Newspaper Page Text
126
S5 jutfcrcrn <£j}ristiaa Rotate.
MACON. GEORGIA, AUGUST 6, 1869.
The Methodist Quarterly Review,
for July.
The papers in this number are, Tests
of a Valid Ministry, and a Free Church,
by Bishop Janes; laterality of the Ac
count of the Garden of Eden, by Dr. L.
Lee; Whedon on Matthew, by Dr. A. O.
George; White's Massacre of St. Bartho
lomew, by Dr. Henry M. Baird ; The Ap
plication of Photography to Astronomy,
by Prof. G. B. Merriman ; The Prophecy
of Jacob respecting the Messiah, by Dr.
H. M. Harman; Biblical Monographs:—
Saul and Paul, by Dr. Philip Schaff; The
Book of Enoch, by Rev. M. J. Cramer;
St. Paul’s Closing Piean, by theEd ! tor;
Foreign Religious and LiteramJntelll
gence; Synopsis of the QuartCTnes ; and
Quarterly Book Table, in which we find
discriminative notices of the most noticea
ble new publications. The articles in
which we have been most interested are
that on the Massacre of St. Bartholomew,
anil that on the Application of Photogra
phy to Astronomy, and the Editor’s article
on Church union.
Dr. Whedon writes at length about the
Episcopal correspondence. His article is
one of the calmest and most considerate
we have seen on the question ; and, he is
beginning to take a more reasonable view
HUiifTieretofore, of the position of South
ern Methodism. We suppose that it is not
in the nature of a Northern Methodist to
avoid being a little supercilious when
speaking of his Church ; and we must,
therefore, forgive his departure from his
torical truth, when he speaks of his sec
tion of the divided Church, as “our
venerable Mother Church.” The time
may come, when he will see that the
claim is erroneous.
He does not put the same low estimate
upon the Reply of our Bishops, that many
do. He thinks' those who condemn it, for
get tlie past of the Northern Church. For
thirty years they have tulked very severe
things to and of us—before, since and after
the wur. All at once, they “tune down to
a very gentle melody and expect” us to
chime in, instanler. “No, indeed;” says
be, “if they are men, either in the higher
or humble r sense of the word, they will
not do it—just as we would uot.” Our
Bishops, he says, give “every assurance
of a desire for peace and mutual brother
hood ; but firmly and frankly state the
feelings that still exist as the result of the
terrible past.” He approves, “this frank
boldness, blended with every effort to
evince a fraternal purpose in that very
boldness ;” but he dissents from the order
they propose. He would reverse it: “give
us the antecedent , reunion,” he says, “and
we will guarantee the consequent, the dis
missal of dead issues aud the settlements
of strife.” He thinks the frauk oiler of
reunion, is a reparation or oiler of repara
tion for every wrong, as well as settlement
of every question. But he forgets that
his Bishops could not speak with authori
ty from the Church and even what they
did does not meet with general approval.
It certainly has not been understood at the
North, an a proffer of “separation of
wrong.” It is doubtful, whether many
think there is any wroug to repair; and
very mimy would resent the idea that the
Bishops were authorised toby the Church
admit or to repair any wrong done to us.
But, the validity of the Plan of Separa
tion can never be recoguized—for it “fail
ing of the constituti'Miul vote of the An
~snOT[t"■Conferences, attained no valid exis
tence." We cannot think that so appa
rently a fair-minded man as Dr. Whedon
would say this, if he had recently review
ed tho Journal and Debates of 1844, pub
lished by his own Church,,and would con
fine his reading to that volume—leaviug
out of view all the glosses and false inter
pretations —desperate resorts to sustain
his Church in. the after monstrous wrong
of repudiating a plain compact of the
General Coufereoce of 1844. We are wil
ling to put that book into the bauds of any
twelve intelligent men in Christend >m,
free from all bias toward either Church,
and without any knowledge of the con
troversy than it will give, and- wo will
give up the question, if they do not decide
that that Conference designed to submit
to the Annual Conferences only the ques
tion of dividing the property of the Book
Concerns and the Chartered Fund —leav-
ing the question of separation wholly to
the votes of the Southern Conferences.
Dr. Whedon says, “the decision of the
Supreme Court settled the question of law
as to church property.” But it was not
a law question, but an equity question,
that Court settled. Unless our recollec
tion i3 at fault, there was little said in all
tho pleadings and nothing at all in the de
cision, about any other law than the law
of the Discipline of the M. E. Church—
and the property question was settled iu
behalf of the Church, South, only because
the division was intended, conditionally,
and, the condition being fulfilled, was legi
timately made. If that was not settled,
nothing was, by the decision ; and if we
do not hold the property by that equity, we
hold It by none. Only such perversions as
are found in “The Great Secession” can
mislead a candid investigator, in this
point of controversy ; and it seems to us,
that nothing butthejiced purpose to make
the act 9 of the General Conference of IS4B
honest and just, would betray a Christian
moralist into so false a view of plain his
torical facts, as we find iu Dr. Whedou’s
assertion.
We hope to see the day, when some man
in the Northern Church will review this
whole question with a frank and godly
candor, that will do himself credit, and
bring his people to do themselves justice,
by acoepting a conclusion that is couso
nent with absolute truth. It ought to be
possible for good men to see that disappro
val of the action of 1844 does not necessa
rily compel them to put a wrong construc
tion upon that action. They can readily
plead, that they did once think that the
absolute question of division was submit
ted to the Conference, but that very ques
tion being brought before the Supreme
Court as a question in equity, and decided
adversely to their opinion, they cau with
honor defer to the decision of that high
tribunal, and confess their former mis
take.
Dr. W. quotes with approval from Dr.
Summers, a paragraph suggesting two or
more General Conferences with separate
jurisdiction, and a General Council to
meet occasionally “to recognize or ratify
the common Methodism of all.” He also
quotes from the S. C. Advocate the two
conditions sometime since stated as those
on which only union can be had,
1. All aggressions to cease, etc.
2. The cessation of all judgment upon
us as Methodists for our political acts and
opinions.
He says, “the first of the conditions
rightly construed ought to be observed in
any case.” The construction, however,
is not to bar "fair and honorable competi
tion" iu the South, which is the very sort
of dealing which only we have been claim
ing, and never have got, from the North -
ern Church.
In regard to the second condition, he
says, “the very offer of reunion is an offer
to bury all dead issues,”—“to impeach no
man as a citizen, for any thing not im
moral,” etc.
He further quotes from us a loDg para
graph demanding in detail a very large
oblivion of the past on both Hides, as an
exhibition of “Christian forgiveness.”
Making some exceptions, npon the false
notion, that Southerners believe what
their illustrious dead believed, because
they believed, and not because their opin
ions were right, be says, “the principles
laid down by Dr. Myers as fundamental
to Church unity, though needing exacter
expression on one point, are about correct
and would teud to national peace.” That
point is illustrated by bis saying, “our
Quarterly would not engage, for instance,
to never utter an ethical condemnation
upon slavery, or upon the late war on the
national government; and yet we would,
and we do, avoid referring to either with
the animusof reproach upon the Church,
South.” This is a liberality that had es
caped our attention. It is not common.
Dr. VV.’s Church has profited in high
quarters by stigmatizing the Church,
South, as “rebel” and “pro-slavery,”even
although it is well known that the North
ern Church held slaveholders down to the
day of emancipation by the war. It was
trying to get the beam out of our eye, be
fore it ever cast the mote out of its own
eye; and it now reproaches us for that
wherein it was partaker.
