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THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM. Vol. XXIX.—No. 50. • Correspaniinwt. EUROPEAN LETTER. T flin now in the capital of the great Prus sian Kingdom—once the home of Frederick the Great. Os course, I felt more than an ordinary interest in visiting this city of vic torious generals. Shortly after leaving Sax ony? you enter a flat, sandy country ; in many places 15*e land is too poor to produce even the barren heath. A traveller is sur prised to find here one of the finest and most prosperous cities in Germany, with a population of 000,000. Berlin, with its broad, parallel streets bounded by magnifi cent houses, reminds me more of Philadel phia than any city I have seen in Europe. Its large squares, splendid palaces, churches and other buildings, are scarcely to be equalled. J ire royal palace and museum contaiu a ricii cabinet of curiosities, paint ings, medals, statues, etc. The city is en circled by a wall fifteen miles in circumfer ence, which was being levelled to the ground at the very time Benedck was threatening to march his army into Berlin. The late improvements m nrtiliery render these un dent fortifications of little value. The city has a flourishing trade, growing mainly out of its manufactures of cotton, wool, silk, Prussian blue, cutlery, etc. The fact of its being the capital of a great nation, adds greatly to its wealth and prosperity. The city has com municaiion, by water, both with the Baltic and German oceans. 1 lie inhabitants arc accused of always being on a spree, perhaps it is because they live on the river Spree. In 180 G Napoleon captured the city and held a grand court in the royal palace. The Triumphal Arch, with numerous fine paintings, were scut by Napoleon to Paris, but nearly all were re stored in 1815, and the old “ Arch ” stands rrow proudly in its former position. I was anxious to see King Willliam and his Prime Minister; this was not difficult, as the King could be seen almost any day driving out. Bismurk has a tremendous head, and looks as savage as a Russian bear ; bo has the reputation of being one of the most unscru pulous politicians in Europe ; he is, howev er, a diplomatist of the firsforder. If Bis * mark is permitted to make a few more ter ritorial strides, he will quite absorb the Fatherland. England and France are very jeplous of the unprecedented success of the Black Eagl#, and will do all in their power to stay its territorial flight. Austria is quite ruled out of Germany, and it will be many long, long days before she regains her former position. The double-headed eagle is crippled, but not dead; far from it. The great revolution, or reformation of Martin Luther, has been steadily advancing for three hundred years. The revolution re sulted in the re-establishment of the princi ples of early Christianity. Luther laid down the broad doctrine that all power is derived from God. In Germany, those who are opp *sed to the llomau Catholic Church are called Protestants, but it does not follow, because a man is opposed to liomanism, that be is a Christian, or even a believer in the Christian religion. Myriads of the Germans are transcendentalists. At the beginning of the present century the German Empire was composed of three hundred distinct and independent States, divided into ten circles; each littlb State was weighed down by nu rnerous petty royal families, to be supported in their extravagance. The French revo lution wrought many changes in Germany. After the dowufall of Napoleon there was a reorganization of the German States; they were reduced to thirty-eight States and one Empire, which constituted the Germanic Confederacy, with Frankfort-on the-Main for its capital. Tne Confederation had a standing army of 400,000 men; 50,000 were regiments of cavalry. It was a coales cing of sovereigns, pledged to sustain each l other on their thrones,-which at that period i were tottering. Austria and Prussia, with their allies, had a population twice as nu merous as that of the United States, situated in the center of Europe. When united, they become an irresistible power. The Germans, as a nation, are devotional, if not reiigious. They are light-hearted, merry, and fun-loving. They are industrious, eco nomical, energetic, and the outside world I think them very stubborn. When Napo- I leon 111. wanted a few feet of their territory, merely to straighten old lines, he found them particularly so. They go from church 'to the public gardens, where they engage in music aud dancing, which are enjoyed by tho rich and the poor. The Germans are • woted for their economy. This trait in their character is carried to such an extent that, in the sight of the prodigal Americans, it looks like stinginess. They allow nothing to- go to waste; you see the women gather ing the sweepings of the public roads, which hey transfer to their little farms and gar fens. Land that' has been in cultivation or so many ages is only kept alive by con tant applications of manure and fertilizer*: livery foot of ground is forced to its utmost ;n producing fond for the millions who in