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jsoutljcni (fjmsluit MACUN GA„ MAR'JII 23, 18GG. THE FIRST FRIDAY IN APRIL. This is the day set apart by the Georgia Conference as a day of lasting, with humilia tion and prayer, for the members of Christ’s Church, who are under its care. The ap pointment was made under circumstances peculiarly solemn. The Conference had just been glancing at the past; but more particularly had studied the aspect of pres ent affubs, and the prospects of the future. They saw many signs of evil, many new and strange conditions in their work, many hin drances lying before them. r ihey saw r that if they would redeem the church from the wreck that had stranded the country, then; was need for such devotion as they had never before evinced, for such laborious zeal as had never before impelled them to work. Solemnly impressed with a sense of their responsibility, and yet of their insufficiency, they have turned to the church for help. They cannot bear their burdens alone. They have a right to expect that the ransomed of the Lord will give them not only sympathy hut active assistance in the attempt to save society from ruin. Arid they cull upon their colaborer3 to meet with them, and lay the foundation of their work of regenera tion in prayer. To this end, the Conference sent its af fectionate greetings to the flock under its care. It would have the members of the church feel, hat they are recognized —that not the humblest among them is forgotten. None can be spared from the work before us, without its suffering. All—every one is requested to come cut on this appointed day, and renew his vows of fidelity to God and duty, and to enter upon a higher Chris tian life. And that this opportunity may be afferded to all, it is desired that all the working pow er of the church be employed; that every member of every clas3 of those who ever had in worship may engage in so distribu ting the services of that day to every local ity in our extensive communion, that the means of grace may reach every neighbor hood. The Conference desired that service be held at every appointment—or wherever the people can be reached, by class and prayer leader?, exhorters and local and trav eling preachers. It also hoped that this general effort to give its members a religious iervicc would be met by a universal assem bling of the membership to engage in acts of solemn devotion, accompanied by fasting. The Conference also designated some top ics to be particularly borne in mind. 1. Confession of sin comes first. Wc shall never get rid of our sins till we see and confess them. Wo should study them out one by one; should not be content with the general assertion that we aro sinners, but Bhould probe our hearts to the bottom and pray that whatever wicked way may be found in us, that God would remove it far away. And some have many and grievous gins to confess. If there were none other, the faint-heartedness, the paralysis of faith, and the general decay of interest in the church and the institutions of religion are enough to make the day one of bitter lamen tation. 2. Pardon should be implored. To be pardoned, reinstated to divine favor, to feel once more the current of a. new life sweep ing through regenerated hearts, should be the great purpose of this solemn convoca tion of the church. In tears, with contri tion, confession and agonizing prayer, each member who feels that sin is on his con science, should besiege the mercy-scat, until pardon is sealed to the prostrate soul. A church filled with members whose hearts arc rebaptized by the Spirit, to whom adoption into sonship is not a memory o! the past or a dim hope of the luture, but a blessed, pres ent reality, is more needed than any other agency for the preservation of what of good remains to us, and for the conversion of the tinners around us. Let us seek pardon, with its divine witness —the assuring Spirit. 3. And we should intercede that pros perity may be restored to our distracted country. We can carry our cause to no bet ter tribunal than to that of the Almighty Ruler. lie has not left us without witness that He cares for us. In 11 is hand arc the hearts of men. lie only can bring order out of chaos, light out of darkness. Let us trust Him, rather than parties or policies or men. He is greater than all of them ; and if we come to Him, as a people, in the spirit of true worshipers, we cannot come in vain. What now taxes our faith will be demonstra ted by the unfolding of His mysterious plans, to be a source of future and unparal leled blessing. 4. The day was of design selected as being about the time that our General Con ference is entering upon the most important session it has ever held. Many grave, vital questions will be before it. Those who are to settle them will need to have ambition, pride of opinion, selfishness, prejudice, and passion refined out of their hearts. They need the spirit of patience, humility, for bearance and brotherly love. They need the “single eye,” and such a measure of wisdom as God always vouchsafes to His servants when sincerely, honestly seeking His glory. Will the church, with united voice, ask it in their behalf? Will it entreat that their deliberations may result in adopt, ing such wise and wholesome measures as shall make our church long felt as a power in the earth, for advancing the kingdom of God? Will they thus intercede, not only on tuat day, but in their private and votions and at the family altar, and in the sanctua ry, from this time until the work to be done has been accomplished ? 