Newspaper Page Text
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Swt|crrr Jbbucrif.
MACON, GEORGIA, JUNE 4, 1809.
Editorial Correspondence.
THE AMERICUS DISTRICT MEETING ANEW
CHURCH DEDICATED.
Dear Advocate : A little variety is occa
sionally admitted into the hum drum office
life of your Editor, by an opportunity af
forded of doing work somewhere else. Some
go fishing; some go visiting to Bishops’
meetings; some go to the Springs; some
go pleasuring to Europe; but when I want
recreation Igoto a District-meeting. Thus
war a brief interval of recreation passed by
the Editor at the meeting for the Atnericus
District, Siuth Georgia Conference, held
in the pleasant town which gives its name
to the District. Bishop Pierce, though
much desired, could not be present; and
the management of the meeting devolved
on the presiding elder, the Itev. J. B. Mc-
Gehee, who is very much at home in the
chair, and he made an efficient president.
I do not propose to give any detailed ac
count of the proceedings of the meeting,
as I expect rny excellent host, the very able
secretary of the meeting, A. A. Adams,
Esq, to furnish a letter, embracing all
points of general interest.
There was a pretty full attendance of
delegates from the Dlst.rint—and all the
preachers-- having charges, wore present,
except the Itev. J. M. Marshall, kept at
home by serious affliction in his family.
The reports from the work were generally
favorable, indicating gradual improvement
in many particulars, although as yet, there
are but little signs of general revival. Nor
while I was present, was there much prom
ise of a revival in Americus. The church
there manifested much interest in the meet
ing—the delegates seemed very generally
to enjoy its services—at times there was
deep feeling in the congregation, but when
I left on Saturday morning, there had been
very little movement among the unconvert*
ed. An excellent sermon from Rev. 11.
D. Moore, of Albany, on vital godliness
opened the meeting—the Rev. J. W. Mills
gave us a capital discourse on the spiritual
ity and joy of the religious life, the Rev.
J. 11. Robinson gave us a fervid old time
Methodist sermon on the religion that is the
subject of a happy experience, the writer
contributed what he could to guide the
church and warn the unconverted, but with
all there was no stir among the impenitent.
As I was taking my departure Dr. L
Pierce was opening his battery, and I hope
with better results. He preached the pre
vious Sabbath in Memphis—where he was
for more than a week, lay sick two days in
Atlanta, reached Americus on Friday very
f’ecblo, but gathered sufficient strength by
the next morning to do that work he so
much loves—which, indeed, keeps him
alive—to declare to the people the gospel
of salvation.
The first person I visited in Albany, was
the Rev. S. Anthony. It was a pleasure
to find that he was not at home—that, aid
ed by a crutch and stick, he had gone out
into tho town, whore I soon found him.
Jlis locomotion is slow and necessarily re
quires great care, but he is in a fair way 10
reeover entirely and without lameness. He
had taken a little too much exercise during
the meeting, and was not doing quite so
well, when I left, hut I hope the back-set
was only temporary. I was much amused
by seeing a laboring Irishman accost him
with congratulation that ho was about again,
saying, “Indade, I would not give ye for all
the men in Georgia—l wouldn’t.” We oould
but think that this, though a somewhat exag
gerated expression, denoted pretty accurate
ly a very genera! feeling towards one, whom
we all delight to honor, and with whose
misfortune Georgia Methodists deeply sym
pathise.
Another duty called me away from
Americus, before the Sabbath. I had prom
ised to dedicate on that day anew church
at Sandy Run in Hayneville circuit, Hous
ton county, about fifteen miles from the
Southwestern railroad. Arrived at the
proper station, a conveyance furnished by
my excellent friend and brother, George
M. Feagan, by whose enterprise principally
the new house was built, brought me about
nightfall to his house, where I found the Pre
siding Elder, Rev. G. R. Jewett, Dr. Hol
linsbead of Fort Valley, the circuit preaoh
er, Rev. W. W. Stewart, and other breth
ren. On Sunday morning the whole coun
try seemed to have congregated at the place
for preaching. A delightful love-feast in
troduced the worship of the day. At its
conclusion, the house speedily filled, until
not only the regular sittings, but as many
seats as could be crowded in, were occupied,
and yet all were not seated. A collection
to pay a small remaining debt preceded the
sermon, which was followed by the sacra
ment of the Lord’s supper, after which the
audience retired to the grove, and partook
of a collation. Hero I left them. The
new house the brethren have built here is
a well finished and well furnished little
church, in a prosperous neighborhood
where there are many indications of wealth
and refinement, and those who have done
this work deserve the rich reward of seeing
all these blessings from Heaven sanctified
to useful purposes. These brethren are
entitled to our grateful remembrance, be
cause they have adopted and act upon the
sentiment that “the laborer is worthy of
his hire”—even if he is only an editor.
The appearance of the crops throughout
the section visited is promising. They are
backward, but almost universally in good
order and promise well with propitious
seasons. It was gratifying to see that the
planting of corn has not been neglected for
a cotton erop. More corn is to be seen
than I had expected, and it looks very well
generally. If Heaven favors the people,
there seems a good prospeot for bread. Oh !
that we were as grateful as we ought to be.
E. 11. M.
Once Moke. —We once again, entreat
those who do Dot wish to place us in a del
icate and embarrassing attitude towards the
hundreds against whom we have heretofore
been obliged to enforce a positive rule of
the office, not to solicit us to publish obitu
ary notices of infants (beyond the announce
ment of their death “without note or com
ment,’’ for the information of friends;) ex
tensive notices of little boys and girls or of
young persons generally, (a few simple
facts only being admissible in these oases ;)
or of any person who has been more than
three months deceased. It is painful to us
1 < refuse to accommodate the friends who
mourn, especially where, as in some in-
stance*, their friends have neglected to
write a notice, though requested to do so,
in time to meet our requirements. Let the
responsibility fall upon these neglectful
friends—not on us—a Btranger. We can
not take it, without breaking a rule that
prevails, we believe, in all newspaper of
fices, that do not charge for publishing
such notices, and thu3 giving offence to
very many, to whom we have denied a sim
ilar request, and who cannot understand
why we should discriminate against them.
The Bishops’*Cerrespondence.
SPIRIT OF THE NORTHERN METHODIST PaESS.