habit the Old Country. I wish these careful Germans could be transferred to our slovenly jultivated farms; every inducement should be iffered to encourage them to emigrate to the •South. I was surprised to see so much land levoted to pasturage; this is found necessa- PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE & CO., FOR THE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. ry, not only t© rest the land, but to produce food for the immense herds of cattle, sheep, horses, etc. A good farmer changes the crop nearly every year; the soil would soon become exhausted if a rotation of crops was not observed. In many places in Germany, tobacco is cultivated with great success; the wheat and oat crops seldom fail; the “Irish” potato is a favorite vegetable and principal food in some sections ; the beet, turnip, cab bage and carrots are cultivated extensively. The hop and grape vineyards flourish, but not so well as in France. Manufactures in nearly branch prosper, from the fact that the Uermaus work cheaply and make honcsfc'^OQds. I have errunk many a glass of common beer as an excuse to see the domestic ar rangements of a German cottage. The in terior of fheir homes is much more comfort able than the exterior appearance would in dicate. The necessity of keeping the eow stall, pig sty, and hay-stack within a few yards of the dwelling give things rather a filthy appearance, but you nearly always find in a peasant’s house neat beds, with white linen sheets and well scrubbed floors. The children are taught to read, in fact, re quired to learn to read. The schools are conducted understate regulations, and only thorough teachers are employed. The Ger man system of education is thought to be superior to that of all other nations. Prus-% sia excels in education and a general diffu sion of knowledge. Berlin takes the lead for a high order of accomplishments, but it is a much more expensive place than Dres den, Frankfort, DusendorfF or Hanover. I prefer Dresden to any city I have seen in Germany as a place us residence and for educational advantages. There you have all the opportunities for the acquisition of languages, music, fine arts, and other ac complishments, which are desired by Amer icans who send their children abroad to be educated. The German system of education is very thorough; the climate gives to boys a robust constitution and fine physical de velopment, which are quite as valuable in future life as superior intellectual endow* merits. The peasants have their annual festivals, which arc generally observed after harvest, and are enjoyed by them to the fullest ex tent. These dances partake something of the character of the Indian festivities that used to take place in the mountains of Geor gia when l was a wee, wee boy, and when the red man was king of the mountain and valley. It was Nature’s children offering up thanks to the Great Spirit for a bounti ful harvest of green corn and a plentiful supply of wild game. These feasts were generally opened by a ball play of the most exciting character. Fifty young warriors were engaged on each side, in almost a nude state, and paiuted in the most fantastic manner. One of the chiefs would throw up a buckskin ball, when the war-whoop would be raised and a general rush made for it.— In the scramble a leg or arm would fre quently bo broken ; but that circumstance did not interfere with the game. The "reea _ # o o corn dance was the richest and wildest scene; there the squaws took their part. After the white man had introduced whisky among the natives, scenes of disorder and bloodshed would often occur. I have seen the Chero kee squaws, when under the influence li quor, fight and pull each other's raven locks in the most frightful manner. The last I saw of these poor creatures, the United States Government had hunted the families down to the number of some ten thousand, and assembled them in the mountains of the Blue Ridge, preparatory to their removal to the far West. I shall never forget the heart-rending scenes that occurred on that occasion. The Indians have a superstitious reverence for the graves of their ancestors,.and many of them preferred death to quitting their homes. In their efforts to escape they hid in the mountain caverns, and climbed the lofty forest trees. Crders were given by the United States officers to level the trees to the ground, regardless of consequences.— Some four thousand of these poor creatures perished, never reached the homes destined for them west of the Mississippi river.