Newspaper Page Text
—Dio
know not what
He gave no place whatever^^^BMßMßHHH
spirit—even to hasten the
kingdom. He appeared among his |
when they were oppressed by the Roman
power; and when he oould but have sym
pathised with their burdened condition.
Yet he never utters a word in behalf of
‘liberty.” Rather, he makes a clear dis
tinction between what belongs to the prov
ince of the ruler, and that with which his
religion is to deal. If the law demands
tribute, then pay tribute; “Render to Caesar,
the things that are. Caesar’s, and to God the
things that are God’s.” This was a great
political principle he laid down —but he
would not determine wiidher this particu
lar tax was due to CVcsar ojf not.
The whole teaor of <Wit Saviour’s life
and teaching was adverse to the modern no
tion now paralyzing/ 7 the power of the
ohuroh, that it murft, by its press and in
its pulpit and through its ecclesiastical
courts, interfere direotly with the settled
oonviotions of men respecting matters which
fall direotly under the jurisdiction of civil
government. Christianity is to enforce its
principles of truth, justice, righteousness
upon the individual, and when he has en
grafted these principles into his life, then
men, as oitizens and rulors, will transfuse
them into law and polities, and leave the
church to go on, in her divine mission, as
a peaoe maker, without having arrayed
'against her the hostility, which inevitably
follows a direct attaok on human institu
tions. We venture little in saying, that
this latter oourse has not only brought op.
probium and persecution upon the ohuroh,
but has delayed for long years the changes
whioh Christianity has eventually made in
social and oivil life.
There is one passage in the life of Christ,
so fully illustrating this principle, upon
_ jwhioh it was designed that religion should
aot, that we cannot do better than set it
forth, as wo find it developed by F. W.
Robertson in one of his sermons.
Among those who heard Christ lay down
the laws of the kingdom—Justioe, Fairness,
Charity—there was one who had been de
frauded, as it seems, by his brother, of his
just share of the patrimony. He thought
that the One who stood before him was ex
actly what ho wanted: a redresser of
wrongs; a champion of the oppressed;
a divider and arbiter between faotions; a
referee of lawsuits; one who oonld spend
his life in the unerring decision of all mis
understandings. To his astonishment, the
Son of Man refused to interfere in his quar
rel or to take part in it at all; “Man, who
made me a judge or a divider over you ?”
He implied that it was not his part to in
terfere. Now, this was not to declare that
the religion he taught had nothing to do
with the question of division. It is the
vital air of every question—moral, sooial,
political. But directly it determines noth
ing; indirectly, it conditions every ques
tion, that can arise. Nevertheless, it is a
profound truth, that religion as suoh must
not be mixed with sooial and political ques
tions. Here, for instance, the Saviour will
not meddlo with the question. He stands
aloof, sublime and dignified. It was no
part of His work, to take from the oppres
sor and to g've to the oppressed, much less
to encourage the oppressed himself to take
from the oppressor. It was a Judge’s part
to decide what oppression was—not His
offioe to determine the boundaries of oivil
right, or lay down the rules of the desoent
of property. Os oourse, there was a spirit
ual and moral principle involved in this
question. But He would not suffer His
sublime mission to degenerate into the mere
task of deoiding questions of oasnistry. He
asserted principles of love, unselfishness,
order, whioh would deoide all questions;
but the questions themselves, he would not
deoide. He would say, Justice, like Mer
cy and Truth, is one of the weightier mat
ters of the law; but he would not deoide,
whether, in this oase, this or that brother
had justice on his side. It was for them
to determine that; here was their respon
sibility.
And this Christianity deals with men,
not with oases; with human hearts, not
casuistry. It determines general princi
ples, out of which, no doubt, the best gov
ernment would surely spring; but what
the best government is, it does not deter
mine—whether monarohy or a republic,
an aristooracy or a democracy. It lays
down a great sooial law: “masters, give
unto your servants that whioh is just and
equal;” but it is not its part to declare
how much that is. It binds up men in
holy brotherhood; but it has not said what
are the surest means and best institutions
&r arriving at this brotherhood.
it oomes to pass that Christiania
ty is an Eternal Religion, which can never
beoome obsolete. If it sets itself to deter
mine the .«mporary and the looal—the jus
tice of this enactment, or the exact wrong
of that conventional maxim—it would soon
beoome obsolete , it would be the religion
of one country, n*. of all. As it is, it
commits itself to noting, but Eternal
the latter
to regulate all civil, somanß^^^^^^^B
stitutions, persist in installing
what call they their just rights—and whWB
we need not, for our purposes, deny to be
suoh —in a way, that r tranfers to them all
the vices attending the exeroise of those
rights by the other class, and to add infi
nitely to the aggregate of pride, hatred and
general corruption of the class thus eleva
ted ; while at the same time, the manner
of the transfer imbitters the class whioh is
treated with violence and trampled under
foot, in tho name of religion. Thus both
parties are made worse, because religion
steps out of the Saviour’s path to do her
work. If the class heretofore considered
exacting and unscrupulous should beoome
just and liberal, and the other olass oould
be elevated without fostering suspicion and
hate, and revengeful feelings, that would be
a glorious k thing—a triumph of Christ’s
cause; and any arrangement between capi"
tal and labor, condition and sooial position,
that might naturally grow out of suoh a
reform in principle, would be a real oom
ing of His kingdom. But any reform that
alienates the classes from eaoh other, gives
one doss power to be insolent, exacting and
overbearing, and awakens in the other,
pride, resentment, and a sense of unjust
oppression—all remaining as selfish as be
fore, and growing more so - -no matter
whether the selfish rich keep, or the equal
ly selfish poor take, this, as it relates to the
growth of His kingdom, is a matter, we
came near saying, of perfeot indifference.