The “Methodist Home Journal,’’ Phila
delphia introduces the correspondence by
saying:
“We regard the movement as significant
of very important results, and hope it will
be followed up with unanimous effort until
a practical end is reached.”
After publishing all the letters, except
the rejoinder of our Bishops—for want of
room “this week,” that paper says of it:
“It is not as cordial in spirit as we could
have wished; but it is courteous and pro
fessedly kind. The conventional obstruc
tions it interposes, will in time be over
come; for the great heart of the Church
will speak, and her servants, the ministers,
must obey.’’
The New York Christian Advocate pub
lishes the letters, saying:
‘•The correspondence between our Bish
ops and those of the M. E Church, South
will excite special attention. It explains
itself. The spirit and manner of the res
ponse of the Southern Bishops' wiil be no-
with painful surprise and with very
deep regret by those who have anticipated
and desired an early reunion of the “two
Methodisms ” We reserve until a future
date any general remarks which may be
called for with regard to the whole subject.”
The “Western Christian Advocate,’’ Cin
cinnati, differs somewhat when it says :
“We are glad that our Bishops have ini
tiated this movement, aDd feel disposed to
regard the answer of the Southern Bishops
as all that could be expected under the cir
cumstances. Notwithstanding their some
what positive restatement of their side of
the controversy, and of their complaint of
the failure of their offer of fraternal rela
tions several years ago, we shall look for the
agitation of this subject in the Annual and
General Conferences of the Southern
Church, and believe that so soon as the
pent-up feeling of the more intensely par
tisan of the preachers shall find relief in
open expression, they will see the impor
tance of the proposed union, and go about
seeking means and methods by which to
promote it. The first step has been taken,
Our Bishops have opened the door, and
henceforth the responsibility of continued
alienation will not rest upon the authorities
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. We
agree with the statement of the Southern
Bishops, that fraternal fueling must precede
organic union. To establish this, time and
patience will bo required. The alienation
has not been merely ceremonial, and the
reconciliation should be more than nominal.
“Tbe rejection of the fraternal messen
ger, from the Church, South, by tbe Gen
eral Conference of 1848, of which so much
complaint has been made, and which the
Southern Bishops montion as a matter of
such serious import, is easily explained. It
was at the lime the great suit was pending
between the Churches, and the action of
our General Conference was taken in view
of the defiant attitude assumed by the rep
resentatives of the Church, South, in con
nection with that affair. But we do not
propose to discuss the old issues, nor do we
believe the cause of union likely to be ad
vanced by reopening questions that admit
of such wide differences. It is proper,
however, to consider the present condition
of things, and to look at the difficulties of
the situation in all their greatness, peeking
only to do good and glorify God. If both
parties will come to the work in the right
spirit, determined that nothing selfish or
personal shall embarrass the cause, we be
lieve there is no reason why the end, con
fessed on all sides to be desirable, may not
be obtained.”
If the W. C. Advocate had looked close,
it would have seen that “the positive restate
ment of their side of the controversy’’ was
necessarily elicited by quite a positive re
statement, by the visiting Bishops, of their
side of the controvery. And that paper is
not posted in history. So far from the re
jection of the fraternal messenger iu May,
1848, growing out of the fact “that the
great suit was pending,” etc ,—he should
have known that “the great suit’’ was not
instituted till about August, 1849—more
than a year later—and that “the representa
tives of the Church, South, had’’ not “as
sumed a defiant attitude in connection with
that affair” or any other. Tho rejection
was the result of the purpose of the delegates
already formed though not yet voted on, to
“repudiate the Plan of Separation,’’ which
the N. Y. Methodist says they did.
That the overtures recently made by the
Northern Bishops do not relieve their
Church of all necessity for action on the
part of their General Conference or throw
the responsibility of alienation on us, is evi
dent from the fact that if our Bishops had
said, “yes; we will unite, and meet your
Episcopal College next year and divide out
for visitation all the Conferences, North
and South, among usthe answer would
have been ; “Oh ! you are too fast; we have
no authority in the premises—our Church
has not sent us—does not know wc are
doing what is now done ; and, indeed, are
you sure that you have any authority to de
termine thus off hand for your Churoh as
to the propriety, practicability and methods
of reunion ? Had we not better just shake
hands now, and pray together and carry the
case to our respective General Conferences,
where it properly belongs ?” About this,
we presume, would have been the answer,
even if our Bishops had rushed at once
into tho fraternal embrace of their visitois.
We oommend these editors who are contin
ually falling into mistakes about fact and
principle, to read carefully and prayerfully
the Journal and Debates of 1844 and 1848,
the decision of the Supreme Court in lGth
Howard’s Reports, and the Bible, with hon
est intent to put away prejudice and to
know only the truth, and they will surely
conclude with our Bishops that negotiations
ought to begin as and where they were
broken off.
Thus reviewing the case, their pious tem
per and desire to glorify God, should impel
them to regret that the Church oi 1848 was
in suoh hot haste to repudiate the action of
the Church of 1844, and they will consider
that it is not derogatory to their Christian
character, if the Churoh of 1869, not now
in hot haste but after twenty years for re
consideration, should give evidence of that
regret, if not by'direct assertion, yet at least
by undertaking at once to neutralize the
harm that has grown out of the aot and to
arrest all future evil consequences. Surely,
if the Church was not disgraced by repudi
ating within four years an act designed to
promote peace and forward justice, it cannot
be humiliated now, after twenty years of
evil experience, by making amends for a
Laity act of repudiation, which was con
demned by the highest legal tribunal in the
nation. In that decision there is sufficient
warrant to anew generation entertaining tbe
presumption that the repudiating Church
was in error; and honor, to say nothing of
religion, would prompt a spontaneous ac
knowledgment of the error, and an attempt
to make amends for the resulting evil.
The Pittsburg Christian Advocate says
We have the pressure this week of spread
ing before the readers of the Advocate the
correspondence of our Bishops with the
Southern Methodist Church on the question
of reunion. The correspondence will be
read with profound interest by the members
of our widely extended communion, and
by all outside, too, who pray for the pros
perity of our National Union. The sepa
rating of the Methodist Church in 1844 was
the breaking of a chief link in the Union
of the States. The reunion of the two
Methodisms will help to restore and con
serve the sympathies that must forever un
derlie and support the federal unity. We
desire this consummation then both as a
citizen and as a Methodist.