Dr. Whedon quotes from a bitter negro
radical paper published by the African
M. E. Church, in Philadelphia that South
ern preachers “think no more of lying to
a black man, than though it were nothing.
'No faith with negroes’ is the watchword
of the Southern Methodist,” and he adds,
“the time lias come.brethren, for consider
ing negro testimony”—which in this case,
he supposes is “perhaps exaggerated.”
Now we candidly say, that it is notouly
exaggerated, but monstrously false, and
the uSe of it here an insult to every South
ern preacher. It is wonderful that a man,
who can quote it as only “perhaps exag
gerated,” can desire union with such
covenant-breakers as these Southern
preachers. They, at least, cannot expect
any good to grow out of union with one
who can believe such a false accusation
on “negro testimony,” against all their
own acts and their own assertions. We
cannot conceive of a Christian wisdom
exhibiting suoh moral contradictions as
can, with slight abatement, endorse this
wholesale slander upon Methodist preach
eis, and yet in the same paragraph write:
“And when our Bishops respond as we
hope they will, to the very proper ofFer of
the Southern Bishops to unite in concilia
ting church quarrels, we trust they will
also propose, as absolute conditious, to
unite in giving full fair play to the colored
race. With that planksuperadded we are
ready, and the Church, softened by ad
vancing time, soou will be ready, to accept
Dr. Myers’s paragraph substantially as a
basis. And then, looking to a future
(Ecumenical Methodism as foreshadowed
by Dr. l'eck and endorsed by Dr. Sum
mers, the Churelies can, by a true Chris
tian policy, attuin a wise reunion.”
Worthy of Imitation.
\Ye find the following commendable
examples of Christian principle iu a letter
from Opelousas, La., iu the New Orleans
Christian Advocate. Oil ! that all who
are named after Christ were as faithful in
their stewardship.
In Opelousas we have had but few ac
cessions so far this year—uotone from tiie
world. Yet we have reasou to rejoice at
the evidences which we have tiiat the
holy leaven of tlie Spirit is at work in
many souls. In nearly all our kousoimlds
a family altar lias been erected, and there
is manifest an increasing relisii for the
knowledge of Christ. There are examples
of zeal and liberality in our church here
whose praise should be iu all tlie churches.
Oue brother rides a distauceof eight miles
ou Sunday mornings to till liis place as
superintendent of tlie Sabbath school, hir
ing a coachman in his stead to drive his
family to church ; and of his gifts into the
Lord’s treasury there is no end. He re
gards himself as managing his plantation
for the Loul, and gives accordingly.—
Would tiiat tlie church were full of such
men. What an impetus they would give
to the chariot wheels of tlie gospel !
We have a sister who seems to take sat
isfaction in nothing else but laboring for
tlie church. She teaches in our Sabbath
school aud is a leading spirit of our mis
sion Sabbath-school for colored children ;
she distributes hundreds of tracts in the
year ; she visits tlie sick and seeks out
help for the needy, aud never lias any
excuses when called on forany duty what
ever in the church. Some time since, in
ou r nionl li !y meeting, we resoi ved toeseliew
tlie use of fairs, tableaux aud the like forany
church purpose, aud organized our church
membership into a Sabbath-school socie
ty, each to pay oue dime per mouth to pro
vide an annual fund for the Sabbath
school. Now you know, Mr. Editor, how
many such projects fall to tiie grouud for
want, of a suitable person willing to carry
them out; hut this good sister was no
sooner asked than she at ouce cheerfully
undertook the onerous duty of treasurer
of tiie society, and right well does she
succeed in gathering in the dimes.
Let me give you another case. A broth
er came to me a few days since, handing
me a $lO hill, three of which were to be
seut to tho Advocate, and the other sev
en to be retained as part of his church as
sessment. This is a brother who has to
toil alone with plow and hoe from morn
ing till night to make a liviug for his
family. To give the above sum he had
doubtless to deny himself mauy things
which some of us regard as necessities. I
told you before of tlie sister who denied
herself coffee, butter and anew bonnet—
much as she desired these things—that
she and her husband might have the sat
isfaction of giving S2O to the preacher. Her
lioerality lias suffered no abatement since.
I might tiius go ou through the whole
list of members, and have something wor
thy of mention to say of almost every one
of them ; but space restrains my pen from
the grateful labor. They are all had iu
remembrance by Him who rewardeth ac
cording to each mail’s deeds. Their works
“come up for a memorial before God.”
Our Church in Arkansas.
We make below a few extracts from
Bishop Tierce’s fiual letter respecting his
recent tour in Arkansas :
Iu my plau, the district meeting at Red
oak was to begiu on the night of the 23d
June, but the presiding elder misundei
stood the time, and began in the morning.
So, on my arrival iu the afteruoon, I fouud
tiie meeting under full headway. There
was a fair attendance of delegates, and our
services were deeply, spiritually and prof
itable. The church was a very small one,
and so tiie neighbors resorted to the old
device of a bush arbor. The weather was
warm, and this out-door worship was
pleasant to the congregation, but tiie wind
was strong, aud this made hard work for
the preacher. Nevertheless, I preached
every day, and felt no damage.
In both of the Conferences I find the
same general facts, and never was so well
satisfied of tiie essential vitality of Metho
dism. Ts the system were not self-sustain
ing aud self-propagating, it could not have
lived and flourished under all the disabili
ties of anew country, and the absence of
those pre-requisites necessary to an effec
tive organization. I find that there has
been a strange neglect about building
houses of worship, so that on old, long es
tablished circuits, of fifteen and twenty
five appointments, there are often but
three or four Methodist Churches. The
preacher holds forth i:i private habitations,
in school-houses, uuder trees, arbors, or,
perhaps, iu union meeting houses; and
this Joose system of operation entails neg
lect, serious, fatal neglect, in many
partments of ministerial service. Prayer
meetings are not established, the classes
are not met, the Sunday-school interest
suffers, and the administration of disci
pline is out of the question. The details
of a preacher’s duty are all overlooked,
the members are not trained Methodisti
caily, their association lacks compactness,
and of course efficiency is wanting. All
the benefits of union are lost for want of
organization. At the risk of giving of
fense, the truth ought to be told. Arkan
sas, as a State, is sadly wanting in enter
prise-lags behind her sisters in the race
of progress and development, aud with
resources and advantages over them all is
doiug the least for herself. The unwor
thy idea that “any thing will do for Ar
kansas,” has put them upon a makeshift
policy, which tolerates bad roads, uu
bridged bayous and creeks, little, incon
venient, uncomfortable churches, and
many discomforts too tedious to mention.
I find as much intelligence and hospitali
ty among the people as elsewhere, but the
mere effort to live seems to bound all enter
prise. Everybody is waiting for “some
thing to tnru up.”. They are asleep, and
dreaming that Arkansas will be a great
country one of these days. Nature did
make her great in land, and rivers, and
minerals, aud it is wonderful that the
people do not catch inspiration from such
scenes, aud go to work with these materi
als to hasten the destiny for which they
vaiulysigh! These preachers, too, have
fallen in with the sluggish, self-excusing
ways of the people, and slip along as well
as they may, singing, "there’s a better
day coming.” Poor fellows! they work
bard under many disadvantages, aud I
admire their self denial and heroism, and
yet I blame them Dot a little. They ought
to cultivate the public mind to better
views of life and religion, to inspire and
rouse the Church to represent herself
fairly before the eyes of all men—in her
houses of worship, in her system of finance,
in her Sunday-schools, aud in the work
of education. On all these points I have
fireache I, and talked in private and pub
ic, and hope not altogether iu vain. I
feel a great interest in these Conferences,
and know not how to improve them hut
to speak out. I would provoke them to
good works, of which themselves and
children will be the beneficiaries.
