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of the region that burns with fire arul brim
stone.
The springs are celebrated for their me
dicinal qualities, and visitors are attracted
here from all quarters. Formerly patients
were let down from the cliffs of the moun
tain by ropes into the Baths. Living in
them night and day, they required neither
fire or blankets to keep them warm. The
road leading to the Baths is a very danger
ous one. Only a few days since as four
English lady travellers were descending the
mountains their horses became frightened
and dashed over the steep precipice drag
ging the unfortunate ladies with them.
They were instantly killed or washed over
the Falls of Tamania and drowned, the
driver escaping. Three of the bodies had
been found and buried at Ragatz near the
monument of the German philosopher,
Schelling. The British chaplain had great
difficulty in getting permission to perform
the ceremony according to the ritual of the
Church of England. The Roman Catholic
authorities granted it on condition that the
cross should be carried before the corpse.
It was said the government would take im
mediate measures to remedy the unguarded
state of the road, but nothing has been done.
You wind around the mountains over deep
precipices without the slightest protection.
The wonder is that more accidents do not
occur. Our driver dashed down the moun
tain as though we were in the most secure
road. I did not feel at all comfortable un
til we had reached the plain.
From Ragratz we went by rail to Coise,
the terminus of the railways leading into
Italy. Coise is an old Roman town of GOOO
inhabitants. The Bishop’s palace,and the
quarters occupied by the Roman Catholics
are walled around and closed by gates, ’tis
said to keep out Protestants. In most of
the old palaces and cathedrals on the contß
nent you are shown portions of the original
cross (?) on which our Saviour was cruci
fied. I suppose those who have charge of
these precious relics have told the story so
often that they really believe it.
In 1799 a great battle was fought at
Coise between the French and the Aus
trians. The Austrian army was surprised
by the rapid movements of the French and
was defeated. Young Napoleon command
ed the French : his ambition led him across
the Alps into Italy; but there being no
roads at that time over which he could pass,
he put 30,000 soldiers at work and in a
few months was able to take his triumphant
army across the Alps into Italy. At Coise
we hired a coach drawn by four horses to
carry us to the Pass of the Splugen. The
verdant valleys abound in fine scenery and
are covered with good pastures, orchards,
and moderately comfortable farm houses.
The high mountains to the right and left
look like so many huge banks of snow. In
the little village of lleiehenarr our guide
pointed out the cottage in which Louis
Phillippe (late King of the French) took
refuse during the Revolution. He entered
the town on foot with a pack on his back
in 1793. Royalty at that period was great
ly below par. The young Frenchman was
employed as a teacher of French history
and mathematics. While residing here his
mother was banished from France and his
father fell under the Jacobin guillotine.
On the brow of the green hills are to be
seen numerous tenantless castles, relics of
glorious old days. I visited a few of them
to see the remains of the fallen splendor of
the feudal aristocracy who were driven from
the castles by the peasants they had so long
oppressed.
Through this portion of Switzerland you
have a mixed population of Germans, Ital
ians and French, speaking as many lan
guages as there are nations. German is
taught in the schools. We arrive at Lu
sis where we get dinner and change our
jade 1 horses for four mountain ponies, and
also change our coach for one suited to
crossing the Alps The valley of the Rhine
is closed by the mountains, and we now
commence our ascent over the Alps through
the gorge of Via Mala. Language fails to
describe the awful scenery met with on all
sides. Just imagine yourself in a narrow
road hewn out of the mountain sides—you
look upwards at the almost perpendicular
rocks aud cliffs hanging over jour head,
3000 feet high, and beneath you into a
chasm 1000 feet deep, so narrow on each
side as to be spanned by a suspension biidge,
which hung from mountain to mountain like
a spider’s web, 500 feet high, over the rush
ing, roaring Rhine, which is frequently lost
sight of in the depth of the chasm beneath.
Before reaching the summit we cross four
suspension bridges. This road is more se
cure than that ot Pleffers.
The scenery in descending into Italy is
almost as wild and grand as through the Yia
Mala. You pass water-falls several hun
dred feet high, and through narrow fertile
Talleys until you reach Lake Como, which
is said to be one of the most charming lakes
in Italy.
