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118 Saatjjcrn Christian MACON, GEORGIA, JULY 23,1869. WHEREIN TO GLORY. THE ITINERANCY. Among the means of success upon which men rely, when organized into a society, for the propagation of doctrine or the attain ment of power, is what is called the esprit du corps, which may be freely translated, “zeal for your party, in good and ill.” Toget the adherents of a party, or sect, orchurch, so thoroughly satisfied that it is the best, and that nothing else can compete with it in merit or promise of advantage, that they be come identified with all its interests and feel a personal glory in its successes, and humiliation in its defeats, is to go far to ward enlisting all their zeal in its service and their energies in pushing its fortunes. It is most generally the case, that some el ement of earthly gain or worldly grandeur enters into most associations, and very nat urally evokes this spirit. It may be money orpheeand power; it may be social ad vantage ; it may be the eclat, whioh comes from great names or is associated with the “pomp and circumstance’’ of life ; it may be a “shiboleth” unpronounceable by oth ers; but whatever it is, the element in as sociation which most usually incites the full warmth and strength of this esprit du corps is found in someth'ng that is attrac tive to the eye and heart of the world; or something which so separates the favo rite party from all others, as that they feel that they belong to a piivileged few, who have rights and rank apart from all others. Now, it has been said by many persons, that Methodists have less of this unwaver ing fidelity to their own church, than any other Christian people—that they are more easily seduced out of it—that their chil dren grow up with less attachment to it, its usages and its doctrines; and that multitudes of them, far beyond those of any other church, leave it to go to other com munions. We shall not dany the fact; nor aocount for it simply on the ground, that there arc more in our communion to leave if. It may be accounted for, by a reason, that is more creditable to those who re main, than to those who go. Any one who will take pains to study the genius of Methodism will find that it re solves itself into three prominent elements, none of whioh are among those we have mentioned above, as those which elicit a strong esprit du corps in those who unite for a common object. Methodism has no “shiboleth’’—no ceremony, or rite, or doc trine, that separates it from the Christian world—bars communion or makes it claim exclusive privileges. It does not stilt it self upon a learned ministry; but it ad mits among its teachers men from the mass es of the people—and if it can boast of great men who have much learning, it can number many more small but useful men, who have little or no learning. It has a few magnificent temples ; but many more very insignificant houses of worship, in which, no doubt, God is quite as devoutly adored,and the gospel as profitably preached as in tho loftiest sanes. It has no ritual worth naming as such and it has a constitu tional objection to trying to mould every body’s devotions into tho same unaltera bly forms—and its great freedom of wor ship not seldom leads to great offence to a very refined taste. It makes no pretence to be the churoh of the rich and fashiona ble great—indeed, it oarric.- on such a per petual warfare against the pleasures and follies, which pass among them as innocent and allowable and necessary to tbeir happi ness, that a Methodist very often has only his own self-respect to sustain him against *he sneers of those who set themselves up to lead sooiety. It ha3 no magnifioent cultus of ritualistic oeremony, with lights and reverences and robes and crosses and altars and inoense—only here and there an organ and ohoir, of very doubtful benefit in any ease to tho true work of Methodism, and a great deal of poor singing, and sometimes none at all. With all this, it is no wonder that many who do not know, or cannot ap preciate, that wherein tho true glory of Methodism lies, feel that it offers them very little to hold them to it by a bond, that can stand the chafing of worldly pride or the constant abrasion against their very delicately refined tastes. It takes a humil ity that ignores self, and a sympathy that, passing by a class however great and rich and intellectual, embraces the whole broth erhood of man, and is willing to use all legitimate means to save them, to fully un derstand even the elements in Methodism, whioh constitute its true glory. These are : 1. That it pretends to be noth ing else than a system, providentially in troduced into the Christian world, to preach the gospel of salvation to all men, and to oare for their souls, and especially to carry the gospel to the poor. 2. That it counts nothing for religion, which does not ohange the heart, and tend to bring its subject into constant spiritual oommunion with God. 8. That it adapts its means to its ends ; and uses every instrumentality that com mon sense suggests for making human na ture, as it find# it, tributary to the great work of redemption. It does not repress, but rather gives soope to the peculiarities of the human constitution ; and so works up every variety of influence not sinful in itself, to help to save the largest number of the race. It only rejects among these in fluences, those which would counteract those other elements, of enforcing a spirit ual rather than a formal or esthetical re ligion, or of circumscribing the effect of its teachings to a few, rather than diffusing them among the masses. We oannot assert that at all times, by every body, and in every movement in the church, these fundamental ideas have been adhered to strictly. Too often, a worldly policy and a copying after other churches, have oome in here and there, to befog min ister and people, and these elementary prin ciples have been temporarily put in abey ance. They are, however, those which gave our church birth and have kept it in being; and if we are to oontinue to exist as a vital power in the land, they must still remain the life-blood of our system. If surrendered for other principles, our name may still remain j but the very essence of our polity will have given place to ideas borrowed from some other form of Chris tianity, and Methodism as a distinctive system will die out. Now it is not wonderful that those, who are not wholly in sympathy with these great ideas of Methodism, upon whioh it prinoi- ' pally rests its olaims to consideration as one among the various forms into which the universal church has been consolidated, do not feel that attachment to our commu nion, which less catholio and more selfish considerations would elicit in some other churches. It takes an unselfish, large hearted, self-sacrificing, spiritual-minded man—one who studies what will benefit others, rather than what will please his own tastes, to be a first-rate Methodist — and such men are not as common as they ought to be. Take our first principle—that our sys tem offers the gospel to all men, and spec ially seeks out the poor as its beneficiaries. Poverty