But not so; for it will never grow, while
the division of the inheritance is attended
by suoh evil consequences. Which of the
brothers shall have it—the monopolist or
the covetous ? Either—neither; who oaree ?
Fifty years hence, what will it matter ?
But ayes henoe, it will matter, whether
they settled the question by mutual gene
rosity and forbearanoe.
Would it be difficult to apply these prin
ciples to the correction of false movements,
in the American churohes of this day ?
Again : Christ refused to be the friend
of one, because he was the friend of both
brothers. He never was the champion of
a class; He was the champion of humani
ty. We may take it for granted that the
petitioner was an injured man—one at all
events, who thought himself injured; and
Christ had often taught the sp rit which
would have made his brother right him;
but He refused to take his part against his
brother, just because he was his brother,
Christ’s servant, too—one of God’s family
—as well as the petitioner. And this was
His spirit always. He oould not be made
to oommit Himself to a side, when the ef
fort was made. As the Christ, He would
take no side. It is oommon to hear of the
rights of man—but, as commonly used, the
expression only moans the rights of a sec
tion or olass of men. And both sides tri
umphantly appeal to the Bible —one to sus
tain the demand—the other, to sustain its
refusal—because it is on botn sides; for
its peculiar glory is this, that it commands
the rich to divide the inheritance justly,
and the poor to demand nothing but what
justice allows.
For the Bible takes neither the part of
the rich against the poor exclusively, nor
the part of the poor against the rich; and
this, beoause it proclaims a real, deep,
true, and not a revolutionary brotherhood.
The brotherhood of whioh we hear so
muoh is often only a one-sided brother,
hood. But, if the Bible demands that the
rioh shall treat the poor as brothers, it
equally requires that the poor shall so treat
the rich likewise. Christ never was a lev
eler. Yet in this thing, also, Christianity
has gone far astray from religion. And
doctrines are now tanght, in the pulpit and
by the press, which indicate as deep a hate
and as unprincipled an oppression of one
class of men, as they do seeming solicitude
for the welfare of another olass —and all
under the false pretenoe of fraternity.
To all suoh teachers, we may ask Christ’s
question, a little changed, and made infi
nitely more significant, by the ohange,
“Man, who made thee a Judge or a Divider
over thy brethren ?” Teach religion to
every olass, in the purest love for all alike,
be unjust to neither—that is your duty.
To teach anything else is “another gospel,’’
whioh dishonors the Master, drives men
into infidelity, and delays the oomiug of
Christ’s kingdom.
The Rev. P. Q. Bowman, of the S. C.
Conference, as we learn from the Christian
Neighbor, has lost the sight of one eye, by
the afflictions to whioh referenoe was re
cently made, but the other eye is as sound
as ever. The young men of Chester, S. C-,
in appreciation of his earnest labors, pre
sented him, a few weeks sinoe, a donation
of fifty dollars. The increased and gener
al interest on religion among the oitixens
length of the sermon, the preacher was listened to
with unabated interest from the beginning to tho
close.
Dr. Boring has a most pleasing enunciation, go
clear and deliberate that not a word is lost. Without
vociferation, he glows with a warmth that keeps
him in entire sympathy with his hearers. His
sermon at this commencement was worthy of his
theme—it was a great sermon—one of such emin
ent suggestiveness that its impression can hardly
be ever entirely effaced from the minds of ..those
who were privileged to hear it.
Death of Rev. John S. Long, of
North Carolina.—We are pained, says
the Christian Index, to reoord the sudden
demise of this minister of the Methodist
Churoh of North Carolina, whioh trans
pired in Atlanta at an early hour on Mon
day morning last, sth July. The oiroum
stanoes of his death, as we learn them, are
as follows: Being on a visit to this city, he
was invited to fill the pulpit of Wesley
Chapel on Sabbath evening last, and had
made some progress in his sermon, when he
was observed to falter, and his speech to
beoome inarticulate. The Rev. Mr. Kim
ball being in the pulpit with him, he was
induced to sit down, Mr. K. undertaking
to fioish the interrupted discourse, in the
belief that Mr. Long’s illness was but of a
slight character ; but when the congrega
tion was dismissed, it was found necessary
to remove him to the parsonage near by,
where every possible attention was given
him by the family of Mr. Kimball, until 5
o’olock on Monday morning, at which hour
his soul took its flight. His death is be
lieved to have resulted from apoplexy, su
perinduced by the extreme heat of the
evening. Mr. Long was originally a Vir
ginian, we believe, but for many years had
been living in North Carolina. His age
was about fifty-eight years, and he leaves a
family whose bereavement is increased in
being denied tho performance of love’s last
sad offices at the couoh of pain and death.
We extend to them our heartfelt condo
lence. Mr. Long’s funeral took plaee on
Tuesday morning, 6th inst.
The “ Tommy Hawk ” Correspon
dence. —We have received two more com
munications in reply to “Tommy Hawk’s”
criticisms; but we think the letter pub
lished last week waa quite sufficient to put
this matter to rest. Perhaps, if the brief
suggestion we appended to the first commu
nication from him }had been allowed to
work, no unpleasant feelings would have
been engendered. Whenever matters go
wrong, there ought always to be an honest
effort to rectify them ; but, the best way is
not always by general arraignments before
the public—for then the innocent and guil
ty suffer together. Meanwhile, as this is a
liability to which we are all exposed, it
behooves every body by whom others as
well as themselves must necessarily be
judged, to be very scrupulous as to their
owu aots, lest they bring unmerited asper
sions upon their friends. The thoughtless
aot of one Christian often does great dam.
age; the warm rebuke of another who feels
that the cause is injured often does equal
harm. So, it is very difficult in this world
to know always what is best to do. Let us
have charity and peace; and above all
things, serve God faithfully.