As I travel through this part of the
world —old they call it, but all new to me,
with my eyes, ears and heart open all the
time, looking at its magnificent scenery,
its long range of lofty mountains, its old
quaint houses, its kingly mansions, its peas
ants in their simple costume and princes
clothed in rich robes, milch cows driven in
carts by Swiss and Italian dames, with a
few bushels of oats to be ground into meal
io feed the hungry children of their moth
er’s numerous household, at the cataracts as
they come dashing down the rugged moun
tains. the green fertile valleys filled with
gentle lakes, flowers, fruits and flocks, at
the faithful shepherd dog as he keeps the
old widow’s goat (which to her i3 milk and
bread) on her plantation of a hundred square
feet all these make pictures which are in
delibly impressed on my heart—pictures
stored away in memory to be called up
when I have grown weary, or when misfor
tune or cruel war have taken from me the
means of travel. Here I have locked up se
curely in my bosom a rich album, filled with
pictures more beautiful than Raphael’s or
Ruben’s, because they are the work of a
Master Architect. G. W. W.
LETTER FROM GRIFFIN, GA.
Gr ftin—Griffin and N. A. Railroad—Griffin Female
College—The Chui ches—Reformation Acquies
cence in the new Regulations.—Pews—lnstrumental
Music—Congregational Singing improved—Organs,
versus Reed Instruments—False Rumor corrected—
Brotherly Love prevails.
Mr. Editor: It has occurred to me, that
a letter from this locality, giving an account
of “ matters and things in general,” and of
some things in particular, might be of inter
est to many of your numerous readers.
To say that the people in this section
suffered greatly during the late war; and
especially, as the bloody drama drew to a
close, and Sherman swooped down upon the
country like an eagle upon his prey, would
be only to reiterate a well-known fact.
During two years, this was a place of ren
dezvous, drill and discipline for Confederate
soldiers; and subsequently, it was made a
grand hospital depot, where supplies were
gathered with an unsparing hand. The
people generally, yielded up their substance
with cheerfulness, “ taking no thought for
to-morrow.” As the invading army press
ed down upon Atlanta, this entire city was
converted into one vast hospital, and crowd
ed to its utmost capacity with sick and
wounded and their attendants. In this
manner, the place and the adjacent country,
were rendered so bare of everything upon
which man or beast could subsist, that the
Federal General wisely determined to pass
around another way, where provisions were
not so scant; and thus it appears, that
poverty and exhaustion were the means of
saving the city the presence and vandalism,
of a great, hostile army.
When the Southern cause was surrender
ed, Griffin was certainly as thoroughly dis
mantled, and as perfectly wo be-gone in ap
pearance, as any city in the land, excepting
only such as had been Shermanized by a
baptism of fire. Many of her citizens did
not suppose that the place could ever be
again in point of population, business, thrift,
and educational advantages, what it once
was. But they now see, that in the event
of a favorable settlement of our national
troubles, and the return of a real, settled
peace, it is destined to prosper in the future
as in the past. It is confidently expected
that the “ Griffin, and North Alabama Rail
road,” will bo completed as far as Newuan
within the next twelve months, and that it
will greatly enhance the value of property in
this place. Already, the city is considera
bly renewed in appearance, and has as large
a population as at any previous period. The
old business houses are all occupied, and
several now, spacious aud elegant stores are
in process of erection. Trade, iu dry
goods, groceries, and hardware (alas! spir
ituous liquors too) was never larger or more
prosperous than at present. All claim to be
poor, but evidently some are making money.
The Griffin Female Coliege has survived
all the ill-fortunes of war and poverty, arid
still lives to dispense the blessings of sanc
tified education. The Institution has long
been under the nominal care and patronage
of our Church, but at a recent meeting of
tdie Board of Trustees and Faculty, it was
deemed advisable to dispense with this nom
inal Church-connection ; the connection ex
isting in name only, not being esteemed
beneficial either to the College or the Church.
Rev. W. A Rogers and Prof. A B. Niles—
well known as experienced, accomplished
and pious instructors of youth,—remain in
the Institution, in the respective positions
that they have so honorably and usefully
filled for many years, and will continue to
give their valuable services to foster this
great public interest. The Institution, at
present, has about 100 pupils in attendance.
