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2 fMrj. GRIEF AND TRUSTS Why didst Thou give me, Lord, this cross, This cruel loss, Through days and nights of bitter pain. Counting as gain Each day that brißgs me nearer death, Each listless breath That wearies oat dumb, hopeless days. Devoid of praise ? The sun comes from the golden haze : Through perfect days He wheels his westward circuit slow : The silver bow Os the fair moon in heaven shines : Yet fragranl pines, • Ensanguined woedlands, purple vales, Yon cloud that sails, A flight of silver doves—to grief Bring no relief. Lord, have I slighted thy reproof, Holding aloof From common woe and hope and f«ar; And, like that seer Who saw in Joppa visions keen, Held them unclean ; Or reckoned good—so weak and vain— Pride’s purple stain ? Or have I loved the creature more Than the Creator ? “Before me have no other God,” Thus saith the Lord; And he who wrote the Apocalypse, With grave, sweet lips Said, “Little children, you must be From idols free ” Peace, troubled heart! He Joves thee still; Through good and ill, Sod’s everlasting arm shall bear, With tender care. When wildest storms of sorrow rave, He’s there to save; And, though man’s trouble may not cease, God gives His peace. Trnly, my soul had fainted, Lord, But for thy word, “There shall no souls be desolate That patient wait On Gofe’en Anchor’s vale shall ope A door of hope. Kought “can make trouble” through thy rest Thou knowest best. —Monthly Religious Magazine. Contributions. THE PEW SYSTEM. Much has been said and written in ref erence to the renting of Church pews, and •till it is an open subject. Many minds are yet undecided as to either its propriety or scriptural legality. Some advocate it, and others oppose the plan, while a large number of thinking minds are undetermin-. «and with regard to the whole subject. lam neither presumptuous enough to suppose, nor •anguine enough to even hope, that I shall be able to fully ventilate the subject, yet I will be abundantly satisfied if 1 succeed in eliciting for it frank and serious thought. For it is certainly a subject in which there is involved a great moral principle, and therefore it is of sufficient importance to •laim our sober attention and to challenge our most scrutinizing investigation. I do not propose, in the present paper to discuss the subject minutely, but merely t® ask attention to the leading arguments pro aud contra. Arguments apparently favoring the pew system: 1. It is a convenient mode of securing family sittings, and this is quite desirable for the reason that it better enables parents to control their children during the hours of church service. And furthermore, they can make themselves more comfortable than they could be otherwise. 2. The fiuancial officers argue that it is a systematic and comparatively easy method of meeting the current expenses of the Church. They claim that on this plan many contribute that would not in other eircumstance3. * These are the usual positions assumed by tho advocates of the pew system, and em brace all the principal arguments on that side of the subject. Before proceeding to speak of a few of the many arguments against the system, I pro pose a brief examination of those apparently favoring it. First —The plea of family sittings sounds very prettily, but it is untenable as an ar gument. Connected with every church there are a certain number of families who •re regular attendants upon the public ser vices ; and by a kind of tacit understanding, each of these occupy a certain pew. This is soon known, and properly recognized by all the members of the stated congregation ; and is every way much more satisfactory than the pew system. This plan of indi vidual or family sittings, by tacit consent, is almost the invariable custom in all free •hurches. It really seems to be the natural order of things in this department. And I presume that all observant and thinking persons will readily allow that the pew sys tem wherever introduced, has not improved the old custom of family sittings. I am heartily in favor of family sittings, but I am yet to be convinced that this has been or can be better secured by the pew system than otherwise. And as to parents govern ing their children, if the former do their duty at homo the latter will be decorous in church, but if the family government be neglected, the church sittings will not sup ply the lack of parental discipline. The child that has been properly restrained and well educated at home may bo