and ignorance, and, too often, squalor, are generally found in company. Where these are the gospel is not appreci ated, and if received at all, it must be sent. Large areas of our country hold a population, unable partly, unwilling wholly, to call and sustain a ministry. But Meth odist itinerancy does not leave these to perish. It goes out into the highways and hedges, to “compel them to come in.” Its planting almost universally has begun as missionary work. A few have been gathered to its fold, and in time, the mis sion becomes a circuit and self-sustaining— if that word can be applied, where the preacher gives the gospel, and, getting just what the people is willing to pay, leaves his work at the end of the year poorer, perhaps, than when he begun it—and re peats the history annually, through an itinerant career of years. However that may be—here is the fact. By our system the gospel is assured to the people, inde pendently of all promise of pay —or perform ance of promise, for tnat matter —as well as of choice on the part of the preacher as to the field assigned. It would not be easy to compute the amount of destitution of gospel privileges there would be in this country now—especially since the war— but that Methodism gave to the people a gospel they could not have bargained for, and to the preaoher a field whioh he would never have seleoted for himself. Thus, Methodism has been kept alive, where oth er denominations have died out. But this benefit is inseparable from the itinerant system; and equity and policy require that this system touch our ohurch at every point—even where, but for this purpose to carry the gospel to the poor, a different order might seem allowable. Change at one point necessitates it at an other; and there can properly be no ex cepted classes. There is another reason for this general working of the system, of little less importance. A hundred reasons may make a change of pastors proper, in the largest and riohest congregations—and, take the average of congregations, a uni versal change every few years will be a benefit to both preachers and people, and, moreover, so equalise the talent of the ministry, that it may be used to the best possible advantage. Necessary exoeptioDS may be provided for without destroying the general itinerancy, whioh has all the ad vantage of a military system, with an army always under marohing orders—and, there fore, always prepared for battle and vietory. .'low, nothing less than a sincere devo tion to the great work of saving souls, in which this itinerant ministry is engaged, can reconcile our people to the constant ohange of pastors, to whioh it subjects them. It bears especially hard upon them, where the settled pastorates of other ehurohes are brought into contrast under their own observation; and in such places, especial ly, we oftenest find the decay of the esprit du corps of our members. Having a pas tor they love—one who does his work well —one whose influence outside the mem bership and whose preaching ability fill the house of worship, they are not unfrequent ly called to surrender him, and to reoeive one far from his equal in all these particu lars. Unselfishness would say, “better so; this last man has done all he oould do at A ; and that churoh should not be permitted to die on his hands; our pas tor has brought this churoh into good con dition ; A needs such an one; let him go there; and we will take our turn with the other brother—so that there may be equality, and one be not too much bur dened, while another has ease.” And a hearty, self denying, Methodist spirit does reason in this way ; and reoeives the new preacher heartily, and works on and prays on, and God blesses both pastor and people. Or, if the church does not thrive then, as it has done, it is thriving more than it otherwise would elsewhere; and if not so many rich are being attracted and saved there, many more poor, who would never have been saved, are receiving the gospel, while these so favored heretofore are not without it. Thus looking over the whole field, they love the system, that reaohes- so far and wide. But, we say again, it takes an unselfish religion to reach this conclusion. If one narrows down his view to himself, his own house, his own community, it will be very easy, when a favorite pastor is given up, and one muoh less acceptable reoeived, to see that the other churoh over the way—of whatever name—has enjoyed a settled pas torate of ever so many years, and that there is a personal attachment between the peo ple and their pastor, that looks very much like love for the Churoh of Christ—and at least keeps down all restless yearnings to wards other communions. This is an esprit du corps —but it has reference more to the commander than to the cause; and we be lieve that it is neither a healthy spirit, nor symptomatic of a very exalted grade in re ligion. Methodism gives to its people very little opportunity for the people to form un dying attachments to their pastors, and to substitute love for them and oonfidenee in them, for love to and confidence in Christ; while it gives abundant soope to a love for the cause of Christ, and an unselfish sur renderiof privileges they prize, for the good of others. We doubt, if attachment to the churoh on other grounds has any real vir tue in it; and il it is not more a semblance of religion than religion itself. If any who are disaffeoted by reason of frequent pastoral changes will study and learn to love the genius of Methodism, they will learn, that it has somewhat, wherein to glory—and ,that indeed, for substantial and general and lasting benefit to mankind, it will take rank with any churoh, that has more directly obvious and material grounds of boasting. The Hearth and Home, which we have mentioned more than onoe, as a very beautiful illustrated weekly, published by Pettingall, Bates & Cos., 37 Park Row, New York, continues to give exoellent to our ladies. It is in so great demand in our own family circle, that the “head cen tre” can scarce get to see it till it has gone round; end we oonsider this a good sign of its value. Wesleyan Female College. Mi e noticed last week the opening Com mencement exercises of this Institution— which were closed on Wednesday by the graduation of twenty-three young ladies. There was nothing to mar the pleasure of the occasion, except what resulted from some of the sittings being too greatly pro tracted, so that the long confinement wear ied the audience at times —and those who came latest in the programme had but an indifferent chance to reach the sympathies of the hearers. The Literary Address of Hon. H. W. Hilliard, on “Progress,” took a very hopeful view of the future of this oountry, when the Constitution shall again be restored to its supremacy. It was heard with marked attention and frequent ap~ plause by a large audience. The Sophomore select readings deserve special notice; as we believe they gave al most universal delight. And the music classes and individual performers and sing ers, who have been under the training of Prof, and Mrs. Whitney, deserve very high praise. Quite a number of the graduates of former