Considering the stringency of the times, it
is doing well —but deserves to do better.
The leading Churches here—Baptist,
Presbyterian and Methodist (South) —are
moving on harmoniously, and under God,
accomplishing a great work. There has
been no very remarkable revival of religion
during the current year, iu either one of
them, but there is a manifest improvement
in the moral and spiritual condition of all.
Many backsliders have been reclaimed—
many lukewarm professors have been re
newed in faith and love and zeal, and up
ward of 75 souls have beeu added to the
Churches. The good work still goes on —
earnest, enquirers are fouud in all the con
gregations. A reformation is observable in
this community. Its first, faint beginnings,
date back to the time of our commencing a
daily-sunrise prayer meeting, in the Lecture
room of the Methodist Church. These
meetings were continued without interrup
tion for nearly two months, and were most
of the time, well attended. Long will they
be remembered, as precious seasons, for tru
ly “the Spirit of grace and supplication ”
was poured out upon God's people.
We have been greatly favored, and I may
say, blessed, by the ministrations of preach
ers from a distance. Bev. L. Q. Mallard, of
the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. Howell
of the Baptist Church, Bishop Pierce, Rev.
Dr. A. Means, Rev. Dr. L. Pierce, and Rev.
George Bright, have all sown the good seed
of the Kingdom in our midst, and their la
bors have not been in vain. The fruits,
already “ seen and gathered,” are but
the earnest of the harvest, yet to coiue.
Let the Church hold firmly her present van
tage-ground, and work with fidelity and un
flagging zeal, and great and glorious will
be tho results.
The “ Monthly Church Meeting,’’ (ought
it not to have been called Church Confer
ence?) is operating admirably in our Church
here, and has already been productive of
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
much good. We commenced holding them
some months prior to the meeting of the
late General Conference, and were so fully
convinced of their utility, that we would
have continued to hold them, even in the
absence of any enactment specially prescrib
ing that they should be included in our
regular Church economy.
Our people generally in this section, so
far as I am informed, cordially acquiesce in
the slight changes aud modifications recent
ly provided for, and which are now in pro
cess of harmonious inauguration.
And just here, I will take occasion to say
a few words, in regard to Pew-renting and
Instrumental music in our Church at this
place, and also, correct a false rumor. The
official board of this charge is made up of
men of the right stamp —men of piety, lov
ing God and His Church, and willing to
labor and make sacrifices for the lip-build
ing of Christ’s Kingdom among men. In
the dayß of their prosperity, they mainly
supported the Church by their own contri
butions, rather than submit to the annoy
ance of repeatedly calling upon and urging
others to aid in meeting annual expenses.
This was bad policy, and was alike injurious
to them and the community for whose bene
fit the Church was kept open, and the min
istry labored The close of the war left all
these noble brethren poor, and some of them
utterly bankrupt. It then became a serious
question— 1 How shall we keep up our
Church, and provide for cur pastors and
their families?’ The few who had hitherto
borne the financial burthens of the Church,
could now do so no louger; and it was un
der these circumstances that the renting oj
pews was agitated.
The official board, after ma ure and pray
erful consideration, determined—partly as
matter of apparent necessity, and partly as
an experiment —to rent a portion of the
pews for the present year. When they had
rented about one half of them, they were
greatly surprised to learn, that several good
members of the Church were dissatisfied,
aud felt themselves aggrieved. They then
resolved to rent no more, but assign the re
mainder to such persons as would attend
regularly. And now, after an experience
of*nine months, many of our membership
aud congregation, much prefer pew-renting ,
as the best system for raising money to meet
yearly Church Expenses, and the very best
plan that can be adopted to secure that de
corum and serious attention, which is often
so sadly wanting among our young Church
going people. A large majority are in favor
of families sitting together, and hereafter l
think it likely that this Church will have
family sittings” and free seats. This
would be a compromise acceptable to all,
and it would secure many of the advantages
claimed for rented pews.
