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4 sont|crn Christian sbtotatt. MACON, GEORGIA, OCTOBER 26, 1866. ministerial character. The influence of the preacher is com pounded of many elements. If he be a preacher , he ought, of course, to be able to preach —and to do this as it should be done, he must be a student. If not, he will find that, before his meridian age is passed and while he is yet in the vigour of his days, congregations will tire of him feeling that he is rehashing in every sermon the plati tudes with which he commenced his youth ful exhortations. Having run the round of eligible appointments, no place can be found that will give the finished preacher a hearty welcome. So, of course, the preacher must be a student. But the influence of the pulpit is not the only, perhaps not the chief influence the preacher wields in a community. His life, his character must give weight to his ser mons. Sermons of moderate ability, sup ported by a truly ministerial character, have more weight than eloquent discourses from men who forget their relation to the world, after they leave the pulpit. How often it is said of some men, that we think when they are in the pulpit that they should never leave it, when out, that they should never enter it. And again ; while there are but few men who by the power of their mere pulpit performances can perpetuate their at tractiveness when the novelty of hearing them is over, if other elements do not com bine to sustain their reputation, on the oth er hand, there are but few, who, with mod erate ability and studious habits, cannot, by •ultivating aR the means of ministerial in fluence, hold their place indefinitely in the esteem of their congregations and the com munity. Hence, the necessity of acquiring, by all reasonable effort, this hold which character, as develoDed in intercourse with ■ his flock, gives a preacher upon their res pect and affection. Let us notice briefly some of those characteristics, which add largely to a preacher’s influence. The preacher should identify himself ful ly with all his members. They are his, in a peculiar sense—his care as to their morals, his burden as to their happiness. Whatev er tempts or tries or afflicts one of them, is his trial—his affliction. Their poverty and , sorrow and suffering should find in him a sympathizing heart. The eloquence of an angel will not atone for a cold, indifferent treatment of the cases of real distress and heart-suffering that are brought to him for counsel and comfort. A merely profession al prescription of the common place sedatives to sorrow, will easily betray the administra tor as counterfeiting the tender and loving shepherd. And to avoid such appearances by keeping aloof from them in trouble, is to exhibit a great defect in ministerial qualifica tions. The preacher should tutor himself, by every argument of humanity and motive of Christianity, to weep with them that weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice. Such effort will require from him many self denying labors. Many men have to crucify all their natural appetencies to be come faithful pastors. To visit —to visit wherever sorrow and sickness are—to look upon the wretchedness and squalor of pover ty to become familiar with the wrecks of hu manity, to witness evils they cannot cure, and hear plaints of sorrow they cannot si lence, is no pleasant task. Most men must school themselves to a sacrifice of their nor mal tastes and inclinations to do all this.— A few there are who have a native gift for the work; and he who is not thus endowed needs an iron will and a heart ruled by grace to bring him to perform it well. But if he do this, he acquires an influence over his charge, that pulpit ability alone will not give. Singleness of aim, also, should character ize the preacher. Not himself, but Christ crucified. Not fame, nor money, nor favor for himself, but souls, he is to seek. He who is always solicitous about his reputation, who counts how much favor he is to gain by this or that act, who is ever anxious about his stipend, and goes about talking of his poverty and almost asking alms, evinces an ambitious, self-seeking and mercenary spirit, that will blunt the point of many an eloquent tirade against worldliness. Let the preacher, in the spirit of his Mas ter, go about doing good for its own sake, and feed his flock, and it is a rare case and only in desperate times, that his flock will fail to honor and to feed him. An interest in the young is a capital qual fication in the pastor. Some men never no tice children —do not know them or their names, or the families they belong to, though they are the children of their care. Some have no hold upon the young people of a community. Yet the Church which is not bringing on these recruits of another generation will soon die out. The labor spent on them so far from being lost, is the most productive labor of the ministry. .The time a minister bestows upon the Sunday school, the interest he manifests in the chil dren of his peopP, the sympathy and kind ly feeling he evinces in the youth of the community, return to him an amount of influence that his lofty flights and eloquent periods in the pulpit can never give him.