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THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
VOL. XXXIII. NO. 20.
Driginal |joctrn.
Ordination Hymn.
BY SIDNEY HERBERT.
“ (io—preach the gospel,” Jesus said,
To ali the world its joy make known ;
Whatever paths your feet may tread,
My presence rhall your labors own.”
They went, as He had bid them go,
To teach the nations fir and near;
And ’mid all conflicts, toil and Woe,
His loving presence gave them cheer.
“Go—preach the gospel,” Jesus said,
“ Let every creature hear the sound;
Be the glad tidings quickly spread,
Wherever human souls are found.”
The Word was preached in every land
To which apostles’ feet could go;
An ! by the labors of that band.
Millions were saved from endless woe.
“G >—preach the gospel,” Jesus said,
To those who were his chosen friends;
They long have slumbered with the dead.
But this commission never ends.
’Tis spoken now by the same voice
To these young Christian soldiers here;
In the stune Presence they’ll rejoice,
’Mid all their labors, far or near.
“Go—preach the gospel,” Jesus speaks.
To you who hesitate and wait;
E'en now His Holy Spirit seeks
To win you, ere it be too late—
Too late to join the noble bands
That go, submissive to His call,
To preach the Truth in heathen lands,
And lift from them Sin’s gloomy pall.
Clayton, Ala., 1810.
The Grave-Yar«l.
Written after visiting the grave-yard at the deso
late village of C .
•How sweet it is, at sunset’s quiet hour,
Beside the giave of a departed friend,
To dream of days gone by, when, like a flower,
The sleeper bloomed, a loved and valued gem.
How little guess we what the future is
While life’s young blood is coursing through tlie
veins!
How fondly hope that friendship, love and bliss
Will track our course, and pleasure hold the
reins i
But, ah, how many find it all a dream,
A vision fair, of wliat may never he ;
A disappo'ntment, lurking, dark, unseen,
To break tlie charm, and dim futurity.
Thy fate, dear friend, tlie answer must Impart,
For thou wert blithe and gay, and loved by all;
But sickness came, and death's unerring dart.
And friendship's hands have wove for thee a pall.
Tread lightly when you walk this sacred ground,
For there are many dear ones resting here ;
And while in solemn mood you gaze around,
Let not your eye he dimmed with sorrow’s tear.
For, know you not, the earth our mother is,
And in her bosom is our resting place ;
And death alone confirms to us the bliss
Os joys secured by Jesus’s pardouing grace?
Lonely—ah, no; I love the soothing power,
The grave yard’s calm repose, with angels near;
1 love to come at twilight’s silent hour,
And fancy little Willie meets me here:
To close my heart to earth and earthly cares,
And with bright spirits sweet communion hold,
Till, ail forgetful of life’s toils and snures,
Faith reaches forth in expectation bold.
Soft music floats upon the passing breeze,
The heavenly choir ascends to join the blessed ;
The moon's soft beams steal gently through the
trees,
Aud silence speaks the grave a place of rest.
It must be so: and will my body lie
On yonder hill 1 or will sweet prairie flowers
Bedeck my grave ? or will a Southern sky
Mingle her torrid rays with cooling showers?
It matters not where this poor frame is laid,
Since dust returns to dust, and we are given,
Through Faith, to know that Christ the debt has
paid,
And rausomed souls may meet again in Heaven.
Anez.
Contributions.
All C'OHM , cratioii--Xo. V.
We do not moan that ministers of the gos
pel do not give, and liberally too, to all be
nevolent objects, but we do say there is not
that system in their benevolence this conse
cration of one’s all implies. They are sup
posed to be more pious than others, or if
not, they ought to he. Entire consecration
to Clod is regarded as their duty, and though
of the same nature with others, self-denial
is presumed to be easier—aud, on the ground
of haviug more grace than others, why not ?
But if this is enforced by the pennriousness
of the church, then has ho no reward, for it
involves a failure in duty in not teaching
the church more liberal things. “For the
liberal deviseth liberal things, and by liber
al things shall he stand.” It is true in this,
as in other matters, “Whatsoever a man sow
eth that shall he also reap.” The will of
God is the rale of action of all intelligences
in earth or heaven—must be, iu every thing
great and small. lie that would conform
to this will must deny himself, and thero
cannot be any entire consecration without
it. Done then, from a sense of duty, it
cannot go unrewarded, even iu this life, since
it brings about conformity to the divine will
and character. Now, if he must deny him
self in order to devote to God a fixed por
tion of his income, who will say that he
ought not, when it is written, “I will never
leave thee nor forsako thee.” This pledged
promise of God ought to be u sufficient guar
antee inducing contentment, and makiugliim
to have his “conversation without covetous
ness.”
Hut more : cut oil’ as he is from the means
of accumulation, he may more readily
overcome the world, and exhibit a stronger
and more abiding trust in God. What hope
of success is there in inducing this spirit in
any who have their portion in this life? Aud
of these how many are so-called Christians ?
One’s heart sinks within him in contempla
ting the conduct of many in the church with
whom there is no higher sense of duty than
that engendered by shame ; no sense of ob
ligation to God who lias given them so rich
ly all things to enjoy. If one mark of
covetousness be tenacity of holding, then are
they so ; for they loosen their grasp upon
earthly treasures so cautious]/, that so far
from the tenth of their increase being de
voted to God, not the hundredth, in many
eases not the thousandth part is so conse
crated. The truly devoted minister of Jesus
escapes this peril. The incoming increase
does not bring an increasing love for gain ;
does not harden his heart against the claims
of God and the poor. He can more fully
“lay up treasure iu heaven,” and “make to
himself friends of the mammon of unright
eousness.” Having the stimulus of a good
conscience, crucified to the world, and the
world to him, seeking a better country, an
inheritance incorruptible, he ought the more
readily to lay his all upon the altar of conse
cration. Thus doing, ho gives evidence of
the genuineness of his faith, and in no other
way can he ; preaching will not prove it—
abounding in good works from gospel mo
tives and for gospel purposes is the proof
alone of his faith andisincerity.
The meagerness of income is no valid
reason for failure, St. Paul w'ould have the
entire church, even in its deepest poverty,
to abound in tliel’gracc of'giving : “as ye
abound in every thing, in faith,"and utter
ance, and knowledge—see that ye abound in
this grace also,” and he urges Timothy “to
bo an example in word, and conversation, in
charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Prin
ciple, and not passion or feeling, however
intensified, must be the controlling influ
ence in life, and that is not inculcated by
wise sayings or moral precepts, but by ex
ample. This is 'one of the world’s great
educators, and no principle is ever heartily
adopted until example prove" its worth. Any
teaching may have all other excellencies, but
lacking this, is powerless for good. The
Southern Cbmftuw IMmjiff.
Bible is full of precepts concerning benevo
lence : suppose there were no examples re
corded, what then ? The whole would be
corpse-like, a beautiful imago of death, its
mortuary adornments enhancing its ghostli
ness, but utterly unable to prevent its decay.
But example vitalizes it, making it a living
embodiment felt and seen in the person of
Jesus and all who follow him. “Love your
enemies,” is tho precept or principle, the
example is God himself ; “he maketh his sun
to rise on the just and the unjust.” “Show
us the Father,” says Philip, and Jesus ans
wered, “He that hath seen me”—in the
ministration of mercy and benevolence to a
rained race—“hath seen the Father and
St. Paul urges—Born. v. 15, (margin)—“to
be like-minded, after the example of Christ.”