Instrumental nfcsic was introduced in
cur Church here, the early part of the pres
ent year, and it has been the means of pro
ducing a decided change for the better, in
‘‘congregational singing ” The singing has
vastly improved in quality and quantity.
Receutly we have procured from the
“ Messrs. O'doll —Organ Builders, New
Y >rk” —an elegant organ. It was made ac
cording to order. It is 11 feet high, 7 wide
and 5 deep, and has 8 stops. The stops are
as follows: 1. “Open Diapason.” 2.
“ Dulciano.” 3, “Stop Diapason.” 4.
Stop known as “ Fifteenth.’’ 5. “Princi
pal.”. ff. Flute and Clarionet.” 7. “Basso
Pedal and Key Board.’’ One octave and a
half, beginning at 0 8. “Bellows Stop.”
ft has 340 pipes.
Those who are competent judges, pro
nounce it complete in every particular. In
depth, fullness, richness and sweetness of
tone, it is immeasurably superior to any mere
reed instrument that we have ever heard
On the very first Sabbath that it was used
in the public congregation, Heaven, as
though fur the purpose of silca-ing objec
tions, seemed specially to own and approve
our worship ; aud at the evening service, a
number of penitents came forward for prayers
while organ, choir and congregation—“with
the Spirit and the understanding”—swelled
aloft one of our thrilling penitential hymns
Prof. Shoellev, an accomplished musician,
and Christian gentleman, is our organist,
and the choir is almost exclusively made up
of members of tne Church.
But after all, there are still a few good
members of this charge, who prefer to have
neither instrumental music nor choirs in our
Churches, and who would perhaps, never be
fully reconciled ,to pew—renting.
And now for the correction of the false
rumor referred to above. I have heard it
from afar, that the Methodist E. Church,
South, in Griffin, is disintegrating, and that
a serious schism has occurred, or will take
place, all growing out of renting pews, and
the introduction of instrumental music
Not a word of truth in it —no disintegration,
no schism. Where brethren could not agree,
they have —as Christians always should—
agreed to disagree, and still live together
“in the unity of the Spirit.’’ One brother,
singly and alone, withdrew from the Church,
and I am perfectly safe in saying (in all
kindness) that his withdrawal ha3 not dam
aged our beloved Zion in the least. And I
rejoice that it is my privilege to record the
fact, that our good people here cling too
fondly to our glorious Met hodism, to be moved
from their steadfastness by mere differences
of opinion and taste, us to matters that are
mainly incidental, or even accidental, to
Church organization and public worship
Brotherly love prevails—may it continue !
Ciias. A. Fulwood.
October 24 th, 1860.
Eastern Shore, Mobile Conference.
Mr. Editor: —I desire to say a word to
our young men in the itinerant work. It is
for the interest of the Church that I speak.
Many of our ministers have married, and
with their families, they do not feel that
they can go anywhere, or to any of the poor-
er circuits or missions to preach, for
they cannot be supported; and many of
them feel, that they will have to be sent to
good stations or circuits, and many will have
to teach or do something else besides preach
to support their families.
The commission is, “ Go ye into all the
world and preach the gospel, and 10, I am
with you always, even unto the end of the
world.”
If we are called to the work of the min
istry, let us go, trusting God. But says
one, “ I have a family, and must look out
for them.” Well then, if we have not faith
enough in God, to believe that he will care
for our families, we had better not have
them. And perhaps we had better take the
advise given by Paul, in I. Corinthians, vii.
Some of us left our families, aud went into
the Confederate army; served as soldiers,
leaving our families behind, aud got little
or nothing for our servicesaud now, is it
true, that we do not feel willing to make
the same sacrifice for the gospel,
i I went into the army, served through the
war, marched through mud, waded creeks,
: slept on rails aud rock piles, and even in tho
mud. Lived often for months on poor beef
und corn-bread, and often on parched corn —
aDd glad to get that—and shared a few
months of prison-life just as the Confed
eracy fell, having been pierced through the
bod\ r with a ball at the battle of Franklin,
Tennessee, on 30th of November, 1804,
from which wound I still suffer ; and I am
now willing to make the same sacrifice for
the Church lam willing to say to the
Conference, “ send me to the poorest circuit
or mission you have and I will do the best
I can, and risk the work for support.”