— He may not always reap the harvest him self, but he sows seed that will bring a har vest which the reaper who follows him may gather for the Lord. He does best who best, other things being equal, knows the chil~ dren, who makes them glad to see him, and feel that in him they have a faithful friend. But to obtain this influence over the chil dren and the young, the preacher must not sacrifice his proper ministerial dignity.— Some men cannot go into company, espec ially that of the young, without forgetting themselves. While they should be neither cold nor stiff, sour nor magisterial, they must at the same time, avoid a familiarity that-in vites rude speech and disrespectful jesting. We have seen preachers, whose forte in com pany seemed to be only story-telling—not a chance illustration of the topic in hand, but story upon story —Ossa upon Pelion—as fast as the laws of association or memory could suggest them. Their unfortunate gift is not held in abeyance even in the presence of those who have sought their company to hear them converse about religion. They are very clever company, but very poor pas tors. This is dry stubble they give, not nourishing corn. It is an immense discount upon a preacher to be “ hail fellow ! well met,” with every sort of company. To be a habitue of the loafing places of the village, sitting in conclave with the idlers ot the town, and exchanging gossip with them by the hour, may give a man some knowledge of the world, but it also furnishes the world such a knowledge of himself, as will not greatly redound to his credit as a minister of the gospel.' To be sociable without levi ty, familiar without loss of dignity, kind and courteous to all without forfeiting their res pect for him as a teacher of religion, is an art that the preacher should study, as a means of gaining influence. But a good influence is never gained where the merely social virtues are displayed at a sacrifice of the respect and reverence due his position as an instructor in divine things. A cultivation of all the legitimate arts of pleasing is part of a preachcx-’s duty. Rude ness of manners, slovenly attire, boorishness, and neglect of the proprieties of life in com pany, have placed a large discount on the usefulness of many a good, honest man.— Awkwardness and ungainliuess in public min istrations, indifference to all grace in the pulpit, Scripture lessons and hymns read as though they were neither understood nor felt by the reader, perhaps misread or mis pronounced, all these have their evil effect, and mar the symmetry of the ministerial character. There is nothing so small, that may give offence to the taste of others, which it may not be wise for the preacher to avoid, if the avoidance is not in itself a wrong; for the influence of a good sermon may often fail where prejudices of taste have set in against the preacher. These are a few of the elements that give influence over a flock and congregation. If they are added to a burning zeal for souls, a deep and fervid piety, an indomitable per severance in study, and in labors, they will give us the men the world needs for its re generation. THE LOUISVILLE CONFERENCE. Dr. Summers passed at the Louisville Conference, a day or two, including the Sab bath. We copy from his report of the Con ference : We found the Conference making haste slowly and surely under the able presidency of one of our new Bishops. Doctor Doggett has thus far nobly vindicated the wisdom and sagacity of the General Conference in his appointment to the Episcopate. He pre sides as if to the manner born —with great courtesy, dignity, and ease. We need not say that his preaching made a powerful im pression upon the Conference and the com munity. He gave us a masterly and model discourse, before the ordination of deacons, on 2 Tim. ii 15 : “ Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need eth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Os one thing we feel pret ty certain, nobody was ashamed of the work which he performed on that occasion. He preached, we judge, after most elaborate preparation, but not mcmoriter, nor with notes. We do not want to see the sermon in print, at least, not yet awhile —as we want him to preach it, with circumstantial adap tations, all over the Connection. We ven ture to say no one trembled that day lest the preacher should not be equal to his position and the occasion. The ordination services were conducted with great gravity and deco rum. At night the Rev. Robert Holland— SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. the boy preacher —gave us a discourse that was truly wonderful. It comprised