The Rev. S. Lander, reports in the
Christian Neighbor, a revival among the
pupils of the Davenport Female College,
that embraoes every one of the pupils
boarding in the Institution. He writes:
Our prospeots, financial, educational, and,
above all, spiritual, are very encouraging.
We have order, harmony, studiousness and
cheerful seriousness throughout our num
ber, which is said to be larger than ever
before.
The Working Christian is anew
and neatly printed paper, published by
Rev. Tilman R. Gaines, for the Baptists of
South Carolina, at Yorkville, at $2 50 a
year. Its title indicates a’proper appreoia.
tion of the demands of the age, and if it
shall succeed, as we hope it will, in making
all its readers, working Christians, it will
have done a great work, in which we shall
hail it as a fellow-laborer.
'Columbia Female College.
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees
of Columbia Female College, July 6th, there
were present: Clerical—-J. W. Kelly, S.
H. Browne, O. A. Darby, T. S. Daniel.
Lay —Dr. J. W. Parker, R. Bryce, R. D.
Senn, A. F. Dubard, Dr. C. H. Miot.
The College building was continued un
der lease till September, 1870, to Mr. Wm.
A. Wright, who keeps it a first-olass hotel,
known as the “Niokerson House.” While
the Board are quite satisfied with the oare
and promptness of Mr. W right as a lessee,
they hope, at the expiration of that time,
to be able to start the College afresh on its
original mission as a first-olass institution of
learning tor girls and young ladies.
A committee was appointed to devise and
report at a meeting of the Board to be held
previous to the Annual Conference, some
; fancy
years
housekeeping, and
Advocate—she dwelt upon
fSSr memories in silence awhile, and ad-
Wed- —“we have made the first station of
life’s pilgrimage pleasantly together. A
kind Providence has graciously cared for
us, and permitted us, surrounded by our
ohildren and grand children, our relatives
and friends, to celebrate our silver wed
ding ; during this long period, with rare
short intervals, the Southern Advocate
has been a constant and welcome friend and
counsellor in our family oircle, and we can
not do without it. By all means renew the
subscription.”
“So, Dr., in obedience to orders, please
find the enclosed money, for whioh con
tinue to send the good old Southern Advo
oate as heretofore. When this runs out we
hope, D. V., to renew again, and so on
while our pilgrimage last—for, like the
madam, I too cannot do without your Ad
vocate.
We are running along harmoniously in all
our ohuroh relations. Our pastor, Rev. J.
B. Cottrell, is gradually, but surely, ingra
tiating himself into tho love and esteem of
his flock. He is continuing the good work
so well begun by Bro. Motley, during his
three years ministration, and he is not
without hope that the ingathering is near
at hand. Beneath his genial humor, and
with provoking pleasantry, there is a sub
stratum of solid piety, whioh is giving him
acoess to the hearts of the people, and will
enable him to do much for the church here.
Our monthly meetings are well attended,
and much interest is taken in tkeir pro
ceedings. We have made some innovations
upon old fashioned customs, and are gradu
ally getting out of some of our time honor
ed ways. For instance, we call upon our
members monthly for their quarterage.
They are ooming into the new plan beau
tifully. The promise of its working is
cheering. We take up a “hat collection”
every Sunday in the “great congregation.’’
[Good. —Editor.] This too, is working
admirably. Some of the “pillars” agreed
to try this innovation with fear and trem
bling. They saw failure and a great
thinning of the congregation in the future.
Their fears have not been realized—but
some debts of long standing, have been paid
off from this source of revenue, and our
contingent fund is more than ample to sup
ply the lamps with oil. In the same way,
we are training the ohildren of our Sunday
sohool in liberal ways. The teachers take
up a collection every Sunday. [Good,
again.] The children contribute cheerful
ly, and their parents and friends are not
troubled with applications for money to
send for the “Visitor,’’ or new supplies of
the “Sunday-school Bell.” Our Sunday
school treasury is ample for all necessary
demands. Truly yours,
R H. Powell.
A Sabbath-school m the Fine Woods.
Can you believe it, Mr. Editor, a Sabbath
school in the pine woods 1 Will your read
ers believe it? Regular wire grass pine
woods —land poor and sandy. Yet they
have a Sabbath-school. The nearest hou a e
is the Superintendent’s, three quarters of a
mile from the church—the next nearest,
one mile. Yet they have a regularly organ
ized school. Will you allow me to tell
something abont this school fo r the benefit
of the readers of the Advocate ?
The school was organized in 1857 under
the management of Mrs McCormick, and
for twelve years this school has been kept
up with unflagging interest, wioter and
summer; and strange to say, Mrs. MoCor
miok has been present every Sabbath ex
cepting about twelve. Oat of six hundred
and twenty-two Sabbaths, only absent
twelve ! Can you wonder it is kept up with
continued interest. One of her old schol
ars told me that she never grew despond
ing, always hopeful, a prodigy of energy.
If scholars were absent she would go to
see them, look after them with all of a
mother’s fondness, supplying articles of
clothing if necessary. Her school num
bers about fifty regular scholars. Some
live as far away as ten miles. These are
irregular in attendance, but the larger
number live within five miles of the church.
She has a celebration every year, at
which every child from the smallest to the
largest, both boys and girls makes a speech.
I have never seen scholars better broke in.
They all seem to love her very dearly.
These little ones are the ohildren of her
first Sabbath-school scholars. She says of
them, they are her “grand children.”
