Newspaper Page Text
THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
VOL. XXXIII. NO. 23.
(Original |jffrirg.
The Dying Day of Winter.
(Suggested by the last day of February.)
BY REV. M. W. ARNOLD.
Winter, thy dying day has come,
And now hath reached its noon.
With seasons which have come and gone,
Thonwiltbe numbered soon.
The bell will strike at twelve to-night,
The death-knell of thy reign,
And thou must shortly take thy flight,
Ne’er to return again.
Then spring will come, mild, joyous spring,
Wreathed with her blushing flowers.
And ail the birds of song will sing,
Amid the verdant bowers.
But in divoreeless wedlock thou,.
With cloyd, and wind, and snow.
No wreath is seen upon thy brow,
No flowers for thee grow.
No gleeful birds doth raise for thee,
A grateful note of praise.
The storms alone have sung for thee,
Through all thy gloomy days.
Thou didst but touch with thy cold breath,
The check of nature fair.
'' And 10, the dismal pall of death,
All things around thee wear.
Nature throughout her wide domain
Hath felt thy cruel power,
Thou hast her tender children slain,
Hast faded every flower.
And thou hast to my garden come,
And plucked its fairest bloom ;
The sweet flower of my heart and home,
Has diopped into the tomb.
Oh, long as memory shall last,
Will 1 remember Thee,
As the cold winter of the past,
Os deepest gloom to me.
Thy rudest storms have swept my sea,
Thy waves, and billows strong,
Have ruthlessly' assaulted mo,
Throughout thy season long.
Though thou hast robbed my home aud heart,
Os one so dear to me.
’Tis only dme we part,
Not sacred lc g we’ll be.
Thou too must die. The deep abyss
Os past eternity,
Alike unknown to woe aud bliss,
Thy sepulchre must be.
No resurrection trump shall wake,
Thee from thy sleep profound.
No voice thy tomb’s deep silence break,
No note Its depths can sound.
Not so with my heart flower fair,
So rudely torn from me,
Where all the holy angels are,
She dwells in ccstacy.
And when the trump of God shall sound,
The thrilling note of doom,
I know her form now in the ground,
Shall wake in deathless bloom.
Then let her rest, till He who rent,
The grave her life shall be.
And on her cheek the blush imprint,
Os immortality.
Time is our being’s winter state,
The season of our woe,
And all that we may love, or hate,
Must its rude changes know.
But soon the joyous spring will come,
Os amaranthine bloom,
When not a flower of our home,
Shall drop into the tomb.
Oh Spring immortal, let thy dawn,
Now break the wintry gloom.
The hills, and valleys now adorn,
With flowers of fadeless bloom.
Now this dark sphere of strife baptize,
With light, and peace, and love,
Make earth again a paradise,
A type of heaven above.
Contributions.
Long Time Ago,
I have passed through the lights aud shades,
the shallows and deeps, the calms and storms,
the joys and sorrows, the summer’s heat and
winter’s cold of more than seventy-one years
and six months. I have forgotten many
things I once knew ; but I recollect with
perfect distinctness, many things that oeeur
ed, when quite young. Some 03 years ago,
I remember being at a camp meeting in
Jackson county, Georgia, held at what was
then called Pentecost Church. It being the
first meeting of that sort, in that section,
ciowds attended, and many tented, not
with fine, and well furnished tents, or with
long and richly supplied tables, with all the
luxuries that heart could wish, or life enjoy
as in after years ; but they had simple cloth
and bush tents —the gate of the waggon set
upon four forks answering for a table, and
upon it and in boxes near by, was a plenty
of the substantial of life. It seemed to have
been a sort of common stock arrangement.
All were made welcome, all seemed to have
been at home; such was the simplicity of all
that it was not so readily known who were
the proprietors of the concern, if indeed
there were any.
There were several preachers present.—
When the signal at the stand summoned the
ci'owd for preaching, I sometimes would go,
but I did not stay long enough, only twice,
during the meeting to hear the text an
"Okiifled Rev. Hope Hull selected for his
text, Solomon's Song iv. 16. This is all I
know of that sermon. Being more fond of
play and frolic, than of hearing the word of
life, I with other rude and wicked boys
much preferred to be at the tent, or else
where, from under any restraint, from pa
rents or others. The next signal at the
stand, I went again, and for the first time
I then saw Rev. now Dr. L. Pierce. He se
lected for his text, Eccl. viii, 12-13 verses.