all the grand essentials of a great sermon—careful exegesis, logical disposition, metaphysical analysis, gorgeous imagery, striking illus tration, opulent language, unctuous feeling, pungent application, appropriate gesture, an( j—if there was any art —the art which conceals all art —for he seemed to be as sim ple as a child speaking by inspiration. We understand, however, that he writes his dis courses with great labor and care, and de livers them memoriter ; a prodigious achieve ment. We trust he will retain his simplic ity, humility, fervor, and sanctified popular ity to the end of life, which we pray God may be long protracted. By the time this will be in print, he will probably be on his way to Syria, Egypt, and other parts of the old world, to visit which for his improve ment be has obtained a year’s furlough.— The readers of the Advocate may expect to hear from him on his travels. May the traveler’s God bless his going out and his coming in ! Return of Numbers, etc., to the Con ference. The General Conference made some chan ges on this subject, which will demand at tention. There is more to report now than formerly. It is also made the duty of the Presiding Elder to procure the statistics at the last Quarterly Conference. On pages 48 and 71, it may be seen that the reports must embrace the following items : Number of Preachers, (white) “ “ (colored) “ Members, (white) « “ (colored) “ Adults baptised during the yr. “ Infants “ “ “ “ Sunday-schools. “ Officers and Teachers. “ Scholars. “ Volumes in Library. SOUTHERN RELIEF SOCIETY OF THE KENTUCKY CONFERENCE. The Rev. C. W. Miller, favorably known to some in Georgia and Alabama, as a chap lain in the Army of Tennessee, during the war, wrote us some time since that he con templated proposing to the Kentucky Confer ence, of which he is a member, the forma tion of a society to help supply the preach ers in the destitute portions of Georgia with food from Kentucky. Wc answered, giving what information we could and highly com mending the purpose. We find that the Conference did act on his suggestions, anu passed the resolutions that follow. In the name of our brethren, whose con dition is thus taken into kindly considera tion, we thank the Kentucky Conference for thus considering their wants; and we trust that such a System may be devised, as will keep open a door to the gospel, that it has been feared the absolute poverty of the State would close for the time being. If we can tide over anotli:r year, under God’s bles sing, this fertile State will need no help from abroad, but will be in a condition to help others. Whereas, In the inscrutable providence of our Heavenly Father, our brethren of the South have been pillaged by the late terri ble war, their cities burned, their homes destroyed, and the fruits of the land con sumed ; and Whereas, The fearful drought of the past summer, following in the wake of deso lating war, has entirely ruined both the corn and cotton crops for the year, thus cutting off nearly all hope of sustenance from thou sands of brethren bound to us by the ties of a common ancestry and a common Chris tianity ; and Whereas, It has been ascertained from reliable sources that the present terrible ex igency will compel hundreds of our breth ren in the ministry to abandon their posts for want of bread for themselves and fami lies, unless relief is sent them, thus depriv ing thousands of the only comfort left them; therefore Resolved, 1. That the Kentucky Annual Coufereuce do organize itself into a South* ern Relief Society, for the relief of our brethren in the ministry in the Southern States. Resolved, 2. That this Conference ap point a central committee to be located in Lexington, Ky., with the pastor of the M. E. Church, South, at that place, as chair man of said committee ; that it shall be the duty of that committee to receive donations of money, corn, wheat, bac m, potatoes, etc., and Drovide for them storage until they can be shipped South. Resolved , 3. That each station and cir cuit of this Conference shall be a committee, with its pastor as a chairman, auxiliary to the centra) committee at Lexington \ and that it shall be the duty of such pastor, sta tion, and circuit, to take steps, immediately after the adjournment of the Conference, to solicit and obtain whatever donations of money, corn, bacon, etc., etc., possible, and procure the shipment of the same to the central committee at Lexington. Resolved, 4. That in view of the want and distress of our brethren of the Georgia Con ference, we send whatever supplies we can raise to Rev. Win. P. Harrison, at Atlanta, to be distributed by him to the destitute members of that Conference. Resolved , 5. That as a Conference, we religiously consecrate ourselves to this work, and that wo appeal to our brethren of the Louisville Conference to co-operate with us. Signed, C. W. Miller. ' Winchester, Ky., Oct. 8, 1866. THE KENTUCKY