I never oould have believed that a school
oould have been gotten up and kept up in
snoh a sterile part of the country. It oan
be done, for it is done in Richmond oounty,
four miles from Berzelia at a Methodist
Churoh called Linwood. The South Geor
gia Conference has many circuits in the
pine woods, settled as thickly as they are
around Linwood. Why then may we not
have a Sabbath-school at all our churohes
and in all our populous neighborhoods ? I
know no reason but a spirit of indifference
or an unwillingness to throw around the
sohools suoh oharms and inducements as
will interest the young. We cannot farm
successfully without an outfit—must have
plows, and they must be renewed or sharp
ened every few weeks. This outlay is wil
lingly made, because it is an absolute nec
essity. So, to make a Sabbath sobool suc
cessful, there must be a continued outlay
of money for books and papers. I believe
no outlay is so profitable as for a weekly
newspaper. I speak from experience, as
our Superintendent in Thomasville, R. H.
Hardaway, furnished his sohool with
Burke’s Weekly, and it worked like a
oharm. To make it still more oertain and
beneficial, let there be bought books for
prizes, suoh as will interest the children.
One other reason of the success at Lin-
lAJSr ADVOCATE.
!■ was the interest taken in it by tho
of these children. They come with
children. Many of these ohildren
plowing season, rather than stay at
Except on regular preaching Sab-
the pastor, they hold their school
On the day of preaching
it in the morning. There is per-
in every thing. Everything in
and a place for everything. Par
attention is given in instructing the
to siog, using a melodeon to assist
the music.
effect this school has had upon the
is a complete metamorphosis.
the time of Mrs. McCormick’s mov
§Hto this community, two or three other
moved in, and these were a nucleus
She began in a schoolhouse,
the end of the first year there
a neat framed church, in fine
|H and dedicated by Bishop Pierce.
belongs now to the church about 60
The moral tone of society is as
as in any country neighborhood in
Drunkenness was the common
scarcely a drunkard in the neigh-
of said ohuroh.
other thing in connection with this
§■l which adds to its interest and use
is a Temperance Society. Every
is allowed to join it, and is expected
Ha. They have a colebration in which
member has a part, as in Sabbath-
This comes off in September. This
anew feature and one I like very
Temperance ought to be inculcated
early age. I know of no better
|B than the Sabbath-school.
HHconciusion, I am wonderfully helped,
SMiis visit to Linwood. I have turned
new leaf, i vtiil try, let me go
I may, to have a Sabbath school at
church, and to have a stove, and
it keep on winter and summer. Ido
to wait in this matter, but begin
present work. They have a stove
and if they can have one there,
||H can have one in every ohuich in our
Will you not, Mr. Editor,
Hr up the minds of the churches upon
this subject. Let the first moneys from
present growing crops be used for the pur
chase of a comfortable stove or stoves, so
that our schools may continue all winter,
and I predict your subscription list in
twelve months will increase one-half, and
the piety of the church an hundred fold.
We are rallying in Burke and already
the fruit is ripe, ready for the sickle. Bro.
Sweet and myself are preparing for a grand
demonstration on the Friday before the
third Sunday in August. We confidently
expect Dr. Pierce to be with us. Our P.
E. will be with us—and you, Mr. Editor,
would find a hearty welcome, if you can
only come and be with us
N. B. Ousley.
Talbotton, So. Ga. Conference- H
Mr. Editor :—ln answer to prayer, God
has graciously visited us in Talbotton.
About four weeks ago our beloved pastor,
Rev. T. T. Christian, commenced a protrac
ted meeting here, assisted by Bros. Evans,
Lester and Corley. Before the meeting be
gan, the church was spiritually dull, spirit
less, lifeless —almost “twioe dead.” A few
members, influenced by tho untiring efforts
of our zealous pastor, had been assembling
on Friday nights, and had covenanted to
gether to pray for a revival; but the great
body of the church was never seen, except
occasionally on Sabbath. So determined
was our pastor to hold class-meetings, that
he declared his intention to hold class with
the aged sexton alone, if nobody else would
cotne
\Yell, we met —a little band —prayed to
gether, and were blessed—until the pro
traeted meeting commenepil Tru», many
a* ’ U wmild never, do to begin meeting
now—it was the wrong time—who ever
hoard of a protracted meeting at this sea
son. The pastor was surely beside himself
preaching summer time sermons in spring,
and looking for a revival in “harvest sea
son.” But sure enough, God has been
even better than our fears, and has given
us a gracious meeting—many precious re
freshing seasons Twenty have been con
verted, fifteen added to the church, and
many dead Christians warmed into life.
A deep religious feeling has pervaded
the entire church, and, indeed, the whole
community; but for want of a little more
faith and a great deal more co-operatioa on
the part of the church, besides other un
avoidable obstacles, we have been compelled
to close the meeting without reaping such
fruits as some of us hoped, and as we be
lieve God designed us to reap.
But our pastor iB by no means dis
couraged—his faith knows no suoh word
as fail, while there is another stone that
can be turned by human effort, directed by
untiring zeal, and assisted by God’s “pre
venting grace.’’ He intends to pray on,
work on, hope on, believe and wait; and
when God clears the’way, he intends to re
sume his publio cffjrta to save Talbotton
sinners.
In the meantime, my dear brother, pray
for us. There is strong organized oppo
sition here, manned by fieuds incarnate and
led on by the prince of the power of the
air “in propria persona.’’
One thing encouraging has been demon
strated by our meetiDg. All who put them
selves in the circle of its influence have
been blessed Hence the Sabbath-school
scholars, and especially the young ladies
who attended most punctually have been
blessed most abundantly. Let others, in
future, learn, heed, and profit by their ex
ample. T. G.
Talbotton, Ga., June 2.3 th, 1869.
June Report of S. S. Agent.
I opened at Perry, Houston 00, at aS.
