Southern Christian advocate. (Macon, Ga.) 18??-18??, July 16, 1869, Image 2

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—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,