* * * * *
- We reached Eldorado about night, and
were assigned to brother Smith, in whose
bouse I found a home, and no little kind
ness. To himself and wife, I am debtor
for much polite attention. They gave
more than a “cup of cold water.” The
Lord re ward them. The district meeting
was not so well attended as I hoped. It
was a busy time with the farmers—the
very crisis of the crop. But we had a
good, useful time. Some brethren came
to see what sort of a thiiig a district meet
ing was, having a vague idea that it was
one of the “ innovations ” which had crept
in to mar old Methodism. But, on ac
quaintance, they gave it the right haud
of fellowship, and took it into full connec
tion. One brother said he found that ex
cept the preaching, it was nothing but a
district class-meeting, aud he enjoyed it
very much, and expected to attend it every
time.
The Macon District Meeting.
We have only time and space to say
this week, that we have just returned
from this meeting—a more detailed ac
count of which, we are compelled to post
pone till next week. It was a glorious
meeting, its religious services specially
marked by the outuouringof the Spirit of
God, and protracted, iu expectation of
good to the community of Marsballville.
Doubttessitsinfiuence will be felt through
out the District, which was represented
by a large and able delegation.
The Chinese as Liberers.
From an article in the N. Y, Chiistian
Advocate, we clip the following, which
will doubtless interest many of our read
ers, who are casting about for the best do
mestic service they can get:
The class of Chinamen with which we
are most familiar, aud the prejudiced re
ports of those who have only seeu this
people in the form of their worst represen
tatives, have created both a great disgust
and distrust of them. But a nation with
such au antiquity, with so high an order
of civilization, with so respectable a govs
eminent, must be one of no ordinary vigor
aud intellectual promise. Indeed, the
character of the emigration to California
confirms this a priori presumption. A
well-known Brooklyn clergyman says of
them, “The fifty thousand Cbiuese in
California are, taken all iu all, if not the
most intelligent, highly educated, aud
wealthy, certainly the most patient, quiet,
law-abiding, industrious, peaceatile, and
honest set that California can show. The
proportion of criminals and law-breakers
among them is wonderfully small as com
pared with all other classes, aud they evi
dently have in them the elements of good
citizens.” Rev. John L. Nevius, for ten
years a missionary in China, who has just
published an interesting and instructive
volume upon “China and the Cbiuese,”
says, “During our residence of ten years
in China we hardly ever had occasion to
dismiss a servant. In nearly every case
a stroug attachment sprang up between
them and us; aud, iu more instances
than one, I have felt personally grateful
for services and atteutions which I could
not reasonably have required, end which
were all the more gratifying, because ren
dered spontaneously aud heartily. The
ouly tlriug which 1 recollect to have had
stolen was an old clock, which was taken
l>y an opium smoker, and found a few days
afterward. We had so little fear of theft
that our doors and drawers were often left
unlocked, and servants aud numerous
visitors had free access to every part of our
house .... I have traveled hundreds of
miles in the interior at, different times,
and in differeutparts of thecountry, some
times entirely alone, and have been com
pletely iu tlie power of perfect strangers,
who knew that I had about my person
money and other articlesof value, but have
always felt nearly as greita sense of secu
rity as at home, and have hardly ever been
treated with rudeness or violence, though
I have been often annoyed beyond meas
ure by exorbitant charges and useless de
tentions. I have beard the testimony of
prominent merchants who have had large
business transactious with tlie Chinese,
both in Chiua aud California, who have
represented Chinese business men as very
prompt and reliable in meetiug their busi
ness engagements.” He bears also as un
qualified a testimony as to the social and
Domestic affections, aud to the general
outward morality of the Chinese people.
Bishop Simpson in iß6o.—The Rex. F.
A. Mood, writing to Texas Christian Ad
vocate argues a great change in the North
ern Methodist mind respecting the South
ern Church, since an interview he held
with Bishop Simpsou immediately at the
cessation of armed hostilities. He writes:
In July, 1865, the writer, on his return
to Charleston, South Carolina, fouud his
church and parsonage iu possession of a
Methodist preacher from Massachusetts.
He refused to give possession, and the
writer, having met Bishop Simpson, in
1857, at the session of the Wesleyan » on
ference iu .Liverpool, by the assistance of
friends, a visit was made to the Bishop in
Philadelphia, in hope of securiug the res
toration of the property from personal con
siderations, if nooUier. Likely, the writer
was the first Southern Methodist preacher
that the Bishop conversed with after the
surrender of the Southern armies. He
was cordial and polite in his reception,
hut firmly declined to interfere, alleging
that the “missionaries” sent South were
Christian gentleman, who had their in
structions,and would do :he “right thing.”
During the interview, allusion was made
to the posibility of the future reunion of
the two churches. He said Immediately,
that provision had already been made for
that in the Discipline by their General
Conference. Upon calling his attention
to the fact that the provisions of the Dis
cipline were only for the reception of indi
viduals, he promptly auswered, “That is
tiie ouiy way iu which you—the Southern
Chuieh—can be received." He then went
on to say, that any union with us as an
organic body, would involve a recognition
of our Bishops, which he pronounced im
possible; that, in the event of any at
tempt at the organic union of the two
bodies, the first thing the people of the
North would demand, would be the resig
nation of our Bishops ; that, as a churen,
they could not associate with our Bishops,
and instanced Bishops Soule and An
drew’s cases as interposing insuperable
difficulties to affiliation. Iu reply to my
remark, “Bishop, why stab us in the ten
derest place; why not treat with us as a
church ?” fie firmly answered, “It is ine
vitable : You wilf be disintegrated and
absorbed.”
The Riverside Magazine, for Au
gust. The Total Eclipse of the Sun is il
lustrated by a finely tinted view of the sky
as it is to look on the day of the eclipse,
with the position of the planets that are
to Le visible carefully marked. The arti
cle accompanying this picture is a clear
aud concise account of the Sun, further
illustrated by engravings, and youug ob
servers are shown what to expect and look
for during the Eclipse. The editor begins,
under the title “The Story of a Book,” a
description of the various processes of
book-making, from composition to bind
ing. Mr. Benjamin, who told last month
how a sail-boat was rigged, now tells how
it is managed. There is a farcical tale of
a Three Tailed Monkey, an account of
“Two of my Squirrels'” some pretty poe
try, a variety of other stories, and an unu
sually large installment of games, riddles,
and the like. Published by Hurd and
Houghton, New York- $2.50 a year.
SOUTHERN CHRISTIA-lSr ADVOCATE.
Charleston Advertisements.—Sev
eral of the most prominent business hou
ses of Charleston advertise in the Advo
cate. Among the more recent advertisers
are Messrs. Marshall & Burge, T. M. Bris
toll & Cos., and J. E. Adger & Co.—all well
established and reliable firms. We take
pleasure in calling attention to their cards.
The Land we Love and New Eclec
tic Magazine, Gen. D. H. Hill, Editor.
Trumbull & Murdock, Publishers, 54 Lex
ingtou St., Baltimore, gives, in its August
number, a delightful variety of good
ing. It is worthy of a liberal support in
the South. Price $4.00 a year.