S. Convention, oalled for the place apd
county. It was a wise move. I was sick,
a’nd feeble ; but, as was expee ed, I opened
the Convention with a discourse founded
on Matt. xxi. 15, 16, on the sympathy of
homogeniety. My object was to show that
Ibis sympathy affected as well moral kin
dred, as natural, and that the example in
the text was proof divine that ohildren
possess moral stratum in their composition,
whioh is capable of being oalled into pro
per aotion, at an early day, and was accep
table praise to God, as Christ there de
clared ; and that Sabbath-school celebra
tions should be so managed as to make our
children intentionally praise the Lord. I
was at the meeting of the ohildren in the
afternoon; but not at night. Ail went off
well, and every suoh S. S. meeting, if pro
perly earned on, is an advance in the right
direction. These cheerful, religious asso
ciations will dry up the springs from which
more carnal associations arise.
From Perry, I returned to Ft. Valley,
and held my S. S. meeting there, embrac
ing the first Sabbath in June. I was sick
in the house of Dr. Greene, and under his
care, as my physician. The meeting was
going on every night, under the care of
Bro. E. H. MoGehee, with promise of good.
I was shut in, but tried to preach Saturday
and again Sunday, from Matt. ix. 36, 37,
■BB. Met the Sabbath-sohool in the after
noon—had a delightful time—took up my
IcoHeotion through the children, with a few
others, whioh was by far the best collection
of this year. I remained over and preached
again on Monday, my most effective effort,
as I believe. The meeting was a suooebs.
God is there. .
I went from there to Columbus on busi
ness, and to seek rest—spent my seoond
Sabbath there—preached only once, being
eat out at night by rain—and ought to have
been any how, for I was unfit for night
work. But little improved in health, I left
on Friday, for my appointment in Albany,
on the third Sunday. Reached there Sat
urday afternoon —was happily domiciled
with Bro. Moore, their worthy pastor. Sun
day 20th —morning sermon. The Abra
hamio covenant. The temperature abont
95°_ crowded house —and the animal heat
added to the natural, so overoome me that
I had like to have fainted. But after a
little rest, I met the Sabbath-school at 4}
p M , and had a very interesting and pro
fitable meeting.
Preached again at night, on being beside
ourself to God, eto. There was some inter
est. Hot as it was, and unwell as I was,
I preached Monday night, Tuesday night,
and Wednesday night, for them, and as 1
judge with slowly increasing interest. Bro.
Moore continued the services. Thursday
morning, I left for .Dawson, where my S.
S. Meeting was to oome off on the 4th Sab
bath. Reaohing there, I was domiciled
with Bro. Breedlove, their beloved pastor.
Preached that night, but found my way
hedged up by academic exhibitions. I took
in my Friday night’s appointment and
preached on Saturday in place of it. Con
gregation fair, but not full. Alas! I find
Presiding Elders leaving off Saturday at
their quarterly meetings in most of our
oity stations. Does this onslought on our
old, well-paying usage awaken no fears in
our slothful people ?
I preached on Sunday morning to a crowd
ed house from 2 Cor. v. 18, 19, 20, 21.
A copious subject in feeble hands, but I
was divinely helped, and deeply interested.
But my strength failed me, and foroed to
yield, 1 sat down to faint, whidb, however,
I did not do. I revived after a little rest,
met the S. S. children, and a large audi
ence of deeply interested citizens. It was
regarded a grand success I preached
again at night—making eleven efforts m
the two places, in eight days. Well, sure
ly all will say, this is overworking. Yes,
but it was no more than the people wanted
—not near as much as they needed. But
I guess I must draw off a little. On Mon
day, after all this, I felt for the first time
in two months, as if I was myself again.
But I may be disappointed. Oh ! for en
tire resignation.
The S -schools are all doing so well,
where I go, that I am unwilling to discri
minate. All we need in addition, is revi
vals of religion in our Sabbath schools.
Aad these are being cared for in many of
our schools after a godly sort.
My prediction is that God’s next great
move in the church will be a revival of re
ligion among children. Look out for it,
and let no one oppose it.
L. Pierce, Agent.
Commencement of Southern Masonic
Female College.
Mr. Editor : This College, located at this
place, has recently favored the publio with
its usual annual commencement.
The exercises were opened on the Sab
bath, by a sermon from Rev. E. A. Steed,
of Thomson, Ga., from the 15th verse of
the 89th Psalm, the subject of which was,
“the experimental knowledge of the gos
pel the only true happiness.” The dis
course was appropriate, eminently practi
cal, oonsoling, persuasive and replete with
wise oouosel.
The Sophomore prize reading on Monday
night, evinoed assiduous attention to this
much-neglected art, and useful and beauti
ful accomplishment. It has rarely been
our pleasure to hear a class, in which there
was exhibited suoh excellent uniformity,
and we were not surprised at the announce
ment, that the committee of award, had
been much embarrassed in making a de
cision.
The Junior exhibition occupied Tuesday
morning. The compositions read by the
olass, were highly creditable to them, and
gave satisfaction to the audience. The ad
dress of Rev. Mr. Steed at the close of the
exeroises, on the delivery of the prizes as
awarded by the oommittee, was instructive,
sparkling with wit, beautified by classical
illustration, and largely enhanced the in
terest and enjoyment of the oocasion.
The afternoon wu devined tu tho »olp_
bration of the Literary Societies connected
with the Institution—Rev A. G. Haygood
made the address. It was logical, bold,
angular, earnest. He thought and spoke
to do good, not to win applause—with an
unfaltering hand, and a sharp, well-tem
pered tool he graved the image of good
character deep in the tablet of the mind
Not forgetful that he was the ambassador
for Jesus, he lifted up His cross and from
that drew the inspiration which alone oan
impart graoe and nobility to character.