I wanted to leave the stand as I had always
done, but his appearance, the boldness with
which he read his text, the way he com
menced his sermon, so attracted my attention
that I did not leave until ho had finished it,
yet I was intending every minute to go.—
It was the first sermon I ever heard until its
conclusion. The effect upon the crowd was
tremendous. I make no attempt at a des
cription. Why, or how it was, I cannot tell,
my little heart fluttered as though it wished
to leap out at my month, my little frame
trembled from head to foot, when dwelling
on the last verse in view of the awful scene,
so vividly presented by the preacher fixing
the doom of those who should not be able to
prolong their days, etc. Ever since that
camp-meeting the Doctor has been a favor
ite preacher with me. I have been hearing
him preach formore than 60 years, and at
different places, and could repeat a dozen or
more texts, from which I heard him many
long years since. I never have forgotten his
texts as easily as those selected by other
preachers. He has preached to, and been
a blessing to my father’s family. One dear
sister wa3 converted under his preaching at
the age of 11 years, and lived in the enjoy
ment of religion almost constantly fen- 58
years and died a most triumphant death,
and is now gone to rest. How could he be
otherwise than a favorite. I am half-way
inclined to believe he was born a preacher.
How many of the native American minis
ters have preached more sermons, traveled
Cbmiian AtUataff.
more miles, made greater sacrifices, been
more abundant in labors, for the extension
of Christ’s kingdom in the world, than Rev.
L. Pierce. Few I suppose.
Wm. Menefee.
Cotton Valley, Ala.
To the Colored People of the M.
E. Church, South.
Dear Brethren :—ln view of the relation I
sustain to you as Chairman of the “Commit
tee on the religious interests of the colored
people,” at the General Conference at New
Orleans 1866, and also at the General Con
ference at Memphis, which has just closed
its session, I feel it to be my duty to say a
few things to you just now.
Aud Ist, Let me state distinctly what the
General Conference has done for yon.
TJhey have provided a separate and distinct
organization, complete in all its parts, that the
colored people may manage all their Church
matters themselves. Their Genoral Confer
ence will meet in Jackson, Tennessee, the
16th of December next. Bishops Paine,
Pierce and McTyeire will be there to pre
side and to organize the Conference for you.
Drs. Green, Sebon', and S. Watson ; Maj.
Morgan and Bro. Whitehead, by request of
some of your colored brethren, were appoin
ted to assist and advise you in that General
Conference. I was appointed, but as my own
Conference comes on at the same time, I
had to resign, which I much regret; as I de
sii-ed to assist in bringing in the top stone
of your temple and be at its completion.
But as I could not, I am glad that you have
such a fast friend and counsellor in my place
as Dr. A. L. P. Green, w-ho with the other
brethren named, will render you any aid
you may desire in putting your Church or
ganization in proper shape and form.
Your General Conference when organized
under the Discipline of the M. E. Church,
South, will have all the authority to make
rules and regulations, elect Bishops, and do
all things for the colored people, that our Gen
eral Conference has had heretofore to act for
the whole M. E. Church, South ; and as the
General Conference of whites will have in
the future to make rulo3, etc., for the white
members —your authority will be as complete
for the Colored M. E. Church, South, as
ours is for the whites. And each will be in
dependent of the other. The rules aud de
cisions of future General Conferences for
the whites will apply to them alone, and
will not be a law to you. Aud the rules and
laws which your General Conference may
adopt, will be your rules and Discipline of
government. You will of course organize
under the Discipline as we made it, at the
late General Conference, but having adopt
ed it as your Discipline, your General Con
ference will have authority to make any
changes necessary to adapt it to your cir
cumstances. You are a part of our Christian
family, which we now set up to yourselves,
like a parent sets up his son to house keep
ing. You are still our children and we hope
you .will ever maintain that samo filial
affection for us. But you will now, like the
son who has been set off to himself, manage
for yourselves, and bo responsible to God
and mankind for your character and work as
a branch of the Church of God. Tie are
responsible for having set you up to your
selves. But God is our witness that in so
doing we have had an eye single to His glory
and the best interests of the colored peo
ple. And now that you are set up to your
selves, you alone will be responsible for the
future of the Colored M. E. Church, South.
Brethren, keep the sacred trust committed
to your care, against that day; and see
that no man takes your crown.
Moreover, the mother Church has not
sent you from home penniless ; but the Gen
eral Conference, at its last session, directed
that all the churches held for your use and
benefit, be turned over to Trustees, that
you may appoint under the Discipline, to
hold it as your own property ; and she will
still feel a deep interest in your prosperity,
and with parental regard, will aid you in
every way in her power.
You are therefore set up to yourselves
with the best wishes of the mother Church.
I state the purpose and nature of this move
ment for the colored people, thus distinctly,
that you may fully understand it yourselves,
and that you may be prepared to correct
misrepresentations which may be made to
mislead and confuse you in this matter. It
has been the policy of some, to try to make
you believe the whites would not do for you
what we promised, and what is now about
to be completed; and such persons will now
try to misrepresent what has been done.
Pay no attention to what they may say—l
know what I write about, having been con
nected with this movement from the begin
ning. Your Annual Conferences will be hold
in time to elect your delegates to the Gen
eral Conference, and other Conferences will
be formed in time for the same purpose ;
aud providence permitting yon will meet in
General Conference, the 16th December,
next, at Jackson, Tennessee.