The communications of our Bishops to
the Southern Bishops clearly speak for re
union. Our Episcopal Board, in their com
munication, suggest that reunion would be
productive of good, and that the Methodist
Church should not be the last to achieve an
organic unity. It was in this view that
they deputed two of their number to confer
with the Bishops of the Churoh South on
the propriety, practicability, and methods
of reunion.
The reply of the Southern Bishops does
not entertain the question of an immediate
organic union, which indeed can only be
accomplished by the General Conferences
of the two Methodisms. They suggest
most properly that the first step towards re
union must contemplate an establishment of
fraternal relations among the members of
the two Churches. This, they say further,
requires us to consider their Church not a
schismatic body, but as an integral part of
the Old Methodist Church. With such
understanding they propose that all proper
efforts shall be made by the ministers and
members of both Churches to keep down
strife and improper tempers where our peo
ple come together. They promise that noth
ing shall be wanting on their part to bring
about a hotter state of things, and declare
themselves ready on terms honorable to all
to join heart and hand with our Bishops to
stay the controversies going on between the
members of tbe two Churches.
In all this we find cause for the utmost
congratulation. It does not necessarily
predict an early reunion. Years may jet
be required for the consummation of that
event. But it assures peace. It will put
a quietus upon the strife that has prevailed
where the two Churches are in contact. It
will bring forbearance, re-establish the old
sympathies and fraternal relations; arid
then comes union. We are willing to wait,
and pray, and labor for this.
In a very opposite temper the Northwest
Christian Advocate, Chicago, speaks, show
ing, as we have before said, that there is no
occasion for considering the question among
us, until various grave questions can be
settled among the Northern Methodists
themselves. That paper writing under the
head, “The Union Project Exploded,’’
says :
It was not without some measure of con
cern that we heard a few weeks since that
our Bishops at their meeting at Meadville
had initiated a movement toward union
with the M. E. Churoh South. Not that
we would not favor an effort of this kind if
there were the faintest hope of success, but
our personal contact with the leaders of
Southern Methodism had left us no hope.
Wc even feared than an attempt at union
might make the rent worse, aod leave us in
a more disadvantageous attitude than be
fore. We were obligated to privacy, how
ever, and have waited, prayed and hoped.
As’will be seen by what follows, our Bish
ops have communicated with the Bishops
of the Church South, in session at St. Louis.
Ilow w sely and how well they have done
it, the Church can see, the world will ad
mire. The response of the Southern Bish
ops is in the worst possible taste. The ven
erable Morris, the admirable Janes, and the
eloquent Simpson are put upon a bench and
lectured for their past misdemeanors, and
for those of the Church. Not they alone,
but their colleagues, and all of us. Their
ignorance is instructed that slavery did not
lead to the division of the Church in 1844.
They are told how grievously we sinned in
rejecting a fraternity tendered through Di.
Lovick Pierce, that would have been, in
fact, a surrender of all the great legal and
moral issues pending between us, at a time
when the Church South had appealed to
the courts in respect to the one, and we
both had appealed to public sentiment in
respect to the other. These misguided
Southern brethren divided the Churoh, and
their proffered fraternity with us, if accep
ted, would but have been our endorsement
to the disunion, and we wisely declined it.
Now we proffer them union, and it is
spurned in terms of discourtesy that sur
prise us.
This will open the eyes of Union loving
men in the South and everywhere. The
spirit of the two Churches are as variant as
the styles of the two Episcopal communica
tions. Without more of comment, but
with a feeling of utmost indignation at the
treatment of our Chief Pastors, we submit
the correspondence as we find it, revealed
from Southern sources.
The N. Orleans Advooate (Northern)
makes a long argument on the “division’’
based on the false assumption that it was
conditioned upon receiving a three-fourths
vote of the Conferences. Every body who
wants to know the truth can easily learn,
that nothing but the division of the joint
property was to be referred to the vote of
the Conferenese. The Southern Conferen
ces were left sole judges of the propriety
of division. And so the Supreme Court
decided. But amid all this assumption
and false reasoning that paper says of the
argument of our Bishops :
“It plainly says, that no steps can be
taken officially until the General Confer
ence of 1872. If that body, at the North,
shall inaugurate fraternal relations, then
union can be entertained as a subject for
consideration and action. And we agree
in the correctness of that opinion, as to the
time and order of events indicated. * * * *
And our judgment is that our Church can
afford to waive the question of precedence,
and should at the next meeting of her
highest judioatory gravely consider this
question of reunion, and adopt the neces
sary steps to accomplish it, ( on terms hon
orable to all.’"
The Central (St. Louis) Advocate says :
“We believe that real progress has been
made in the late peace movements between
the Methodist Episcopal Church and the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.”
It gives also a communication on the
subject, from Rev. Dr. George, of St. Louis,
which says :
“Much may be said in commendation of
the address of the Southern Bishops. Its
spirit is kind, courteous, Christian; its
statements are marked with candor and
moderation ; its confession that Southern
Methodism has not been altogether ‘without
blame’ is frank and ingenuous; and its
arguments and proposals are worthy of se
rious and respectful consideration. The
regret which they express in regard to the
‘unfortunate controversies and tempers that
have prevailed, and still prevail,’ ought to
have a beneficial influence, both North and
South, and their ‘earnest desire and prayer
to God/ that such eontroversies and tem
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
pers ‘may give place, and that speedily, to
peace,’ should receive an earnest response
and a vigorous ‘Amen’ from every Metho
dist heart. The Bishops make a good
point when they say that reunion must be
preceded by ‘the establishment of fraternal
feelings and relations between the two
Churches.’ No doubt of it. Our mutual
necessity is not so much identity of organi
zation as oneness of spirit. A corporate
union would be valueless without union of
soul.”
The “Methodist Advocate,’’ (Atlanta,)’"
sees the answer of our Bishops in about'
the same light. It speaks of it as “guard
ed but kind and liberal.” After quoting
from the reply it adds: “The influence of
these words can only be salutary.’’ This
division of opinion respecting ihe spirit of
the reply, between those at a distance, who
have not yet found out that Northern Meth
odism in their spirit and purpose can do
almost nothing with the whites on Southern
soil, and those who by experience have
found out this fast—this difference we say,
goes far to prove that our Bishops replied
wisely and justly. And this is the unani
mous opinion of Southern Methodists, so
far as we have been able to learn
This is all we have room for now. Longer
articles from Northern p.pers are deferred.
We need only remark here, that they prove
generally that the Bishops of the M. E.