Now, is this attainable, without self-sacrifice
and suffering ? You have in the life of the
Saviour and in the spirit of his gospel, a suf
ficient answer. Here then is the minister of
religion, advocating the claims of its benevo
lence, pressing home its precepts, urging
entire consecration not only of heart and
life, but also of the means of living ; this
consecration exhibiting itself —forit can do it
in no other way —by some fixed standard of
outlay ; but, because of the self-sacrifice and
suffering, it may cause in his own case, ex
cusing himself from coming under the opera
tion of a law he would enforce on others.
How many converts will he make to the
principle ? Example lacking, why just none
at all.
Hence, the conclusion is readily reached,
that if the church is ever brought up to the
consecration of it sail to God—evidenced by
some approximation to a scriptural standard
of giving, its teachers must lead the way, not
only by the enforcement of precepts, but
by the all controlling influence of godly ex
ample.” “Pure religion and nndefiled before
God and the Father is this ; to visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and
to keep himself unspotted the world.”
“No,” say thousands in Christendom, “not
that—to go to church, hear sermons, and
say prayers is pure enough religion for us.”
Will not the judge in the awful day say, “I
was a hungered and ye gave me no meat;
thirsty, and ye gave me no drink ; I was a
stranger, and ye took me not in ; naked, and
ye clothed me not; sick aud in prison, and
ye visited me not.” Oh! thou minister of
Jesus, because of thy greater piety, thy
freedom from the snares of accumulation,
tho necessity of thy being an example to the
church, put the seal of consecration upon
thy meager income to teach the world what
pure religion is.
We have regarded tho subject only in the
stern light of duty, as connected with suffer
ing and sacrifice ; have said nothing of it os
a privilege, and the rich reward a conscious
ness of right-doing, always gives. The world
thinks only of the pangs of crucifixion, the
cross is to it only the terrible symbol of suf
fering ; but what soul panting after confor
mity to tho divine mind, but richly enjoys
tho death struggles of his “old offending
nature,” and tastes superior bliss in becom
ing like God. Was St. Paul, when suffering
“tho loss of all things, that he might win
Christ,” an unhappy man ? Who that has
any experience in tho Christian life can, for
one moment suppose so ?
A. M. Curietzjiero.
Address of the Bishops.
TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE M. E.
• CHI'RCH, SOI’TH 1
Beloved Brethren :—We would join you in
devout thanksgiving to God that another
quadrennial session of your body has occur
red. • Representing, ns you do, all parts of
our wide field of labor, conversant with
their conditions and wants, and invested
with authority over the whole Church, we
beg respectfully to remind you of the im
portance of prayerful, vigilant, and impar
tial attention to the duties of your delicate
and responsible position. We trust that the
subjects which may bo brought before you
will be discussed and decided as in tho im
mediate presence of God, amt with direct
reference to the welfare of the whole
Church.
With profound emotion we announce to
you that since your last session our venera
ble and beloved colleague, Joshua Soule,
has departed this life. His-death occurred
in Nashville, Tenn., March 6th, 1867, in the
87th year of his life, and the 70th year of
his itinerant ministry. In many respects
Bishop Soule was aremarkablo man. At the
time of his death he was probably, the old
est traveling preacher in America, if not in
the world ; and was thus the connecting link
between the Methodism of Wesley and As
bury and that of the present day. Through
out his whole ministerial life he was emi
nently devoted to God. and employed ex
clusively in the service of the Church ; of
ten filling positions of the highest responsi
bility, and always honorably and usefully.
His mind was clear and vigorous, his de
portment dignified, and his whole course
was marked by consistency, purity, and un
swerving fidelity to principle. Whether
viewed as a man, a Christian, or a minister,
or as filling the highest office in the Church
for forty-three years, his character deserves
to be held iu the highest esteem, and his
memory to be perpetuated in the history of
tho Church. We devoutly thank God for
such a man, and for tho gifts and grace
which rendered his eventful life so useful,
his declining years and closing day so beau
tifully serene, so sublimely triumphant.
The past four years have abounded with
trials to the Church you represent, especial
ly those portions of the country which suf
fered most by military devastation during
the late war, and by eclesiastical interfer
ence with our Church property. Bat it is
matter of devout gratitude that poverty and
persecution—even unto stripes and death,
in some cases—have only tested and in
creased the attachment and fidelity of our
ministers and the general body of our mem
bership, to the Clnlrcb. The itinerant
preachers, although very meagerly support
ed, have, in general, been faithful to their
ordination vows, and have persevered, as
best they could, iu performing their duties.
By the blessing of God this has resulted in
the maintenance of our Itinerant system,
and the steady and increasing prosperity of
all the enterprises of the Church. Even
where we had suffered most we are rapidly
regaining our former ground, and in many
sections extending our borders and multi
plying our membership. Seasons of re
freshment from the presence of the Lord
have come upon the people, and thousands
have been converted and added to the
Church.
We rejoice, also, to report that the great
est unity and harmony exist throughout the
whole Connection. It has been tiuly said
that “Methodists, all over the world, are
one in doctrine ;” so that, however widely
scattered and differing in other respects,
they present the peculiarity of agreeing cor
dially in the great doctrines of Christianity.
And ns the members of our communion aie
a unit in faith, so also there is scarcely any
disagreement among them as our Church
polity. Their prevalent desire is that both
be preserved—the former intact, the latter
if altered at all, to be modified so far only
as to make it more effective in accomplish
ing the original purposes of Methodism.
This is seen in the fact that we have quietly
passed what is justly regarded in all forms
of government a great crisis, in the adop
tion of anew element into our system. We
allude to the introduction of Lay Represen
tation into the Annual and General Confer
ences. This important change in our econ
omy was not a peace-offering, rendered ne
cessary for the preservation of the unity and
peace of the Church, from the attacks of a
dissatisfied and refractory membership, but
was proposed and effeoted by the nearly
nnanimous voice of the ministry, and the
acquiescence of the laity—both believing
that the time had fully come when it would
enhance the effectiveness of tho Church and
the glory of Christ.
In attestation of the approval of the
whole Church of this measure, we are grati
fied to see in this body so large a number of
Lay Delegates, representing the intelligence,
piety and strength of the Connection. We
are sure that we express the feelings of their
clerical associates and of the entire Church,
in welcoming them to their seats ; and we
shall gladly share with them the labors and
responsibilities of this chief Council of the
Church.
It may not be amiss iu this connection
to suggest that excessive legislation is too
common in all deliberative bodies. Laws
and usages, generally understood and ap
proved, should not be changed hastily ; or,
if changed at all, only from a conviction of
the greater utility of the change. Nor is
it prudent to alter even a recent enactment
until it is practically demonstrated to be
necessary to do so. This caution we would
respectfully apply to the regulations under
which lay representation lias been intro
duced. Would it not bo judicious to learn
by experience what modifications, if any,
may be necessary, rather than risk the suc
cess of tlie system by hasty attempts to im
prove it ?