5. The day is set apart for the communion of saints. The church in a body is in sack cloth before the throne. Her own deep wants must be felt—not those of the indi vidual members merely, but those of the j aggregate community. Her impotence as I an aggressive body, her faithlessness as the j Bride of Christ to her marriage vows, her ■ concessions to the world, her unfruitfulncss— [ these are all grounds for deep humiliation. I That this condition of barrenness may cease, I the blessing es God upon the chuicli and i on her prayers and labors must be implored. | He is passing her through the furnace. If her prayers mingle with the cries of agony j which her afflictions extort, she may come j forth puiified as gold tried in the fire. With ! God’s blessing on her, she need not fear the : malice off men. Let us not forget Jerusa lem—jet her prosperity be our chief joy. G. And what can the ministry accomplish unless they have that aid from the lloly Spirit, which uses all human endowments for the salvation of men, and without which even the highest intellectual gifts avail j nothing ? The anointing of the Holy Ghost must be sought for the ministry. That di vine Agent must sanctify learning, elo quence, character, personal attractiveness, every human element of success with which a preacher may be gifted, or he is power less—he cannot convert souls. Let the church pray for a sanctified ministry —fora ministry all whose efforts to preach and teach shall be accompanied by that bapti.-m of fire, which perpetuates the pcntccostal j marvels. Then shall Zion travail and bring ! ° I forth sons and daughters. D i These few paragraphs embrace the several j topics set forth in the resolutions of the Con- i ference as the objects of special prayer. It were well that they be borne in mind iii conducting the services of the day. They form an appropriate groundwork ior sermon j or exhortation. They should be the staple I of all the prayers offered. The mind should j be turned to their contemplation and the spirit burdened with the thought of them, until the stale and steereotyped prayers of a formal worship shall be forgotten, and the lips grow fervid with burning words rising ; from a heart yearning to have its longings for these blessings speedily satisfied. One word to those Christians whoso cir cumstances may not allow the opportunity of meeting with their fellow-members on that day. They may meet their brethren in spirit, at the throne of grace, if not in the house of God, and it may be counted as a happy day for the church, if all our mem bers, without respect to Conference resolu tions or public services, shall scrupulously keep the sny, by fasting, humiliation and prayer, invoking especially the divine direc tion on those assembled in the General Con ference. THE BALTIMORE CONFERENCE. The Methodist thus takes comfort to it self respecting the withdrawal of the hun dred ministers and 12,000 members of the Bal imore Conference, who have recently allied themselves to Southern Metis jdism. There is one sufficient comfort, however, and that is that the Methodist Episcopal Caurch South will be the purer and stronger for the loss of every sympathizer with trea son and slavery. Every such person trans ferred from us to them, is so much gravel ta ken out of our Church machinery, making it work more harmoniously ; it is another growler gone. The rebel Conference at Alexandria is therefore mistaken when they suppose us to wish it to remain independent. It it could not heartily adopt our loyal and anti slavery platform, an l return to its alle giance, subdued, penitent, wiser, and betler, it was our opinion it should go wheie it lias gone. We agree with them that, in coming to us, rebel and pro-slavery at heart, they would have lost their honor, whatever they might have saved, and that, in going to the Church, South, they have saved such hon or as comes from consistent devotion and adherence to the most monstrous rebellion known to history. We therefore cordially agree to the transfer of the valley seceders to Bishop Early and his church. 'We learn here what is necessary, in the estimation cf The Methodist , in one who joins SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. the M. E. Church, if he would save his hon or. He must adopt the “loyal and anti slavery, platform” of the radicals, and re turn, “sutdued, penitent, wiser,” confessing whatever share he had in “the most mon strous rebellion known to history.” CHANGES-WHAT IS SAID OF THEM. The Richmond Advocate writing on this subject, says: What changes will Southern Methodism make in its economy? We think it probable that several very important modifications will be adopted. The name of the Church icill probably be relieved of the unnecessary affix '‘South,” which it received only as a convenient term of and not at all as sectional or necessarily local. We attach no impo; tance to it particularly, and