years were present and held their regular triennial meeting—having a pleas ant reunion on Wednesday night in the College parlors. We feel that there is no need to add any thing more as to the value of this Institu tion, as we publish the very full report of the Visiting Committee to the Board of Trustees. We would only call the attention of the preachers of the North and South Georgia Conferences, to the proposition of the Board of Trustees. It is very desirable to obtain a permanent endowment for this Institu tion ; and it is desired to enlist them all in the effort to secure it. Suppose one ex peots to have a daughter or daughters to educate some few years hence. He is re quested to collect all he can towards a per manent endowment, which money shall be invested and the interest put to his credit, until such time, as his daughter or daugh ters may enter College, when their board and other incidental expenses will be met by this interest as far as it goes. Their course being finished, then the interest accruing thereafter goes to the permanent benefit of the Institution. Those who bring in the largest aggregate will, of course, de rive the largest benefit in the future. An other proposition is made to those who make bequests to the permanent fund— giving them the interest in perpetuity in behalf of puch beneficiary as they may se lect, and leave heirs to the benefit. Endowment Association Wesleyan Female College This Association met during the recent Commencement exercises, and reported the collection of something more than 8600, almost all of whioh was expended in valua ble improvements on the College premises. Offioers were elected for another year ; and it is proposed to keep up the association, by the annual payment of 810 from each sub scriber. This is a very valuable adjunot.to the means of bringing this college to the high est state of efficiency—and it is hoped that all its friends will come forward yearly with this small tribute of aid. Most es pecially the graduates and the citizens of Macon to whose financial prosperity the College annually adds many thousand dol lars, will feel a deep interest in this soheme, and add their names to the list. The second annual payment has now become due; and there is a demand for more means, in order to complete improve ments begun. We, therefore, solicit sub scribers, in this way, to yield their annua! tribute to this excellent Institution, by sending in their subscriptions to E. 11. Myers, Treasurer. The Week of Prayer- It will be remembered, that the Bishops have designated Friday, August 13th, as a general fast, and the beginning of a week of prayer. Our contemporaries are incit ing the church to its observance. The Memphis Christian Advocate, says : “Let us all observe the Week of Prayer, beginning with a Day of Fasting. Let the pastors arrange for public services in each and every congregation, to bo con ducted by themselves and their assistants —the local preachers, the exhorters and leaders—and we suggest that it would be wise, also, to urge the observance of the occasion by the Sunday-schools—by the children of the church, who should be oome ready early in life to assume the obli gations growing out of their dedication to the Lord in holy baptism. Let all our people, old and young, avail themselves, to the fullest extent, of the religious advan tages offered by this solemn season, and ; let them seek its ends, not only in public places, but around the home altar and in the closet. ‘The Week of Prayer’—for what? We answer—and may the great ness ot the object arouse the dullest con science, and impress the hardest heart— FOR THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GfIOST upon the Church, in all her members, official and private, and in all her work at home and abroad.” The New Orleans Christian Advocate says: Wherever practicable, public services should be held every day, and the people requested to devote the entire week to the service of God. By timely notices and judicious arrange ments by the preachers a general interest may be excited, and a large attendance se cured upon the protracted services. On circuits the most central and commodious point should be selected for the meeting by the preacher in charge. A camp or basket meeting might be held in every work, and remote appointments can have prayer meetings. Where no public servi ces are accessible, we would earnestly ad vise every member of the chnrch, besides keeping the fast, to distinguish the ap pointed week by a more than usual atten tion to family and secret prayer. In the stations there will be protracted services as a matter of course. With or without min isterial help, let every town and city pastor begin in the name of the Lord, lead his people to the altar of prayer, and call sin ners to repentance. The observance of a week of prayer last year was attended with signal displays of the divine grace and power. We shall see greater things this year, if all our people oan be brought to their knees. It is scaroely. too soon even now to think about this important ecoasion and to prepare for it. Tho way of the Lord must be prepared in the church, and in the hearts of be lievers. Christians must put themselves in sympathy with the work of God by a closer walk and deeper spirituality. Churches must beoome more united in love, and more profoundly imbued with the mind of Christ. Hindrances there are in the individual, and in the society, which must be removed before the Holy Spirit can oome in. Above all we need to seek God that He SOUTHERN" CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. may pour out upon Israel “the Spin of graoe and supplication.’’ “The promis of the Father” waits upon our faith foil its fulfillment. The measure of our bleaing will be according to our faith. Begin, tifen, in time to wake up and get ready. sve the appointments made judiciously, anclet all the people keep the solemn weel of prayer. Heath of the Rev. Dr. Dormaii The whole church has cause to mojyn the death of the Rev. Dr. Dorman, of the Mobile Conference. The Rev. A. S.An drews writes from Mobile to the NewOr leans Christian Advocate : Our mutual friend and brother in Cl’ist, Rev. Thomas W. Dorman, D.D, di«i on the night of the 2nd inst., at ten o’click. His health has been rapidly declining tnoe Conference. Two weeks ago he felt hat his time was short for this world, and teing informed by his physician that he mght die at any moment, he calmly said: <|U is all right; I am ready to go.’’ On the night of the 2d inst., as friends watihed by his side, the children kneeling at hij dy ing couch, he quietly breathed his last. On the following evening his remains were borne to the grave from the St. Fr»ncis street Methodist Episcopal church, falow ed by a large concourse of mourning fiiends. Dr. Summers writes of him ia the Nash ville Advocate: Dr. Dorman was one of our most devoted and successful pastors. We have known him well for many years. Our acqaioiance with him began in 1835 or 1836. We were then traveling on Augusta Baltimore Conference. We had a special meeting at Mount Sidney, when our de parted brother, who was then removing with his family from Virginia to Alabama, was detained a day or two by an accident. He was then a local preacher—he made himself known to us, and took part in our services. In 1843 we met again—he was then stationed at Greensboro, Ala- IVe labored together at a camp meeting iu Per ry 00., near the residence of the late ven erable L. Q C. DeYampert, who hada tent on the ground. Dr. Lovick Pierce was present, but unable to preach, because of temporary indisposition. The next year, having been transferred from the Texas to the Alabama Conference, we went down to Livingston, to assist Brother Dormaa in a glorious meeting, which he was holding at that place, which was then in his circuit. In 1846 he was stationed in Franklin St., and we in St. Francis Street, Mobile—so that we were then together very frequently, and very pleasant was our intercourse- We met annually (one sad year at the sessions of the Alabama Conference, of whioh he was the faithful and honored sec retary for some twenty years. We met also at the sessions of the General Conference, of which he was several times a member. We found him to be of a most genial spirit, kind, ardent in his friendship, popular in his manners, successful in his pulpit labors, a most diligent and devoted pastor, a man greatly beloved by the people wbbtn he served, as well as by his brethren in the ministry. We are deeply affected with the thought that we shall never again see his beaming countenance, hear his cheerful voice, or feel the cordial grasp of his hand, at our annual convocations. His wife and several of his children preceded him to paradise ; but others still remain to mourn his removal and to share our sympathies. Os course, his end was peaceful. >■-» Our Church in Oregon. Bishop Marvin writes to the New Orleans Christian Advocate from Ashland. Ilregon, June 12th, 1869 .jfjL There is evident improvement 'in the church on this coast. Some revival spirit is abroad. The organization is oozing in many places to be more thorough and com pact. The colleges are doing well, and are paying their debts. A good many substan tial churohes are being built, -ia the oountry we are strong; in the larger towns and cities we are rather weak. So far as I can learn, we are having better growth this year than at any time since the war began. This growth is healthy and sub stantial. Many men of intelligence—of the class of solid citizens—are coming in. They are “bone and sinew.’’ But we want preachers. I oould find ample work far twenty-five more preachers in California, and ten or fifteen in Oregon. But they must be men of good Damascus temper. There is no call for men with whom a fat salary is the capital consideration. Men to whom the “reproach of Christ is greater riches than money will be in demand for a long time on the Pacific. Men who will emulate apostolic labor and self-deDial, who “count not their lives dear untJi them selves,’’ who are ready to go beyond any “line of things made ready” for them, can find work here to their hearts’ oontent. We want men who will “endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.’’ I have done much hard work since I have been here; but, thanks be to God, I have been happy in it. I have witnessed many conversions and over one hundred and fifty accessions to the church. I have been in many precious love-feasts and pray er-meetings, and have had occasion many a time to say, “The Lord is in His holy temple.” Many Southern people are coming into the valley of the San Joaquin. Among them there is a fair proportion of Methodists. Our church has almost exclusive possession of the upper portion of this valley. There is a great work for us to do that no one else can do but us. May we not fail. Nor will we. God is giving His seal upon our labors, and we pray for His grace to “establish the work of our hands upon us." South Carolina Cotton Planters, readers of our paper, may be interested in knowing, that they are invited, when visit ing Charleston, to inspect the Farm at the Etiwan Works, of the Sulphuric Acid and Super-Phosphate Company, about three miles from the city, to see the cotton pro duced by their Fertilizers. The Charles ton Courier of the 10th inst. says,'that the seed were planted on the 22d of April, and the forms on many of the plants exceed eighty; and on one plant’one hundred and sixty-two were counted. The attention of visitors is particularly called, says the Cou rier, to the fact that the Etiwan Fertilizer, No. 1, whioh oonsist, of Super-Phosphate alone, shows finer ootton than No. 2, which is mixed with Peruvian Guano; and also than that portion which has been manured with Peruvian Guano alone. Wesleyan Female Institute. —This Institution, looated in Stanton, Ya., is one of the most flourishing and popular Female Colleges in the South. Its full and able Faculty, high and thorough system of teaohing, attention to the health and com fort of its pupils, its marked suooess in im parting all that elevates and dignifies woman, commend it to the confidence and favor of the public. It is located in one the most healthy climates in America. It is attended by young ladies from various Southern States, and by many as a resort for health. See advertisement. The Kekiupky Wesleyan Universi ty advertises in tthMJumber. We call special attention to the claii3skS£ th “ new and rising institution. We hope Kentucky Methodists in particular will ral‘7 around it, and give the excellent Presid( 3nt troops of students, and the indefatigaF 1 ® Agent rolls of greenbacks. Sinoe writing thi and we see by the N. Y. Observer that the de gree of D. D. has been conferred on the worthy President, the Rev. Charles Taylor, M. D , by his Alma Mater, the University of New York. The University honored two parties by so doing. —Nashville Chris tian Advocate. A New Atlantic Cable.— Our tele grams this week report the successful pay ing out by the Great Eastern of another telegraphic cable from the town of Brest, France, to the United States. Its western ter minus is is be the old Massachusetts village of Duxbury, not far distant from the fa mous Plymouth Rock, of Pilgrim history. The route selected runs to the southern edge of the “Grand Bank;’’ thence to the French island of St. Pierre, off the south ooast of Newfoundland; and thenoe down past Cape Breton Island and Nova Scotia to Boston. The length of the cable from Brest to St Pierre will be 2,325 miles; from St. Pierre to Boston about 722 miles. The line will then have a length of 3,407 miles from end to end, nearly 1,200 miles more than the length of the Anglo-Ameri can cable. The average depth of the sub marine plateau of the French cable is con siderably less than that whioh the present cable between this country and Ireland traverses, and was recommended by Cap tain James Anderson, formerly of the Great Eastern. The cable constructed for the Frenoh company is considered dcoidedly superior to the one which is now working aoross the Atlantic, in that it has greater conduc tivity. The Southern Review, (A T. Bled soe, of Baltimore, Editor and Proprietor,) is before us iu the second number of the sixth volume. The following is the table •of contents: “Alexander Hamilton,” “American Dictionaries,” “Authropolo gy,” “Chivalrous Southrons,” “Theories of Reasoning,” “Pocahontas,” “The New Science,” “The Polar System,” and “No tices of Books.” The article on Alexander Hamilton is written with considerable power. Its ob ject is to show that Hamilton’s labors to consolidate the Union, —to carry out “the great principle of National Unity," were the forerunners of the principles and practice of Lincoln aud the Republican party of 1861, and the responsible causes of continued violations of the Constitu tion which illustrate the course of the dominant political party. The article, “Chivalrous Southrons,” is a scathing ex posure of those Northern publications which habitually disparage, ridicule and slander the South and her people, and it is at the same time an eloquent vidica tiou of Southern character. It is an ad mirable paper. “The Little Soldier.” —J. W. Burke & Cos., desirous to serve the children still further have got up a small pictorial speci men Mouthly, very neat and handsome and oheap, for the benefit of the little ones. It is named the Little Soldier, and is made up of the best short religious articles of the Weekly. It is proposed to be put at 50 cents a year for a single eopy to one ad dress. Four oopiesor more to one address, 25 cents per copy. The copy before us is a specimen, which any body can get on appli cation. It a sufficient number are sub "soribed for to make the publication prosper, it will be continued, monthly. The Church of the Stranoers. —As the season is at hand when some of our readers will be in New York city, we call attention again to the notice in our oolumns of Dr. Deems’s work in that city. His ohurch gradually grows, as we are assured by private letters. Our readers will learn by his own letter in this week’s paper, some interesting facts, which ought to enoourage us “always to pray and not to faint.” The Rev. Rufus K. Porter, pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, died suddenly of paralysis, on 14th July. He was an able preacher, devoted to his work, and held a high place in the esteem of all who knew him. The death of such a man b the world’s loss. Comsponbentt. Letter from Bishop Andrew- I have recently been traveling a little in Georgia and Carolina, visiting former fields of labor, and endeavoring, in my feeble way, to build up the churches, and to en courage the hearts of God’s people in these days of trial. lam now in Newton county. I visited Augusta, where I used to preach as pastor of the flock long ago. After spending some week or two there, finding that the new road between Augusta and Columbia was opened, I concluded to run over and see my old friends there. I had never visited the place sinoe Gen. Sherman had laid) it waste. It is well known in Georgia that his army was skilled in the art of house burning, and especially in burning or destroying buildings intended for the worship of God. In Columbia, I had a time of sad yet pleasant communion with the few who used to share my pastoral labors. Most of the old people are gone from earth, or else have removed to other places. Some of their children remain; some of them, how ever, have deserted the chuich of their fathers, instead of standing by her in her days of tribulation and poverty to repay the care and nurture bestowed on them in the early days of life. Alas ! for such ungrate ful children. Some of the old pillars still remain, and their faces are still Zionward. Just fifty years ago, I was their pastor, and they seemed glad to grasp my hand once more. God bless them abundantly ! It is known that our principal church was burned to the earth, as was also the parsonage. The members have with great exertion built a neat wooden chapel; but this is by far too small to accommodate the congregation. They must have a large and better church; and for this they are dependent almost exclusively on the liber erality of their friends abroad. I deeply sympathize with them. Columbia was for merly one of the most hospitable and liber al congregations in the South Carolina Con ference; and, if their property had been spared, they would not have asked help from others, to rear a house for God. But the soldiery spared neither the house of God nor the homes of his worshippers. One vandal conflagration destroyed all. But I was glad to see that our friends there, have not been willing that their city should remain a desolation. Many new buildings, some of them quite imposing, have been, and are being built, and, I think, we are justified in hoping that the once beautiful Columbia, will, in a few years rise from the ashes of her ruin, and again take her place as of old. May God hasten the day. I was quite disappointed that I scarcely found a copy of Redford’s History of Meth odism in Kentucky, in the regions whioh I have lately visited. Now, Mr. Editor, let me earnestly recommend this work to all our people. It is just such a work as I love to read. Methodism has achieved a great and gracious work in Kentucky, and it is really delightful to look over the names of the men, and women too, who wrought it. Shall their names and the memory of this glorious band of Christian warriors ever be forgotten ? Nay, verily, they shall live and flourish as long as the ehuioh remains and prospers The work before us is just such a record of the names and deeds of these men of God as I like to read. Dr. Bedford has performed a good work for the church in this publication. He has manifested a most indomitable spir it of patience and energy in the collection of these most important materials. This was a task of great difficulty, as but few oould be found from whom important in formation oould be obtained. But the work is obviously a labor of love, and right well has it been performed. The History should be in every family, and the preachers, es pecially, should read it and have their hearts warmed and their zeal rekindled by studying the self-sacrificing character of the men of God, who planted and watered our glorious Methodism on “the dark and bloody ground ’’ We have a great deal said and written about “the preaching for the times.’’ Look and sec in the character and labors of these laborers in God’s vine yard what the preaching for the times should be. I have read the first volume with unmingled satisfaction. The second volume is now for sale. lam told it is more interesting than the first I would urge all, both preachers and people, to read and circulate this book. Read it carefully and it will do you good. lam glad to see that we are to be favored with similar works from Georgia and Tennessee by men every way qualified to perform the task. I hope we shall have such a work for every Con ference by members of its body and let the preachers promptly gather all the informa tion possible, from the old members, who still linger among us; for they will soon have passed away. J. O. Andrew. Thanksgiving for a “Demijohn of Whisky” Mr. Editor : —I believe in the Press— “the fourth estate of the realm.’’ No man knows its power. Its Brlarean hands touch every sphere of life and affect every depart ment of activity. The influence of the press is felt in every fibre of our civilization. It discusses all questions. There is no issue so grave but tnat it may be flippant in the disposal of it; there is nothing so trifling that, upon occasion, it will not magnify it into grave importance. Its voice directs those great movements of the people that make or unmake administrations and it determines the results of an election for constable. It sets forward a grand enterprise of scienoe and energy like the Atlantic Cable or the Pacific Railroad and reports the proceedings of a village debating society; it tells the world of political revolutions that give new governments to millions, and parades, in a perfect ecstasy of interest, the details of the last prize fight or trottiDg match. The press wields the best and the worst, the most con servative and the most destructive agencies that give shape to society and sow the seeds of histories yet to be. It is übiquitous and irrepressible. No man is beyond its influ ence ; one cannot stay in society and avoid it. To escape it he must get out of the world—as he would escape the atmosphere. The press and public opinion are the Siamese twins oi society ; what moves the one inspires the other. Public opinion is reflected in the press and the press forms publio opinion. The one may be judged by the other. The utterances of the press give us the diathesis of the times. The newspaper is a sliding scale by which we may measure the rise aud fall of publio and of private virtue. Do the conductors of the press generally know the tremendous power of this enginery ? The words of C'aesar were but the hand of a child to this Her cules of our civilization. Is the press outside the great law of re sponsibility to God that binds every soul to “ obedience of the truth ? ” Are publishers and editors, like railroads and other corpor ations, without souls ? and shall they, along with Railroad Superintendents and Direct ors, claim for themselves utter irresponsible ness ta God and man '( Is it not true of pub lishers and editors, as of other men, that the abuse of a great power is the perversion of a great trust? a heinous sin against God and a grievous wrong upon man ? We give thanks that among the conduct ors of the press are earnest and true men who fear God and labor for man’s peace “as ever in the great taskmaster’s eye ’’ There are some who have words of cheer for every good thing, and who, unmoved by bribes or frowns, look sin in its brazen face and, in God’s name, rebuke it—always and every where. Heaven grant them reinforcements, for in the wide harvest-field such “ laborers are few.” What the press is, what it ought to be and wbat it may be, what influence it is now exerting, are questions of grave import ance to every good man who thinks. It is a matter for thanksgiving that cer tain classes of publications do not have their origin in the South. There is not a South ern city that would sustain such treasuries ot villainous wood-outs, obscene recitals and diabolical suggestions as are paraded before the country in those darling organs of Pan demonium—the “Police News,” and other “ creeping things” “after its kind.” When the depraved among us delight their pru rient tastes with such rare-bits of sensual ism they are obliged to import it. It takes New Ycrk or Chioago to cater successfully to such appetites. Up to date, Southern Bishops and divines—Heaven be praised ! —have not entered the columns of Bonner’s Ledger—trotting for pay with “ Dexter ” and Beecher. But the carnal appetenoy is showing itself. The importation of this de praved literature is constantly increasing and, if the truth may be spoken—our secu lar press is largely responsible for it. Some of our Southern papers are doing their ut most to debauch Southern sentiment. If this result is intended, it is criminal in the last degree, as conspiring with the Devil against the life and purity of society; if it is not intended, and the wicked things that are written and approved by some of our editors are simply spontaneous expressions of the thoughts they think and the princi ples they entertain; if they write as they do, because, being what they are. they cannot write otherwise; or, if, indifferent to the good or evil they may accomplish, they only “ grind for the toll,” in any case the charac ter of many of our daily papers demonstrates the mental and moral unfitness of their managers and editors for the places they have presumed to occupy. The time has come when —“ for the money”—the most disreputable business may be advertised and the most unworthy adventurer be editorially endorsed in the columns of three-fourths of the secular pa pers in the country. There is not a vag abond gang of tenth-rate minstrels—too mean for editorial commendation; there is not a oircus-troupe so meagre in its ap pointments, so contemptible with its spavined horses and so loathsome with its drunken men and coarse women, that editorial rhetoric cannot be bought to exalt it into a “magnifioent cortege”— “a most delightful entertainment;’’ there cannot come this way an imitation of Blaok Crook, or other Devil’s show—so appallingly nude, so reveltingly obsoene, but that ed itorial sanction shall immediately glorify it as “ a ohaste exhibition ’’ —a “ spectacular drama of thrilling interest.” Os the ma jority of these papers there is hardly a single issue that is not defiled with disgusting per sonalities, with half suppressed blasphemy, with low jests and double entendre that may amuse the wits of the bar-room and the bagnio, but that make every pure woman blush and every right-minded man ashamed. If to any charitable person these remarks should seem unduly severe, I only ask that he will attentively consider what evidence of their truth the next dozen papers, he may ohauce to see, will afford, and I am persuaded that he will object to my state ments only because they are deficient in fi delity of analysis and energy of expression. On last Sunday morning tioo, at least, ol the daily papers published in this oity pre sented to their patrons—along with religious notices—for Sabbath reading, extravagant laudations of a certain “ ale house ” and drinking shop that in the local column had icon editorial favor by the munificent pres ent of a whole “Demijohn of Whisky!’’ It threw these gentlemen into a s’ate of preternatural mental activity while they in voked both prose and poetry to express their unutterable gratitude. You may think that my account of the affair is mere burlesque, but I assure you, sir, there was no burlesque about their gratitude—it was sincere and rapturous One of our city pa pers has repeatedly, within the last few months, publicly returned thanks to various bar-keepers for so small a favor as a single “ bottle of whisky ’’ In this latter case it is not easy to determine whether so violent a strain upon courtesy and gratitude is the evidence of uncommon thirst or of extreme “ impecuniosity ’’ Not loDg einoe we were regaled with an editorial leader, strong and eloquent, in commendation of a certain “Lottery,” lo cated here and run in the name of Masonry and benevo'ence ; for which I refuse to be lieve that Masonry is responsible, and upon whioh—since it so antagonizes the Paulino and Christian methods of benevolence, I oannot expect the blessings of Heaven to rest. I rejoice to know that there was one paper, in Atlanta, that oould not he bought over , by “the management,” to the advo oaoy of this immoral device for making an easy living. When, sometime since, it was charged that the late managing editor of the New York Tribune had sold the influ ence of bis paper “for a consideration,” a howl of indignation was raised that star tled the sleeping virtues of “the Fourth Estate,’’ lrom Maine to Oregon. What is the difference ? That the Tribune man oould not be bought with “demijohns of whisky” nor other such beggarly bribes. Chiefly therefore a difference, of price. If suoh things as are under considera tion were private affairs, mere expressions of individual tastes and opinions they might be passed by in commiseration of their weakness or contempt tor their venality. But, Mr. Editor, a newspaper can in no wise be made a private affair. It claims to reflect and guide publio opinion. Its ut terances concern the peace of society, the sobriety, virtue and destiny of our children. Those of us who do not believe that the amount of whisky a man consumes is a true measure of his civilization nor a con clusive proof of his fitness for the office of editor, are entitled to demand that, it every low sink of iniquity and appliance of de moralization must be advertised, it shall not, at least, rcoeive editorial endorsement; that these who assume to guide our opin ions shall not thus unblushingly proclaim to the world that their own are for sale. This evil is not peculiar to Atlanta. It is epidemic to a most alarming extent. Venality is the sin of the age, and the Press furnishes hundreds of oonspicuous and shocking examples. I suppose that there is no business man of our cities who does not know that a good “/ee’’ will command for the merest stranger the strongest edito rial endorsement; that for money enough laudations oan be purchased, of which their writers do not believe one word. This has gone so far that no man who is ac quainted with these moral idiosyncracies of tho Press pays the slightest attention to any commendation of an advertiser that oan be made. That man must be green in deed who, going as a stranger into one of our cities, would enter a place of business simply because the Editor had recommend ed it. Who does not know that the majority of these papers will publish a more emphatic and extended notice of “Kenny’s Alc- IIouse” for a “demijohn of whisky’’ than of the oldest and most reliable establish ment in the city that confines itself to legi timate advertising ? Ido not hesitate to say, and with all possible earnestness, that such conduct is criminal and injurious to the last degree As far as such newspapers have influenco it is exerted to make vice respectable. It tends to confuse the moral perceptions of the young, to blunt their sensibilities, to accustom them to vice and harden them against the truth. It is true that the abuse of a great power is the perversion of a great trust. I'he greater the power the more criminal and destructive is a careless or malicious use of it. It will not answer for these gentlemen of the Press, who recklessly play with thunderbolts, to raise their hands in horror when they behold the wreck and ruin that has been wrought, and exclaim—“l did not intend it.’’ They are under every sanction of human and divine law to intend not to do it. “If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution ” If I, for one, did not see that a licentious Press is responsible for the ruin ot thousands of our fellow citi zens; if l did not recognize in the Press a most potent agency for good or evil, I should hold my peaoe. If a pure Press is “the mightiest of the mighty means, on which the arm of Progress leans,” a perverted Press is the most destructive agent of sin and ruin that can breed apostacios from Faith and from Liberty. Hell’s great leader is terrible not simply beoause he is wicked but because he is also powerful; he is Satan and Apollyon, but he has been “Lucifer, Son of the morniDg.’’ I have written these plain words because silence has ceased to be a virtue ; because with my oonvictions, silence would be as wicked as the iniquities I deplore. Such persons as may find themselves em braced in the indictment have no just ground for complaint. If they believe what they say they should thank me for ex tending a knowledge of their sentiments; if they do not believe it and only publish what is paid for without regard to the truth, they should not blame me, since they them selves have already advertised their insin cerity to the extent of their circulation. I ask yoH, sir, in solemn earnestness, whether there are not enough good men in the country to sustain a secular paper that we shall not fear to take into our houses; a paper that will not be the organ of cliques—that shall be free and pure—that taking the heaven-tempered sword of Truth in loyal hands shall “smite with fiery force” the most hoary untruths and the mightiest and most inexpugnable corruptions of the rulers and of the people ? Atticus G. Haygood. Atlanta , Ga., July 9, 1869. A Trip to Texas and Back —Conclu- sion. Mr. Editor :—My promise is out to say something of the morals of Texas, and I confess to you that it is a subjeot I don’t like muoh to write about. The difficulty is, in saying just enough, and not too much. There is no subjeot, upon whioh people, as a general thing, manifest greater sensitive ness than this, particularly sinoe the war; and yet, truth compels us to admit that tho morals of our people were greatly damaged by that event. In Georgia as well as in Texas, is this deplorably true. I think the demoralization in Texas is about proportion ate to that of other parts of the oountry; graduating our estimate, of oourse, in view of certain facts, viz : that Texas is a fron tier oountry, and, as is universally the ease, is infested with many more lawless oharao ters than other parts. It is wonderful, how ever, when we consider the pressure of the times, both, during and sinoe the war, that the morals-of the oountry, as a whole, are as good as they are. There are many com munities in the portion of Texas visited by your correspondent, where the sooiety is as good as aDywhere. In portions of the State, particularly near the border, there are bad men banded together for purposes of plunder; and it is not unfrequently the ease, that they make inroads upon tho property, especially the stock, of the better portion of oitizens. In many instanoes, the law is powerless to ■Vol.xxxii. No, 30 punish these men. As might be expected, you find in many places a counter-organiza tion, whose avowed purpose it is, to shoot, or hang, as is most convenient, every horse thief they catch. However plausible the reasoning in favor of this, it is against re ligion, and whatever is in opposition to the teachings of God’s word, is detrimental to the best interests of society. There is a very evident difference in tho best society there and