trusted in church on the Sabbath day without any pa rental espionage. I have seen as well be haved congregations in free as in'pewed churches, and hence the argument in favor of the latter system is inconclusive. Second —As to the financial argument it is easily shown that the pew system is a "very unequal business arrangement. A, 13, 0, etc., rent pews; Ais wealthy,and conse quently able to contribute several hundred dollars for church purposes, and yet he on ly rents one or at most two pews, paying twenty-five or fifty dollars for each, while B, who is not half so rich as A, contributes just as much. We might run through the entire alphabet, and show many and great inequalities in the whole plan. The Scrip tures of eternal truth require each and eve ry one to pay, not as much as his richer, nor as little as his poorer, brother, but ac cording to his own ability. But according to this system the rich do not pay enough while many of the poor give too much, and hence its inequality. The only just and Scriptural financial plan, is for each and every member to pay an ad valorem tax for the support of his church. We do thus for the maintenance of our State and Fed eral Governments, and why not for the sup port of that God-appointed Institution, which is at the very basis of all other well regulated institutions ? Away then with the false notion of giving to the Uhurch of God, and let us feel that it is a debt we justly owe to our beneficent Benefactor to liberally support all Christian or humane institutions! Thus far I have briefly discussed the ar guments apparently favoring the pew system, and I think I have dealt fairly with this part of the subject. In another article I shall briefly present some of the arguments against the pew system. E. G. Gage. Methodist Church Finances. What is needed and what can be done to improve and give success to the finances of the Church ? A cheaper ministry , the rem edy of some, cannot be had. I will not stop to argue it, for there can be no doubt about it. The salaries of our preachers have al ways been inadequate to their support. Pas tors should be paid a real support —a right eous compensation. No thinking Christian will deny this. Then they would be reliev ed from temporal want and pecuniary em barrassment, and they could pursue their work with zeal in the Holy Ghost. Other Churches give their pastors remu nerating salaries. The Methodist Episco pal Church, South, can afford to do the same, and must, if she would meet the measure of her duty in saving souls. The boast of some is, that small salaries are a safe-guard against worldly-minded men in the minis try This is absurd. It may keep out many worthy men, but not wicked, designing ones. The Apostle’s injunction would do better, “lay hands suddenly on no man.” ' The salaries of our preachers must be in creased and paid. This is indispensable to a pure and untrammelled ministry. The Stewards can very easily increase the sala ries—if they will —but the difficulty, it is said, is in collecting the money. There are difficulties, but they can be overcome. Let there be system and concert of action in this matter. The usual way of collecting quarterage is ludicrous, not to say ridiculous. A day or two before each Quarterly Meeting, the Stewards go round to beg. They find a member on the corner of the street engaged in a political conversation, and ask him for quarterage. He tells them he has not got his money with him, which excuses him un til the next quarter expires. Another has not a cent in the world. • Yet another is found in his store, so busy with his custom ers that there is no opportunity to mention quarterage. Someone else gives a few dol lars just to get rid of the Church beggar.— The rest of the members are never seen and never asked for anything. No wonder there is a failure in the finances. But the plan of assessing the members is now in operation in some places. This is better, but it will have to be altered and amended before it succeeds. In this coun try, there is no civil law for collecting Church revenue. The Church cannot im pose a tax to be collected by force. The ministers must be supported by free-will of ferings. The members of our Church will not submit to an assessment imposed upon them by the Stewards. They think it. is forcing them, and they will not be forced in the absence of law. We never can deal with them. Presbyterians can deprive their members of a vote in calling a pastor, if they do not. pay for the service he renders. Our