I have more to say next week.
The Georgia Conference elected Delegates
at its last session.
Yours in Christ,
J. E. Evans.
Savannah, (da., Jane Ist, 1870.
Will our Church papers please copy.
Forty-Eiglitli Anniversary Cele
bration Trinity Sunday-school,
Savannah, Ga.
Sunday, May 20th, brought around an
other glad anniversary occasion for the chil
dren and for the members of Trinity con
gregation. Although as announced, it was
the anniversary of the Trinity School, yet
Wesley Chapel united with the swelling
throng, and joined in the interesting exer
cises of the occasion. At 10 o’clock the
children by hundreds, entered the church
and filled the spacious galleries, in order,
each class in charge of its teacher. The
centre gallery was occupied by a large choir
of young ladies and children, who were un
der the direction of Professor Newman.
When the hour for the service arrived, the
floor of the church was crowded with a large
audience of Christians who had come to lend
the influence of their presence to the en
couragement of the great cause.
The services of the occasion were opened
by the singing “The Better Land.” Just
think, reader, of five hundred children, well
trained, sending up to the throne such a
gushing sound of melodious praise. It
seemed to me that the very angels would
cease their songs of praise that they might
listen to this Anthem.
Brother Fullwood, from Brunswick, then
offered prayer. Then came the annual report
of brother Rodgers, the excellent Superin
tendent of the Trinity School. I must content
myself by presenting the leading features
of this excellent paper. In introducing the
statistical record of the School, brother
Rodgers, pertinently says, that “to the
Sunday-school the Church must look chiefly
for her increase: she may occasionally get a
recruit from the world, but it is mainly to
those who become her children in early life
that she must look to bear aloft and sustain
the banner of the cross.” in retrospectiug
the past year, he regretted the want of spiri
tual religion in the Sunday-school, which
he attributed to worldly mindedness in the
church and around the fireside. He regret
ted to have to mention them, but it -was
a fact and must be mentioned if for no
other reason than that tho attention of the
church and parents should be drawn to the
influence they exerted on tho children. But
a few children had been converted during
the year, while hundreds were famishing for
the spiritual manna.
The School had a membership of 400 pu
pils—a number limited because of a waut of
the proper facilities for applying the system
adopted to a larger number. There is one
male Superintendent; one female Assistant
Superintendent; one male Assistant Su
perintendent; one Treasurer; one Secretary;
one Librarian; 4 Assistant Librarians; 17
male and 30 female Teachers; 950 volumes in
Library.
The Teachers meet in advance of the
meeting of the Sunday-school, and the les
son for the day is freely discussed and the
interpretation to be given to it agreed upon.
This is readily done as the classes are all
Bible classes and the lessons for the year
are assigned aud printed on slips of paper,
and furnisned each teacher. The Missiona
ry Society of the Sunday-school is still in a
1 prosperous condition. The Superintendents
and Teachers are its officers. The Society
lias paid into the Missionary fund of tho
Society during the past year S4OO, being an
increase of S2OO over the year preceding.
The report of brother Rodgers shows that
good discipline and a perfect School system
pervades tho Trinity Sunday-school organi
zation, for much of which the church is in
debted to his Christian patience and labori
ous spirit. Brother W. S. Hubbard, Super
intendent of Wesley Chapel, was then in
troduced, who read a short report showing
that Wesley Chapel was a worthy child of
old Trinity. This Chapel has been steadily
growing, and its Sunday-seliool under the
management of Bros. Hubbard aud Mae-
Donell has been adding to its uumbers.
The School now has 165 members, 6 male,
14 female teachers. The School is conduct
ed under the Berean system, which is much
thought of.
At the conclusion of this report brother
Evans introduced Colonel Henry D. Capers,
son of Bishop Capers, who took a broad
survey of the wants of our human nature,
and showed how impossible it was for any
code of philosophy which man could devise,
to meet these wants of our nature. He pre
sented the condition of society in all the
nations of the earth who were acting under
a mere system of philosophy and contrasted
it with the precepts of the Christian reli
gion, and showed the impotency of human
reason to control human passion. In con
clusion, he called on the people of this gen
eration to provide for the safety of the State
and the future glory of the Church by train
ing up the rising generation in the fear of
God.
Brother .Evans then made a few v.minrks
to the congregation. He had just returned
from the General Conference, was broken
down with the fatigue of the long trip, but
he was glad that God had brought him again
to his flock, and in safety among his dear
children. After a few other remarks, Bro.
MacDonell spoke to the children fervently,
as one devoted to the work of the Master.
Throughout these interesting exercises the
children sang sweet songs. Here we have
the great secret of the success of our Sun
day-schools, and it must be followed to have
the good cause prosper throughout our Con
ferences in Georgia—perfect organization,
Christian zeal and e’arnestness—devotion to
the work—making the Sunday-school no less
instructive than it is pleasant " J. B. J.
