusing to amend by striking
out the direct taxation clause Mr. Stevens
made a speech alluding to the President in most
caustic terms. He said he had vetoed the
lege of the House by making a command wldj|H
the House was engaged in the consideratioflfi|
an important question. Such an act, centuMJ
ago, would havo cost the British King his hea<v
but we are tolerant of usurpation and abuse of
power. At the conclusion of his remarks, the
vote was taken on the Constitutional Amend
ment, which was passed.
Washington, Feb. 2. —The Senate to-day
discussed the bill for the protection of all per
sons in their civil rights, and after a long de
bate, passed it by a vote of 33 to 12.
Washington, Feb. s. —ln the House to-day,
an amendment to the rules was offered and laid
on the table, to set apart one day in each week
for the consideration of public business, to be
called the White Man’s Day. A resolution
was offered to instruct the committee on recon
struction to enquire into the expedienay of
levying a tax on the rebellious States, in order
to defray the expense of keeping up a standing
army among them to keep th« peace. The
House resumed the consideration of the bill ex
tending the powers of the Freedmen’s Bureau.
An amendment was adopted that its operations
be confined to those States where the habeas
corpus is suspended.
In the Senate , Mr. Fessenden called up the
joint resolution of the committee on reconstruc
tion, proposing a constitutional amendment
basing, representation on population, and ex
cluding from representation all persons denied
the right of suffrage on account of color. Mr.
Sumner Bpoke in opposition, and offered a sub
stitute declaring that in civil and political rights,
all personsvehall be equal before the law. He
occupied the attention of the Senate during the
entire day, contending for the perfect political
and civil equality of all men. His speech will
not be concluded until to-morrow.
A circular has been issued from tlie*Treasury
Department rescinding former orders in relation
to the taxation of manufactured articles in the
hands of manufacturers in the Southern States,
which have hitherto been exempt from taxation.
After the Ist of March, such articles will be
subject to the prescribed rates of taxation un
der the Excise Law, no matter what may be the
date of their manufacture.
Georgia Legislature.
Jan. 31.—The Senate perfected no business.
House—Bills Passed. —For the relief of all
persons who were bona Jide soldiers in the late
Confederate army, who are charged with crimes
duting the existence of the late war, in carrying
out orders of superior officers. -To make
owners and possessors of mischievous dogs lia
ble for damages. To authorize the redemp
tion of lands sold for taxes.
Feb. I.— Senate. —The homestead bill, after
various amendments, was passed. The pro
visions of the bill as passed are the same as those
contained in the original till of Mr. Strozier,
Excepting that the value of the home must not
exceed 02500: if worth more, the same to be
sold and the debtor to receive $2500 from the
proceeds—the balance to go the creditor. If the
homestead contained water or steam machinery,
it should be exempted, provided the same was
not worth more than $2500. The bill does not
preclude the payment of Taxes, House. —
Bills Passed. —To legalize the marriage of first
cousins.
Feb. 2.— Seaate.—Bills Passed. —To require
non-residents to have their lands registered in
the counties in which they lie.—To increase the
salary of the Superintendent of the Western and
Atlantic Railroad to $5,000. House Bills
Passed. —To change the time for drawing jurors
of Superior Courts. To authorize and em
power Judges of the Superior Courts to hold
special terms for the trial of criminals. To
incorporate the Georgia and Alabama Railroad
Company.
Feb. 3.— Senate. — Bills Passed. —For the re
lief of securities on criminal bonds, where the
persons accused could not, on account of the
condition of the country, be brought to trial
To amend the charter of the town oi
Athens To incorporate the Savannah Navi
gation Company- To incorporate the Savan
nah Loan Association To incorporate the
Augusta Savings Bank House. —Mr* Pottle,
of Warren, moved to reconsider so much of the
action of the House as relates to the use of
duplicates of plats and grants as evidence in
courts of this State. The motion prevailed
Bills\{Passed. —To prevent persons from induc
ing freedmen to abandon their contracts To
incorporate the Macon Canal and Water Works.
Feb. 6.— Senate. — Bills Passed. —To allow
parties to testify in cases where they are them
selves interested, the degree of credit to be
attached to such testimony to be judged of by ‘
the jury. The bill was amended so as to ap
ply only to criminal cases To incorporate
the North Georgia, Cherokee, and Kenesaw
Mining Companies, and the Home Insurance
Company of Atlanta—-To allow cliens to hold
lands in the State, on filing an affidavit of their
intention to improve them within one year
Mr. Owens introduced a resolution, which was
adopted, requesting the Governor to ascertain
whether bonds of the State will be received in
payment of the State’s tax due the United
States, and in case they will answer, to issue
and pay over the same House. —Quite a
number of new bills were introduced, but no
business perfected;
From Cuba and Mexico.
New York, Jan. 30.—The steamer Moro Cas
tle from Havana on the 27th, has arrived
A royal decree had been received from Spain
disapproving the formation of a society for the
suppression of the slave trade, and reprimand
ing the Captain General for discountenancing it
(the slave trade). Private advices from Chili
report a rising in the Gulf. Private advices
from Yera Cruz state that the French express a
desire for war with the United States, and main
tain that the Bagdad affair was the work of
Federal soldiers.