CONFERENCE. Rev. Geo. S. Savage, Secretary, furnishes the Nashville Advocate, the following par ticulars in reference to this Conference : The Report of the Committee on Educa tion shows the organization of the Method ist College at Millersburg, as a College prop er, with a full and efficient Faculty, with Dr. Charles Taylor, of the South Carolina Conference, as President. That a brighter day dawns upon our educational interests in Kentucky. “We already see the dawning of the morning—may the noon-day glory come.” From the financial exhibit it ap pears that the amount of scholarships sold, and donations, is §95,796. Amount invest ed, §40,084. The report warmly recom mends the College to the prayerful consid eration of our people, and speaks in high commendation of Science Hill at Shelby ville, of the Millersburg Female College at Millersburg, and the Male High School at Shelbyville. A missionary meeting was held on Satur day evening of the Conference, at which §382 93 was paid in money. The total amount of missionary money collected du ring the year was §1,838. The Conference organized a Board of Foreign and Domestic Missions, as provided for in the Discipline. The vote of the Conference on concuriing with the General Conference in changing the name of the Church to that of Episco pal Methodist Church was, yeas, 45 —nays, 7. On concurring in Lay-Representation, yeas, 47 —nays, 4. Rev. Drs. McFerrin and Selion were warmly received by the Conference, and did good service in pleading the cause of Mis sions. Six preachers were admitted on trial, five re admitted, and several transfers, among which were the Rev. J. W. Wightman, H. A. C. Walker, and Dr. Charles Taylor. C. W. Miller was transferred to Western Vir ginia Conference. Bishop D. S. Doggett presided with abil ity and impartiality, and gave evidence of a very familiar knowledge of parliamentary law. The session of the Conference was one of great haimony, and closed its labors on Tuesday night, the 9th inst., at half-past eleven o’clock. We find names familiar to our readers in the list of appointments. Dr. Charles Tay lor goes, of course, to Millersburg; H. A. C. Walker to Shelbyville, and J. W. Wight man to Sharon and Sardis. We greatly regret to see these excellent brethren getting so far away from us. The Arkansas Conferences. —Bish- op Pierce called in this week on his re turn from the Conferences in Arkansas. He was in sound health and fine spirits. He reports that the Conference sessions passed off pleasantly, that the preachers have been at work heroically on very short rations, and that they are ready to go forth again to meet whatever may befall. There is great lack of preachers in the State. He could supply as many as twenty-five more than he had to dispose of—and he wants volunteers for that section. The crop pros pects are better there than on this side, aid the probability is that the preachers will fare better next year. There have been great revivals throughout the whole country, and Methodism flourishes there. The Lit tle Rock Conference, as was generally ex pected from the attitude of its delegates in the General Conference, does not vote for “ changes of economy.” The vote for change of name stood yeas 24, nays 19; on lay delegation, yeas 16, nays 29. Bishop Pierce is very hopeful respecting the future of the Church. He finds signs of good, promise of progress everywhere. He thinks the proposed changes will be adopted by the vote of the Conferences— indeed, laughingly said, he had already be gan to call the Church “ Episcopal Methon dist,’’ fully expecting the change to be made. Pie promises to communicate his opinions on several subjects through the Advocate, at his earliest opportunity. North-West Texas Conference. — The Rev. F. P. Ray, Secretary of the North- West Texas Conference, has forwarded to Dr. Summers, a certified statement of the vote on the proposed changes : 28 voting for the change of the name, and none against; 26 for lay-representation, and none against. THE PRIZE PROPOSITION. This proposition has been standing some two months. It closes on the Ist of No* vernber. We will then proceed to award the premiums offered for cash subscribers, obtained since they were offered —should there be any applications. We are notified of three congregations competing for a pre mium, but the money thus far forthcoming does not give promise of either of them com ing up to the conditions of the proposition. But they may perhaps do so, by the Ist of November. Death of Dr. T. H. Capers. —A note from Rev. Samuel Woodber, dated Monti cello, Florida, Oct. 17, informs us of the death of Dr. Thomas H. Capers, Presiding Elder of the Tallahassee District. He died on Monday, 15th October, from the effects of carbuncle on the back of the neck. Bro. W. says that his sufferings were intense, but he bore them with Christian patience and fortitude. Dr. Capers was a nephew of Bishop Capers, and travelled till recently in Alabama or Mississippi. He came to Florida during the war, and had taken a prominent position, as a good preacher and highly useful minis ter. Mason & Hamlin’s Cabinet Organs. We would call special attention to the ads vertisement of these excellent instruments. The editor has used one of the smallest size in family worship for six years, and feels amply repaid for the outlay. J. W. Burke & Cos. are the Macon Agents for Messrs. Hamlin & Mason. Steele’s Hat Hall, Charleston, is an excellent place for “re-tiling’’ the head.