— These outrages were perpetrated upon the Indians under the plea of advancing civili zation and Christianity ! It was the strong oppressing the weak. Thus it has been from the beginning, and thus it will be to the end of time. When Gabriel sounds his trumpet at the last day, and the big book of records is opened, there will be a vast mul titude crying for the hills and mountains to hide their evil deeds. Please excuse this digression ; I frequent ly wander from the Old to the New YVorld. This is not strange, for my life’s history is in the latter. The scenes of my boyhood in the swcotvale of Nacoochee, and in the lofty mountains of the Blue Ridge, where I hunted the fox and the deer, the wolf and the bear, the wild turkey and the pheasant, and where I learned my A, B, Cs in the rude log cabin, with the black-eyed Indian damsels, those wild scenes made a deep im press on my young heart, and l often find myself unlocking, even in this grand old country, this little storehouse of American memory. G. W. W. Berlin , Prussia, 1860. Macon, Ga., Friday, December 14, 1866. Richmond Ct., Georgia Conference. Mr. Editor : Though past the Conference year indulge me in an account of the Lord’s doings on Richmond Circuit. The increase upon the work, for the entire year, has been 210. Os course there were some remarkable features developed in our meetings. And pray, are not all good meetings remark; ble? One remarkable feature : There are some at all my Churches, in advanced life, clever, hospitable, good friends of the Church, who have been standing just at the edge of the pool, witnessing the healing of their child ren, their neighbors and neighbors’ children, and yet canuot be persuaded to step in themselves. Such believe well, talk well, feed well, but —there they stop. Another thing worthy cf remark: At Clark’s Chapel, where my meetings ccm •niccced, there never was better behavior, nor a more perfect coalescence among Chris tians of every name. Whole families joined the Church together; the brethren were powerfully revived; and every man and woman, so far as the writer could ascertain, except one or two, of that large congrega tion, were at the altar for prayer. About 50 were received here; and among them, many choice men and women, who give the Church great hopes cf future usefulness. Though unassisted ministerially, the breth ren there were great “h#p;” especially Bro. McNair. At Union there was the same coalescence, and the same powerful working of the Spir it. Bro. Bartlett and others gave me valua ble aid here, —18 added to the Church. Bethcsda was the next field of glory and triumph. Sixty one joined the army of Jesus, (a full company) none of whom, I pray, may ever desert. This was a grand old meeting. Many say, such an one as they nevvr witnessed be-ore. Mothers and fathers were made happy ; and friends long estranged were brought together. Let Un cle Dabney know that here was a Division of Sons, who, except one or two, united with the Church. And here, too, my good friend Bob. Shaw started the highly sensi ble effort to present the subscriber with a fine horse, the Sons aforesaid to cover him with a fine harness. Now this is certainly remarkable, in these times. From this point we proceeded to the “ Rock,” where the enemy was strongly fortified. After a siege of twelve days and nights, the citadel was gaiued, the garrison capitulated or retreated in wild disorder. Over 20 added here. Dr. Barton and Bro. “ Bob ” were there. At Liberty the congregations were large and orderly, and the presence of the Lord was manifest in reviving, healing and add ing. Perhaps 28 or 30 were added here, directly and indirectly. We had a very pleasant meeting at Bro thersville, where I trust the seed sown in young hearts will yet bring fruit. Horton’s Chapel, from unavoidable cir cumstances, had but a bad showing; and yet, our meeting there, was a profitable one. The Church at Factory, under labors of Bro Ewing Johnston, assisted in some meas ure by Bro. Hubbard, was much built up and strengthened. Bro. Johnston preached us some capital sermons during our meeting at Bethesda. May God ever bless the good brethren of Richmond Circuit. <sm|ra Conference Documents. MISSIONARY REPORT. The Missionary Board has reports from the fullowing Missions: 1. The Concord mission , Jefferson coun ty, was served by Rev. 11. I) Murphy, and is in a thriving condition, and desires to be served from the Conference the ensuing year. Members, 200; Sabbath-School Scholars, 30. 2. The Burke Colored mission, was served the present year by Thos. B. Lanier. There are four appointments, 675 members, 160 catechumens, $378 were paid for its support. They desire the Bishop to send them a preacher the next year. 3. The Tactory mission , in Clarke county was served by Rev. E. F. Anderson. Mem bers, 40; two Sabbath-Schools—lso schol ars—2oo books in the library. This mis sion should be kept up; there are many poor people there to serve. 4. Morgan Colored mission, has been served by Rev. L. B. Harbin. The mis sionary recommends its discontinuance. 5. The Decatur White misson, was served by Rev. J. J. Morgan and Rev. W. A. Ilodge. The mission is reported in a very flourishing condition, and has been blessed with the most gracious revivals. Its contin uance is desired. 6. Houston mission, was served by Rev. Robert Stripling. It has 5 appointments, 145 members, 4 Sabbath-Schools—lo7 pu pils, and is reported as a field requiring culture and developcmeut. Paid, $68.70. 7. Pike Colored mission, served by Rev. Morgan Bellah, has 229 members, and is in a healthy condition. 