Tho efficiency of the Church of Christ
must result from His gifts aud grace, and
the General Conference eau reasonably ex
pect to do but little to increase it by merely
prudential means, except its these tend to
increase its spiritual life. It is your first
duty, therefore, to ascertain the real condi
tion of the Church in this respect, in order
to correct what may be wrong, and supply
wliut may be needed for this great end.
Your attention is earnestly invited to a care
ful examination into its spiritual state, and
of the means and measures likely to contri
bute to this, its highest, most vital interest.
Without intending a disparaging compar
ison between tho piety of the present day,
and of our fathers in tlie early days of
Methodism, we feel it right to say that we
are deficient as to several matters which
were formerly regarded ns aids and tests of
Methodistic piety. We allude, especially,
to the neglect of* class and prayer-meeting ;
of fasting and abstinence ; of family and
seoret prayer ; and tho indulgence in world
ly pleasures. In some, if not in all of these
things, wo fear our people, not to say our
preachers, too, fall below the pattern set us
by tiro piety of our fathers in other days.
We do not mean that this declension is uni
versal, but gladly admit that there are large
numbers who exhibit the ancient marks of
Methodistic piety in an intelligent and ar
dent devotion to God, and in firm attach
ment to our doctrines and discipline. The
action of the last General Conference modi
fying the rule on class-meetings, so that at
tending them should not be a condition of
Church membership, lias been construed,
unfortunately, by some us abolishing them.
We do not so understand it; and we re
gard these meetings to be so promotive
of the spiritual prosperity of tlie Church,
and so essential to the efficient working of
our economy, that we are very reluctant to
see them fall, in any measure, into disuse.
While attendance upon these meetings is
not a condition of membership, yet we do
not consider that pastors have been released
from the appointment and oversight of
leaders, classes, and at least a quarterly visi
tation, and report. Wo recommend to the
General Conference the consideration of
this subject in connection with a pastor’s
duty.
We invite your attention, specially, to
the subject of Family Religion and the
Christian training of children. Its impor
tance cannot be over-estimated. Regular
family worship, morning aud night, accom
panied with the consecutive reading of tho
Scriptures, is so morally fit, reasonable, and
salutary, that to us it seems strange that the
heads of Christian families can feel guiltless
in neglecting it. While we rejoice in the
greatly increased interest exhibited in lie
half of Sunday-schools, we are sure that
thero can be no substitute for religious
training in the family. The impress, wheth
er for good or evil, made by family instruc
tion and example is indelible. In the
Home-oircle is found a domestic and Patri
archal Church; the training-school of the
kingdom of Christ; the pledge and fore
taste of the bliss of the kiugdom above.
Indulgence in worldly and fashionable di
versions is another great enemy of earnest
piety which is invading tho Church, and
threatening to estrange our children from
us. Dancing in particular, whatever plausi
ble excuses may bo pleaded for it, is des
tructive to the growth, not to say the very
existence of spiritual religion in those who
delight to indulge iu it. Generally, it is a
species of “reveling” condemned and for
bidden by the Word of Go! ; and its ten
dency is evil only.
In immediate connection with tho spirit
ual welfare of the Church, the great and on
ly effectual remedy for most if not all our
deficiencies as a Christian people, is an in
crease of inward, genuine,scriptural holiness.
We fear that the doctrine of Perfect Love,
which casts out fear and purifies tho heart,
and is the “ measure of tho stature of the
fullness of Christ,” as taught in tho Bible
and explained and enforced in our standards,
as a distinct and practicable attainment, is
too much overlooked and neglected. This
was a prominent theme in the discourses of
our fathers ; and alike in their private con
versations as in their public ministrations,
they urged religious people to “go ou to
this perfection” of sanctifying love. The re
vivals which followed their ministry were
not superficial or ephemeral. Their genu
ineness and power were proved by the holy
lives and triumphant deaths of the converts.
If we would be like them in power and use
fulness, we must resemble them iu holy
consecration. Nothing is so much needed
at the present time, throughout all these
lands, as a general a.id powerful revival- of
scriptural holiness.
We regret that we havo not been able to
extend our Foreign Missionary work, since
your body assembled last, owing to the
want of funds. Indeed, after all the efforts
which have been made, wo have not liqui
dated in full the old debt contracted during
the late war. There is, however, a strong
probability that this very desirable result
will be accomplished before long. Our Do
mestic Missions have multiplied, and with
increasing usefidness. Your attention is
particularly invited to tho great and effec
tual door now open in the West. From the
mouth of Kansas river to the Golden Gate,
and from tho Rio Grande to Puget’s Sound,
there is a field becoming populous more
rapidly than any in which our fathers labor
ed in their day. No louder call has ever
fallen on the ear of the ministry than that
which comes to us from this vast region.
Other forms of religion, some of them cor
rupt, are pressing their missions with aston
ishing vigor. All along the line of tho
Union and Pacific Railroad they have se
cured real estate ; and at many places they
already have church edifices on command
ing sites. They lavish money in gaining a
foothold there* where, in the course of a
few year3, as they foresee, there will be
populous and enterprising communities.
Mach of this population will be from our
own country, and in sympathy with us ; yet,
up to this moment, wo have done nothing
towards the occupancy of the country.—
Your Bishops are receiving repeated and
most argent calls for men. But in the very
nature of the case, we can send no men unless
the Church at home will send money to meet
the first expenses incurred. This is all
properly missionary ground at present, in
cluding Oregon and Southern California.
In central California the work is, for the
most part, self-sustaining—and, indeed,
prepared to aid the common enterprises of
the Church. We feel well assured that
money expended on this great field will
yield as rich a harvest as has ever been gath
ered from such sowing.
The subject of Education is one of gen
eral and prime importance, and no intelli
gent philanthropist, patriot or Christian can
feel indifferent to it. Viewed either in its
intellectual, moral, cr religious aspects, it
rises into grand proportions and is invested
with powerful influence. The impolicy of
multiplying colleges under the patronage of
the Annual Conferences, must be evident to
those who are acquainted with the present
condition of many of those already in ex
istence. In wielding aright this great agen
cy, thero mast be more foresight, and con*
PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE & CO., FOR THE M. E. CHURCH, 80UTH.
MACON, GA., FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1870.
centration of effort and liberality. > Let
those Institutions to which we are aL-ady
committed be encouraged with increased ef
fort to sustain and endow them. Let a
higher grade of scholarship be established
iu them ; and the most earnest spirit of re
ligion be cultivated by officers and students.
If there be those which cannot sustain the
rank of collegiate establishments, they must
be content with a lower position.
The proper training of young ministers is
a matter of high and acknowledged impor
tance. How this may be best and soonest
accomplished will claim your most thought
ful consideration. We commend tho sub
ject to your earnest attention. |
The 'inadequate support furnished,/ in
many parts of the Connection, to the
preachers regularly engaged in the pastoral
work, and the consequences which must fol
low if this evil be not remedied, will not fail
to be noticed by you. We must perpetuate
an Itinerant ministry, separated to the holy
office, aud consecrated to the care of souls ;
with all of time aud thought and energy de
voted to their sole and appropriate work.
But to enable them to do this tho Church
must make provision for a proper supply of
their wants. While it affords us pleasure to
say that in most of our wide field of opera
tions there has been witnessed a deei led
improvement, yet there is no doubt of -she
fact that iu soma sections there is still a
great deal of negligence in raising the
means of support, and of consequent pri
vation and suffering among the preachers.