— See advertisement. CorrcspontiJirct. Letter from Bishop Andrew. Dear Bro. Myers : It has been some time since I had any direct communication with you, though I hear from you every week, through my old friend, the Advocate, which I am glad to see loses none* of its vigour in consequence of advancing age, but continues to maiutain the cause of truth with unaba ted energy and interest. Its columns of late have been filled with tidings of glorious revivals of religion, which are pervading many portions of the land in unusual power, in Georgia. God has been doing great things for his people, whereof the Church is glad, and in Alabama God has not forgotten to be gracious. Not long since, I spent about a week at Montevallo, in Bro. Wilson’s District. The prospect was dull at the commencement, but it soon began to improve, and when 1 left a good deal of interest was beginning to be felt. Since then I learn that God has made bare his arm most gloriously in the awaken ing of sinners and the conversion of peni« tents. Bro. Wilson told me that at a pro" tracted meeting recently held at Coluinbian na, a small town on the railroad, about 100 souls professed conversion ; many of them young men of great promise, who will prob ably enter the ministry. Dr. Mitchell who has just returned from a quarterly meeting on the Randolph Circuit, tells me that they had a good meeting which was going on when he lift with glorious prospects lor good. I see also from the weekly reports in all our papers, that God is everywhere in saving power. Glory be to His holy name ! In the midst of all our troubles, and the dark clouds which hang over us in some res pects, God is now giving us assurance that He is with us, and all shall yet work out good for His people. You remember how very friendly Dr. Whedon seemed at the General Conference. I was glad to think that there was one Methodist preacher at the North who had an eye and heart to perceive, and Christian courage enough to vindicate, the right.— But it seems I rejoiced too soon. The Doc tor, I see, has not been equal to the task, but has ingloriously crawfished out of his conservative position, and sold himself, body soul and mind, to the black republican pari ty. Alas! for poor human nature. Well, what will the radicals do with the poor South before they quit ? From the time of the surrender till now, they have been doing everything in their power io crush the Southern people. We have submitted in good faith, and yet they have been constant ly seeking occasion against us. They have hired informers, who have been constantly sending abroad, through their papers, the most outrageous reports about our people. They would seem to desire to drive us to some overt act which would enable them to consider us, as still in rebellion, and to mar shal all their forces for another war. They want proper security for our good behavior to the end of time. Such is the pretence, but is it not more probable that the whole amount of stealing and robbing performed by them during the war did not satisfy them ? They think that something still may be left behind, and another war would give them an opportunity to steal the little balance that is left.. They say we don’t love the government of the United States. Now will the radicals tell us what reason they have given us to love them or trust them ? The only ruling principle which they recog nize is,, that they may do whatever they choose if they have the power, and such is also the rule of aetion for their ally, the M. E. Church, North. But lam sick of the theme. My only hope and comfort is, that Jesus reigns. Oh that our people may cleave fast to Jesus, and cultivate the proper Christian temper, in these days of provocation ; and now, may God bless you and yours, and direct you in your work. « Yours, very affectionately, Jas. 0. Andrew. Summerfield, Oct. 18</i, 1866. CHARLESTON, S. O. Mr. Editor : —Although we have not re cently been blessed with a revival, yet I may venture to say the churches in this city are improving. Bro. F. A. Mood, our P. E., is of the opinion that Methodism here promises more than it ever did, and others think so too. The withdrawal of the colored people from our church, has really operated in opening for us anew and far better prospect. We are relieved of a bur den, and what was a stigma, unjustly, far our devotedness to this unfortunate race ug- : ■; tM-