here, which is to bo accounted for in tho manners and customs of the country. To this is attiibutable, in no small degree, the almost universal dis satisfaction of newly arrived emigrants, and it usually requires a year or two to be come accustomed to these things. Let no one understand by this, that 1 mean to convey the idea that there is any thing specially objectionable, in this differ ence of manners and customs. Not at all. On tho other hand, I never was thrown among a more hospitable, magnanimous people in my life. There is one note-worthy fact, in con nection with Texas, so far as my coming in contact with the people gave me a chance to judge—they are generally intel ligent. While they are not perhaps, as a general rule, as well educated as in the older States ; yet, there is a remarkable de gree of sprightliness and intelligence among them. Among the orthodox denominations - think the Methodists are the most numcre ous—the Baptist next. The Presbyterian are quite respectable in numbers, particul larly in the towns. In proportion to th population, Episcopalians are more numes rous than in this country. Campbcllism has been, and is still quite in vogue in some portions of the State; though, in many places where it once presented quite a mushroom appearance, it is about defunct. Romanism there, as every where else, is widc-awate; having this advantage, viz: unswerving devotees in the semi civilized Mcxioans, with which Western Texaß is intested. As you kuow, prior to annexa tion, or rather, prior to its settlement by Americau emigrants, Romanism was the established religion of this country. As an illustiation of the blind devoted ness of the more ignorant of Rome’s sub jects, 1 will relaio a circumstance, vouched for by a gentleman of undoubted veracity, whose nr-.me I can give if demanded. lie told me that he had a Catholic woman in his employ. Her wages were 812 per month. The nearest Catholic church, at that time, was thirty miles off, the priest of which, actually levied a tax of balf her wages lor the support ot the church, which, said lie, she consented to most cheerfully, and seemed to be thankful that it was no more. Will the time never come, when the minds of men and women shall be freed from this slavish domination of priestly superstition ? God grant that it may, and that speedily. On my way home, I spent several days very pleasantly in the “Island City.’’ l’ros pectivoly, Galveston is a great city. She claims a population of 25,000. Our church is in a prosperous condition. It is blessed in having the pastoral labors of such a mau as Bro. Lewis. He went there at the special request of Bishop Mar vin, uuder the most trying circumstances. By incessant labors, both in and out of the pulpit, he has brought his church up to a high state of moral discipline, and Las had a large numerical increase, until now, it is spreading its branches to an extent that bids fair to make Methodism, in point of denominational influence and moral power, what it never was before in tho city of Gal veston. I had tho pleasure of being pres ent at the laying of the corner stone of the new Methodist church in that city. Dr. Bunting oi' the Presbytorian church was the orator of the day. His address was eminently evangclioal. Bro. Lewis told mo the house would cost about 840,000. The Texas Christian Advocate is pub lished here, llev. J. G. Johns, Editor. Any of your readers wishing to keep posted in Texas affairs would do well to subscribe for the above paper. Subscription by the year $3 in gold or $4 in currency. Fraternally, W. C. Dunlap. Acknowledgment. I think that when there ever seems to be given an answer to prayer it ought to be noticed and acknowledged. Among my people there is a growing interest in spirit ual things. Lately one of my communi cants has united with me in praying for a young gentleman in whom we were both interested. His father and mother are ex cellent communicants of the Presbyterian Church. He had once been a member of the same churoh, but having fallen into doubts and darkness and spiritual troubles he went into wroeg courses generally and had become quite skeptical. Two weeks ago, after having preached a sermon intended to drive men from their refuge of lies, and having felt that little im pression had been made, I prayed with great earnestness, for my soul was in tho prayer, that the Holy Spirit would so come upon the people that at least one man, be fore we rose from our knees, should begin to turn to the Lord his Saviour. I now suspect that my prayer was all the more earnest because I felt that the sermon had been so inefficient. Last week l had a let ter, written in a distant State, by this young man, to whom 1 had never spoken person ally and pointedly on the subject of relig ion. The following is an extraot: “On last Sabbath night week after lis tening to your sermon, which I must say made less impression upon me at the time than any you had before delivered—when, however, you prayed so earnestly that one soul should be saved, I felt constrained to pray that that one might be myself; and for the first time in many years I attempt ed to pray, and to ask forgiveness for my many sins. On Wednesday evening at prayer meeting I asked their prayers, which I firmly believe and feel were answered that night after I retired to my room ; for after a season of prayer and wretchedness, a calm came to my soul and I felt that the blessed Jesus bad interceded in my behalf. Since then I have been trying to lead anew life, putting my trust in Jesus, and Jesus only, for Strength to live as a follower of His should.” 1 Let no man bo disoouraged when he has preached a poor sermon. There is still the mercy seat and the strong arm of tho Lord to do his work. 2 Pray for your neighbors. Let little bands in eaoh churoh be praying for some special soul. Prayer is a power, ora phantasy. If the latter, let us cease praying; if the former, let us pray. At my last oommunion a young gentle* man from Alabama, holding a high position here, became a member of my churoh. Last year I had a letter from a lady, a relative of his, beggiDg me to endeavor to bring speoial religous influence to bear upon him. It seemed to me that he studiously prevent ed it, or that circumstances were steadily adverse. But that did not restrain prayer. Several Christian people prayed for him. Last month I was agreeably surprised to find him at a little prayer meeting I was holding in the Sixth Avenue. A few days after he addressed me a note, soliciting an interview. On the next Sunday he joined the church. Pastor of the “Church of the Strangers.” 45 Bible House N. Y. Soule University, Chappel Hill Texas. Mr. Editor: Be so good as to mention in your next issue that at the late annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of Soule University the Honorary degree of LL. D. was oonferred upon Professor James W. Carlisle, of Wofiord College, S. O. Our commencement exercises gave gen eral pleasure. Our first term under the new regime has been a great sucoess; 61 students matrioulated and we feel muoh encouraged. I will trouble you with some oopy ere long. Yours truly, F. A. Moon.