Do not’the members of the Church need to
bo specially instructed and trained in this
class of religious obligations ?
Our attention has been, of late years ar
rested by the inadequate supply of young
men offering themselves to the work of the
ministry, either for tho home or foreign
missionary work. May we not assume that
Christ, the Redeemer of all men, the Inter
cessor for all, does call men to the holy Of
fice, iu numbers sufficient to tho demands
of His cause in tho world ? The fault mqst
be with us. How soon would an increase of
piety and zeal in the Church supply the
remedy for this deficiency. What can be
done to arouse tlie-whole communion to uni
ted, fervent prayer to “the Lord of the
harvest that He will send forth laborers into
His vineyard ” ?
You will consider, of course, with great
care,the whole Sunday-school interest, which
we are happy to say, lias assumed a magni
tude and importnnee never before known in
the history of the Southern Methodist
Church, We think yon may find it pratiea
ble to adopt measures that will secure a uni
form scheme of instruction, with texts
furnished at our own Publishing House ; to
gether with tlie enlargement of tho “ Sun
day-School Visitor,” aud possibly; in addi
tion to that paper, the publication of a
monthly journal adapted to teachers and
tho older classes of pupils. It is very desir
able that there should be an improvement
both iu tho character and price of the books
prepared for the use of Sunday-school li
braries. We recommend the appointment
of a suitable person to be specially entrus
ted with the oversight of these vital inter
ests.
The Literature of the Church will not he
overlooked by you. We cannot consent to
surrender to others the vast power and in
fluence wielded by tho press : no Church can
safely do so. In proportion to tho potency
of this influence is the solemn obligation
resting on us to guard and guide the press.
It must maintain a high religious tone—
neither subsidized by wealth or power, nor
perverted by ambition to partisan and polit
ical purposes. It should aim steadily at
conserving tho connectionalism of tho
Church ; and be committed to trustworthy
and competent men who love the whole
Church too well to put in peril her unity
and peace. Wo should hail with rapture
the day that saw a first-class religious and
literary newspaper in every Methodist fami
ly, and our standard works in every library.
There is, allow* us to add, pressing need
of greater facilities for procuring our stand
ard literature on the Pacific slope. Our
Church has suffered greatly from the difficul
ty of obtaining even a Hymn Book and Dis
cipline. If, in your wisdom, any relief
can be afforded, a great want will be sup
plied.
We congratulate you upon the ability
and fidelity of those to whom the Journal
ism of tho Church has been entrusted du
ring the past four years ; and especially up
on the energy, ability, and success of the
Agent and of the Editor of the Publishing
House. They dt serve tho highest com
mendation. The prosperous condition of
of the publishing interests under the con
trol of the General Conference is matter of
special gratification, and of high import to
tlie future development of tlie Church.
Soon after the last session of your body,
the Bishops proceeded to carry into effect
the plan adopted for tho religious benefit of
our colored members. The effort met with
the approval aud concurrence of many of
them, notwithstanding the prejudices which
were attempted—too successfully iu many
instances—to be instilled into their minds
against us. A great number of them still
retain their attachment to the Church and
ministry that had in the past bestowed so
much attention and labor upon their reli
gious instruction, and through whose in
strumentality they had been enlightened
and converted. Still, it is true that many
thus disposed, have been alienated from onr
communion by political and ecclesiastical in
fluences.
Conformably to the wish of the last Gen
eral Conference, we have organized and pre
sided over five Annual Conferences, com
posed exclusively of colored members ; have
formed forty-five districts, with circuits and
stations, in all of which, with a few excep
tions in which white preachers have volun
teered to act as supplies, our colored breth
ren are performing the duties of presiding
elders aud pastors. The principal field of
these operations extends through portions of
Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, South Caro
lina, and Florida ; and is widening by ap
plications for the organization of new Con
ferences. The colored preachers have con
ducted themselves, both in their Annual
Conferences and in the exercise of their pas
toral duties, so as to win the confidence and
co-operation of those of their white breth
ren who have become best acquainted with
their deportment. It is onr purpose, unless
otherwise advised by your body, to call a
General Conference, to be holden next win
ter, for the purpose of organizing them into
an entirely separate Church, and thus en
abling them to become their own guides and
governors.
The suggestion of District Meetings, ori
ginating at the last session of the General
Conference, has been practically adopted,
under the sanction of the Annual Confer
ences, with signal benefit to the cause of re
ligion. At these meetings the lay represen
tatives to the Annual Conferences have been
elected ; the leading minds of the Church,
lay as well as clerical, have been brought to
gether, impressed, and moved with new
zeal; the Bishops, as far as they could find the
opportunity to attend, have had anew and
important field of influence opened to them,
and the results have been of great value to
all the prominent interests of the Church,
spiritual as well as economical.
In conclusion, dear brethren, we pray
earnestly that tho plentiful enrichment of
the “Spirit of power and of love and of a
sound mind,” may rest upon you in all the
deliberations and decisions of the present
session—the first of the kind, in the annals
of Methodism. Could we take you up the
shining mount of vision, and show you the
vast and grand Future before the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South ; —the sublime
possibilities which await development in the
ages to come, and which, as their condition,
ask for unswerving fidelity to Christ and the
solemn trust He has placed in your hands
for the world, you would need no loftier in
ducement to the patient, resolute, prayerful
discharge of the duties imposed upon you
as the representatives of the entire Church.
That the divine counsel may guide you in
all things, is our devout and coustant prayer.
J. O. Andrews,
R. Paine,
G, F. Pierce,
H. H. Kavanaugh,
W. M. WIOHMAN,
E. M. Marvin,
D. S. Doggett,
H. N. MoTyeire.
Memphis, Tenn., May 5; 1870.
Exhibit of the Publishing House
of the M. E. Church, South, for
the Four Years Ending April 30,
1870. By A. H. Bedford. Agent.
Southern Methodist Publishing House, i
Nashville, Tenn., April 30, 1870. j
To the Bishops and Members of the GcneralXJon
ferenee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
_ Bear Brethren :—Tho period having ar
rived for the Quadrennial Exhibit of the
affairs of the Southern Methodist Publishing
House, I beg leave to present the following:
On the 26th of April, 1866, I was elected
to take charge of the Publishing House, and
on the 24th of May following, I entered upon
the duties of the Agency.
I deemed it proper at once to take a care
ful inventory of the Assets and Liabilities of
tho House, and deputed James W. McFerrin
—the son of the former Agent—onr principal
clerk, to take an account of the Merchandise
on hand; while the Real Estate, Stereotype
Plates, Presses, Type and Fnrniture, were
estimated at their cash value. The Liabili
ties were copied from the Ledger by Mr.
Hugh Carroll, who had been the book-keeper
previous to April, 1862, and who now occu
pies that position iu the House.
After such an examination as we could
make, we presented, on the Ist of June, 1866,
the following exhibit:
• ASSETS.
Real estate in Nashville - - - $48,2:33”66
Fixtures—presses, type, ete- - - 30,875*00
Stereotype plates ’ 47,539 69
Merchandise - .... 17,958 68
New Orleans depository - - - 10,326 67
Furniture-desks, tables, and safe - 275 00
Cash 2,420 65
$158,619 25
LIABILITIES.