regulations will not even allow this. Change this plan a little. Immediately after the preacher reaches the work, let the Stewards assess his salary for the year, as the Discipline directs. Then call a meeting of the congregation. Blow your trumpets and gather the membership together. Have no secret meeting as though it were any thing to be ashamed of. Let it be a public meeting convoked to conserve the public in terest. Let this be a meeting exclusively for raising the preacher’s salary. When thus assembled—the whole Church being alive to the occasion, and all enthusiastic about the business—let the Stewards present the assessment made to meet the expenses for the year. Then let the members subscribe the amounts they are willing and able to pay to meet the assessment. Let them subscribe it openly so they can he held responsible for the amount. Let them, where they can, pay the cash down at the first of the year. If a brother or a sister is not liberal enough, have the Stewards and the Church there and then, to exhort them to the right stan dard of paying, liaise the assessment before the meeting adjourns. In this way the en tire membership can be interested in the support of the pastor, and there can be a free-will offering secured, sufficient to meet all expenses. I have no doubt but this course would do as much as anything else to secure the pastor a place in the affections of his people. The spirituality of the Church must bo improved, and if I am not greatly mistaken, the systematic arrangement and successful SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. management of the finances will greatly con" tribute to this end. While piety will prompt to duty, the performance of duty will in crease piety. The following from the Divine Record shows how liberal donations to the service of God bring joy to the hearts of the donors, and glory to the Most High: “ Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king’s work, offered willingly, and gave fortheser vice of the house of God, of gold five thou sand talents, and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord, by the hand of Jehiel, the Ger shonite. Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord : and David, the king, also rejoiced with great joy. Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation : and David said, Blessed be Thou, Lord God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever. Thine, 0 Lord, is the greatness, and the power, aud the glory, and the victory, and the majesty : for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, aud Thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of Thee, and Thou reignest overall; and in Thine hand is pow er, and might; and in Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto ali Now, therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort ? for all things come of Thee, and of Thine own b%ve we given Thee.’’—l Chron. xxix. 6-14, I cannot believe God will pour us out the riches of His srace until we bring the tithes and offerings into His house. Then there will not be room enough to receive His blessing. . The preachers should labor to improve tne finances of the Chnrch. Many will eay they are beside themselves, and others will accuse them of preaching for money, but none of these things should move them.— Let ministers keep clear of covetousness, setting their affections on things above, and God will assist them in every point. In finances give us system, and rally the whole Church in the effort to pay the preach ers. Anson West. Camden , Ala., Oct. 2oth, 1866. Sabbath-school Houses. That the Sabbath-school is an agent for good, not only by its direct tendency to mul tiply the subjects of Christianity, but like wise, by its happy reflex influence upon all who are engaged in its promotion, is a fact, I presume, apparent to every intelligent mind. The moral and religious instruction of children, is a duty that falls behind no dnty that man is called upon to perform. Passing by, for the present, all arguments in their favor, I shall just now, call attention to only one, of the many things, which I consider indispensable to the suc cess of the Sabbath-schools in this country, viz.: The construction of suitable houses in every neighborhood expressly for the use of the Sabbath-school. Let them fce used for that purpose and nothing else. Let it be under stood by every one that, that house is de voted to the Sabbotli school cause ; and soon that house will be the centre of hallowed associations. It