Church, were mistaken if they went to St.
Louis supposing that their people were of
such charitable temper as that any honor
able or just proposition of union with us'
would be generally acceptable to them.
Death of the Rev. J. O. A. Sparks.
Tbe Rev. J. Gardner, of Key West,
sends us the sad intelligence that his col
league, named above, died in that city on
the 18th May, aged 27 years. The follow
ing notice pieparcd by Bro. Gardner, pub
lished in the Key Vv 7 est Dispatch was sent
to us.
Our community has just been shocked
with the news of the sudden removal of
the Rev. J. O. A. Sparks, from his labors
in the church below to tbe church above.
Hardly was it known that he was ill, before
the announcement came, he is no more. It
is hard to realize that we shall see him no
more in the flesh.
Brother Sparks was appointed at the
last session of the Florida Conference, to
take charge of the Second Methodist Con
gregation, in this place. He came, and
truly did he come in the spirit of His Mas
ter. He has been abundant in labors since,
he came amongst u', and many have been
the hearts cheered and comforted and
strengthened by his counsels and his
prayers. He was young, and he was gift
ed. Os no ordinary intellect, he seemed to
be on the alert to store his mind with use
ful information. His social qualities werU“
unsurpassed. He loved and respected every
body. He was, indeed, a perfect embodi
ment of the gentleman. Hence, during
his short career in our midst, he had made
maDy friends ; and that, too, outside of the
pale of the Church, as well as amongst his
brethren. Whatever he did, he did it
his might. Was it to preach ? he did in
earnestly. To pray '( it was in power and
in the demonstration of the Spirit. His
zeal, his earnestness, was conspicuous
everywhere, in everything. lie has left a
heart-broken wife and a lovely little dauah-J
ter, to mourn their irreparable loss.
has nothing now, in this dark day of heii
heart's sorrow to eheer her, but the grace 1
and the word of God. Angel of the cove
nant of mercy, comfort the bereaved faroi-i
lv and stricken Chureh ! Brother Bnarky
died in perfect peace For weeks past, htJ
has been rejoicing in the love of God shed
abroad in his heart, by the Holy Ghost,
given unto him. His dying testimony was,
“I am perfectly at rest. For me to live is
Christ; to die is gain.” The will of God
is accomplished. Then let us bow submis
sively, and remember that He is too wise
to err, and too good to be unkind.
New Methodist Literature.
We learn from the Memphis Christian
Advocate, that some new books greatly
needed by our chureh have been prepared.
That paper says:
It will be remembered that the Publish
ing House offered a handsome Premium for
the best Catechism on the History, Usages
and Government of the M. E. Chureh;
South—the award to be made by the Col
lege of Bishops. Three different manq
scripts were submitted, but a decision was
not reached—the Bishops concluding to rq
fer the question to a committee, consistiri
of Bishop McTyeire, and the Book Jidito*L
Rev Dr. Summers. A speedy award is a®
sirable, followed by the publication of thj)
best Catechism, provided one has been sub
mitted, having sufficient merit to warranjb
its acceptance and usefulness in the Church.
Another manuscript, and one of great
value and importance, was examined by the
College of Bishops, and approved and re
commended for publication—it will be en
titled : “A Manual of the Discipline. By
Bishop Teyire. Published by authority cf
the College of Bishops.” Besides a digest
of the revised decisions of the Bishops on
questions of ecclesiastical law, the Manual
will contain full and plain notes on the Dii
cipline—and will be a guide for all who
need one in the administration of the Dis
cipline In behalf of this hand-book,
which will be put to press in a short time,
we are prepared to express the opinion that
it will become a vad* mecum with the trav
eling preachers, and with all interested in
the subjeots treated in it.
How Women may Work for Christ.
We fear that there is too little organiztt
activity on the part of our Christian
in behalf of the work of the church. Then
is ample room and great need for their ser
vice. We find in one of our exchanges tie
pattern of an association of Christian wo
men, that lias been formed by some pastors,
for securing their aid in canvassing the
field of pastoral labor and bringing the out
cast and needy within the influence of the
church; and we can but commend it, -is
promising great usefulness. Their plan is
thus stated b one of their number:
“A society is formed in connection wrjb.
each church, of which the pastor is the
President. The parish is subdivided info
smaller districts, and two or more womin
appointed to each, whose duty it is to vfe
it Irom house to house—ascertain, if posa
ble, the spiritual condition of every family
and individual in the district, urge the ip
different to seriousness; warn the careless
of danger and ruin ; point the penitent M>
Jesus; invite the stranger to the house of
God; urge the backslider to return; con
sole the sick and »oA out the forsake*;
offer up prayer where it will be useful
acceptable; gather the children of the IF-S
religious into the Sabbath-school, and male
special efforts for their conversion ; wltle
it is possible, clothe the naked and feed
the hungry; distribute appropriate tracts
with personal religious conversation; keep
an account of their work and all spejpl
cases of interest, and at the monthly nioft
ing report the same to the society. Snob
statements of the work are not only inter
esting, but stimulating, and lead to in
creased efforts, while the pastor gains much
valuable information, and is enabled to give
such counsel as the exigencies of the work
demand.
“These visits and repeated appeals, made
in love, rarely fail to work oonviction of
truth and penitence toward God, and a de
sire for salvation, in honest minds. <
“In those districts where cases of this
hind are found, prayer-meetings are held
ana special efforts made to lead inquiring
souls to Jesus.
“This association presents a simple and
practical plan of organization, which holds
*yery woman in the Church to specific
work, according to the time and ability she
has, and presses it upon her conscience as
a personal responsibility, while it brings
*6 into a common compact and affords the
stimulus of aggregated results.”
•4 Help Wanted.
The brethren at Tunnell Hill, Ga , ask
for help to repair their house of worship.
It was nearly destroyed by Federal troops,
nothing left but roof and walls. The church
is poor and needs help. Contributions for
"this purpose may be sent to Rev. H. H.
Porter, or Mrs. Emerson, Tunnell Hill, Ga.
Leander, or the Secrets of the Priest
hood, by Ernest Truman, is a pamphlet,
published by Ciaxton, Rernsen and Ilaffel
fiager, Philadelphia, which is said to be a
truthful account of a youth’s life, who fell
into the clutches of the Jesuits, and left
them before the expiration of his novitiate,
and herein he unveils their methods of sub
duing the will of their pupils to the be
hests of the Society.