Bills Payable - - - $39,227 69
Book accounts - - 32,225 80-171,453 55
Balance in favor of the House - $87,105 70
In entering upon the discharge of the du
ties devolving upon us, wo met with but
little to offer us any encouragement. The
history of publishing houses in this country
shows that, under the most favorable cir
cumstances, but few comparatively have suc
ceeded ; while no examples have been fur
nished us where the fortunes of any so greatly
impaired as ours have ever been resuscitated.
-In addition to these facts, the Southern
Methodist Publishing House had but little
active capital—without trade—with no place
to look for patronage, except a country pros
trated by misfortune—with but little hope
of its success, on the part of either the min
istry or membership—and with a debt hang
ing over it sufficient to paralyze every energy.
Under these circumstances, we called a
meeting of tho Book Committee on tho first
day of June, when views were fveoly inter
changed, which resulted in the determina
tion to place the House at once upon a broad
commercial basis, and trust for its success to
tho prosecution of a general book and sta
tionery trade, added to the sale of our own
publications; avoiding, however, all light
literature.
The policy of the House, since the war,
had been to confine itself to the salo of our
publications. The only examples iu this
country where Publishing Houses have con
fined their business to the sale of their own
publications, so far ns we know, are the
American Bible, American Tract and Amer
ican Sunday-school Societies. These houses
are kept up by an active travelling Agency,
by wliieh appeals are made to the charity of
the people for contributions; and without
these constant appeals they would become
bankrupt. Believing that the Publishing
House could not be sustained, much less re
suscitated, unless we returned to the old
policy, we thought it proper to adopt the
course we have followed.
The occupancy of the Publishing House
during tlie war by the Federal Government,
rendered it necessary to remove the entire
stock to tho second story in the building,
where the business was conducted until late
in August, following the General Conference
of 1866, when we removed to the large room
on the first floor, which had been previously
occupied as our salesroom; aud wbich,in tho
meantime, had been refitted.
The Church at once, sympathising with
the House, rallied to our support, and with
the gradual iucroase of our stock, tho busi
ness of the House improved; and on the Ist
of July, 1867, we were able to make the fol
lowing exhibit to the several Annual Con
ferences :
ASSETS.
Real Estate in Nashville - - - $44,819 74
Fixtures—presses, tyoe, ete - - 35,429 82
Stereotype plates - - - - 47,554 24
Merchandise - - - - - 28,000 00
New Orleans depository - - - 10,242 13
Debts due 5,540 10
Furniture—desks, tallies, and safe - 305 00
Cash on hand ..... 200 00
$171,597 03
LIABILITIES.
Bills payable - - $35,269 43
Book accounts - 82,787 34—568,056 76
Balance in favor of the Douse - $103,540 27
Balance in favor of the House last year 87,165 70
Making a difference of-- - $16,374 57
In tlie exhibits of 1860 and 1867, you will
perceive a difference of 51,095 78, in the
value placed upon the real estate. The
money expended in fitting up the salesroom,
which was added to the estimate of 1866,
accounts for this difference.
On the Ist of July, 1868, our Exhibit was
as follows:
ASSETS.
Real estate in Nashville - - - $44,819 74
Fixtures—presses, type, etc - - 36,556 00
Stereotype plates 47,600 00
Merchandise 23,814 00
New Orleans depository—merchandise
and fixtures ..... 14,941 90
Debts due on new account - - - 6,210 20
Fnrnitnre—desks, tables, and safe - 805 00
Cash on hand 151 17
$173,898 01
LIABILITIES.
Bills payable - - - $34,451 27
Book accounts - - - 15,371 15—549,822 42
Balance in favor of the Honse - - $124,075 59
Balance in favor of the House last year 103,540 27
Increase $20,535 32
From the Ist of July, 1868, to the 30th of
Jane, 1869, the business of the Hsuse was
much more prosperous than it was either of
the previous years. The proposition to the
preachers and laymen of the Church to pur
chase sixty dollars worth of our publications
as a means of relief to the Publishing House,
while they would receive value for the money
thus expended, met with a very prompt and
timely response, and greatly increased the
circulation of our books, and enabled us, on
the Ist of July, 1869, to make the following
Exhibit:
ASSETS.
Real estate in Nashville - - - $44,319 74
Fixtures-presses, type, ete - - 38,556 00
Stereotype plates -
Stereotype foundry - A 00 ”
Merchandise - - - • . • 45,686 02
New Orleans depository—merchandise
and fixtures - " - - - - 18,863 44
Debts due on new account - - - 13.037 09
Furniture —desks, tables and safe - 505 00
Cash on hand ----- o9v 44
$213,759 73
LIABILITIES.
Bills payable ... $3*3,886 17
Book accounts - - 10,189 50-142,575 76
Balance in favor of the House - - $170,183 97
Balance in favor of the House last year 124,075 59
Increase for this year ... $46,108 38
The condition of the affairs of the Pub
lishing House at present is as follows:
Real estate In Nashville - - $44,819 74
Presses, engine, boiler and fixtures - 83,985 00
Camposing room 5,705 00
Stereotype plates ----- 51,493 40
Stereotype foundry .... 8,710 00
Merchandise j 4,450 13
New Orleans depository—merchandise
and fixtures 20,906 48
Debts due on new account - - - 14,939 44
Furniture —desks, tables and safe - 505 00
Cash on hand 310 38
$280,224 27
LIABILITIES.
Bills payable $40,311 98
Book account 1,560 19—541,872 12
Balance in favor of the House $188,352 65
Ba anee in favor of the Honse last year 170,183 97
Increase for this year $18,168 68
By referring to the several Exhibits wo
have made to the Annual Conferences, it will
be scon that there has been a regular an
nual improvement in the financial condition
of the Publishing House since the General
Conference of 1866.
We reported in our Exhibit, after the de
' duction of all liabilities:
June 1, 1866 $ 87,165 70
July 1, 1867 103,510 27
July 1, 1868 124,075 59
July 1, 1869 170,183 97
April 11870 188,552 65
This Exhibit shows a difference in favor
af the House, the last four years, of §lOl,-
186 95.
In our Exhibit for 1566, after reporting
the reliable assets of the Publishing House,
we also stated that “ in the Exhibit made by
Dr. J. B. McFerrin and Rev. R. Abbey, at
the late General Conference, they reported,
as a part of the assets of the House, as
Due from Tract Soeiety $3:3,165 71
Due from Richmond Depository 24,145 89
Due from bills receivable 89,983 92
Due from individual accounts 72,881 23
Due from Nashville subscription 4,387 00
Total $173,5«3 75
“It will be perceived that I have in my
Exhibit taken no account whatever, of the
debts due the house by either the Tract So
ciety, Richmond Depository, or Nashville
Subscriptions, because these debts are en
tirely worthless, and actually form no part
of the Assets of the House. Nor have I
taken any account of Bills Receivable or In
dividual Accounts duo the Honse, only to
show you the amount, because most of these
can never be collected. On our books wo
place them as suspended assets, and, if col
lected, will bo reported hereafter as a por
tion of the original capital.”
From tho Tract Soeiety, tho Richmond
Depository, and Nashville Subscriptions no
collections have been made. From Bills
Receivable and Individual Accounts we have
collected §1,269 24. We have also been
paid from tho Vanhouten estate §2,483 39.