F. W. Sims & Co.—The card of this firm
appears in our advertising columns this
week. The bouse is one of the best iu Sa
vannah.
How TO GET TO GRIFFIN DisTßicT
MEETiNa.—lnformation is given in notice
column, which see.
Correspitai.
Th 9 Up country of Georgia
Mr. Editor : Open your pocket map of
Georgia, trace a line directly north of Dali
lonega twelve miles, aud you stand in
Cooper’s Gap of the Blue Ridge, between
Lumpkin aud Union counties. Turuiug
northward, you see a most beautiful val
ley, about oue mile wide—very fertile,
tlirough which flows the Toccoa river,
clear, pure, deep, rapid, hastening with
seeming impatience over its pebbiy bed, to
join its sister streams to form tlie noble
Tennessee. This volume of bright waters
is gathered from springs iu the
the ridge, none more than three miles
away. Step down the mountain’s side
one hundred yards, kneel just there, and
drink from that “gushing fountaiu” this
hot day, aud you will have a luxury that
these mountains give you at every angle
in your path. And then it, awakens a
strange pleasure to hear the ceaseless rip
pling, rushing, roaring of these “talking
waters,” as they are ever speeding onward,
onward to the sea. That strange pleasure
may be, these mountain streams make
you think, and, thinking, feast upon that
“river of water of life, clear as crystal,”
whose “bowers of bliss” invite us to re
pose, when death opens the gate to “end
less joy.” Now look to the lofty hills aud
mountains that skirt this valley, and be
hold a grand forest of spruce, hemlock,
oak, chesnut, hickory, poplar, and au “oc
casional” buckeye tree from two to three
feet in diameter. This is the Toccoa Val
ley, with its wealth of waters, limber aud
scenery. Now turn southward and take
iu what a California preacher calls ati
“ocean view,” sweeping a semicircle of
one hundred miles, touching the preten
tious peak of the Stone Mountain, running
along the piue hills of Middle Georgia,
and retiring East and West along the
smoky outline of the dipping
Lowering the “angle of vision,” you lyok
upon a country at once interesting and
wonderful—rich iu miuerai wealth, which
is hidden beneath a fertile soil, improva
ble to tlie highest degree, adapted to every
kind of vegetable that will please the taste
or fill the purse, abounding in native
plants of highly medicinal virtues, among
which sarsaparilla beads the list—its fruits,
as pears, peaches, cherries, aud especially
apples, unsurpassed in any land—produc
ing tiie cereals, as corn, rye, barley, buck
wheat and wheat—of which last grain,
there is this year an abundant harvest—
almost to perfection—furnishing beef that
would open the eyes of Johu Bull, and
mutton that would make a Saxon smile —
blessed too, with perennial streams, that
furnish a water power at once controlla
ble for every conceivable purpose, all cul
minating in a climate above all praise.
And we look forward to tlie time, close at
hand, when, pierced i>y railroads, aud
touched by the Brianeus of improved ag
riculture, this highly-favored land shall
become a granary and fruit laud more
than delightful to dwell in.
But, methinks, as I thus iudulge iu a
bright future, you indite still better
things; that this “goodly heritage” may
be held, improved and enjoyed by a Chris
tian populace, and all the dwellers iiP'the
laud shall he the “people of the living
God.” No one can question that coming
fact. The agencies now at work will ac
complish it. ’Tis written even now among
the victories of the church—'tis novv ap
pearing amoug the glorious triumphs of
Cbristiani'y. Ministers and members,
parents aud children, are looking upward,
as they toil, through tears, it may be—
still looking upward, for the baptism—im
mersion, if you please—of the Spirit of
God—the “diviue unetiou”—the sacred
anointing that shall make all our hearts
glad.
The signs are cheering—all the signs are
cheering. But that whicti makes our
hearts glad, to humble rejoicing, i3 the zeal
with which Southern ministers, of every
“sect,” are guarding the “ark of God.”
This preservation of a pure gospel to our
people from the pulpit, and pure religion
in our families, is the palladium of perma
nent safety and happiness to ourselves
and the generation following. As we look
over the fairest portion of our “Empire
State.” we are glad to feel that a few years
will prove it to beau interesting, wonder
ful and happy country.
Truly, Tommy Hawk.
The Americus District and other
Church Interests
Mr. Editor: The Commencement Ex
ercises of Wesleyan Female College have
received complimentary aud well earned
notices from the press and your very abie
committee. As an eye witness to some
of the entertainment, I subjoin a hearty
“amen," and wish the "motherof Female
Colleges” a success commensurate with
the wants of society and the blessing she
seeks to confer on your city and our coun
try and church. Very recently, I delivered
a discourse on “providing (or your house
hold”—did not stop at food aud raiment,
but sought to effect intellectual and spirit
ual aggrandisement. Iu this, I certainly
did not travel beyond the design of St.
Paul, or compromit the dignity aud ends
of the Christian ministry. But what has
that to do with my subject? Simply this:
Your President and Professors, relying too
much on the age and merits of the Insti
tution or for other reasons, are narrowing
down its beuefits, by revolving in too
small a cirele. The diameter should be
elongated. They should itinerate—be seen,
beard and felt. But, then, more than the
fearful find a lion in the way.” What
time and strength have they for this work
where scanty salaries and crowding classes
are ever calling them to hear recitations
or supplement support? Will the Trus
tees tell the public? Aud will the Meth
odist public lift the load, and liberate
these benefactors by responding to your
call for the Eudowraent Fund? What!
give to a college 1 Yes. Endow the col
lege—the Conference, the Advocate, the
parsonage, the preacher—endow every
good thing. Take them off* the sand aud
give them a granite foundation. That is
our business. The children of this worid
never allow a one-horse farm, a single
countered store, a chestnut stand to be
toppled over like a three legged stool. All!
sir, some can aud will help—others would
if they could—all will when the stars be
gin to fall. lam not done.
As some of the preachers say, secondly.
Warm as the weather is, I will not, in im
itation of a certain commencement orator,
break the thread by purposely or seeming
ly turning too many leaves As an admi
rer of “Eve and her daughters” I enter
my deliberate, solemn protest. Such pub
lic robberies should not be perpetrated,
and the perpetrator, ifarrested, should not
go un whipped. If you are friendly to the
defendant, please notify him that all the
daughters aud some of the sons of Eve are
plaintiff in this case, and nothing but a
publication in pamphlet form will give
satisfaction aud stop the prosecution.
I am on my third round—never do all
the preaching—but love to preaeff anil
look upon my humble efforts in search of
souls as the luxuries of my life. In my
arrangement for quarterly meetings, I en
deavor to consult the interests of the Dis
trict—have no particular partiality for
days but generally run the old schedule.
.The past has convinced me that an early,
direct treatmeut of delinquents, is better
than one which deals in flattery or indi
rectness. Hints seldom eradicate diseases,
and throwing prayers at men does not
usually reform their mauners. The con
duct of parents and pastors is a catechism
on discipline—one with which the juve
niles can become conversant. If in any
chapter they fiud a lesson which bears a
semblance of chastising good faithful
Samuels, simply to remind guilty Johns,
that a neighboring hickory patch may
correct tbeir aberration, they will con
clude against the conservatism of law and
defeat your well-meant efforts.
The Americus and Aibauy charges were
greatly Improved by the recent meetings.
At both of them I labored to the best of
my ability, Dawson is clpe for a revival.
