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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.