feel very little concerned whether it is removed or not. But, if it is dropped, as doubtless it will be, we are in favor of letting the name of the church re main as it is, Metholist Episcopal Church, in contradistinction from Metho dist Episcopal Church in the United States. We are opposed to abandoning our claims as the genuine Methodist Episcopal Church; though willing to part with the affix South, if our many friends in the North specially desire it. The Pastoral Term will be probably ex tended. How far, of course, it is impossi ble to anticipate. The Bench of Bishops will be largely strengthened, no doubt; but it seems to us not probable that there will be a Bishop for every State or Conference. The introduction of a lay clement into the General Conference has been warmly de bated, but it is still a question about which the church seems by no means settled in opinion. We think a moderate lay cle ment in that body very desirable and per fectly practicable. One tiling on which v r e nuiy congratulate ! the friends of Methodism, and that | is, that it is now fully alive to this itnpor : tant hour in its history, is intently looking 1 into the whole depth and length and breadth | of iis spiritual and temporal interest, end j re collecting its energies, re-adjusting its I machinery, re-consecrating its whole strength to the work, enters upon this centennial | epoch, not with large wealth, nor loud words i of self glorification, but in a humble depen j donee on God, resolved to do its duty faith | fully and with all its might. The Episcopal Methodist gives the fol lowing, as the result of much consideration given to the subject: What we suggest ns the remedy for all the evils and abuses ol a specified number of years, is, to make it the duty of the bishops to appoint the preachers annually to their | respective charges. appointment should j be made for one year. t a time, and for but | one year. Jt net be considered as constructive*iy*'or conventionally made for a longer time than one year. At the expi ration of a year, let the appointment be revised, and if it should be found mutually agreeable and desirable, on the part, of the preacher and his charge, that he should be re-appointed for another year, let it bo done, provided it shall appear from all the sources of information at the command of the Bish op and his advisory council, that the high est and best interests of the church are likely to be subserved by the continuance of the relation ; and thus on, from year to year, g iverned by the same principles. This arrangement would make the continuance of the pastor for a longer time than one year dependent upon his personal exertions, in Lis high and holy calling, to make himself useful and acceptable, and to render tho continuance of .desirable. It would operate nT stimulus to study; to exertion in buiklx,, up the church; to pas toral visitation, and to the adoption of all those plans, for the improvement of his charge, that would most likely render his services desirable—nay more, indispensable to the continued prosperity of the church. This stimulus is wanting in any system that fixes definitely an allowable term of so many years. The limitation, beyond which a re appointment is not allowable, by a sort of tacit consent and implication, makes that period, whether two, three or four years, the pastoral term. The pastor receives the appointment as such, and works up to that, but not beyond that period, in his plans, purposes and expectations. Such a restric tion lacks the stimulus that is found in a settled pastorate. But, with the limitation, as to the number of years, removed, the pas torate in our church would have all the in centives to labor, and to prospective useful ness to the church, that are found in the pastoral relation in 'other churches. In a word, it would obviate the difficulties which experience has shown us necessarily at tend a rigidly limited term, beyond which a re-appointmcnt is disallowed; and at the same time give to our church all the advan tages, without any of the evils, real or im aginary, of a settled ministry. Such, at least, are our present convictions with the lights of experience, observation, and reflec tion before us. A correspondent, “Gin tbe same paper, says : Wo may either slavishly copy tho work of Wesley and cur fathers, or we may catch their spirit. He dared to innovate on long established customs, more intent on saving souls and spreading scriptural holiness than on conforming to precedents. Efficiency, success, the measures that in his day promised the largest usefulness —those were the things he sought.. The flexibility of Methodism wa3 once its glory; that it was not cramped by antiquated and effete forms; that it studied the openings and indications of Providence. Mr. Watson saw and regret ted one departure from this liberty and wise adaptation of expedients to the demands of changing circumstances, in the law lhat bound the Wesleyan Conference not to send a minister to the same society fora longer pe riod than three years. Methodism in America has not shackled her free movement by any such fetters. No provision is made for any change in our Articles of Faith. But the General Conference may, by a bare majori ty, extend