may be more or less costly according to the taste and ability of the community in which it is located. Liko everything else, that is worth anything, it will require an outlay of time, labor and money. But who cannot spare the neces sary pains and money to accomplish such an amount of moral good ? The house should be constructed with reference to comfort and convenience. It ought to be ceiled so that the room could be kept warm in the winter by means of chim ney or stove, and have windows for the pur pose of affording sufficient light. It should be supplied with good locks and keys, for the protection of the library and furniture belonging to the house. It is the prevailing sentiment, I believe, especially in the country, that Sabbath schools are short lived. This, I am sorry to say, is painfully true, I thiuk not neces sarily so. There is, in the Institution itself, the elements of life. It is a want of ap preciation of its worth, and a failure to provide the proper means for its success, that accounts for its short life. The erection of such houses will, to a great extent, remedy this, and other things being equal will insure their continuance through the winter seasen, which by the way, is for a variety of reasons the most propitious time for a Sabbath-school. By the suspension of these schools in the win ter months, more than half the precious time that should be devoted to this work is lost and perverted. This is not done in cities and need not be done in the country. At a little expense houses might be pre pared, which would supercede the necessity of suspension. The winter season, I think, is better suited to tho duties of the Sabbatb school than the summer season. The les sons are to be studied, and persons who labor cannot study so well of summer nights. The mind and body are both worn down by the labors of the day. Winter nights are long and afford ample time for study. By continuing these schools, the two-fold object of making them wore permanent and useful will be gained. Now let every lover of youth, awake to duty and interest, and like men, who hold the present life and all its surroundings in abeyance to the demands and purposes of another life, go. forward ' bearing the responsibilities and performing all the duties we owo ; both to Church and State; and among the whole round of duties let us make such expenditures of time and money, as will secure the largest amount of good for this and the next world. John W, Solomon. Enon, Ala., Oct. 24 th, 1866. JUST PUBLISHED Burke’s First Catechism for the little Folks. This is one of the best and mogt comprehensive Catechisms for Children ever published. Price 50 cts. per dozen. It is.neatly put up containing 32 pages. Liberal discount to preach ers, and merchants who buy to sell again. METHODIST BOOKS. NW DISCIPLINE, 60 CTS. All (he varieties of Hymns, and any other Books of Nashville Catalogue furnished at 20 per cent dis count from Retail Nashville prices to preachers and dealers Single copies sent post-paid, at Retail prices. Address J> V\. BURKh & bO., Sep 28 Macon, Ga. NEW MUSIC. WE HA V E JUST RECEIA ED A large lot, of new and choice Music, vocal and in strumental, among which may be found : SONGS : Always friends at heart Eaton '0 Angel of dreams Eaton 30 Beautiful dreamer Foster 35 Bright st eyes Stigelli 30 Carrie Vaughn Cole 35 Carolina Blacbmar 30 Childhood Eaton 30 Come to me darling, Pm lonely without thee —Eaton 30 Come to the woods La Hache 30 Come with thy sweet voice again Foster 30 Conquerrd Banner—new supply La Hache 60 Cross of the South Blackmar 30 Daisy Darling Eaton 35 Dearest Nell Bischoff 30 Deep in a shady dell Kneass 35 Engaged Eaton 35 Eugenie Eaton 36 Evangeline—new supply Hays 50 Fickle love Curto 35 Five o’clock in the morning Claribel 30 Flag of the regiment Eaton 35 For bales, or “Johnny fill up the bowl’’—comic 25 Forsaken, The Gabriel 35 Forward, oh ! forward Schoeller 30 Freedman’s Song—words by Watson Smith 30 Gallant girl who smote the dastard tory, Diamonds 30 God will dofend the right—Southern 30 God and our rights Blackmar 25 Goober Peas—words by A. Pinder P. Nutt, Esq. 25 Good night Eaton 25 Happi Contraband Emerson 35 Haunting thought Reichert 50 How can I leave thee Blackmar 35 I cannot, cannot say farewell Nash 30 I dreamed that he loved me Hime 30 I’m very sad to-night, dear mother Peters 35 I’ve no mother, now I’m weeping Smith 30 I will not quite forget Schoeller SO I would like to change my name La Hache 30 Judith—French and E'lgUsh words