From the Presbyterian aud Index.
44 liy we Condemn Promiscuous
[Dancing.
The action of our last General Assembly
enjoining upon church sessions and Presby
teries, the absolute necessity of enforcing
discipline against attendance by our mem
bers upon theatrical exhibitions and per
formances, promiscuous dancings, etc., which
action has been noticed and reaffirmed by
many of our Presbyteries at their late ses
sions, has doubtless called forth the inquiry
from many persons, Why do we condemn
these things? The following excellent ar
ticle, which appeared a few weeks since in
another paper, strikes my mind as one of tho
clearest and most satisfactory discussions of
the subject I have ever seen. T.
The question of popular amusements is
one that cannot be settled by statute. It
has to do with the spirit and life of Chris
tianity, rather than with the letter of its law.
Hence the impossibility of specific enact
ment. But the very fact of its near and vital
connection which spiritual life justifies and
demands for it a thoughtful consideration.
Wh it scriptural guidance have we in the
matter? What posture ought the Church
to assume towards so-called popular amuse
ments? A sweeping condemnation of them
would boa sweeping folly. To say of them
all that they are inherently and positively
sinful, is simply to say what is not true. And
to protest against suitable recreation would
be to protest against a mental and moral ne
cessity. A long-visaged and sober-lmed piety
is not after tlie order of the gospel. That
makes recognition of the laugh the joy of
life; has no frowns for the play side of our
nature; bids us serve tho Lord with gladness.
No where so much as in the hearts of God’s
people should joy have her home, and go
rippling out in the channels of deed and
speech.
But what is suitable Christian recreation?
We are without a specific “ thus saith the
Lord” for each specific form of pleasure.
But this is by no means to acknowledge that
we are without scriptural guidance; the spirit
. is broader and deeper than the letter. There
are general principles whose profound and
subtle reach makes it impossible they should
bo framed by a law. Those that bear on
this question of popular amusements are
three:
I. The first general principle has respect to
the relation which Christians sustain to each
other. It is discussed in Rom. xiv., aud in
1 Cor. viii. Christian liberty in things in
different is there distinctly recognised. But
it is bounded and limited by » higher law.
We must not abuse our liberty to the offence
of our brethren. We must bridle our knowl
edge with charity. We are bidden to be
ware how we tamper with the sanctities of a
brother’s conscience, and to beware how we
trifle with the necessities of a brother’s weak
ness. The law of conscience and the law of
love arc more sacred and more precious and
more to be regarded than the law of liberty.
To tho child of God they ought to be always
paramount. To assert independence at the
expense of wounding a brother’s conscience,
is to sin against Christ. “It is good neither
to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything
whereby thy brother stnmbletli. ” Os course
a merely personal, puerile, wretched scrupu
losity is not to be foisted upon tho Church
for its government. But amusements whose
tendencies are inherently and almost inevitably
to excess, where the weak and the unstable
may stumble and perish, and against which
there is a general Christian conscience, are
decisively excluded by this plain word of
God.
11. The second general principle lias re
spect to the relation which Christians sustain to
the world. It is negative, and summoned up
in this: “Be not conformed to this world,’
PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE & CO., FOR THE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.
MACON, GA., FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1870.
It is a relation of non-conformity, Chris-'
tians are to be unlike the world and distin
guishable from it. This idea of separateness
runs through all the warp and woof of Scrip-''
ture. And it clearly does imply' a separation
from the grossly evil of the world. This is
specifically and positively commanded.—
Christians are pledged and sworn to obedi
ence by their very profession. The separa
tion involved in non-conformity is from
worldliness—from the worldly spirit. It is
a demand that the whole tone and current
and spirit of the Christian life shall be dif
ferent from that of worldly life—so different
that it shall be manifest to the world that
the people of God are pilgrims and strangers’
on the earth, that they are walking with God,
that they are a peculiar people, called out
of the world while still remaining in it,
God’s witnesses, living epistles, the salt of
the earth, distinctive, chosen, set apart, re
cognizable everywhere as having been with
Jesus, and as holy in all manner of conver
sation. Let Christians apply to their lives
this one central, prominent gospel-idea of
non-conformity. Let them press it on all
their conduct until they give unmistakable
exhibition of the spirit of these unmistakable
words of Christ and the apostles, and it will
go very far to settle this .whole question of"
rational or irrational amusements. ‘ v
111. The third gen era! principle has respect
to the relation which Christians sustain to
Christ. It is positive, and, summed up in
this: “ Whatsoever ye do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. ” Broad,
comprehensive, universal in its applicability,
yet most specific after all in its fundamental
condition. “ Whatsoever ye do.” In an
other place it is applied to the every day ne
cessity and art of our life—eating and drink
ing. It is applicable, therefore, to our
recreations. It is a scriptural condemnation
of every form of social diversion in which a
Christian cannot indulge “in the name of
tho Lord Jesus. ’ It it divine indorsement
of whatever is done by a child of God, into
which lie may go and out of which he may
come, and through the progress of which lie
may continue, without there being one mo
ment when it would be in any way incon
sistent for him to ask his Lord's approval of
him there, and of what he is doing and
witnessing and countenancing and support
ing.