to any length the pastoral term : and even the itinerancy may be abolished by the concurrence of three-fourths of the mem bers of all the Annual Conferences and of two-thirds of the General Conference! A writer in the N. 0. Christian Advocate, signing himself “M,’’ who upon good author ity we believe to be one of the leading preach ers in our church beyond the Mississippi, says: No change must bo so radical as to clash with our general system. This much is due to conservatism. All modifications of the system must be in keeping with its charac ter. If we get the wheels within the wheels to running in the reverse direction to each other, something must break. We musj preserve the due balance between conser vatism and progress. This premised, I sug gest : «* 1. Let the Episcopal General Superin tendency remain untouched. We need no innovation there. More than any other one thing, it is the controlling fact of our sys tem. Let it remain as it is. 2. Remove the limit of the pastoral term. I am clear that there ought to be no limit. Let the appointing power act freely. Let men be liable to removal at any time, but only for good cause. 3. Require the young preachers to remain unmarried eight or ten years, to “ do the work of evangelism.” And if any choose to remain unmarried always, and devote themselves to this work, let the sacrifice be accepted. It shall be a sacrifice of a sweet savor, an odor well pleasing to God. 4. If possible, let the preachers be com- polled to avoid secularization. I know this is a delicate and intricate subject, and per haps a strong moral force is all that can be brought to bear in the ease. Every preacher ought to be made to feel that ju.-t to the extent in which he becomes a man of business lie violates his ordination vows, and damages the church. 5. I do not see that we need to meddle with the Presiding Eldership. It seems to be a very good institution—only that some of the incumbents seem to be men who have been solemnly ordained to the office and work of planters, and who have taken up Presiding Eldering a little occasionally for variety and recreation. The second and third of the foregoing suggestions imply a difference in the office o [pastor and that of evangelist. The differ ence is real. And the distinction will come out of its own accord in the practical working of the system if these changes should be made. The mature men will fall into these positions where the presence of the pastor is needed, and the younger and available men will bo kept actively itinerating. Untimutely as the changing character of the work may require, the two classes may be somewhat interpersed among each other in the same territory, co operating with each other and aiding each other in various ways. This system will place heavy responsibili ty upon the Bishops, and will depend, for success, largely upon their firmness and sa gacity. But, although some other plans have been suggested in'my thoughts, this seems to me to be the best L can devise. I do not expect it to command univeisal fa vor. Perhaps but few may approve it. Yet I doubt not something will be done in this direction very soon. And lam satisfied that both the pastoral and evangelistic characters must concur in the ministry, in order to the largest success. WHOLESALE FROM THE CHURCH. The Rev. George W. Langkorce, in the Richmond Advocate, is out upon the bishops ar.dDr. A.L I*. Green, and those who think with him. Hear him : “It teems to me, Mr. Editor, that those who entertain and promulgate such ultra radi cal views ehculd withdraw from the church and seek c mmuni m in other associations more congenial with their views and fidirg?. Tcey are not Methodists; there is not an element cf M thodism in them ; and to hold to the name whi e they sr) opposed to every distinct f ature of our economy, is in n.y judgment, wholly in compatible with truth and moral honesty. L :t these malcontents cease their madness, or and port; tbe (.lurch can do without them. hiho lived and flourished be ora they were born, and will, if let alor.o, continue to live and prosper when they are dead ar and forgotten. “ Tbe p a i proposed by Dr Green, would, if adopted, bo the destruction of our itinerant system ; its inauguration would be the death kne.lcq our ecclesiastical economy. I have as much reverence and respect for our bishops as the most men, but I could not consent to in vest them with such power. They are but men, and the last few years Lave taught us a lesson of terrible import. Some of them have laid vio’ent hands on tho very vitals of cur system, and prostrated to the dust the bulwarks of our economy. Such being the fact—with tho law staring them in the face, viz : “Ho shall r.ot allow any preacher to remain in the same circuit or station more than two years succes eively”—a law which had heretofore been ad hered to wi h commendable fidelity, and which has written its efficiency on every page of our history, it they dared to violate it, what might wo not expect if their opinion were to become the only rule of action. Better restore the church to the supervision of her original episco pi—the elders—than to place her under the guidance of such an irresponsible episcopacy. “ ‘Aye, thou art shunned ! Rome, thou hast lo t thy bieedof noble bloods.’ ” Leaving the bishops to defend them.elves, wo wish to tay a word or two respecting the sug gestion made to Dr. Green and a good many more of us, in the first of the above para graphs. It strikes us, that cur good Brother Lang horno would be contest witi a very small ehurcb, if he prefers that all those who a-ein fa* ver of some of the “ radical change*,” u> which ho objects, should leave the Mel odist Episco pal Church. II i reminds us of the man who coolly lit hts egar in the lad it s' car and re marked that he believed ihero was a car on tlio train for ail to whom smoking wr.s offensive. , intended to smoke—all such nvght with draw. The most prominent changes new proposed are: 1. Giving each Conference a bhliop. 2. Extending the pastoral ttrm 3. Giv ng semo place to laymsn in our councils 4. Making the cla;a meeting a ptiv.leged meetirg—attend ance not a condition of members. 6. Abol ishing the probationary rysVm. These par ticulars are all embmc and in Dr. Green’s Mc m trial. Me reuv mb( r this was before three Conferences, and its suggestions wnc not con demned. (nor indeed endorsed ) but it wa< refer red to the General Conference to set upon it, &'d other Conferer ces may havo done the sama. Wc have forgotten. And more. We happen to know the opin ions of so many eminent men in our church, either by oral or written statements from them, selves, that we can salely say that the day which sees them taking our aggriered broth er’s advice wiil be a day r f grief to the church, Sure y he is not prepared to dismiss summat ily from his church such men as Lee, Doggett, Edwards, Duncan,. Shipp, Wuitefoord Smith, Gamewell, Dr. Pierce, Parks, Evan?, Mann, Mcfycire, Summers, Hamilton, Keener. .Mar vin, Richardson, Anderson, McPerrin, Green f Mar hall and De rn-, together with Piskcp*. Andrew, Paine, and Pierce. Now', we have either conversed with a’l these brethren, or have seen their written opinions on some or all of these topics—and we namo only ttiose whom wo thii k Pro. Langhorno knows personally. If we were to narno all who think with them, the list wou’d be very long. And we know that all of tb.(S> named favor at least (no, at. el some more, and soma all of thesa “radical” changes, unless the discus sion respecting them has te. ed their opinions. No ; there arc too many of u? to dost rt U c old ship. Sha will be ovorhhuled and set out on a new and more prosperous voyage. To change the liguro, if Pro L will have a separation ho must “ take the other car.” AN OMISSION RECTIFIED. By an oversight ia republishing the list of Delegates to the General Confer ence, we neglected to add the following from the Baltimore Conference. —Samuel Reg ister, Norval Wilson, S. S. Rozzell, Jno. S. Martin, E. R. Yeitcli, and W. G. Eggle ston. Reserves— J. S. Gardner, J. Poisall, and S. Rogers. W offord Collegf., S. C—A letter from Dr. Shipp in the Record, says, “Wofford College is gradually improving in patronage. We have about sixty in attendance and more will probably yet come; but this number is wholly inadequate to support our Faculty. If, however, we can get through this year the prospect for the future may be good I have had the hardest time I ever experi enced in my life, but still I am inclined not to give up the interest if we can keep soul and body together this year.” From the Carolina Spartan we learn that the Rev. A. 11. Lester, of the South Carolina Con ference, has been elected to fill the Chair ol Professor of Hebrew and other Oriental Languages. That paper adds : “We are pleased to hear of the selection, and think there is none better qualified in every par ticular, for the efficient discharge of the du ties of this honorable position. Mr. Lester has been a close student all his life, and the last few years he has devoted to the study of those languages, of which he is made •Professor, under the tuition of one of tho ablest oriental teachers in this country. His mental culture and intellectual acquirements being of the highest order when he com menced those studies, he made rapid pro gress in mastering them. Mr. Lester is a Christian man and scholar of the highest intellectual endowments. With such addi tions to the present able faculty of Wofford College (in which are some of the* noble si specimens of mankind) we have good reason to hope it may soon again witness that pros perity and patronage which it enj ycd pre vious to the war.” “Layman.” —Although we have received several letters from laymen briefly stating their opinions respecting the questions now mooted in the church, yet none of them havo written at length until this week. We present now the first of two articles from a gent{eman whose name would add weight to his opinions. For near or quite forty years a Methodist—an official member in the church—a friend of the preachers, keeping open doors for them, and made familiar with them, by his large hospitalities —singular- ly backward in expressing his views where it is not a duty—a patient and closc thinker, hold’ng high official position which gives him opportunity for wide observation of men and things, his opinions are entitled to grave consideration by the General Conference, We hope they will be read and pondered.