Concone 50 Katie’s Secret Ambuhl 30 Leave it! ah no, the land is our own Smith 30 Li ly Belle ' La Hache 30 Little blessed Mary Eaton 36 Love and Fanaticism Latour 35 Mother is the battle over Roefs 30 My gentle spirit bride La Hache 80 My Sou: hern sunny home Hays 35 My warrior bey Muso 25 Near the banks of that, lone river La Hache 30 New Red, White and Blue—words by Jeff Thompson —La Hache 26 Nights of Music Hampel 25 Old Cotton is King 25 Oh softly breathe again that word Blackmar 36 Our young soldier’s grave—Southern Smith 30 Over the rippling sea—Santa Lucta Armand 30 Parted from thee Malzlta 35 Patriot Mother Nores 35 Por ping the question LaHache 30 Rest darling, rest, lilsey 40 Richmond is a bard road to travel 35 Rose of the world Eaton 30 She waits by the river for mo Cole 35 Sing me a Switzer song of love Groschel 40 Smile and be contented Eaton 30 Smile and n c ver heed me Sos ly now the skies are shining Buentivolio 30 South, The—or I love thee more Duvernoy 35 Southern Captive Smith 30 Southron’s chaunt of defiance Blacbmar 25 Southern girl, or th« homespun dress 30 Star.- of our banner —Southern song * Lane 30 Stonewall Jackson’s Way—with portrait 40 Stonewall’s death B’amphin 50 Stonewall’s requiem Deeves 40 Stu'.rt Blackmar 30 That Bugler, or U-pi-lee Armand 30 The Boy defender of Kentucky . Eaton 50 There’s life in the old land yet Eaton 36 Thine eyes darkly gleaming Smith 3(1 Those dark eyes—“ When dawn awakes” Armand 35 Thou art gone from my gaze Linley 30 ’Tis midnight in the southern sky Smith 30 Violetta, or I’m thinking of a flower Eaton 35 Wearing of the grey Armand 35 We parted by the river side • Hays 40 What does little birdie say Bake 35 What was I to say Elliott 4U When the battle is over Eaton 30 Within a mi!o of Edenboro town —new edition —Burns 30 Yes—Will I have you, yes to be sure La Hache 30 Zulu Zong—new supply Webster 40 And many’other new pieces, vocal and instrumental. Catalogues sent on application. $6.00 worth of music sent prc-paid for $5 00, and $12.50 worth for SIO.OO. Any piece of music not on haDd ordered at short notice. J. w burke & CO., Oct 19 No. 60, Seoond St., Macon, Ga. TO TIMBER CUTTERS AND DEALERS. WE INVITE CONSIGNMENTS OF TIMBER and LTMBER to be placed in the hands ofMes r**. McbEOP &. BROTHER, at the old office of K A. Allen & Cos , near Lachlison’s Foundry Messrs McLeod & Brother will act as our agents for receiving and for selling under our advice. Moderate advances will bo made on Timber placed in dock.— Prompt sales and returns guaranteed. BRYAN, H ART RIDGE & CO Savannah, September 7,1866. Having accepted the bnsiness of Messrs. Bryan Hnrt ridgo & Cos., we solicit for them the patronage of our friends, und promise our careful attention to such con signments. We have a large tim'-er dock, in charge of an expe rienced lumberman, and have boon handling timber fifteen years. Sept-14—3m McLEOD A- BROTHER. " a STEELE’S a. AT STEELE'S “HAT HALL,” 313 King St., Charleston, BE FOUND THE FOLLGW- Men’s Fine Soft Black Hats. $3 to $3 50 ; Boys’ Felt Hats—new styles, $1 to $1 50 ; Men’s and Boys’ Caps, 60 cts., fl, $1 50 and $2. STEEL*. Southern Hatter Oct W—St By Authority of the State of Missouri. THE SAINT LOUIS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. Assets July Ist, 1866, $1,046,822 32 ARE RAPIDLY INCREASING. Dividend of January 1, 1866, FORTY PER CENT. Profits divided to Stockholders. OFFICERS: D. A. JANUARY, Ihesident JAMES H. LUCAS, Vico President. 1 WM. T. SELBY. Secreta.y. WM. N. BENTON, General Agent. DR. T. HODGEN, Consulting Physician. LACKLAND, CLINE & JAMISON Legal Advisers. HON. ELIZUR WRIGHT, Cousulting Actuary. Every man who has a family ought to insure his life in a good Company—if only for SIOO. Send for a Circu lar. Circulars giving all necessary information sent on application to e ther of the following named Agents : Chas. Whitehead, Special Agent, Atlanta, BURKE & COBB, Agents for Macon ; Dr. C H. Hall, Medical Examiner, Macon, Johnson &, Turner, Agents, Montgomery, Ala.; R. H, Henly, Agent, Selma, Ala. Oct 19—ts DR! T. P. CRUTCHER, Late of Mcmi.vnville, tenn., resp ectfully oft’ rs his services to the citizens of Macon and vicinity, in the practice of his profession.