The situation at Cuthbert is rather un
friendly to aggression. Bro. Cook is
making every efF.irt to keep the member
ship iu haud until the church building is
completed. They are devoted to the pas
tor, intensely loyal to Methodism, and
will entertain no idea that does not look to
a completion of the building in time for
our approaching Annual Conference. The
Ellaville and Oglethorpe circuit is reaping
an early harvest. At our receut quarterly
meeting, which was protracted, the pastor
reported forty-two additions The influ
ence will extend to every church, and
judging from the financial exhibit, all the
churches will present a solid token of their
gratitude to God, by paying His laborers
and meeting the Conference assessment.
The other pastors are at work and re
sults will follow. Os some of these, their
cii urges—families—afflictions— triumphs,
I may speak more ful y in a future letter.
The week of prayer, beginning with
Friday August 13;b, as a general fast day,
should attract the attention and engage
the hearts of our entire communion. If
possible, every church should be opened.
If this is impracticable on circuits “the
most central point should be selected for
a meeting.” “Iu the stations there will
be protracted services as a matter of
course.” So writes the New Orleans Chris
ti in Advocate, and so may it be through
out tiie Americus District. Aud let all the
Districts and Conferences say amen and
amen. Yours fraternally,
J. B. McGehee,
Americus, July 23d. !
Villa Rica Circuit, North Georgia
Conference-
REVIVAL MEETINGS, SUNDAY SCHOOLS,-
CELEBRATIONS, ETC.
Mr. Editor-.— l am this year on the
North-west border of this Conference; and
living in the heart of the gold mines, but
not enjoying tlie pleasures of that glitter
ing ore, so much as I am good meetings ,
Sunday schools, celebrations, etc.
Iu this “golden village” we have a Sun
day-school which would be creditable to
any place. This school has been prosper
ous for several years ; and the seiisacrifi
sing spirit of the superintendent, parents
and teachers, and tiieir examples of mani
fest interest have given such impulse to the
whole school that they have not missed
ouly about one Sunday in a number of
years, and that was a very rainy day. This
school has done much for the Church, aud
will continue to do good. Last May, we
had a grand celebration here which was
very interesting, and passed oIF pleasant
ly—giving general satisfaction.
The school and people were then profit
ably addressed by Rev, G. \V. Yarbrough,
P. E. of this dis.rict, who is a genius on
such occasions—having a perfect art of
riviting the attention of the little folks in
order to get at them, and equal strength
iu influencing pareuts with original re
marks. His was a capital address on Sun
day-school influence, early piety, and pas
rental responsibility. Several weeks ago
there was quite a revival influence in this
church, but we failed to have a series of
meetings, and tlie influence seemed to
have died. We look fora return however.
At Concord, (formerly Baskins’ Church)
we closed a glorious revival meeting a few
days ago. This meeting was appointed
for four days by a vote of the Church, four
weeks previous to tlie m ieting; aud when
it was appointed many of tlie members
covenanted to pray for a revival till it came
off, which I presume they did. But when
the time came, many were iu favor of des
ferring it ou account of its being wheat
harvest, etc.; and as some had one excuse
aud some another, the prospect looked
rather gloomy. But we went on with the
four days’ meeting with much success,
aud when that time expired the church
wanted to go on, and it was protracted six
days longer—making in all ten days and
nights, which resulted iu twenty acces
sions— many backsliders reclaimed —many
converted who were already in the church,
and the church much revived.
This church lias about oue hundred and
forty members, and is regarded as about
tiie best chu eh iu ibis section. Previous
to this revival many of the members were
much alarmed on account of its coldness.
They knew it had been on tlie decline for
about two years, and, of course, were very
anxious for its redemption or restoration.
Those members had the happy privilege
of seeing the fruits of their prayers. Some
exclaimed, ‘ even better than we expect
ed.” Here we had evidences of blessings
for making sacrifices. Many preachers
will lie glad to have good news from that
church. It has becu a place noted for
good meetings, but the brethren say the
recent one is as good, or better, than any
they have ever had—that the influence
was deeper than heretofore. Tne local
brethren worked very faithful; some gave
out before the meeting closed.
In said church we have a very good
Sund"j-school. It was very affecting to
see some of tiie Sunday-school scholars
join the church. :*Dd the iuterest they
manifested afterwards. When I first
went there, they did uot have any Sun
day-school, but they have a very healthy
one now; and as they have two devoted
and faithful Superintendents, I believe
they will hold out. Also the Rev. Jas.
Baskin who seems to be almost father of
the whole church, takes much interest iu
thescliool. We anticipate a pleasant cele
bration there iti a few days,
Please hear from au ither revival of reli
gion. This was at Wesley Cliapel. When
I came here, I was informed that said
church was almost dead. But the lirst
time I was there, we had a good meeting—
the Lord blessed us, and the church cove
nanted together to live better this year ;
aud thanks to the Lord, they are doing
betler. A revival of religion commenced
in that church iu May, which has resulted
in fourteen accessions, many backsliders
reclaimed, the church wonderfully reviv
ed, aud much discord removed. Said
meeting was carried on weekly, tri-week
ly, etc. We expect still further success as
soou as we can have a daily series of meet
ing there. Such meetings prove to us
that we can have good meetings just as
well in the spring as in autum. Why
wait till the latter part of the year to
work? when souls are perishing.
Here wo have another Sunday-school
blooming and blossoming. This school,
though iu the country, did not die in the
winter. They worked through the winter,
and now have about 150 scholars, teachers,
etc. We expect a good celebration there
soon, aud another spicy speech from Rev.
J. W. Yarbrough, P. E. The Lord is
with us. Fraternally,
Robert.
Villa Rica, July 22, 1869.
Dahlonega District, N. G. Conference.
Mr. Editor :—A statement of the gen
eral condition of the church and country
in the bounds of this District may not be
uninteresting to many of your readers.
The reports of all the preachers are en
couraging, and hopeful. The churches en
joy peace and some of them a measure of
revival; and although the farmer’s busy sea
son presses, yet some protracted meetings
have been held. The preachers are faith
fully at work, and hoping for the harvest.
A vacancy has been caused in the Can
ton circuit by the death of brother Gaines',
lie was a man whom I loved, of gentle
spirit, pure in heart, devoted to Christ, and
faithful to every trust. On hard circuits, and
on scant pay, with a large family, through,
toil, privation and want, he did his Master’s
work, sacrificing himself. But his “record
is on high,’’ and the Lord above called him
from the work below to the rest in heaven.
It is well with iiim. We commend his be
reaved and destitute family to the sympa
thy and help of the church.
The Canton circuit is now supplied by
Rev. Thomas J. Edwards, a local prcaoher
whom I hope to present to the Conference
for admission into the traveling connection.
The policy of the M. E. Church, “disin
tegration and absorption,” is a failure. Like
the heart of Prometheus, the churoh grows
faster than the foul vulture that preys upon
it can devour. I have recently held a
quarterly meeting at Cartccay for the Elli
jay mission, a point where this element has
been most rife. We have a noble little
band there, who stand up boldly and brave
ly, through much trial and trouble, and it
is to me a joy to endeavor to hold up their
hands and give comfort and strength to
them in their straggle. It was a time of
sweet communion, of consecration for fresh
effort and of the realizing power and help
of the Holy Spirit. Truly, they that wait
upon the Lord shall renew their etrengh,”
even “to walk and not faint.” The Sunday
school there is of value to our cause, aud
is conducted with peculiar skill and ability.
A school of a high grade has been .es
tablished at Cartecay by Rev. Joha H.