The Catalogue of Henry and Emo
ry College, shows that 186 pupils in all
the classes have been present during the
term. This is a valuable Methodist Insti
.Sption in South West Virginia, on the Vir
ginia and Tennessee Railroad, under the
management of Lr. E. E. Wiley—an ex
perienced instructor—assisted by an able
Faculty.
Carnspnbente.
The Rome District Meeting.
Dalton, Ga , May 24th, 1869.
Mr. Editor: This meeting has been in
session in Dalton since Wednesday night,
19ch inst, Bishop Pierce presiding. The
attendance was large from all parts of the
’District, and all the exercises and services
have been profoundly interesting and im
pressive.
The reports made the first day from each
pastoral charge were very gratifying, giving
evidence of large additions to the church
from abroad by removal from other sections
—but still more by expansion and growth
j from within, from among the children and
I the parents and friends of those who before
were members. It was clearly shown
that family religion, and religion among
neighbors and friends is rapidly Christiani
zing all our people.
The Sabbath-schoo! cause is in lively in
terest all over the District, with seventy
four Methodist suhouls, besides many Union
schools, and a membership of nearly five
thousand. And the reports of the pastors
attested many conversions among the chil
dren, and that numbers of families, hither
to indifferent to religious influences, have
been awakened and drawn into our church
by the tender, but powerful instrumentality
of their own children. ITow does this fact
magnify the importance of the interest !
The discussion of various questions and
the adoption of reports made upon numer
ous important subjects were interspersed
' with items of rich religious feeling, now
Land ihtrtiS resembling a warm Methodist
love-feast, rather than a deliberative assem
bly. With such a state of feeling, unusual
harmony characterised all our proceedings,
and when the meeting broke up, every one
.seemed to feel, that whether our delibera
tions were wise or not, our coming together
was profitable, in spiritual impressions and
stronger impulses to live right aDd do good
The pulpit ministrations were fervent
and effective. Bishop Pierce preached
every day with moving eloquence and unc
tion. He not only told the preachers how
to preach and what to preach about, but
like a wise and loving father,- he gave a
sublime exhibition of the power that at
tends the preachiog of Jesus Christ with
the aid of the Holy Ghost. Particularly
was he “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,” and
the inspiration seemed to come down upon
the whole congregation, and awed them
into the most profound reverence. Serious
impressions were made not only on the dele
gates, but upon the entire community.
Several have professed religion and joined
the churoh—and last night the feeling was
so deep and pervading that the P. E , Dr.
Harrison, with several visiting brethren de
termined to protract the meeting.
Besides the preachers from our own Dis
trict, we have been gladdened and aided by
the attendance of Bros. Adkins, Neal, Sin
gleton and Long, from Holston Confer
ence, Rev. Wm. H Simmons, P. E , Dafc
-1 onega District, Rev. W. A Parks, Agent
American Bible Society, Bro. Cook from
Marietta, and last but not least, Rev. G. J
Pearce, S. S. Agent. Every day at 3 o’clock
he held a meeting in his own peculiar way,
particularly for the benefit of the children.
They, as well as the children of larger
t growth, will long remember him and his
words. I hops he will never miss a Rome
District-meeting.
I have said nothing about the reports or
business of particular interest, as we raised
about one hundred dollars to pay for print
ing the Minutes in pamphlet form, together
with the late correspondence between our
College of Bishops and Bishops Janes and
Simpson of M. E. Church.
The next meeting is to be held in Car
tersville.
The delegates to the Annuel Conference,
are : Rev. Levi Brotherton, from Dalton- -
Bro. Jas. Huff, from Red Clay—D. R.
McClutchen, Lafayette, and Harvey,
from Rome.
Truly yours, L. D. P.
Greenville ct., S. C. Conference.
We entered more auspiciously than usual,
on our year’s labor. Many of the brethren
in several ways, gave an impetus to the
woTk which is yet increasing, so much so
that every working Christian is buoyant
with hope, for the grand advances Christ’s
Kingdom is to make, in “destroying the
works of the devil." To this end, faith
and prayer tend. Cursed be he who keep
■ eth back his sword from blood, in this time
of peculiar interest and peril to God’s
Zion.
_ Sunday schools were never more prospe
rous on this circuit, t. e., as regards the
whole. Several organizations are back
ward—but the majority are pressing vigo
rously forward. Especial mention must be
made of our splendidly organized and well
officered school at Ebenezer, supplying iD
its labors, a large extent of manufacturing
interest. The school numbered In its last
weekly report, an actual attendance of 179,
officers, teachers, and soholars. The roll is
nearly two hundred. Scarcely a week passes
but new names are added to the list. One
«hjse of auocess, we believe is .in the fact
■.that the school did not go into “winter
quarters,’’ and moreover, never 'expeots to
again. ‘ We are of Bro. Tryon’s opinion—
a great deal of religion, is concentrated in
a church stove. Without this useful ap
pendage, the out door , worship of this
mountain region, is decidedly unpleasant,
and but litttle good can, in reason, bo ex
pected. It is needless to say, that enter
prising Methodists have erected a comforta
ble chnroh, and placed in it a suitable stove.
Energy, perseverance and faith, will do
notable deeds. Mr. Jas. Montgomery, and
Dr. A. J. Creighton, aid greatly in the
sohool’s prosperity, by their well timed and
sensible lectures.
The circuit has met with irreparable loss
es, in the short time of three days, in the
deaths of bros. A. M. Peurifoy, late of
Charleston, S. C,and and. R. Saow. The
first had an intelligent interest in the
church, and. until recently, was chief ac
countant in Enoree Factory, where by hi
skillful and conscientious management, he
gained the esteem of ail, as a financier of
no ordinary ability. He died in great
peace.
Bro Snow was a local minister of great
worth, and energy of character. He preach
ed one or two sermons each Sabbath. His
loss is deeply felt.
Our P. E. bro. A. B Stephens, is em
phatically, “the right man in the right
place ” Untiring in his daily labors, he
seeks no rest, until “tir' and nature” is com
pelled to resist the encroachments of over
woiked faithfulness. How hard he has
tried to kick off, honestly, the shackles
which bind a P. E , but the appointing pow
er rightly keeps him there. Anew parson
age is under way. Affairs are brightening
God speed tbe day when the church shall
have peace in all her borders. More anon.