— Dr. Crutcher proposes to use, in connection with his praciice, Dr. Badfield’s new invention, which he terms an EQUALIZER, for curing Paralysis, Rheumatism, Neuralgia,Spinal Affections, Weak Back, Weak Lungs, Wasted Limbs, Dyspepsia, with its debilitating conse quence, Rush of Blood to the Head, Chronic Diar rhoea, and all cases of General Debili y, arising from a want of proper circulation of the blood, or nervo-vital fluids. This instrument offers more to those afflicted with chronic disease, than any ;remed : al agency known to the medical profession. The. principle of its action is simple, but scientific and pathological. Physicians are especially invited lo examine into its merits. THE EQUALIZER cinsists of a receiver sufficiently large to seat a lady within the encasement without any inconvenience, be sides, there are other receivers for the legs, arms, and otter parts of the body, which may be adjusted by a ten year old child. To the receiver . is attached an air pump, by means of which, the air is exhausted from the parts enclosed. Tnis causes a rush ol blood to the capil'ary system- thereby opening up the way for the vitalizing fluids, so necessary for the living parts.-. Reference tan b given of Paralytic eases cured of from three to nine years’ standing if necessary. Call and mam ine for yourselves, and talk with those under treatment-. Oct 12—3 w GEN. TANARUS, R, R. COBB, WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED A very excelllent Card Photograph of this la mented Georgian. Single copies 15 cts.; two for 25 cts. 125 cts. per dozen. Card Photographs of President Davis, and all of fh* most prominent Confederate Generals, always on haud. Price, 10 cts. each, or SIOO per dozen. Address J. W. BURKE & CO„ Oct 12 M aeon, Ga. THENONPtHWMNCMACiINE. COMBINES largo capaci y. Great strength and entire ease and simplicity of operation. It save* two-thirds the labor and time, and half the soap required in washing by hand; and five tears experience proves i' to be the onlv Washing Machine m de which stands the test of time and use It is geared to give six strokes of the pfurgers tor one turn of the handle, orwnen working leisurely about four hundred strokes a, minute; thus enab'ing a girl or boy of fifteen to do a week’s washing for a family of s x hr eight persons in two to three hours tim ; and being a Squeezing Machine, it is guaranteed not to i jure the finest fabric. Dealers sup plied. Send for free discripti vecircular to OAKLEY & KEATING, 184 Water St, New York Agents in Savannah, j unls Messrs. CUNNINGHAM, PURSE 4 00 THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE! 18 6 7. THIRTIETH VOLUME. This well known religious family newspaper, commences its THIRTIETH VOLUME in January, 1867, under the editorial con trol of the REV. E II MYERS, D. D, who has conduc ted it for the past twelve years. Devoted to R lision and the interests of the Church of Christ—an organ of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in the South-Eastern States—of high literary etiaracter—having among its contributors a.d corres pondents many of the most eminent divines m that Church, and giving due attention to every question ot Sublic importance, to facts in Science and Art. to the ews, to the Markets, etc, etc., we deem it the paper for the Family, where but one paper is taken, and worthy a place with the best, where several are , taken. Besides, it is emphatically the paper for the poor man, (and such we all are now) for it is cheaper, style and si*e considered, than any paper In the boutnern States. Asa medium of extensive country adverti-?in« it is the best paper in the South-East, haying a wde rang of circulation, and a large list of subscribers in Sooth Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama 1 Any person sending S3O 00, will be entitled to ft copy of the paper for one year, for this service. Those wishing to subscribe may I remit by mail, or apply to the nearest i inerant preacher ol the Metho dist 'Episcopal Church South, all of whom are Agents f ° Ter ms*:—Three Dollars for one year ;Two dollars for eight months; One Dollar for four Invariabl™Cash in advance When the money is ex hausted. the paper is discontinued. Addresß j. W. BtTRKE.ACO., ’ Macon. GY RATES OF ADVERTISING. For a sqita-e of twelve lines or less. 1 Year ■ 6 Months 3 Months 2 Montes _l 5 Weeks j 4 W.eks ! 3 Weeks 1 2 Weeks f 1 Week !i SPACE. One Square isl2lii.es of Nonpareil. 1 Square P L.00k.60 A.OO 2..60|8..« 0 4..60 6..00 10 15 2So 11 arc* ... 1 ,7:> -‘..75 3. 60 4..50 6.,26 8..00 1060 17»l 3 Squares."... 2.60 3..76 5..00 6..26 7..51 11K 15 4 squares 5..26 6..00 6..60 800 1« 15 20 30 -0 i/ Col'mn... 4..00 8..00 8..0010 12 18 24 40 10 Column.. 7..00 106 1 1400 1760 21 3 0 40 OP Column... 12. .00 '1800 2400 30 3b 55 !7i> j l - 0 **