The concert on Tuesday night given by
Mrs. Conyers and Miss Floyd, assisted by
their pupils, was a oharmiog sucoess—fur
nishing high evidence of the capacity, and
diligence of the teachers and the applica
tion and proficiency of the pupils. The
hours were sweetly beguiled by scientific
melody, spiced with juvenile song and dia
logue, a fit sequel to the festivities of the
day.
Wednesday was the “great day of the
feast”—a solemn gala-day. The young
ladies composing the senior class —fifteen
in number—just entering the threshold of
womanhood, presented a scene inspiring
the thoughtful beholder with emotions of
mingled joy and sadness. The compo
sitions were excellent, and well read. Tbe
Masons present will long cherish the ap
peal of Miss Summers, as representative
from the class, in behalf of their “Alma
Mater,” and the improvised reply of Rev.
Mr. Butler, who so happily filled tho place
of the absent speaker—Mr. Samuel Law
rence G. M. The Faculty confer no hon
ors, and allow the class to Beleot the salu
tatorian, and valediotorian. We mention
the valedictory, not by way of discrimina
tion in merit —for all merited —but be
cause of its relation to the occasion. It
was simple, beautiful, touching, and was
read with true pathos—hearts melted and
eyes flowed as a tribute to its enchantment.
The degrees conferred, the President fa
vored us with his Bacoalaureate, and Mr.
Editor, it was a favor, such as should be
granted on such occasions. These are gol
den opportunities to the educator, whioh
occur but once in the life-time of the pu
pil. However rigid and impervious to good
influences the heart may have been up to
this period, now it relaxes, softens, and is
reoeptive of truth —and the impressions pro
duced are like the bird tracts made in the
granite, when a yielding mass, whioh by
the process of induration become ineffacea
ble—how often has sordid ambition select
ed these, as favorable times to display it
self, thus marring their proprieties, and
mocking their solemnities. Not so with
our worthy President —not intending to
rhetorize, but to instruct in praotioal truth,
he offered for his theme the grave propo
sition that, “Woman’s true relation to
society is that of subordination.” The ar
gument was conclusive, without being of
fensive to the most delicate, well-balanced
sensibility —and presented in chaste,
graoeful style. That the disousaion was
opportune, all will grant, who make obser
vations northward, where meetings for
“Woman’s Rights’’ —30 oalled —are attract
ing the attention, and seouring tbe endorse
ment, not only of weak-minded men, but
in one case, as reported—of a grave, and
reverend Bi-hop. Let us learn wisdom
from the past.
Abolition fanaticism, for a long time pro
duced no sensible shook in the publio mind,
but iu a few years, it has strengthened un
til with earth-quake power, it has oon
vulsed the foundations of our sooial state,
and upheaved Afrioa in Amerioa. Let the
eduoators of our young ladies oonsider this
question vital and guard their minds against
these infidel innovations, and teach them
the fundamental principles of social pros
perity, as derived from the word of God.
Mr. Hill, who was tho annual orator,
oould not fill his hour in oonsequenee of
unexpected professional engagements. This
all regretted.
This is the only Female College in the
South —as we believe —under the oontrol
of the Masonic Fraternity. It is under
the Presidency of Gustavus J. Orr, A M.
a graduate of Emory College, and for
many years a Professor in that Institution.
Under its present organization it has been
well patronized, and deserves to be. We
oommend it to the public, and hope for it
an enlarged sphere of usefulness, and a
long life of benefaotion upon the daugh
ters of our beloved South.
What we have said about the college and
the occasion, is not the vapid cant of com
mencement conventionalism, but a candid
statement of facts, and reflections by one
who is not of the lt Mystic Tie.”
Covington, Ga., 28 th June. P. A. H.
Sunday School Celebration, Midway,
Alabama.
Mr. Editor : —Yesterday we held the
first Annual Celebration since the forma
tion of the l ‘Enon and Midway S. 8- Un
ion." At 10 o’olock we formed, under
charge of our loved Superintendent of
Enon, and marched into the church. The
exeroises commenced, we were soon absorb
ed, A courteous Salutatory, followed by
“Welcome,’’ a Song, and all of us felt at
home. Next, a beautiful extrao’, none the
less pleasant because trite, was spoken, fol
lowed by an original piece on Resolution.
We have noticed a disposition among youth
to be dictatorial in giving advice, while aee
speaks with caution. We were pleased with
“Resolution.” He knew his age, but re
cognized the importance of his subject.
The Address was delivered by Kev. Mr.
McCarty, of Ala. Conference and our Pre
siding Elder.
How deeply impressed were we with his
pleasant discourse. He gave the true
sphere of Sabbath-schools—not encroaohiug
upon home culture or superseding the min
istry—yet a great power when Christ was
there. Dinner was announced, and we re
tired to those tables so bare in the morn
ing, but now filled with an elegant repast.
Dinner, as is the natural consequence,
helped all, and beauty and pleasantry
marked the speeches. Mr. Davis had
dined, Rev. Mr. Norton had dined, and we
were delighted. The Elder, from his looks.
and temper of his speech, had not dined!
was quite jocose. The President of the
Society, after speaking of the loss of Gen.
Evans, of Leesburg fame, in feeling terms,
proceeded to fill his vaoant plaoe of Vice
President. All were delighted at the se
lection of Col. Pipkin. The Sooiety is
doing a good work. A praiseworthy emu
lation has sprung up between the two
sohools. Not long sinoe three of the pu
pils memorized and reoited an aggregate of
four thousand verses in the Bible 1
Media Via.
Midway, July 3, 1869.
Commencement of the Griffin Female
College.