Jas. J. Workman.
From the “Hill Country,” Georgia.
Mr Editor : Thinking you would like to
hear from the “Hill Country,” I have con
cluded to drop you a word er so, about our
status and prospects, especially in regard to
the children of the Church and country.
There is among us a great awakening on
this subject A serious concern pervades
all the churches and well nigh all classes of
the people, upon the early religious instruc
tion of children. The movement in this
direction, without special concert, seems
to be simultaneous throughout all this re
gion. It is not an effort here and there,
forced upon attention by the godly zeal of
a few well instructed minds, but is the out
growth of a conviction everywhere pre
vailing, that the Church of the future, is
to be made up of the young, trained in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord—of
those, who in their childhood, have been
taught the Scriptures.
Our District-meeting, lately held in Dal
ton, was one of great interest and profit—
the word preached was in much “assurance
and in the Holy Ghost,” and the end of
its counsels and prayers and preaohing, is
not yet. Prominent, indeed foremost,
among the questions that came up in the
progress of the meeting—the claims of the
children to religious tuitiou—their early
conversion, with the interest related there
to, was the one that filled all hearts and
stirred every soul. In this there was unity
of opinion and faith, foreshadowing a fu
ture, that will eclipse all our thoughts and
efforts iu the past. Yerily, the heans of
tbe fathers are being turned to the children,
and the children are turning to the Lord.
In other days, the question was, how many
broad acres we could leave our children,
and they were called blessed, who oould
look to a large paternal inheritance, but
now, they, and they only are called blessed,
who in early life are taught the ways of the
Lord, and who begin early to prepare for
the inheritance of the saints in light.
Everywhere, in all this country, with a
unanimity that is marvellous, and a zeal eve
ry day increasing, this great interest of the
Churoh and world, is talked about and look
ed into, until its grand dimensions challenge
public attention and win upon public favor.
Sunday-schools are multiplying—-out of the
way places are being looked after, and the
pattering feet of children, down the moun
tain sides and far away nooks and corners,
on their way to the hou-e of God, make
music in all this land, and tell, we humbly
trust, of a not far distant future, when our
adult population will not be as now, habit
dyed Ethiopians, who cannot change their
skins and sin-marked leopards, who cannot
lose their spots. f
While on this subject, I cannot forbear
a public notice and commendation of a
Sunday-school celebration, I witnessed in
Cartc-rsville, on Monday night last, at the
Methodist Church. It was noticeable in
this, that it was strictly religious in all its
presentations, and entirely free from all
worldly entanglements. Nothing of doubt
ful propriety was seen or heard—without
picnic eclat, or railroad excursion, without
expense, nothing sensational. The Sun
day-school cause stood on its own merits,
and challenged the old and the young to
serious, pious thoughtfulness The impres
sion made was good and will outlive the
occasion. It was not an outburst of child
ish display and enjoyment, albeit innocent
and pleasant to lock upon, but a decided
impression, forcing itself upon the public
mind, and pioneering the way for the pre
dominance, hereafter, of the religious ele
ment, in all things religious. The songs
were wisely selected—religious, sensible
The speeches and recitations, whether ori
ginal or selected, were all of the right
Methodistic ring—sturdy, outspoken, Chris
tian truth. Bro. John A. Erwin, the Su
perintendent and his corps of teachers, de
serve well of the community, and the good
behaviour of the boys and girls, so long
under their tuition, is a commendation
above all my praise. Dr. Felton made a
capital speech on the occasion—full of tell
ing thought and striking illustration, inter
esting all, and I hope profiting not a few.
At the close ot his address, he asked the
audience for one hundred dollars, to supply
the School with all the needed requisites for
iustruction, and it was forthcoming prompt
ly and cheerfully. The exercises of the
evening were delightful, because profifable,
and the religious aspects ot the noble cause,
were prominent and insisted upon with an
earnestness worthy their value and influ
ence. Pater.
Proposition for Union.
CORRESPONDENCE OF BISHOPS.
Last week we published correspondence
between the Methodist Biahops on the sub
ject of a union of the two branches of
Methodism, North and South, and promise a
comments thereon in the present issue. The
promise must be redeemed—though the
letters, two in number, of the Northern
Bishops, are susceptible of such different
constructions, that one is quite liable to
mistake in commenting on them; while'
the reply of the Southern Bishops is so
plain, explicit, and conclusive, that Dot a
note even is needed for an understanding
of its meaning.
Viewing the two letters of the Northern
Bishops as one communication, and con
trasting it with the final response of thg
Southern Bishops, we observe a marked
difference of spirit and temper. One seems
to advance, but does not move forward in
reality—seem3 to seek the credit of doing
something without doing anything in the
premises. The other is frank and candid,
from men who are not afraid to speak
right out what they think, because they
know they are right, and are perfectly wil
ling, upon their open record, to be judged
by the public and by posterity. Though,
while the letter of the Southern Bishops is
frank and candid, it shows the marks of
wise and careful counsel, and guards at
every point that is material, the historical
consistency of the Southern Church, and
all her interests, present and future, as a
legitimate organization of Methodism.
Looking closely at the communication
of the Northern Bishops, aud referring
now to the fact that they put the Southern
Methodists in a category with the Wealoy
an Methodists, so-called, or Seottites, a body
of extreme abolitionists, insignificant alike
in number and character, and schismatics
confessedly, we are free to say that the
Southern Bishops display a good deal of
forbearanoc and oharity in their notioe of
this implied, if not intended imputation of
dishonor —the logioal meaning of which
is, a representation of Northern Metho
dists as the central body from which in
opposite directions—anti-slavery and pro
slavery—Wesleyan Methodists on the one
hand, and Southern Methodists on the other
had taken their extreme departure; aud
now the former having returned, the other
also should oome back to the M. E. Church
(North.) The only palliation is in the fact
that this reference is a quotation from ac
tion of the Northern Bishops, a statement
of which seemed necessary in showing the
steps of their progress towards the ques
tion of union, on the ground, if it may be
si called, of imaginary authority from their
General Conference. The Christian spirit
Oi the Southern Bishops, herein, is admira
ble.
The formal extent to which the Northern
Bishops venture in the direction of union,
seems to be, to call attention to the ap
pointment of a Commission by their Gen
eral Conference to treat with a similar
Commission from any other Methodist
Church tha‘ may desire a union with them,
and to express the opinion that the M. E.