8. Columbus City xnision, served by Rev. C. W. Key, has 60 members, 2 Sabbath- Schools—loo scholars. There has been some prosperity the present year. It is re commended that the congregations at Wesley Chapel and Gerard, be united under the name of the Gerard and Wtsley Chapel Mission, and that the city mission, as now understood, be discontinued. No report from Jefferson mission, Cleve land mission, and Atlanta Citi/ mission. The Missionary Board report that they are confined in their labors to the domestic field. Never has there been a time when this work demanded more attention. It should call forth the liveliest sympa.kic-s of our people, and their best Christian liberality. The time has been when this Conference could respond to the call of the most desti tute, and the missionary’s hallowed song and prayer was heard in all the caves of the mountains of Georgia, and he was seen in the hovel of the poor in the low-lauds. The rich men of the country poured into the coffers of the Lord of their abundance, until the missionary treasurer could report the contributions by thousands, and tens of thou sands. But, alas! what a change! The Georgia Conference has but ton or twelve missions in its bounds. The field has not diminished, but widened ; the demand for help lias not lessened, but increased. The Macedonian . call tor help is heard from every part of our desolated Zion. Many of our brethren have preached this year to people utterly unable to help them. They have served them without compensa tion ; some walking their circuits because they were unable to purchase a horse; some laboring in the farm and shop—for their owu support —yet never quitting the field. Called of God to preach, they dare not dis obey. With the love of sou’s in their hearts and the lamp of life in their hands, they stand ready to go into the dark places of the earth and show the people the way to the cross, and to the crown. God bless the noble men ! and send them help onto! Zion. 2. Another fruitful field now ready for B az and his reapers, is our suburban pop ulation. Something must be done for them. They are poor indeed, and many of them exceedingly dissolute. Without friends or fortune they have yielded to despair (but abandoning themselves to vice of every kind, they are wretched indeed). They come not, to our city churches. Their children arc like the wild ass’s colt, growing up to be come nuisances in society. Shall we not do something for them ? Thank God we have the bread to give them, and the water, that shall be to them more than food and raiment; and we have the mercy to carry it to them. The missionary going from house to house talking of Jesus, reading the bible, imploring the blessing of God upon these wretched sons and daughters of want, will leave light in many a dwelling; bread to eat that will feast, the soul long after he is gone; and hope, blessed hope will revive. But the most important acd hopeful field for doing sood is among the children. Let them be gathered into Sabbath-schools, taught to sing and pray, and to fear God, and they will grow up to be blessings to church and State 3. Another important and pressing field for missionary labor is the Colored popula tion. The negro, as an element in society, should be educated. Our people should be en couraged to gather the children, and the old where they can, into Sabbath-schools, and teach them the word of God ; thus dispel ling the darkness of ignorance, and banish ing superstition —so prevalent among them. They must have the gospel from intelligent teachers, and they will, and do, turn to us for instruction. We recognize the African Methodist Episcopal Church as a cola borer among us in this field as specified by the late General Conference. We call upon our people everywhere to give the subject of our domestic missions a prayerful consideration, and to devise liberal things concerning them. We hope for a prosperous future. Report on the Eiblo Cause. Your Committee is too well aware of the truth that the Bible needs no eulogy to ex cite your admiration or to increase your in terest in its circulation, to attempt to eulo gize it. Our duty is to invite your attention to the deplorable fact that the no inconsiderable number of people in the State of Georgia who did not possess a copy of the Holy Scriptures before the war has been largely increased by the destruction of many thou sands of copies, thereby, especially such as were in the hands of our soldiers—and be cause of the scanty replenishment possible whilst the war continued, and by the addi tional fact that the machinery of Bible col portage operated by the American Bible Society in connexion with, or separate from its auxiliary societies, has not been practi cable since the war closed, and also because of the large number of freedmen who have learned to read and who now desire and should have the Holy Scriptures. Our duty it also is tc suggest some means by which we may assise our sister denomi nations in this State, tosupply this deficiency of the word of life. Impoverished as we are to a large extent; receiving compari tivcly small sums toward the sustenance of our benevolent church enterprises, and for the prosecution of our missionary operations at home or abroad, it would seem to your Committee quite impracticable to secure E. H. MYERS, D.D., EDITOR Whole Number, 15If from our own people a sufficiency of money to manufacture or to purchase and distribute any approximation to the number of copies of the Word of God necessary to meet the deficiency. How then can it be done ? In many instances the last Bible possessed by a loving wife was sent to the camp to replace the one lost in the rapid advance or hurried retreat of our armies ; or was swept away by the devouring element which consumed ruthlessly the family mansiou with its whole contents; and our freed men, long our faith ful slaves, look to us for the bread of life.