The sermon on Suoday 27th ult., was
preached by Rev. A. G. Haygood. It was
a masterly effort. Tbe preaoher argued the
Diviue Origin of the Soripturos, with great
clearness, and convinoiDg foroe —rendering
a trite subjeot intensely interesting to a
large and intelligent audienoe—enforced
the authority consequent upon their Divine
origination—and held that they lay at the
foundation of all true learning and great
ness.
The examinations on Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday, were thorough and satis
factory.
Thursday was Commencement Day.
Eight young ladies graduated—four of
them with the honors usually oonferred
the remainder were talented and had made
good use, apparently, of their College days
The Baeoalaureate of Prest. Rogers was
a model production, in style and matter
It is hoped that it will be published. But,
the orowniog oiroumstanoe of the ocoasion
was Col. H. D. Capers’ address upon Ho
man’s relation to society as a conservator
Justioe cannot be done to it by a hasty re
view, so I forbear.
This Institution has been more prosper
ous during the last term than sinoo the war.
IjuualoJ nt a livwULj point, nrifh an annr»*n.
plished Faculty, it should be largely put
ronized. A.
Opelika High Sohool.
Mr. Editor : —l have just returned from
Opelika, Ala, where I was in attendance
on tbe Annual Examination of the pupils
of the Opelika High Sohool, Rev. E D
Pitts, Prinoipal. I have attended exami
nations where fewer questions' were unan
swered, but none where the examination
was more thorough. It was no clap trap
concern, gotten up to oreate enthusiasm or
excite applause. If 1 am not mistaken,
the young ladies and gentlemen, who may
pass through that sohool will understand
something of the principles of mathematics
and the construction of languages, and will
be prepared to exercise other faculties than
the memory. It is enough to know of a
school, that it is presided over by a compe
tent and oonsoientious Principal, aided by
competent assistants, and that (he object is
to educate the young. Such is the Opelika
High School. W. S.
Auburn, Ala., June 30, 1869.
Newton Circuit, S. C. Conference.—
The Rev D. May, writes 6th July:—l
closed a meetiDg at Smyrna Churoh last
Sunday, of two weeks’ duration, in whioh
time 45 were added to the Church, and
over 50 were converted. At the close
of the meeting, I administered the Lord’s
Sunper, and over two hundred communed.
The oocasion was one of great interest.
The conduct of tho people throughout tho
meeting was the best that I have ever seeu
on such an occasion, whioh speaks well for
the community, and shows that tho work
was the work of God. All the praise be
to God. ___
Albany, Ga —The ftev. H. D. Moore
writes :—We are having quite an interest
ing meeting in this oharge. Several havo
been converted, some backsliders have re
consecrated themselves to God. One so
far, has joined the ohuroh, and we are muoh
encouraged. Dr. Pierce’s visit to us has
been attended with gracious results, and I
have no doubt that in his crown of rejoic
ing hereafter, will be some stars gathered
from this plaoe.
Talbotton, Ga. —The Rev. T. T. Chris
tian writes:—An interesting and very prof
itable protraoted meeting in Talbotton, olos
ed on the 4th Sabbath in June, after a con
tinuance of four weeks—services 7 o’clock,
A. M. aud BV. M. The result of the meet
ing was 15 aooessions to the churoh, and
more than as many conversions.
Randolph Macon College-
The Annual Commencement of this time
honored seat of learning took plaoe at Ash
land, near Richmond, Va., on the 23d and
24th of Jane. The occasion is spoken of
by those who were in attendance as one of
extraordinary interest. Our Conference
was fully represented, all the members of
the Board of Trustees and Visiting Com
mittee being present They are enthusias
tic in their commendation of the College;
of its able and popular President; its ac
complished and effioient Faoulty ; the pro
fioienoy and admirable bearing of its stu
dents More than a score of young men of
great promise will shortly go out from the
halls of Randolph Maoon to preaoh Jesus
and the Resurreotion.
Here is a grand opportunity for our men
of wealth. Will they not assist the noble
young men of the South, especially those
of Virginia and Maryland, who are strug
gling to obtain an eduoation against every
conoeivable obstacle ?
Those to whom God has vouohshafed the
ability to sustain this Institution, are oalled
upon by the voioe of Providence, by the
Golden Rule of the Saviour, and by the
kindred preoept —“Freely have ye reoeived,
freely give.”
The University of Nashville was
founded in 1784, by the State of North
Carolina and endowed with lands in the
neighborhood ot Nashville, now within the
oity, the rise in the value of whioh has
plaoed her among the wealthiest institn-
V'ol.xxxii. No. 29
tions of the nation and secured her perma
nent prosperity. She was oreated inde
pendent of Church or State, but has in her
long and successful caieer benefited both.
Her avowed mission was to elevate the
lowly, give strength to the feeble and to
polish the strong and vigorous. While her
Faculties have had to rely mainly upon fees
for support, none of them ever turned away
from an ambitious young man beoause ho
was poor, but, on the contrary, always gave
him the hand of kindness and encourage
ment, making the fame of his after years
add lustre to her renown.
The graduates of her various depart
ments are familiar with the high positions
throughout the Southern country. Her
medical department alone has had between
four and five thousand young men in her
classes, having enjoyed, to an unexampled
extent, the confidence of the profession in
the former slave-holding States. This de
partment is in a better condition to deserve
well of the public than ever, having greatly
increased the means of illustration and also
the facilities for studying clinical medicine
and surgery.
Prom the Nashville OhristianEAdvocate.
Letter from Bishop Paine.
Mr. Editor: —Leaving your city on the
evening of the 10th uit, I took passage on
the Naahvillc and Chattanooga train for my
appointment at Cleveland, East Tennessee,
to hold the Chattanooga District-meeting,
beginning next morning. Having secured
a berth in the sleeping-car, in oompany
with Brother M'zcll, I soon found it filled
to its utmost capacity with Governor Senter
and Colonel Stokes, rival candidates for the
governorship of the State, and their speoial
friends. Having heard of their mutual
personal hostility, 1 was agreeably surprised
at their apparent social friendly relations.