Robeson, an earnest Christian gentleman,
who is devoting his brilliant powers of mind
to the cause of education in the mountains
of North Georgia, hoping to be able so tq
carry oat his well conceived plan, as to I
raise the standard of scholarship and thus {
meet the great want of that country. He
is assisted in tho classical department by j
Mr. W. 0. Kirkland, a fine scholar, and a |
graduate of Wofford College, S. C. In
him, Mr. R has a helper who enters he art i
ty into the spirit and sacrifices of the work.
A thorough preparation tor College will be j
given in this school. Already a higher i
tone of inoral and intellectual attainment
is manifest in those who have had the ad
vantage of the past year’s instructions. The
location is peculiarly healthy and expenses
of beard very light Success to them ! 1
heartily recommend this school, and hope a
patronage will be given it, which will raise
it above all fioanoial difficulties, and enable
it to go forward towards the high aims pro
posed. More attention is paid to education
through this country now, than ever before.
I have just attended an interesting ex
amination at Little River, Cherokee co.,ten
miles north of Marietta. The school is an
excellent one, taught by Rev. M. Puckett,
a man pf taleut, for twenty yeaiS a*#emb'er
of CooTtrenee. IRr«occup!e§ a
new, llilijßUlPMWmy and’lS’givinggreat
satisfaction. ♦
the education of the people. tfTiWC for
MtoowledggHfafifst exciteii hfefc
ofthe chittflfff are here >augWj t> to road.
—a number nearly equaling the member
ship of the church. Interesting pic nies,
celebrations, arid 'clmaventions are held to
promote the cause—speeches, songs and
prayers, interspersed with the festivities to
give interest and life to the occasions. It
has been my custom to meet the children
an hour before the love feast to instruct acd
question them on points of scripture, and to
stimulate the church to zeal in behalf of
this cause.
The Distriot-mceting, embracing the fifth
Sabbath in August is looked forward to as
an occasion of great interest. Last year
five thousand persons, it was computed,
were there, and we had a ‘camp meeting’ of
the genuine old style. Let our ministerial
brethren come up to this great “Feast of
Tabernacles’’ eoine in the fullness of the
blessing of the gospel of Christ.
We mu9t not fail to notioc, among other
means for good, the lectures ou ‘ finance”
by Rev. H. P. Bell, appointed to that work
on this District. He has been “abroad and
awake” too, and waking up others to this
important matter by his clear, strong and
telling addresses. I have heard of him in
the mountains and the plains, aud wish him
God speed in this business, for I believe the
lack of appreciation of the importance of
this subject and the necessity of effort
in this matter, is the main drawback upon
the success of our church in this section.
Could our members but be waked up, soul
and purse, on this point, then might we
look to see her, “coming up out of the
wilderness,’’ “fair as the moon, clear as the
sun and terrible as an army with banners.”
Wm. A. Simmons.
July 16, 1869.
Ninety-Six Circuit, S. C. Conference
Mr. EdiUir : —This circuit embraces a
region of very fine cotton lands, lying ad
jacent to old Cambridge of revolutionary
fame. There are five ohurohes, and about
300 white members, and a few colored still
remain with us. Wo have six Sunday
schools. Last Saturday and Sunday was
held our 3rd quarterly meeting. Ten had
been received into the church the last quar
ter—two of them young men of promise.
One young man—the son-in-law of a faith
ful old class-leader, now some years in the
kingdom of heaven, joined Sunday morn
ing afeer a most delightful love-feast. The
P. Elder preached in “power aud demon
stration of the spirit.” God the Saviour
was present to cheer the hearts of his
people.
The preacher in charge of this oircuit
lives at Greenwood, a most beautiful little
rural village, mostly of Presbyterians and
Methodists.
He does not live in a rented house ; but
in one of the best parsonages in the Con
ference. This house and lot of four or
five acres has been bought and paid for
since the war. The stewards guarantee the
preacher’s salary, aud pau in advance or
quarterly.
The people in this charge do not give
their preacher a house to live in and pay
his salary simply. They give him a sturdy
moral support. They encourage him in the
vital matter of discipline. They know that
the vine cannot give a healthful, abundant
fruitage so long as the dead branches (con
venient resting place and fruitful source of
noxious vermin,) remain upon the parent
stock. They pray for their preacher, not
only when he is present to hear, but in
private and at the family altar.
Now, Mr. Editor, do you know whereun
to much of this grows. Your readers will
understand when a very significant fact is
made know to them. About fifty families
in this little circuit take their church pa
per. The preachers have striven to intro
duce this invaluable assistant iu their great
work into every family in the charge.
The present preacher in charge having
no junior with him—has put the South
ern Christian Advocate in charge, which
plays junior for him. Brethren, our people
must have the Advocate. They cannot af
ford to do without it. The S C. Advocate
will help on the work of God in your
charge. It will help you.
July mh, 1869. G.
Greenville ct., S. C. Conference.
Mr. Editor : It will rejoice the friends
of God to know, we have been blessed
with a revival of religion at Ebenezer,
Greenville ct. Fifty five persons have
joined the ohurch, several backsliders were
reclaimed, and the people of God are stim
ulated to increased devotion and sacrifice for
the Master’s service. Two members of the
ohurch who had long had bitter icelings
towards each other, in open congregation
approached the altar, and made friends.
This was one of the most affecting incidents
I ever witnessed. The magic notes of
peace filled many a heart with joy, and
eyes with tears. “Blessed are the peace
makers.”
We were anxiously expecting God to re
vive us when His providence sent to our
assistance that indefatigable, uncompro
mising and zealous “local itinerant,” Bro.
J. H. C. McKinney, late of S. C. Cos
ferenoe. He was abundant in labor, though
his body was considerably enfeebled bydi
ease. In fifteen days, he preached eight
teen sermons, full of the Holy Ghost, and
heavenly fire.
This is but the beginning of the good
things God will do for us. Permit me to
add, olass meetings have been inaugurated
at several appointments—Christians are
becoming more interested in personal and
family piety. God help us. Fraternally,
Jas. J. Workman.
Judy \2th, 1869.
St. James, Augusta —The Rev. G.
H. Patillo writes, July 12th: Wc have
received up to date at regular staled ser
vices, over thirty new members, and have
nearly a dozen applicants to he received Ist
Sunday in August. The prayer-meetings
of whieh we have from four to five every
week, are largely attended, interest deep,
frnit abundant. The children’s weekly
meeting has been productive of much good.
The Sabbath-school is, as usual, large and
prosperous.
Buukk co., Ga, — The Rev. N. B. Ous
ley writes : I have just returned from Bro.
Darsey’s work; “Millen Mission.’’ He has
a very interesting work in progress at
Reese’s church. Nineteen had joined up
to this morning, with a probability of a still
larger increase. Home engagements de
manded I should leave. Bro. Sweet was
confidently looked for. We are antieipat
ng a return of former days to the ehuroh
in old Burke county.
Washington College, Va.
Mr. Editor; —Frequent inquiries are
made of the Faculty of Washington College
whether any provision bad been made for
the special benefit of young men pursuing
their studies with a view to the Christian
Ministry. For the satisfaction of any
among your readers who may bo interested
in the matter. I take the liberty of re
questing you to insert the following extract
from the records of the Board of Trustees.
Very truly yours,
J. L. Kirkpatrick,
Prof. Mor. Phil.
EXTRACT.