There have also been donated to the House
§SOO by Miss Margaret Grimmer, aud §65 15
by sundry persons for benefit of Stereotype
Foundry. We also realised §4OO from the
sale of a house and lot in Shelbyville, Tenn.,
all of which make tlieaggregate of §7,717 78.
After deducting this auiouut from tho §lOl,-
186 95, it leaves a balance, realised as net
profits resulting from tho business of tho
House, in four years, after deducting the
interest we have paid on the heavy debt we
have carried, and all incidental expenses, of
§94,469 17, which is an excess of the entire
liabilities of tho House, as reported iu 1866,
of §23,015 62. Wo cannot tell what pro
portion of debts, duo tho House previous to
1866, may yet be collected. Though a small
amount may be collected, yet the claims aro
too uncertain to be placed among the avail
able Assets, and hence we still class them
witli suspended Assets.
NEW ORLEANS DEPOSITORY.
For tlie condition of the Depository at
New Orleans wo refer you to the Exhibit of
its affairs by the active and energetic Agent,
the Rev. R. J. Harp.
During tho past four years about §20,000
worth of our publications have been sold by
the House in New Orleans, besides its other
business. Whether or not this will justify
the continuance of this Depository ns suoli,
must be determined by tho General Confer
ence.
EMPLOYES.
The number of employes we found at the
Publishing House in May, 1866, was six.—
This included the principal clerk, tho mail
ing clerk, the folder of the Advocate, and
three printers. We now have seventy-nine,
including all departments.
OUR PRESS-ROOM.
We have in our Press-room seven book,
one cylinder, three hydraulic, aud one screw
press, all in good condition. We have also
printers’ sheet-boards, chases, stereotype
blocks, paper-cutter, sheet-racks, imposing
stone, aud table, sufficient for all our pur
poses.
Tho eugine is a very superior one, and,
with tlie boilers, is complete, having all nec
essary fixtures, shafting, hangers, belting,
tools, work-benches, etc.
To sustain this department of the House
has always been attended with difficulty. If
all the power the engine possesses could bo
constantly employed, there would be no dif
ficulty, as tlie expenses would be relatively
diminished.
On the 25th of June, 1866, our press-room
was ro-opened. Tlie work done from this
date
To the Ist of July 1867, amounted t 0.... $3,940 20
To the Ist of July, 1868,amounted to 5,138 49
To the lstolJuly, 1869, amounted t 0.... 7,495 20
To thelstof April, 1870,(nine months).. 7,137 CO
Total $23,711 40
The press-room, during this time, cost the
House, from 25th June, 1866,
To the Ist of July, 1867 $0,470 (4
To the Ist of July, 1808 5 805 4*3
To the Ist of J qly, 1869 5,942 51
To the Ist of April, >B7O, (nine months). 5,276 57
Total $23,000 34
In four years tho profits arising from the
press-room amount to §2ll 06.
Wo lost in press-room,
During the year ending Ist July, 1867.. $2,535 84
During the year ending Ist, July, 1868.. 007 o*3
During the year closing July Ist, 1869,
the press-room yielded a revenue of.. $1,552 69
For jearendiuglst Apl., 1870,(9 months) 1,861 23
PERIODICALS.
In tho periodical literature, published by
the Book Agent, we have rigidly adhered to
the instructions of the General Conference
of 1860, which may be found in the Disci
pline, pp. 272, 273:
“ General Conference Periodicals and Edi
tors.—The General Book Agent shall bo au
thorized to publish a weekly periodical, or
newspaper, to be called the ‘ Christian Ad
vocate,’ and a child’s paper, to be called the
* Sunday-school Visitor ; ’ said Editor to be
elected by the General Conference. It is
provided that if the business of the Pub
lishing House shall increase so as to require
additional editorial labor, the Book Com
mittee, with the General Book Agent and
one of the Bishops, in the interval of the
General Conference, shall have the author
ity to elect an additional Editor, or Editors,
who shall come under the same rale as to
salary with the General Book Agent and
Book Editor. It is further provided, that
should the General Book Agent and Book
Committee find it necessary and expedient
to publish a monthly periodical, they may
engage in such publication upon the recom
mendation of three or more Annual Confer
ences and the College of Bishops. But
should any of tho above named periodicals,
except the Sunday-school Visitor, after a
fair experiment, fail to meet expenses, the
Book Agent shall be authorized to discon
tinue the publication of the same. ”
At the time wo were placed in charge of
the Publishing House, the subscription list
to tho (Nashville) Ciiristian Advocate
amounted to about sixteen hundred, which
was not sufficient to meet the current expen
ses. The press work was executed at the
offices, first of the Gazette, and subsequently
at the Union and American, as our press
room had not been placed in working order.
The General Conference had instructed the
Book Agent to discontinue its publication,
unless the patronage it received should meet
tho current expenses. Tho importance of
its continuance could not but suggest itself
to every Methodist heart. It was the cen
tral organ, and the only paper that belonged
to the Church, and over whioh tho General
Conference had unlimited control.
Impediments confronted ns in every direc
tion. * The postal department of the Gov
ernment afforded no facilities in many sec
tions of the country, which cut off from us
a large patronage, while much of the terri
tory to which we looked for support had al
ready been preoccupied by other papers.
The instructions of the General Conference
were so stringent that for a time it seemed
impossible to continue the Advocate; and
but for the provision in the instructions,
“after a fair experiment,” to which wo gave
tho broadest oonstrnction, we should have
felt it our duty to withdraw the Advocate
from the field.
Feeling that the success of the Publishing
House was closely identified with the con
tinuance of the Advocate, and unwilling to
withdraw so powerful an influence for good
contrary to our wishes, we proposed to de
vote a portion of the paper to advertise
ments, hoping by this method to be justi
fied, under the restrictions thrown around
ns, in continuing the publication. How
ever reluctant we were to give a singlo col
umn to other than reading matter, we
deemed it far preferable to do this rather
than deprive the Church of so valuable a
contribution to our literature, and so able
an exponent and defender of our doctrines
and polity.
We wore not surprised that many breth
ren, zealous for the Church, and feeling a
conscious pride in the appearance and char
acter of the central organ, expressed their
dissatisfaction because too much space, in
their judgment, was given to advertise
ments. We fully sympathized with their
views, and only regretted that necessity was
laid upon ns.
We farther regretted tho injustice that
this necessity inflicted on the Editor. The
Advocate was his, and any undue occupancy
of its columns was an invasion of his rights.
Sympathizing, however, with us in the bur
den we were bearing, and co-operating fully,
he willingly shared with ns in every respon
sibility, and we are gratified to be able to
report that tho weekly balance which existed
against the paper for some time after tho
General Conference of 1866 was overcome,
and a net profit, after paying a fair propor
tion of Editor’s salary, and all tho incident
al expenses connected with it, of §11,199 25.
I think it will not bo improper to suggest
that tho enlargement of the Advocate claims
your attention. Neither the Editor nor the
Agent deemed it proper to take any step in
this direction without the advice of the
General Conference ; and, indeed, it would
not have been safe, in a financial point of
view, to make any change at an earlier pe
riod, as it would have necessitated tho pur
chase of anew pres?.