Let this principle be honestly and con
scientiously applied. It will settle many a
doubt. It will condemn many a popular
amusement. It bars out every indulgence
that cannot be bad in consistent and loving
remembrance of our Lord. Amusements
that undermine the health and waste vitality;
amusements by which the weak and the lame
are so often turned out of tho way only to
stumble and perish; amusements that make
it appear as if God's children were as eager
after and as intent upon the gayeties aud
festivities of tho world as the children of the
world themselves; amusements making it es
sential for Christians to take positions that
ought to bring, if they do not bring, the
blood to their faces; amusements that com
pel Christians to witness scenes and hear
quips and jests, soiling their spirits with
suggested iiucleauness—these all, and all
like those, are branded with condemnation
by this divine precept. No time disciple of
Christ can give himself to such amusements
“ in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
We close as we began. This whole ques
tion must bo taken out of the domain of ab
stract casuistry It is not so much a question
of absolute right and wrong, as of conscience
and charity. The spirit of our life is far
more important than the letter of our law.
The rule of love is higher than tho law of
liberty. Christianity antagonizes worldli
ness; it does not conform to it. The Church
should deal with it not so much by the axe
of discipline as by the sword of the Spirit.
Yet without a doubt, the very law of love
should sometimes require a kind, consider
ate, thoughtful 1 exercise ox* the disciplinary'
power of the Church. But our chief appeal
must bo to the conscience. Our main reli
ance must be on the spirit and the life de
manded by a whole-hearted surrender and
commitment to the Lord Jesus. Those who
are constrained by the love of Christ can
scarcely allow' themselves indulgence in any
business or recreation, any work or play,
into which and through which and out of
which, they cannot consistently go, with
ever present and affectionate remembrace of
him “who gave himself for us, that he might
redeem us from all iniquity and purify' unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works.”
BISHOPS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.
ENTERED j § j jj I
born. s 2 ORDAINED BISHOPS.
ITINERANCY. ,81 w
NAMES. •s REMARKS.
I 45 1 j X j'| ; •§ i z, j
WHERE. | § | CONFERENCE. j § ;•§ -O WHERE. g 1
Joshua Soule Maine 1 1781 1 New York, 11799I18U1! lhOSFaltimore l«24.Died, in Tern.., March, 1887.
James O. Andrew Georgia 1794jSou!h Carolina,., 18121514, 1816i Philadelphia, ; 1832 j Residence, Summerfield, Ala
William Capers iSouth Carolina,..; 1790|South Carolina,.. 180S;1810 1812Tetersburg, 1846 Died, in S. Carolina, Jan, '55
Robert Paine (North Carolina,.. 1799 Tennessee 181811821 1823jPetersburg, i 1846;Kesidcnee, Aberdeen Miss
Henry B. Bascom New York 11796|0hi0, 11813 1815! 1817jSt. Louis 1850 Died, in Kentucky Sept 1850
George F. Pierce [Georgia, ! 1811 Georgia, 11830 1832] 1834'Columbus, Ga., 1854 Residence, Sparta, Ga.
John Early :Virginia, 11786 Virginia, 1807 18091 1811,Columbus, Ga...... 1854 Residence, Lynchburg, Va
H. H. Kavanaugh Kentucky 1802 Kentucky, 11823 1825 1827 Columbus, Ga.,.... 18541 Residence, Lexington, Ky
Wm. M. Wightman... South Carolina,.. 1808 South Carolina,.. 152811530 1 1832 New Orleans, 1866;Residence Charleston. S C
Enoch M. Marvin Missouri, ; 1823[Missouri, 1841.1843! 1845 New Orleans IB6o!Residence, St. Louis Mo
David S. Doggett Virginia, 1810 Virginia, 11829.1832 1833 New Orleans, 1866 Residence, Richmond, Va.
H. N. McTyeire (South Carolina,..( 1824 Virginia, j 1845 1848! 1849|New Orleans, 11866 Residence, Nashville Tent)
J. C. Keener Maryland, ; 1819lAlabama, 184211844.184GIMemphis, Tenn.,..; 1870|Residence, New Orleans, La
Alone tvilli Iliiu.
“ That mau is alone!” You make the as
sertion because, perchance, you see a figure
winding along a distant road-way; because
you discern, rocking on the tide a mile or
two out at sea, a solitary human being, held
from the waves by a few feet of plank; be
cause, on the sands of the desert, as far as
the eye can reach, you discover a traveller
astray from the caravan with which he should
be; because in a stone coll, a prisoner lies
waiting for the light which will behold the
parting of the threads of his life.