The Faculty are authorized to admit as
students, without charge for tuition and
College fees, candidates for the Christian
Ministry, on the following conditions, via^
1. The applicant be without the
ability to pay t.’e
2. He shall bo recommended b> some
competent ecclesiastic authority asWßitable
person to bo educated for the Ministry.
3. In case any student admitted on these
terms shall decline to e m the Ministry,
the regular charges for tuition and College
fees shall be held as a debt due by him to
the College, according to the conditions
provided, and now in force with reference
to the credit which may bo extended to
“meritorious indigent students.”
4 The Faculty may at any time with
draw the privilege from a student who
shall prove unworthy of it.
Support of the Bishops.
As the sessions of the Annual Confer
ences are fast approaching, I deem it proper
to invite the attention of the Church to the
importance of meeting, immediately, the
appointments for the support of our Bishops.
At the General Conference of 1866, their
salaries were duly fixed, and distributed
among the several Annual Conferences, ac
cording to the ability of each.
Without any well matured plan for col
lecting the amount necessary for their sup
port, they enteied on the duties assigned
them, aud with an energy commensurate
with the demands of the Church, they pro
secuted the work in every direction. Their
zeal has known no bounds, but their wast
ing strength, while the sacrifices they have
endured in protracted absence from home,
demanded by the importance of their min
istry in fields remote, have brought the
Church under obligations to minister to tbeir
temporal wants.
The current fiscal year commenced with
the Ist of June, and the money necessary
to be collected for their support must be
raised previous to the Annual Conferences.
While eaoh preacher, having oharge of a
eiicuit or station, is expected to collect the
amount apportioned to his field of labor,
yet by common consent, not only is the
proper distribution of the several amounts
to be made among the charges by tho Pre
siding Elder, but to him is especially in
trusted the duty of seeing that no deficiency
occurs in the District over which he pre
sides.
Many of the Presiding Elders are now
entering upon their fourth round of quar
terly meetings. We beg each one to charge
himself fully with his duty to the chief
pastors of the Churoh in this regard, and
not to leave any quarterly meeting until the
collection for the support of the Bishops
is taken up. With no other source of sup
port than the voluntary contributions of a
grateful Church, theymust not be forgot
ten. A. H. Redford, Agent.
Our Foreign Missions—Tlie Debt.
Our Board of Foreign Missions owes a
sum approximating $85,000. It must be
paid this year. It ought to be paid this
summer. Our miseious, our credit, our
prosperity as a Church, are suffering be
cause of this indebtedness. Ministers at
home are now waiting to reinforceour mis
sionaries abroad, but they cannot be sent
while the Board is embarrassed with a
debt which is crushing the life out of it.
What security would such men have, any
way, for a support in foreign lands, when
tlie Church appears to be deaf to any ap
peal that cau be made in behalf of For
eign Missions? aud when a debt contract
ed for the support of foreign missionaries
is permitted to remain unpaid till the ac
cumulating interest amounts to half the
principal? A few weeks ago an appeal
was made to the Church to pay the debt
against the meeting of the Board on the
first day of next September. The follow
ing method was suggested, which I wish
to keep before the Church :
1. Let every Saobath-school in the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, send
to me a donation of at least ten dollars.
2. Let every member of the Church send
me by mail, one dollar. Asa matter of
course, a larger donation will be thankful
ly received, aud bountifully rewarded by
Heaven.
As yet, I have received but few respon
ses. How easy it would be for every Su
perintendent of a Sabbath-school to bring
the matter before the teachers and chil
dren of his school. How easy would it be
for him to announce that on a following
Sabbath—giving the time—a collection
would be taken for this purpose. If a
Missionary Society is organized in the
school, how little labor it would require to
send meat Baltimore the amount of the
next monthly collection—making it ten
dollars, or more. —How little labor it would
cost our preachers to read the appeal pub
lished a few weeks ago to their people,
from the pulpit, or at least present the
matter to them, and insist that each send
the one dollar,—or, if any be rich
among them, that they semi more.
There are members of our Church who
ought to respond with a check for SI,OOO
They will be but the richer and Goo’s
book will contain in everlasting record
the credit. No member of the Church
ought to be contented in mind and spirit
one moment, till he has done something
towards the payment of this debt Every
MEMBER OF THE CHURCH IS BOUND BE
FORE God TO THE EXTENT OF HIS ABILITY
TO FAY FOR ALLTHE DEB I’, TILL ALL THE
debt is paid. TheCburch independently
of the individuals composing it is nobody,
aud nobody caunot make contracts, he in
vested with responsibility, aud he brought
under the claims of obligation ; yet some
body was able to contract this debt, and
somebody must pay it. Asa Church is
somebody, and only somebody in virtue of
the individuals composing it, so the res
ponsibility for the payment of all debts
created by the Church in the person of its
accredited agents, settles at last upon its
individual members—not by a distribu
tion of the debt, pro rata, among the
members of the Church, which would
make the payment an impracticability,
but by placing every individual member
uuder obligation to God and man for the
payment of the entire debt. This is a
principl eot the common law of the land :
every member of a commercial firm is res
ponsible as an individual for all the debts
of the firm. The debt of the Missionary
Board is the debt of every member of the
Southern Methodist Church, aud to them
as individuals, who must give an account
to God, we most earnestly appeal.
The method I suggest for raising the
money may not be the best one, but no
one can dispute that it is easily responded
to, and if responded to, the debt will soon
be extinguished. We are hurrying on to
the Judgment, and the cause of God is iti
our keeping, and we have no time to cri
ticise modes—the fact i* before us, send
ON THE MONEY. W. E. MUNSEY.
Commencement of Southern Univer
sity.
We hear capital reports from the South
ern University. We rejoice iu its pros
perity. Dr. Wadsworth writes: “The
Commencement Exercises begun on the
4th lust., with the Commencement Sermon
tiy the Rev. Dr. Keeuer, of New Orleans.
This eminent minister took the character
of Daniel as his subject, aud held him be
fore his audieuce as the model statesman.
The sermon was exoellent. Monday night
the Belles-letter* Society was represented
by four students who delivered original
orations. Tuesday the Clariosopbio Soci
ety had au exhibition, aud three studeuts
delivered original orations. The Society
of Alumni was addressed by Mr. W. J.
Spillman, of lufca, Mississippi, and the
two Literary Societies by Mr. W. L. Nu
gent, of Greenville, Mississippi. These
orations were delivered with much grace
and force.
“On Commencement Day Christian
Keener and Clarence J. Nugent, of New
Orleans, and Edward E. Powell, of Port
Gibson, Miss., received the degree of A.
M. Mr. Henry L. Oliver, of Tuskaloosa,
graduated in the schools of Latin, Greek,
and Chemistry; and Mr.Thos. H. Osborn,
of Greensboro, in the Sohool of Chemistry,
"Vol. xxxii. IN"o. 32
“The first three above mentioned enter
tained the audience with orations of rare
excellence; and Mr. Oliver read a very
beautiful poem ou Dueling, which he com
posed aud handed to one iff tlie Professors
as a composition. It contained so many
verses of beauty and force that the Facul
ty advised the gifted author to read it on
Commencement Dav. It was highly ap
preciated by the audience.
“ Hie honorary degree of D. D. was con
ferred ou Rev. Allen 8. Andrews, A. M.,
ofthe Mobile Conference, 'this gentle
mau is now the pastor of St. Francis Street
Church, Mobile, and is much esteemed ou
account of his attainments as a s-hoiar
aud bis ability as a preacher of the gospel.