Churoh, South, is embraced in this wide
range 1 It was well enough to express this
opinion, since the Commission referred to
was primarily intended to aid in a union
with the African M. E. Church ; and this
union having failed so far, the f unctions of
the Commission may now be exercised in
behalf of union with the M. E. Church,
South. Such is the opinion of the North
ern Bishops, if not tho design of their
General Conference. So far they go—
making no proposition beyond, but appa
rently seeking first to draw an offer of
terms.
Now, we inquire in all sincerity and ear
nestness, what is the signification of this
movement made by the Northern Bishops?
Is it a diplomatic maneuvre to regain
ground lost by intolerance and opposition ?
Is there an accession of conservatism in the
M. E. Church, (North) perhaps in the lai
ty, outgrowing radical fanaticism, and caus
ing a pressure from behind upon the Bish
ops and other clergy, in favor of a course
to which they have shown a strange antip
athy ? Do they really desire union upon
fair grounds—upon terms dedicated by
Christian conscience ? If so, the path has
been made plain before them—will they
walk in it ?
The response of the Southern Bishops
is judicious and decisive. They have not
abruptly rejected the overture, but plainly
state the difficulties in the way. The chasm
of separation is wide, and has b- ea mate
wider by unfriendly acts of recent date
Will these be confessed and abandoned ?
Will the Norihern MeJiodists go back and
resume negotiations where they broke them
off in 1848 ? This is the first step.
The Souther., Bishops show an ardent
desire for peace, and suggest measures to
secure it. They do not affect to do what
is impossible and undesirable, but devote
themselves to the attainment of that which
is practicable, and at tbe same time impor
tant in a high degree. Peace is a Chris
tian duty, and as such they seek it with all
men, and especially with Methodists ; while
union is a matter of policy, and of course
subordinate in its claims. Peace is com
mended by Christ—union may be prompted
by worldly, and worse than worldly, motives
So it appears, while one party wants
union, the other requires that it be preceded
by peace; and peace on terms righteous
and equitable, there must be before the
question of union can be entertained. More
over, what ir done must not be quasi au
thoritative—semi-official, but regular, and
by the highest body known to the Churches,
North and South. No Board of Bishops,
nor annual conferences, several or mauy—
but the General Conference, need take the
initiative—the General Conference, too,
which, when it shall meet, will be the suc
cessor and representative of the General
Conference of 1848. Besides, all talk
about schism —secession—must cease, and
the Southern Church must be treated as a
regular branch of Methodism, entitled, not
4>".!y now, Cut heretofore and always, to the
rights and courtesies enjoyed in common
by all whose regularity is unquestionable.
The historical verities of the Church must
be acknowledged as the basis and begin
ning of proceedings.
Meanwhile, our people should abide in
peace. There is no cause for agitation, or
uneasiness even. Our Bishops will never
compromise their own self-respeet, nor the
rights and honor of our Church. The M.
E Churoh (North,) must hereafter undo
many things—must iu General Conference
forego her fancied superiority, and confess
the legitimacy and equality of Southern
Methodism, precedent to a proposition for
union. If that question were properly be
fore us, much might be said upon it. Now,
we say only—let us have peace and frater
nity, and these occurring, it will be time
enough to consider the propriety of oloscr
bonds. —Memphis Christian Advocate.
Our Relations with the Northern
Church.
On our first page will bo found the cor
respondence between the Bishops of the
Methodist Episcopal Churtb, (North) and
the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South. Wo call attention to this
correspondence, as it is of historical inter
est; and we do so with great satisfaction,
as in it the proper status of our Church is set
forth in a truly dignified and Christian man
ner. We thank our chief pastors for doing
this deiicato work so well. Without ques
tioning the motives of the Northern Bish
ops in seeking an interview with our Bish
ops at the present time, we know that there
are many in the Northern Church who wish
to throw the responsibility of division upon
the Southern Church, and to tell the world
that they are for peace and union, while
wo are not. We are glad that our Bishops
reminded the Northern Bishops of the facts
of history in the premises, and that they
reiterated our oft-expressed desire for fra
ternization, though an organic union might
not be practicable or expedient The con
ditions of fraternization are well stated, and
we hope will be duly considered by all par
ties We are glad that our Bishops repu
diated the intimation that our separation
from the Northern jurisdiction in 1844,
was a secession like that of the abolition
ists, called the “Wesleyan Methodist Con
nection.” All the world knows, or might
know, that we separated from our Northern
in no other sense than that in
' which tiiey separated from us—
ing men proposed and urged the separa
tion, and defended it as involving neither
schism nor secession. We earnestly desir
ed fraternal intercourse on honorable Chris
tian principles—and on those principles we
desire it still.
Our Bishops well say that slavery was
not the cause, but only the occasion , of the
division of the Church. It was an occa
sion which developed a principle that may
survive its own destruction. Though slave
ry has passed away, yet the principle that
“led to the separation’’ has not passed away.
It may embody itsefT deliveran
ces on such subjects franchise, im
peaohment, woman’s ballot, reconstruction,
and the like—as indeed it has done. We
arc as far as ever from recognizing the om
nipotence of a delegated General Confer
ence—Doctor Hamline’s “Croton River
doctrine,” as it is familiarly called. If our
Northern brethren wish to empower their
General Conference with such prerogatives,
we take do exception to it—only “we have
no suoh custom.’’ An organic jurisdiction
al union, as we said in our last issue, would
be inconvenient, not to say impracticable,
especially with their views of General Con
ference prerogatives. But enough of this.
Slavery was not the cause of the division
of the Churoh—whatever might bo oh&rge
able on antislavery or abolitionism. Slave
ry existed in the Church in patriarchal
times, in the times of Moses and the proph
ets, in the times of Christ and the apostles,
in the so-ealled Primitive Church, in the
Greek and Latin Churches, and, in particu
lar, in the Anglo-Saxon Chureh, and in the
Churoh of England down to 1834—if not
to the present day—in the British Wesley
an Connection, for Mr. Wesley recognized
the apostolio character of Whitefield, who
bought slaves for his Georgia Orphan
House, and Mr. Wesley himself, Hocused
as a preaober Mr. Gilbert, a slave-holder of
the West Indies, and baptized his slaves,
and tbe Wesleyan missionaries were charg
ed not to interfere with the relation ol mas
ter andjslave, but preach the gospel to both.