God has not forsaken our Church. Ho
may be in the wilderness, but God is with
Ler and she will come forth “ leaning on the
breast of her beloved.” Let us “ trust Him
and do good,” and we “ shall dwell in the
•land, and verily” we “shall be fed.’’
Through the influence of Bro. Baker, I
was appointed to this work last winter. He
died before I reached the work. They had
beeu without a preacher five years. I could
find but five or six members. They were
poor and unable to give me anything. I
began by paying fifty dollars per month for
board—boarded one month at this, after
which houses were thrown open, and I have
had no trouble about a home. My Churches
all needed repairing. One Church has pur
chased an organ and enclosed the Church
and grave-yard, which cost near four hun
dred dollars. Short’s chapel has new seats
and blinds, which cost about one hundred
dollars. The three Churches on the river
have been repaired. Col. Grice has the
lumber, and a workman engaged to build a
new Church at his place. My board is paid
and a promise of four hundred dollars, most
of it paid.
I have received over one hundred mem
bers into the Church, and shall leave the
Churches in a flourishing condition. My
old friend. Captain Howard, proposes to give
me my board next year, if I will serve them
again; and my friends think they can raise
me one thousand dollars. So you will see
that I have had plenty of bread this year,
and butter on one side, aud a promise of
bread next year, and butter on both sides.
You will recollect that this is all from the
poor county of Baldwin, known as the wire
grass country. lam persuaded that if we
will do our duty, we will never starve.
And now as young men, let us go up to
Conference having our minds made up to go
anywhere tho Bishop may feel willing to
scud us. These are times that try the
bodies and souls of men. Let us go and
build up the cause of Zion. It can be done.
Do not stop to ask about money. If we
work, the people will see ive do not need
money. Let us try to be more holy. Try
to be consecrated to God, and then we can
preach with more power, and will feel less
interest about the things of the world.
J. J. Grace.
Eastern Shore, Ala., Oct. 20 th, 1866.
fjhtos of t|r (uffidi.
The Georgia Legislature.
This body met oh Ist November, and
Gov. Jenkins message was read. It is an
able paper. It gives a good account of the
finances of the State, and recommends the
establishment of a sinking fund to pay out
standing bonds. It notices the beneficent
operations of the Lunatic Asylum and the
School for the Blind. The former needs
enlargement to provide for the colored in
sane; the latter is commended for its in
dustrial school, in which the blind are
taught simple manufactures, by which
hereafter they may make a support. Gov.
Jenkins argues the impolicy of adopting
the Constitutional Amendment. He says
respecting it :
“I ask you to consider, however, why it
is that you are called upon to vote upon its
adoption, whilst your State had no voice in
its preparation ? The Constitution secures
to the States the one right as distinctly and
as positively as the other. Had your Rep»
reseutatives, and those of other States simi
larly situated, been present, aiding in giving
substance and form to it, possibly it might
have come before you a less odious thing
The policy seems to have been,yfrs£ to push
it, without their participation, beyond the
stage of amendment, and then say to them,
accept our bantling or take the conse
quences. The omission of auy material part
of the process of amendment, makes tho
amendment itself, unconstitutional, null
and void.
“Should the States especially to he affect
ed by this amendment refuse their assent to
it, it cannot be adopted without excluding
them from the count and placing its ratifi
cation upon the votes of three fourths of
the now dominant States.
“It is said, however, that unless this
concession be made, the new excluded
States will be kept out of the halls of Con
gress indefinitely. Were the Amendment
presented with such ameuace distinctly ex
pressed, a higher motive (if possible) than
any hitherto suggested would prompt its re
jection.
“At the termination of hostilities, it was
right and proper that tho previously resist
ing States should, in the most unequivocal
and formal manner, abandon such resistance
—should rescind all they had done in an
tagonism to, and do whatever was necessary
and proper to place themselves in constitu
tional relation with that Government All
this, we believe, Georgia has done. B«-
yond this, in acting upon any proposed
change in the fundamental law, even in this
critical juncture, my advise is, that her leg
islators act with the same intelligent judg
ment and the same unflinching firmness,
that they would have exercised in the pasb,
or would exercise in the future, when in
full connection and unambiguous positioa.