“The University seems to have renewed
its strength. We look forward hopefully
to the next sessiou. We have re> sin to
expect a large increase in the number of
students* Tlm session will begin tlie (ir-t
AVednesdity ™ October. We'can safely
promise young men who are studious and
docile, advantages equal to those ottered
by any institution inAiir coun'ry.”— Nash •
ville Christian Adeomte.
The Protestant Episcopal Contro
v * > versy.
The trial of Re*. C. (J. Tate, for intro
ducing innovations (Romish) in liischurch
services, Jkus met with au unexpected in
terruption. Tlie trial was duly called at
Springfield, O , June 29, the committee,
tiie defendant, and counsel being all pres
ent. Duriug the preliminaries it was dis
covered that one of tlie members of tlie
Committee, selected by Bishop M'livaiue
to try the case, was not a rector of a self
supporting parish. Tiie fact, it was deci
ded, invalidated the constitution of the
ecclesiastical board, and the whole pro
ceedings at once terminated. Any fur
ther trial must commence dc novo. As
Bishop M’livaiue has gone to Europe, it
lemains to he seen whether his assistant,
now in charge of the diocese, will insti
tute any new proceedings in tlie case.
As another of tlie early fruits of the
High Church pressure brought to bear
upon the more evangelical clergy, the
parish of Rut in Ray, Ohio, (Jay Cooke's
Church,) basdiHSolved its connection with
tlie Protestant Episcopal Diocese. The
rector, Rev. Samuel R. Weldon, has for
mally notified Bishop M’livaiue of his
withdrawal, and of his purpose to continue
his ministrations in his congregation. His
church is to he free hereafter, and mem
bers of all evangelical denominations are
to be invited to participate in the services.
In his letter to Bishop M’livaiue, Mr.
Weldon indicates some of the burdens
which be lias hitherto suffered under the
iutepretation given to the prayer-hook by
the recognized church authorities. He
says:
I have for many years belived that the
doctrine of a tactual apostolic suecessiou
has little foundation either in Scripture or
history. The assumption that the right
to discharge tlie functiousof tlie Christian
ministry could be acquired only through
such a succession I have therefore deemed
mere pretense. The canon which seemed
intended to exclude ministers of most
Protestant Churches from officiating ill
our congregations has appeared to me at
least very unfortunate iu its terms. But
the amendment to that canon passed by
the General Convention, which makes it
beyond question a law of rigid exclusion,
I must consider wrong, opposed to tlie
spirit of Christianity, and offensive to our
Lord. To protest against tlie law, and to
labor for its repeal, might under ordinary
circumstances be my whole duly with ref
erence to it. But where lam placed I be
lieve I ought to disobey it. Let me ex
plaiu : The church where I minister was
built by my friend, Mr. Cooke, for a peo
ple of whom scarcely one was an Episco
palian. Ministers of various Protestant
Churches are often visitors on this island,
and guests at liis residence near by. From
the first, the minister of ibis church lias
been accustomed to invite these brethren
to assist him iu tiie services here. Hith
erto I believe this liberly has uot been
questioned. But nowthis excluding canon
forbids it, aud I am informed that doubt
less it will be inforced against me. Shall
I then obey the law which I believe to be
wrong? Shall I change tiie right way of
fellowship to tlie wrong way of exclusion ?
No. ' Tlie higher law of Christian charity
constrains me todisregard tlie inferior law
of antagonism. Shall I then become a
law breaker? It seems to me better that
I should withdraw from tlie ministry of a
church whose law demauds from me
what I ought not to yield? " '
Again, 1 utterly disbelieve the doctrine
of baptismal regeneration. But in the
baptismal service I am required to thank
God that it hath pleased him to regene
rate the liapiized infant with liis Holy
Spirit. I believe that it is wrong for me
to use, in'solemn acts of public worship,
words in such a strained anil artificial
sense as that by which I have formerly
tried to reconcile these words to the truth.
I have no doubt theil dangerous error is
prouagated by the use of this phraseology.
if I use it I mink 1 may rightly be held
responsible for any sueli consequences. I
cannot consent to address God in my
prayers in terms which would be falsehood
if I used them in my preaching. But L
am informed that if in administering tlie
sacrament of baptism I omit the phrases
which it would be wrong for me to use, I
must doubless be arraigned and con
demned as a law breaker. I believe that
this rigid construction of rubrical direc
tions, this inexorable imposition of offen
sive phrases upon troubled consciences is
unwise, perhaps unjust. But even if it
be so it might be better, as to this matter
also, that I should withdraw from tlie
ministry of the Protestant Episcopal
Church.
I doubt not, dear Bishop, that you will
believe me when I say tiiat I cherish to
ward yourself only sentiments of affec
tionate and profound esteem. And I will
dare to believe that it will cost you pain
to comply with my request, as it does me
to make it, that you will lake the action
necessary to sever my connection witli« lie
Protestant Episcopal Church as oue of her
ministers.
Tiie Reformed Presbyterian Sy
nod. —Tlie action of this body last year, iu
disowning aud expellp'g Mr. George H.
Stuart, for theecciesia-tical offence of join
ing iu tlie worship with Christians who
siug hymns other than the Psalms of Da
vid, bus resulted disastrously enough. Os
forty-six ministers comprising the Synod
a year ago, twenty have already ceased to
be members, including most of its ablest
preachers. There is no increase, aud
those who remain begin to look at disin
tegration aud extinction as n> ar at baud.
Among the losses were the whole body of
missionaries in .Northern India, some of
them thirty years in the field. They sent
up a communication, saying that they
have never adhered to the polity of tlie
Church at home in regard to psalmody
and communion, but uniformly joined
with tlie brethren of other denominations
in tlie same field in singing hymns and
spiritual songs, and in communion at tlie
Lord’s table. The offeuce for which Mr.
Stuart was suspended had been their prac
tice, approved by tlie Church and blessed
by tlie Master, with a uniformity which
bad been uninterrupted for thirty years.
They prayed that this action be reconsid
ered or rescinded, aud declared that until
this was done they could not continue to
represent Synod among tlie heathen, or
approve a cause which for them would so
strongly bear the stamp of self-condemna
tion. May «M exclusiveness come to au
end.
Progress of frotestantism in Por
tugal, —Recent news from I'ortugul gives
tlie pleasing intelligence that at least
twenty men are employed selling Bibles
in that kingdom. In Lisbon, the capital,
an organization in connection with the
Scot(i»h Church numbers twenty believ
ers; while an Episcopal Church in the
same city has over one hundred member-'.
In the Island of Madeira, there is report
ed to be a continued and increasing inter
est in the work of the Gospel. Occasion
al disturbances still occur through the op
position of the priestly party. A few
months since a member of one of the Por
tuguese churches in Illinois returned to
Madeira, on account of ill health, and
there died. The priest forbade his burial
in consecrated ground, because he was a
Calvinist, and ordered his interment at
the door of the house where he died, and
that they should plant vegetables over his
grave. The civil authorities were appealed
to. They reversed the decision of the
priest, and ordered the burial in the ceme
tery, greatly to the gratillcntion of the
people. This circumstance had animated
very much those who were iuterested in
the Gospel.
The Koran and the Sword.- I The
Zion's Herald says: “The object of this
advance of our bishops was probably to
give our ministers in that section an ad'
vantage in prosecuting their work, show
ing larger catholicity on our part than on
theirs.” The Western Christian Advo
cate says: “If this offer shall be spurned
by the General Conference of the Church
South, absorption and disintegration will
become the order of the day.”— -AT. O. Ch,
Advocate. '