“ That man is alone,” you say.
& How mistaken are you! No mau can be
alone. Then how important it is that his
companion be good and true! You cannot
tell who lingers over the dangers of the man
in peril on liis few' feet of plank. You can
not know whether it be Christ who com
munes with him there, or Satan who lures
him downward through the dark water-gate
into the realm he owns.
Who whispers to the traveller over desert
sands?
You know uot; for the horizon answers
only with sun and burning heat, across
whose trembling atmosphere yonder distant
voyager passes.
It is a secret known alone to the human
being, whoever and wherever ho may be;
but he must know who accompanies him.
O, tho joy of being alone with God, when
he calleth us up to tho mountain and cover
etli us with the exceeding glory of his pres
ence! The mountain itself may be invisible
to the brother whose feet press tho same
fooitof earth with our own; but tous, who
perceive its grandeur, it filleth all the vision,
for God is with us there.
From the Nashville Christian Advocate.
“ GENERAL MINUTES FOR 1869.
'After many vexatious delays and difficulties in procuring the Minutes of the Annual Con
fluences, we have at length stereotyped this work for 1869. Some of the Conferences, have
excellent secretaries, and some have not. We have begged the Conferences to be more
careful when they elect these officers, and that the Bishops will see that full answers to all
the Disciplinary questions are forwarded to the editor without delay. The Connection
las cause for gratitude in a net increase of 26,172 ministers and members—after deducting
a-xleerease of 12,399 colored members, who, it is presumed, are, for the mo3t part, reckon
ed in the Colored Conferences which the Bishops have been organizina. The following
isthe
GENERAL RECAPITULATION.
■ ■ , -- ■
conferences. Pr’hers Pr’hers Pr’hera M’mb’rs M’mb’rs M’mb’rs & Memb’s Incre’se Decr’ae.
•Ij ii i
*f? Baltimore 160 j 5 107 21,041 j 176 21 489 ! 1,616
f. Virginia 154 j 13 146 38,897 I 815 40’025 I 2,868
8.. Western Virginia... 47 ! 2 84 9,898 10 031 j 1,032
f.North Carolina 103 7 176 32,924 1,202 34*412 295
5 South Carolina 144 ! 8 174 42,752 2,411 45’489 381
-wT North Georgia 123 13 409 41,200 1,974 43’,725 .... 1,397
1. South Georgia 114 15 210 22,447 952 ... 23’738 96
V. Florida 38 i 2 73 5,402 350 5*805 730
Montgomery 115 I 15 299 24,962 1,989 27’380 2111
10. M0bi1e.....' 88 ; 5 167 18,591 1,653 I .... . 20’504 1,340 !...
11. Louisiana 63 4 94 8,078 1,899 ! 10 138 732
17 Mississippi 110 8 153 15,922 1,004 .... 17 197 471
IS. Memphis 181 16 434 39,788 235 4(1654 2,847
«anessee i 187 10 436 41,917 400 42 950 1,025
lston ; 112 0 239 29,728 272 70 ! 50,’427 3,989 ....
utueky ; 90 8 108 16,541 764' .... 17 511 1,141
ulsville 10.1 | 8 j 190 j 25,306 485 j 26’100 628 ””
Louis 95 6 201 18,538 187 | 19’028 1,818 I r”!
isouri 1 113 :3 ! 113 j 18,976 163 19,368 1,731
21* Arkansas 81 3 I 154 1 15,025 347 15 610 2,119
21. Little Rock 81 4 | 117 | 12,348 163 12’713 1203
22. Indian Mission 18 .. I 59 1 (X) 151 3,079 3’36? 980 ””
2ft, Texas 48 5 58 4,222 33 4 366 57
24. Trinitv 48 10 140 9,789 714 ...! lo’tOl 1,289
35. East Texas ! 85 1 119 7,415 ; 803 ,5)873 ’fill ....
26. Northwest Texas...! 43 4 127 7,011 273 ....' 7458 432 ”
27. West Texas 31 j 2 [ 48 8,051 271 ...” I :i’4o3 , 173
28. Columbia 16 1 .. | 14 1,040 ; 1 070 205
20. Pacific 53 4 51 8,251 3 359 444 ' ”
30 Illinois 50 | .. 46 4,694 4,790 ; 1,863 .
Total in 1869 2,646 187 4,753 540,820 19,686 1 3,149 ! 571,241 30,646i 4 474
Total inIBGB 3,495 17!) 4,413 503,596 32,085 j 2,301 1 545,069 j j
Increase 151 ! ' 8 340 37,2:14 ' i 848 ! 3p72 I Net increase.
Decrease 12,399
) The transferred preachers are reckoned with those of the Conferences to which they now belong.