Any other rule of action may involve sacri
fices of interest and of principle which mag
nanimity would not exact and self-respect
could not make.
“To submit to injurious changes in the
Constitution, when forced upon a State, ac
cording to the forms prescribed for its
amendment, would be one thing; to par
ticipate in making them, under duress,
against her sense of right and justice, would
be a very different thing. The difference,
in principle, is as broad as that which dis
tinguishes martyrdom from suicide. Far
better calmly await a returning sense of jus
tice, and a consequent reflux of the tide now
running strongly against us.’’
He concludes his Message with these wise
suggestions :
“Whilst our political relations are so **-
settled, and so few gleams of hopo come t#
us from the future, there are a few things
especially incumbent upon us.
“Ist. It becomes us to cultivate among
ourselves unity of feeling, of opinion, and
of action ; unity among the people, unity
among the Departments of Government.
“2d. Our interest lies in eschewing po
litical excitement, studiously avoiding all
conflict with authorities unchosen by us, but
placed over us, and employing our active
energies in rebuilding our own waste places
and developing our neglected resources.—
Whilst others rage and wrangle over ephe
meral issues, let us be busy with the real,
abiding concerns of life. Thus shall we
emerge from this period of ostracism, wiser,
more thriving, and more respected than
ever.
“3d. It behooves us, above all, to keep
ourselves in proper relation with the Su
preme Ruler of the Universe. To this end,
it is right and proper that, on a day to be
appointed, our whole people should simul
taneously prostrate themselves before tho
Throne of G race, rendering thanks for bleo*
sings enjoyed, imploring forgiveness for er
rors committed, and seeking light to guido
us on our rugged, darkened way. I have
refrained from inviting such a proceeding,
believing that, in our extremity, it ii
more fitting that the movement be made by
the immediate representatives of the people.
I will cheerfully do your bidding, and
heartily co-operate in proclaiming and ob
serving a eolemn Christian holocaust for
suffering Georgia.’’
Generate Grant and She man.
New York, Oct. 31. —Tho Washington cor
respondence of the Times says: General Sher
man ha3 accepled a military and diplomatic
mission to Mexico, and will accompany CoL
Campbell, the new Minister, to that country.
lie goes to sustain Minister Campbell in all the
diplomat ic relations which may be re-established
and improved, and is also authorized M bring
into use, at his discretion, the.jnilitary power in
any emergency which may render this power
necessary The very important nature of this
work is thus apparent; and the President ii
anxious that it not only should be in safe and
able hands, but that our representatives should
reach the scene of action as soon as possible.—
The name of General Grant was at first sug
gesied as the proper person for this position of
military euvoy, but ars he cannot well be spared
from the arduous work consequent upon the re
organization of the army, General Sherman
was selected, he having declined the tender of
the War Department which was made to him by
President Johnson. When the change does oc
cur in the latter department, it is altogether
probable that General Grant will be call to as.
same its duties.
•*- >-<«
« Mr. Davis Removed.
Fortress Monroe, Nov. 3.— The parole
granted Jefferson Davis some months ago, giv
ing him the privilege of the ground of the Fortress
during the day, has been, extended, through
Executive clemency, in removing all surveillance
over him, and the guard from his rooms in Car
roll Hall at night. Instructions to this effect
have been sent from Washington to General
Burton, commandant of the Fort, divesting his
imprisonment of every thing like severity and
paving the way, it is generally presumed, for
final parole and release. All the guards over
him, both during day and night, have been re
moved and he has been granted untramelled
liberty, and every posible means of comtort and
pleasure, while held as prisoner in the Fort.—
It is said he has expressed great satisfaction at
this action of the Government , and already con
templates vacating Carroll Hall and taking up
bis residence with Mrs. Davis in the Casemonts
assigned him shortly after his arrival here.
The Election of last Tuesday in the Northern
States are not yet so far heard from, that we
can state results. New York and Maryland
setm to have gone for the conservatives. But
further advices may change the figures.
See Page 8 for remainder of News,
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