Nor did any impropriety mark their de
portment on the trip. We were all destin
ed for Cleveland next morning; they to
open the campaign of stumping the State,
I to begin the District-meetings in that
part ol it. Arriving at Cleveland to break
fast on the 11th, I left Brother Mizell to
pursue his way to Knoxville as agent for
the Asylum at Clarksville, and began the
Distriot-mecting. Brother C. Long, the
faithful and efficient Presiding Elder, and
Brother H. C Neal, a lovely and educa’ed
young man, the preacher in charge of the
Cleveland Station, were present. Sly po
litical companions on the trip both deliver
ed addresses, as 1 was informed, then went
on their way. The nex day ex-I’resident
Johnson addres-cd several thousand oiti
zens at the same place. His speech is said
to have been in vindication of his political
course as Prosidcnt, and to have been heard
wiih high gratification. As neither my
office nor inclination comports with political
strife, I drop this subject.
The Distriot-oreetißg was a-deeply, iater
esting occasion to those in attendance. The
business was conducted methodically and
searohingly. Tho religious condition of
our Church, claimed our first attention,
with special reference to family-worship,
olass and prayer-meeting, as well as attend
ance upon preaching, and the administra
tion of Discipline. Committees also re
ported upon Sunday-schools, finanoes, edu
cation, the circulation of our books and pe
riodicals, etc., etc.
The business-session dosed Saturday af
ternoon, but the religious exeroises were
continued until Monday, and were highly
appreciated, and, I trust, useful.
Having arrived at Cleveland, after trav
eling all night with but little sleep, I began
my duties feeling feeble and unwell; and
although I had determined to follow tho
advioc of my physioian and friends, and
preach but once at eaoh meeting, yet my
resolution gave way under the pressuro of
oircu instances, and I overworked myself.
On Sunday afternoon, after too great labor,
and having got wee in getting to uhurch, X
had a chill whioh lasted four hours, and
was followed by a great reaotion, whioh con
tinued until next day. My host, Dr. Long,
whose approved medical skill is equaled by
his amiability and devotion to our Churoh,
failed to prevent a recurrence of my ohill
on Tuesday, but suooeednd on Thursday by
confining me to my bed, and stuffing me to
repletion with quinine, eto.
Friday, 18th, I went to Athens, the
oounty-seat of McMinn oounty and began
the Athens District meeting. Here I found,
a state of things had existed whioh I scarce
ly conocived possible among an enlightened
and Christian community. At the olose of
the war our Northern brethren seemed to
have combined with some violent men to
persecute our people in various ways. It
i3 with a sense of humiliation, in view of
our interest in our oommon Methodist Chris
tianity, that I allude to these facts. Wo
once oiaimed a fine College-edifice, and had
tho prospect of a noble institution here.
The edifice is now oiaimed aud occupied by
the Northern Methodists. We had an ele
gant brick ohuroh—ours by every moral
and legal right; now our quondam breth
ren possess and claim it; aod although our
people instituted suit to reoover possession,
yet who, in tho present temper of tbo
Courts here, can say when or how tho suit
will be determined '(
During our meeting wo had to hold our
services in a hired hall, while our own
church v;as unoccupied. Several of our
preachers were here who had been treated
most shamefully. Brother Neal, who was
dragged from his horse, had his skull laid
bare by repeated blows, and with a pistol
at his breast, ordered not to say a word, was
dragged into the woods, stripped, tied to a
tree, and whipped until the blood streamed
trom his body, and he sank down nearly or
quite insensible. And good old Brother
Brillhart, who after threats, intimidation,
and closing church-doors had all failed to
drive him from his circuit, was seised,
mounted upon a rail, and held there while
borne upon the shoulders of his persecutors.
His present paralysed condition is said to
be the result of this brutal treatment. The
very recent beating of old Brother Smith,
in Blount county, is a similar case. In all
these instances our abused brethren are of
most unexceptionable manners and oharao
ter. Several other instances, as well of
the seizure and detainment of our Churoh
property as of personal abuse might he
mentioned, but their narration is exceed
ingly painful to the writer, and is only de
signed to indnee those who can prevent the
recurrence of suoh outrages to exert their
influence in behalf of justice and quietude.
Most earnestly and fervently do I protest
against every species of wrong and perse
cution from any quarter, and would gladly
bury in oblivion and fraternal amity all re
membranoes of evil on every side.
The meeting at Athens was a delightful
and profitable one. The love feast was glo
rious I had a very pleasant home at Dr.
Atlee’s.
in conclusion, my visit to East Tennes
see has satisfied me that our (Jhuroh there
is living and thriving. The preachers are
a noble, brave, and laborious set of men.
Brother R M. Hickey lives, moves, and is
always at work on his Distriot; and Brother
Striugfield—the stationed preaoher—is a
worthy son of my old fellow-laborer, the
Rev. Thomas Striogfield, who has gone, wa
doubt not, to a glorious reward. A bright
er day is dawning in East Tennesseo. God
bless the Holston Conference.
R. Paink.
American Bible Sooiety.
To the Auxiliary Societies, Members and
Friends of the American Bible Society ,
in North and Middle Georgia.
The undersigned has been* appointed
Assistant Agent of the American Bible
Sooiety for Georgia.
The South line of tho foliowing counties
constitute the Southern Boundary of the
field assigned him : Harris, Upson, Monroe,
Jones, Baldwin, Hanoook, Glasoook and
Riohmond, thenoe North to the Tennessee
line.
The following suggestions if observed,