Slavery existed also in the Methodist Epis
copal Church in America belbre the sepa
ration in 1844, and afterward, in both di
visions, down to the very time of emanci
pation. llow can it then be said that sla»
very was “the main cause of the separa
tion ?’’ It was not; nor can a union of
any sort be superinduced simply on account
of its abolition
We are glad to find that the views which
we expressed on thesubjeet io our last is
sue, as on former occasions, have reoeived
the sanction of our Bishops, and we are
quite sure that they have simply uttered
the sentiments of the connection at large.
If, ia consonance with those views, our
Northern brethren shall restore to us our
property, rebuke the intrusionists who
claim all that we hold by. the Plan of Sep
aration and the Decree of the Supreme
Court, disavow the principle of “the Stans
ton-Ames order,” and cease their efforts to
“disintegrate and to absorb’’ our Churches,
and speak kindly and charitably of us, as
we will of them, then their General Con
ference may renew the proposition of fra
ternizition, with an assurance that it will
not share the fate of ours in 1848. We
speak the sentiment of our Connection
when we say, ex animo, we want peace and
good-fellowship with all Christians, and a
special fraternization with all true Metho
dist bodies the world over —Nashville
Christian Advocate
Our Church ia Washington
We have already called attention to the
efforts ot our brethren in Washington to
erect a suitaoie church in tho Federal City.
They are determined to have one, conven
ient, commodious, elegaut, a credit to the
Connection. They are deeply in earnest—
and we are disposed to help those who are
doing all they can to help themselves. We
do hope that their agent will find favor with
the people wherever he goes. We call at
tention to the following communication,
which fairly sets forth their wants and
claims:
To the Ministers and Members of the M.
E. Church, South :
The prospects and necessities of our com
mon cause in Washington City, D. C., in*
duce ui to invite your special attention to
the statements and request which we shall
make in this paper.
Before the war a lot had been purchased
in an eligible locality for the erection of a
Metropolitan Church of our name in that
city. The splendid building of the Young
Men’s Christian Association now stands
upon that lot, aud our former house of wor
ship on Eighth street, is a syuagogue of
the Jews. Both those pieces of property
have been inevitably saorifioed, and aro lost
to us.
Our Sooiety, decimated by the fortunes
of the war, was reduced to less than fifty
members. It now numbers over two hun
dred and fifty members, nearly a hundred
per cent more than it numbered at any for
mer most flourishing period.
Our people there did not inquire, before
undertaking the enterprise to which we are
about to allude, whether tho Church
throughout tho Connection would aid them
in their undertaking; but, absolutely cer
tain that they should need such assistance,
they counted upon it with equal certainty,
and aro now at the most trying crisis id tho
erection of any ehuroh-edifioe, i. e., within
four or six weeks of its completion.
They will finish it by management, but
in ox-fetation of contributions from all tbe
Churches, without which ?bey will be em
barrassed beyond hope in the payments yet
to be made.
The church, although not metropolitan
in name, is metropolitan in dimensions and
cost; its site being the most eligible for the
purpose in all that section of the city in
which it stands, and that also being tho
most improving section of Washington
City.
It stands, the representative of an evan
gelical Methodism, and an object of the
deepest solicitude to the lew earnest hearts
who have undertaken its erection, with
trust in God, and in reliance, through him,
upon the sympathy and assistance of their
brethren everywhere.
Alone, they were unequal ia the task.
They partake, in common with the other
citizens of Washington, of those disadvan
tages which always belong to a non-com
mercial city. But they have stood nobly
in their lot for the interests of Southern
Methodism in their community ; they havo
stood up against reproach and persecution
in that centio of political prejudices, such
as, in its peculiar stress, perhaps, our peo
ple nowhere else have been called to suffer;
they have determined to give our Church
a position there that will command respeot.
They deserve to be sustained. They must
have at least $30,000 from abroad.
We therefore recommend and request
that, on the first Sunday in July next, a
special collection in aid of the Washington
Church bo taken up throughout the entire
Connection, and the proceeds thereof be
forwarded, by draft or P. 0. order, to Rev.
W. V. Tudor, Washington, D. C., who will
acknowledge receipt of the same in tho
Baltimore Episcopal Methodist, and in any
other paper that the parties sending may
indicate.
James 0. Andrew,
R. Paine,
G. F. Pierce,
11. H. Kavanaugh,
W. M. WIGUTMAN,
D. S. Doggett,
11. N. McTyeire.
Bishops’ Meeting, St. Louis, May 10,18G9.
Methodist Ministers “Giving Out.”
The daily papers report that sixty-six
new converts, members of a Methodist so
ciety in Quincy, 111., were baptized in the
river Sunday before last, and forty more
intended to be, hut the ministers gaVr-eut
from exhaustion 1 What better proof could
we .have that the Aposiles were not Meth
dists? They baptized three thousand in
one day, and not a word is said of their
“giving out from exhaustion.’’.—Examin
er and Chronicle of April 15.
The above, caption and all, is printed as
an editorial note in last week’s Examiner
and Chronicle (Baptist) of this city. Does
our neighbor mean to say that the “Apos
tles” baptized three thousand in one day
after the manner practised by Baptist Min
isters ?—Christian Advocate of April 22.
The Apostles were Baptist ministers, and
Baptist ministers have never known of but
one way to baptize people— Examiner and
Chronicle of April 29.
Without questioning the self-oomplacont
(ridioulous) assumption above as to the
(ienomiDationalism of the Apostles, we ven
ture to ask our good-natured coufrcrc of
the Examiner to oonsider the hour of the
day when the Pentecostal service began,
the probable length of Peter’s discourse,
the time consumed by the subsequent pen
itent inquiries of the people with the an
swers giveD, the arguments and exhorta
tions, including the “many other words”
which followed: also to make a fair al
lowance for the additional time necessarily
spent in the incidents of such a mode of
baptism, (inoluding those relating to local
ity, supply of water, the responses to ad
ditional inquiries, etc.,) and, having done
this, to inform us how much time was left
the disciples for the actual administration
of the ordinance. If our Baptist contem
porary will do this ho shall have our
thanks for aiding us in our arithmetic as
to the solution of this problem : How many
candidates did each Apostle baptize in
each minute of time ? All this will aid us
in the solution of the main question: How
could twelve men, in the brief time allowed
them, baptize three thousand after the man
ner of the Baptists?— N. Y. Christian
Advocate.