The interest of tho Church now demands
that this paper bo not only enlarged, but,
being the property and official orgaD of tho
Church, in its dimensions it should he equal
to any religious paper in the country.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL VISITOR.
The publication of the Sunday-school
Visitor was resumed January 1, 1867.
The instructions of tlie General Confer
ence were that it should be published with
out any reference to its cost to the Publish
ing House. Tho Church at once rallied to
its support, until it has attained a circula
tion of about THIRTY THOUSAND.
The General Conference did not deem it
proper to elect an Editor whoso entire time
should be devoted to tlie Visitor. This duty
has devolved on the Editor of the Christian
Advoeato and of Books, who has performed
this work in addition to his other editorial
labors. If, in appenranco and dress, the
Visitor has not been equal at any time to
tho demands of tho Church, it has been be
cause our financial condition would not al
low it.
We \Vere not prepared to mako the neces
sary outlay for new engravings, and hence
we could not make the illustrations as at
tractive as we desired ; nor lias the paper on
which it is printed been equal to our wishes.
We have gradually improved it from time to
time, as wo have been able, both in the ma
terial on which it is printed and in the illus
trations whioh beautify it.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER.
Wo would suggest the propriety of pub
lishing a monthly paper for Teachers in
Sunday-schools. We have been called upon
by many brethren to devote a portion of the
Visitor to lessons for teachers. Tho Gen
eral Conference, however, instructed us to
publish “a child’s paper,” and we have not
felt authorized to occupy any portion of its
columns only for children.
With the facilities the Publishing House
can afford, the Sunday-school Visitor and a
monthly paper for Teachers may very prop
erly bo placed under the supervision of one
Editor.
A REVIEW AND MAGAZINE.
We also ask the attention of the General
Conference to the propriety of authorizing
the publication of a monthly periodical,
combining the features of a Review and
Magazine. Some of tho Annual Conferen
ces have instructed their delegates to bring
this question before the General Conference,
while there seems to be a very general de
sire throughout tho Church for such a peri
odical.
The Publishing House, in our opinion,
has reached tho point when tho General
Conference may safely entertain the propo
sition to publish a first-class monthly. The
ablest writers, both in America and Europe,
can be commanded, and such i\ periodical
will reeeivo tho general patronage of the
Church.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL LITERATURE.
The Sunday-school interest has special
claims on your attention. During the past
few years a greater number of books for
children have been issued from the North
ern press than in a quarter of a century be
fore. In order to arrest the attention of
children, these publications are gotten up
in attractive styles, and with handsome illus
trations. Many of these books ore excel
lent, and may safely bo placed in the Sun
day-schools. The largo majority of them,
however, are not only offensive to the tastes
of our people, hut corrupting in their inflti
ence ; while many of them übound, though
in the most insidious manner, in the advo
cacy of erroneous and strange doctrines.
From their titles, no idea can bo formed as
to their contents. Extraordinary efforts are
being made to place these books in our Sun
day-Bcheo!s, and, in many instances, with
too much success. We huso endenyored to
guard against this evil by adding to our own
publications a large eclectic catalogue of the
most attractive and instructive books for
children that we could find. W-e hope that
tho House will soon bo able to furnish new
works of this class.
bindery.
Tho Bindery has never been tho property
of the Church, but belongs to Mr. John
Locken. In 1846, previous to the estab
lishing of tho Publishing House, Dr. Early,
then the General Book Agent, contracted
with Mr. Locken to bind such books ns he
might publish.
This contract was renewed in 1854 by
Messrs. Stevenson & Owen, successors to
Dr. Early ; and in 1858 by Dr. McFerrin,
who at that time came into office as the suc
cessor of Stevenson & Owen. We thought
it advisable, in 1866, to continue the same
arrangement.
The cost of the work done in the Bindery
during the past four years for tlie Publish
ing House bos averaged about §15,000 per
year. Additional work, however, has been
done for outside parties.
STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY.
Previous to the war, wo had connected
with the Publishing House a Stereotype
Foundry, which, for its completeness, was
unequalled in the West. During tlie occu
pancy of the House by tho Federal Govern
ment, it was so nearly destroyed that it was
entirely useless. There being no other foun
dry in Nashville, we were compelled to have
our Discipline stereotyped in another city.
The imperfect and unsatisfactory manner in
which tho work was done, the many errors
which required correction, together with tho
great inconvenience, induced the necessity
of reviving this department as early as prac
ticable. We were able to open it in May,
1867, and have gradually increased its furni
ture and facilities until it is now eqnal to all
onr demands. It lias cost us §3,710. The
work performed in the Foundry, after pay
ing all expenses for labor, has entirely liqui
dated the cost, leaving a surplus of 864149,
less §65 15, which was donated for this pur
pose.
BUILDINGS.
The buildings owned by the Church, and
occupied by ns, in the city of Nashville, re
quire to be improved. The rear portion of
the establishment is well adapted for tho
purposes for which it is used. The front
buildings, however, demand an entire re
modeling. Perhaps to take them down and
rebuild will be more satisfactory than to at
tempt any improvement on the present
house. We think nn amount requisite to
meet the expenses of nil necessary improve
ments may soon bo realized from the pro
ceeds of the business. Neither tho Book
Committee nor an Agent would feel fre o
incur this expense without the advice of the
General Conference.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES GOVEBN-
We desire to call your attention to the
claim wo hold against the Government of
tho United States. From about the Ist of
January, 1864, to the last of December, 1865,
tho Publishing Honse was occupied by the
Federal Government as an army printing
office. For the uso of the house, presses,
printing material, and for damage to the
property and stock, the Government is
largely indebted to us.
' Respectfully submitted.
A. H. Bedford, Agent
B. H. MYERS, D. D., EDITOR
WHOLE NUMBER 1801.
Standing Committees*—General
Conference.
On Episcopacy. —S Register, 8 K Vaught,
L M Lee, N F Reid, Hugh A C Walker,
EH Myers, Wm J Parks, J Anderson, O
R Blue W M Byrd, J C Keener, O K Mar
shall, Milton Brown, Fountain E Pitts, E E
Wiley, C W Miller, A H Bedford, True ten
Polk, A Monroe, J M Steel, Andrew Hunger,
J Harrell, R Alexander, Jeff Shook, RLnne,
Thos Stanford., R H Belvin, O Fisher, It
Smithson.
On Itinerancy.— JS Martin, S T Mallory,
Jno E Edwards, R S Moran, Wm P Mouzon,
S Anthony, A T Mann, T J Perkins, J B
Cottrell, A S Andrews, N A Cravens, M L
McGuire, Thos L Boswell, S P Whitten, D
Sullins, H P Walker, N H Lee, W M Prctts
man, C I Vandoveuter, James Mackey,
Horace Jewell, Y Ewing, I G John, Jas F
Taylor, J M Binkley, L B Whipple, O A
Fisher,E K Miller, Mlt Jones.
On Books and Periodicals. —E W Massey,
W C Ireland, J C Doming, T M Jones, Goo
W Williams, W I Green. W P Harrison, G
W Taylor, Wm Shnpard, W L Lipscomb, H
G Hall, It Alibey, Wm C Johnson, ALP
Green, T P Thomas, S X Hall, J S Lithgow,
Tho M Finney, W M Rush, C F Harvey, A
R Wingfield, Y Ewing, J W Whipplo, Jas
F Taylor, W J Clark, J R Henry, W Head
on, T C Bar lon, M R Jones.