Latest from the Rio Grande.
New Orleans, Feb. 2.—Later Matamoras
been received.
Jr Bagdad was abandoned on the 26th by the
Liberals and the U. S. guard that had been
placed there. The Imperial troops re-entered
the place on the same day.
Nearly all the merchants ’of Matamoras,
Mexican and foreign, and among the former
several prominent and influential Liberals, have
published a solemn protest against the course
of the United States army and civil officers on
the Texas side of the river, charging them with
being responsible for the troubles and outrages
of that frontier by aiding the partizans of
Juarez, who has no more foothold or basis o
operations on that frontier than that which is
afforded by said officials. The report is very
severe, and its truth is certified by the consuls
of Spain, France and Great Britain, who were
present at Matamoras.
i——p— ——■m
MARRIED,
On Nov. 7ih, by Rov J W. Shores, Rev.
Angus Dowling of the Montgomery Confer^
©r.ce atd Miss Laura L. Boswell, grand
daughter of Rev. Jno Boswell, decca.-ed.
On Dec. 21 t, by the same, Dr. Jno. E.
Danikt.. of coffee co , Ala , and Miss Eliza
J. Teague, of Pike co., A'a.
On Dec. 24th, by the same, Mr. E. D. At
kinson, of Montgomery, Ala., and Miss Re
becca L. Butts, of Pike county, Ala.
On Jan. 11th, by the same, Mr. M. C.
Cooper and Miss J. Texas Parrior, both of
Pike co , Ala.
On Jan. 18th, by the same, Mr. M. W. Me-
Kay and Mrs. Harriet Town&end, both of
M ntgomery co., Ala.
Near Hamilton, Ga., on the eve ot January
30 h, by the It ;v. A. J Dean, Seaborn N.
Jones, Esq , attorney at law, Union Springs,
Ala., and Mrs. Mary Francis Houghton.
Near Belvue, Talbot co., Ga., 231 January,
1866, by Rov. R. B. Loster, Dr. James H.
Bryan and Miss Fannie E. Holmes, all of
said county.
On 30th Jan., 1836, by the same, Mr. Amo3
C Boynton, of Panola co., Texas, and Mis3
Martha B. Fort, of Talbot co., Ga.
On 23d January, by Rev. A. S. Boyden, Mr.
Henry C. David, of Harris co., Ga., and Miss
Josephine A. Biggers, daughter of L. M.
B : ggcrs, Esq., of Muscogee co,, Ga.
On 30th January, by the same, Mr. Robert
S. Crane, of Columbus, Ga., and Miss Mar
gaarbt J. Biggers, daughter of L. M. Rig
gers, E.-q., of Muscogee co., Ga.
On 23d' Jan, by Rev W W Oslin, Mr John
H Grimslky, of Nashville, Tenn., and Miss
Anna P Wait, of Bibb county.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS,
For Subscriptions to S. C- Advocate, from. Jan.
31st to Feb. Ith, 1866.
B-H BrowD, |6; W R Branham, 6 and 1 to credit; J
H Branham, 3; Misi J Brown, 3; B J Baldwin, 6; M
Bellfth, 6 to debit; \V M D Bond, 33 to debit; Mrs J R
Banks, 3.
C— W F Cook, sl2; J A Cromartie, 1; J T Curry, oto
debit; R J Corley, 6; LaF. Campbell, 1; Mrs. F. S.
Chaoman, 3. , „ . _ _
D—A J Dean. sl2 to debit; J H Dickey, 6; R De
lamar, 3 ; Mrs M H Davis, 8.
E— W H Ellison, $6; A E Eubanks,B.
F—W R Foote, $3, and 2to credit.
G—J M Green, $1; Goulding, 6to credit.
H—Miss M Harris, $3; W Hutto, 9; E S Hocker
smith, 1.
J—A J Jarrell, $3 to debit. ... „
L—R H L ckey, $3, and 3to credit; T B Lanier, 9
to debit; L L Landrum, 1.
M—J A Maxwell, *3 to debit; W W McMurray, 1; W
P Mouson, 2 and Ito debit; C W Miller, 3.
R— J A Reynolds, $6. .
S_j b Smith, $lO, and 2 to debit; W A Simmons, 6.
T— J W Talley, 3; A M Thigpen, 3; W L Threadgill,
3; W W Tidwell.3; T H Trippe,3; M C Turrentine,
25, and 18 to debit, (Thank you. for your long list.
Five dollars pay for 1 year and 8 mo’s.)
W—Mrs P E Walton, 3; T & Walsh, 6; E A West,
12; S Woodberry, 6.
GOLD PJEiVs"
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No. 1, Small Pine Ladles’ Pen,
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Nos. 4 and 5, Large <« <«
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Nos. 6, Medium it it
Nos. 7 and 8, Large « it
These are all 14 carats fine and warranted for one year
Inere are no 1 ens made, of superior quality.
Call and see them at
Jan. 13—ts. j. w, BURKE & CO'S.