— How thankful we should be that there is presented bc-fore to us a solution of this diffi cult problem. The American Bible Society —that noble institution founded in pure Christian benevolence —which has so greatly blessed our own and other lands, stretches forth its helping hand in this hour of need. Your Committee would advert to a few facts : “ The American Bible Society during the war did not depart from the constitution, principles nor policy of that noble institu tion. It sent out to the Confederate Slates army, navy, various Boards and to individ uals, on application, over 500,000 volumes of the Bible and Testaments. It has pur-, sued the most enlightened and liberal policy toward Georgia. During the present year, it “granted’’ to the various auxiliary socie ties in the State, 15 to 20,000 volumes of the Bible arid Testament, and still their readiness and liberality know no bounds.” It lias required no collections to be made during the year, but has not hesitated to send us the Holy Scriptures gratuitously.— This has enabled us to supply to some con siderable exteot the freedmen’s Sunday and day schools with Bibles and Testa ments, thu3 the necessary inter vention of sectional, radical societies in the supply of this demand. Your Committee feel profoundly grateful to the American Bible Society, and its effi cient agent, and are sure that we but express your sentiments when we declare that it is worthy of the confidence and patronage of the State, and of the South. We propose therefore, that this Conference adopt the following resolutions: Ist. Our confidence in the catholicity and singleness of aim of the American Bible Society is such that we commend it to our whole membership, and especially to those who have ability to contribute toward the spread of the Holy Scriptures. 2nd. We commend the agent to our churches and congregations, and pledge our* selves to render him such assistance in his noble work as may be possible. 3d. We request the Presiding Bishop to appoint Rev. G. J. Pearce Agent, of the American Bible Society for the State of Georgia. H. J. Adams, Chairman. Report of Committee on* Education. The Committee on education beg leave to report; EMORY COLLEGE. This College is now fully organized and in operation with a Faculty as follows : J. R. Thomas, I) D , President and Pro fessor of Moral and Mental Philosophy and Belles Lettres ; A. Means, M. D. D. D., LL. D, Emeritus Professor Natural Science; Rev. L. M. Smith, A. M., Professor Greek Language and Literature; Rev. G. W. W. Stone, A. M., Professor Mathematics; Rev. Josiah Lewis, Jr., Professor Latin Lan« guage and Literature; W. B. Shaw, A. M., Superintendent Preparatory School. It will be seen that this old and favorite Institution of the Georgia Conference has again entered fully upon its work of educa tion, and offers facilities for a complete col legiate course of study. This is done under circumstances which strongly emphasize its , claim to the favorable consideration, es pecially of the Methodist public. The Fac ulty, most of whom have long been connec ted with the College,have held their position, to the detriment of their own personal in>- terest, and now at the earnest request of the Board of Trustees, with no hope of a mone tary equivalent for their labors, consent to give to the College their time,, their talents and their reputation. This fact appeals strongly to the members of this Conference. The Faculty have the same interest in tho success of the College as each member of this body—no more, no less. Tlieir self-sacrifice to sustain it ought to ex cite in us our liveliest sympathies and our most energetic co-operation. Much may be done by a united effort to restore to this College a wide and sustaining patronage.— Let every preacher in the two ferences make an carncstr effort to obtain at least one pupil for this Institution and its hails will be filled at once. Only let every one direct special effort to this work in the early part of the year--say, as soon as he reaches his appointment—and the result will solve the doubt as to the permanency of the Institution. Shall it be done? As it is the only male College belonging jointly to the two Conferences and as the larger part of its endowment has been lost by the lesuhs of the war—leaving it almost wholly dependent upon its patronage for support — ymr committee recommend the adoption of the following resolution. Resolved, That as members of tho two Georgia ConlerenceSj we hereby pledge our-