On Boundaries. —D Ball, S T Mallory,
Paul Wliitohead, WH Bobbitt, WmJMont
gomery, H S Wimberly, W II Potter, G W
Taylor, Wm A McCarty, A II Mitchell, N A
Cravens, II II Montgomery, A B Fly, W B
Wood, J M MeTear, Wm M Leathers, B F
Biggs, W M Pitts, D K Pitman, J M Steel,
A R Wingfield, W Folsom, R Alexander, L
P Lively, R Lane. Thos Stanford, R H Bel
vin, WT Rucker, Jas Charlton.
On Missions. —W P Conway, W C Ire
land, A GBrown, J W Leak, A A Gilbert,
R W Lovett. Jesso Boring, T W Moore, J E
Groeo, T O Summers, J C Keener, Thomas
Reed, Joseph H Brooks, Robert A Young,
W G E Cnnnyughnm, David Thornton,
Willis B Maehen, M M Pugh; W M Leftwich
C F Harvey, S E Cole, J Harrell, J W
Whipple, W J Clark, R Q Mills, R H Belvin,
W E Cooke, R Smithson.
On Revlsal. —W SBuird, S K Vaught, P
A Peterson, W Barringer, WhitefocrdSmith,
J S Key, Geo N Lester, J Anderson, M S
Andrews, J Hamilton, J D Adams, W P
Barton, Guilford Jones, Jno W Hanner, C.
Long, C W Miller, David Morton, D R Mc-
Anally, B H Spencer, Geo A Dannelly, A
Hunter, Y Ewing, I G John, Jeff Shook,
Asa Holt, R Q Mills, O A Fisher, O Fisher,
M R Jones.
On Sunday-Schools.— T J Magruder, ST
Mallory, Asa SDider, J C Pinnix, Simpson
Bobo, J Jackson, A G Haygood, T J Per
kins, J Matthews, A W Lnmpkin, W H Fos
ter, J E Watts, Findley Bynum, Geo G
Dibrell, F W Earnest, Jas A Dawson, J C
Walker, D N Burgoyno, T E Thompson, J
Wiekersham, W T Crouch, J Harrell, J D
Giddings, L P Lively, J M Binkley, J R
Henry, DAT Woods, Jno Swinford, Janies
Charlton.
On Education. —W V Tudor,|W C Ireland,
Jno C Granberry, B Craven, AM Shipp, A
H Colquitt, Luther M Smith, T W Moore,
J R Rogers, J R John, H G Hall. W H
Watkins, Landon C Garland, R P Ransom,
E E Wilov, Chas Taylor, E W Sehon, R A
Hatcher, J H Birch, L L Mack, J L De-
Yampert, W Fulsom, JD Giddings, Jas F
Taylor, Asa Holt, L B Whipple, Win Head
on, E R Miller, R Smithson.
On Colobed People. —S J Bradley, S K
Vaught, Thos Whitehead, J C Slocum, Wm
H Fleming, J E Evnns, Thos M Meriwether
T W Moore, R H Powell, W L Lipscomb,
J D Adams, E G Cook, S W Moore, Jno B
McFerrin, C Long, Joshua Barnes, E W
Sehon, A C Mitchell, J O Swinney, G A
Dun nelly, Horace Jewell, Y Ewing, W W
Browning, L P Lively, J M Binkley, Thos
Stanford, DAT Woods, TC Barton, James
Chariton.
Human Understanding Limited. —Man's
faculties, exquisitely adapted to the sphere
in which he moves, were never intended to
enable him to comprehend all truth. The
mind is, in this respect, constituted like the
eye, and can understand certain subjects
and to a certain distance, but as they roach
away further, they look more and more
confused, and at length they disappear from
the view; and if the human spirit attempts
to mount higher than its proper elevation,
it will find all its flights useless. God has
given us light in the midst of darkness; let
us open onr eyes to it, let us walk in it, let
us rejoice in it. As you do so, yon will find
ns you follow that light through what may
at first be a dark and dim passage, that you
reach more light. In that light wo shall
clearly see light. The view which you at
last reach may bo like that which wo have
had from a mountain-top on a sunshiny nnd
bracing day; not, indeed, an unlimited
view, for this would leave us nothing more
to discover and behold, but still a clear view
between ns and a distant horizon, which,
whon we reach in onr explorations in this
world or the next, we hope to discover more,
without limit and without end, as wo know
more of God and of a boundless universe.
— Dr. Me Cosh.
Better Days. —When persons have b sen
reduced in life, and brought to a state of
dependence, it is very common to hear one
and nnother say, with a tone of pity : “Ah,
I knew her in bettor days. I remember so
and so, in her better days. ” Nor is there any
impropriety in the expression, in their sense
of it. But this I know by experience, that
the days of worldly ease and prosperity are
seldom to Christians their better days. So
far from it, that to the praise and glory of
His name would I speak it, I have substan
tial reason to call these my better days.
These days and nights of pain—these days
in which I am visited with an incurable dis
order—these days of frequent anxiety from
a variety of quarters—these days of almost
absolute confinement and solitude, are not
only my better, but my best days; lwcauso
the Saviour condescends to be more present
with me in them—to manifest himself unto
mens ho does not unto the world, —to stand
by my bed of affliction, and speak kindly to
my heart; because lam taught by affliction,
and enabled by grace to cultivate the life of
faith, which is as superior to the life of sense
as the heavens are higher than the earth,
and that, even in so very sniall a measure as
I have known it.
Thebe is need of active personal effort to
save souls in connection with Bible and
Tract distribution. Asa writer in the
Oomhill Magazine says : “One thing about
the English lighthouse system is certain,
that it cannot and was never meant to su
persede seamanship. No amount of light
ning will dispense with the necessity for
eyes; no extent of warning is so good as
the capacity of grappling with danger. The
lighthouse authorities may cheer the sailor
on his way with leading lights and beacon
warnings, but he must still be a sailor to
turn their warnings to account.”
Dying Words.—Said William Grimahaw:
“My greatest grief is, that I have done so
little for Jesus; my greatest joy, that Christ
has done so much for me.” When Mr. \ enn
inquired how he did, he replied, “As happy
ns I can be on earth, and as sure of glory as
if I were in it. I have nothing to do but
to step out of this bed into heaven. ” In his
last hours Dr. Jndson said : “I am not tired
rs niy work, neither am I tired of the world;
vet when Christ calls mo home, I shall go
with the gladness of a boy bounding away
from school.”
The Three R's —He (the Rev. Rowland
Hill) used to like Dr. Ryland’s advice to his
young academicians: “Mind, no sermon is
of any value, or likely to be useful, which
has not the throe Rs in it: Ruin by the
fare. Redemption by Chbist. Regenera
tion by toe Holy Spirit. Os himself, he
(the rtev. Mr. Hill) remarked: “My aim in
every sermon is, a stout and lusty call to
sinners, to quicken the saints, and to be
made a,universal blessing to all."— Sidney's
Life of’Rev. Rowland Hill.
There are cases in which a man would be
ashamed not to have been imposed upon.
There is a confidence necessary to human
intercourse, and without which men are of
ten more injured by their own suspicions
*yn they could be by the perfidy of others.