The nine Bishops are not counted: their addition would make the number of traveling preachers, includ
ing those on the superannuated list, 2,842. The preachers who located this year (57) are not counted:
outhe other hand, the preachers who were admitted on trial (197), and those who were re-admitted
(5”), are counted among the traveling preachers, though many of them are also reckoned with the local
preachers. There are some, members in China w r ho are not counted, not being officially reported. There
are defects in the Minutes of some of the Conferences, which the editor vainly endeavored to supply.
The preachers and members of the separate Colored Connection, which the Bishops are organizing
agreeably to the provisions of the General Conference, are not counted here, as they have their own
Minutes. 1
Ilf ferred General Conference Doc
uments.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE METHODIST
Protestant church and the mutbociut
EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.
On the 15th day of the sessiou of the
General Conference, the following corres
pondence was read:
Baltimore, May 12, 1870.
At the sessions of the General Conference
of the Methodist Protestant Church, sitting
at this time in Baltimore, Md., Rev. James
K. Nichols, D.D., was appointed a fraternal
messenger to the General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to fill
tho vacancy created by the withdrawal of
Rev. F. L. B. Shaver, the original appointee
from the Methodist Protestant Church.
* J. Thos. Murray, Secretary.
Conference Room, (
Baltimore, Md., May 14, 1870. )"
To Uni Bistiops|aad Representatives—Ministers and
Lay—of the General Conference of the M. E.
-hurcli, South, in Conlerence assembled, in the
city of Memphis, Tenn., greeting:
Rererend and Honored Brethren :—The en
closed certificate will explain the occasion
and character of this communication to
your respected and venerable body. Hon
ored by my brethren with the position
and responsibility of fraternal messenger, I
would lose no time in conveying to you tho
ftflUfual greetings and Christian salutations
li.MLtTT'. whom I represent. Not being able
to do this in person, by reason of the simul
taneous sitting of the two bodies, and the
great distance separating them, I substitute
this letter in the premises.
In the name, therefore, of our Great
Father in Heaven, and of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and in the name of our common
Methodism, and, especially, in the name of
the Methodist Protestant Church, dear
brethren, I greet you with a glad heart. I
greet you as ministers of Christ and mem
bers of His Church, and bid you God speed
in the great work of spreading scriptural
holiness over these lands and throughout
the world. This is the chosen work of our
cherished Methodism, and it affords me un
speakable pleasure to assure you that the
Methodist Protestant Church, as one of the
feebler branches of that great ecclesiastical
brotherhood, rejoices to bear her humble
part in its glorious consummation. We
claim to be disciples of that blessed Lord,
whose kingdom is not of this world. And
in the fulfillment of our high commission as
a Church, therefore, like yourselves, we
have “determined to know nothing among
men save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
A people, emphatically, of one work, and
that work the salvation of immortal souls,
tlijj, height of our ambition is to spend and
be spent for its blessed accomplishment.
Jt is with great pleasure that I would ad
vert to that most pleasing sign in our eccle
siastical heavens, indicating an increasing
desire among the evangelical Churches of
our land—especially those of similar faith
and fellowship—to get nearer to each other,
in the true spirit of Christian sympathy and
fraternity. Indeed, “union” is fast becom
ing the watchword of Christendom. What
an example of this have we among our Cal
viaistic brethren, in the corporate union
and consolidation of the Old anil New
School Presbyterian Churches ! Shall Ar
nitnian Christians fail in this respect ? It is
most pleasing to me to be able to say, in
this connection, that even since the com
mencement of this session of tho General
Conference, we have been approached by
two distinct branches of the great Metho
dist family, in the persons of fraternal mes
sengers, respectively, looking to and advo
cating a closer union of our common Metho
dism. But honor to whom honor is due.
You yourselves, venerable brethren, are in
advance of all of them, on this subject.
Four years ago, fraternal messengers were
accredited from your venerable body, then
silting in New Orleans, to our own, holding
ito. quadrennial session, at the same time, in
Georgetown, I). O. And it is yet fresh in
the recollection of the writer, how our
hearts were made to thrill by the eloquent
utterances of one of your messengers—Rev.
C. E. Deems, D.D., the only one who reach
ed us—upon the great subject of Christian
fraternity and union. Moreover, from your
body, at the same time and place, emanated
that distinguished Commission which, in
tlje persons of Bishops Pierce and McTyeire,
and Drs. Lee and Evans, appeared before
the General Convention of the Methodist
Protestant Church, which met three years
in the city of Montgomery, Ala., to
treat upon the subject of a corporate union
of the two Churches. And I need not say
liotv highly we ajipreciated such a presence,
upon such a subject. Your Commission
won the hearts of the whole Convention.
Aud although the great object of their ap
pointment has not been accomplished, I am
sure the blest results of that meeting, like
bread cast on tho waters, shall be gathered
after many days. Let us hope, dear and
honored brethren, that the time may speedi
ly come when all who love our Lord Jesus
Christ may see eye to eye, aud in the truest
and divinest sense, be one in Him.
Praying the Great Head of the Church to
bless you in your deliberations, and to mul
tiply and make you a thousand times so
many a,s you are; with great repect and af
fection, I am your brother and fellow-labor
ei in the gospel of Christ,
J. K. Nichols.
THE REROUT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE FORE
GOING.
The committee to whom was referred the
communication of Rev. J. K. Nichols, D.D.,
fraternal messenger of the General Confer
ence of the Methodist Protestant Church to
the General Conference of tho M. E. Church,
South, now in session, ask leave to submit
tho following reply as their Report :
General Conference Room, )
Memphis, Tenn., May 19, 1870. j
J. K. Nichols, D.D.— Reverend and Dear
ITlcther: —Your communication, with the
testimonial of your appointment as fraternal
m essenger from the General Conference of
the Methodist Protestant Church to the
General Conference of the Methodist Epis-
| copal Church, South, now in session in the
city of Memphis, was duly received, and re-
I ferred to us, the undersigned, for considera-
I tion and response.
j In the discharge of this pleasant duty,
| we assure you that the sentiments of frater
. nal regard expressed by you, both in your
1 own name and in behalf of the body of ven
erable Christian ministers and laymen whom
you represent, meet with an earnest and
hearty response from us. You will allow us
to say that, in common with yourself, we
realize the highest satisfaction in this vindi
cation which we witness of a nearer ap
proach of the ‘ ‘evangelical Churches of the
land” to each other, in Christian fellowship
and good will; and we trust that tlie advan
ces made in that direction may be the har
binger of that perfect fellowship and affec
tion which should characterize those who,
differing in non-essentials, are nevertheless
agreed on the essential points of doctrine
of our holy religion. You will permit us
especially to express tho reciprocal pleasure
it affords us to believe that the recent efforts
made by the authorities of our respective
Churches to effect an organic union between
these two members of the great Methodist
family of tliis country, have not been en
tirely fruitless, and we hope the day may
not be far distant when this bread cast on
tho waters may be gathered in a complete
organic unity of these two branches of
Christ’s Church, on a basis alike agreeable
to both parties, already one in sympathy
and doctrine, and nearly so in polity. Be
fore this reaches you, your General Confer
ence will have adjourned; but you will please
make known this expression from us, to your
brethren, by adopting such measure as may
suggest itself as most suitable to bring it to
their knowledge.
With our fervent prayers to God for His
blessing upon you and those you represent,
we are affectionately yours in Christ,
N. F. Reid,
J. C. Granberrv,
O. R. Blue,
L. W. Smith,
E. W. Massey.
Report ot the Committee on the
Circulation of the Holy Scrip
tures.
Your Committee, to whom was referred
the subject of the circulation of the Holy
Scriptures, beg leave to report as follows :
Wo have no official papers of any kind re
ferred to the Committee, but have received
through Rev. S. P. Whitten, a member of
this General Conference, and an Agent for
the Society, the Christian congratulations
of the Secretary of the American Bible So
ciety ; with assurance upon the part of the
officers aud managers of the .same, of their
earnest desire for the continued and hearty
co-operation of the Southern Methodist
Church, in the great interests of tho Bible
work. And in this connection we would al
so state, that Mr. W. H. Thomas, Agent for
the Memphis and Shelby County Bible So
ciety, and Rev. Andrew Hunter, Agent for
the American Bible Society in the State of
Arkansas, and also, Rev. E. H. Pearce,
Agent for Western Kentucky, have person
ally and freely communicated with the com
mittee ; and, through these brethren, we
are assured, that large and generous appro
priations have been made by the Parent
Society within the past four years, to dis
tricts of country which we represent. Rev.
Mr. Pearce gave us gratifying information
in regard to anew method of furnishing our
chief thoroughfares of travel—both rail
roads aud steamboats— with the Holy Scrip
tures—-a plan already in' successful opera
tion on the Louisville and Nashville Rail
road. This plan has received the sanction
of the Parent Society, and is soon, as far as
practicable, to be put into operation
throughout the country.
With these preliminaries, we may be al
lowed to assume—that never within the his
tory of this country was there a period when
the subject of this Report was of greater
importance than at the present.
The Bible—the inspired Book of God—
reveals the science of human redemption—
the way from earth to heaven—' ‘faith eometli
by hearing, and hearing by the Word of
God.” It prepares the way of the Lord—is
ordinarily the harbinger of the advent of
the Spirit. In every age the general circu
lation of the Scriptures, and the oareful
study of the same, have resulted in a revival
of pure religion. It was eminently so in
the days of Josiah, when amidst the rub
bish of the temple, a copy of the neglected
law was found and read to the people. It
was so under the administration of Ezra.—
It was so in the beginning of the Christian
era, and under the practical admonition of
the Master, who said, “Search the Scrip
tures.” It was so in the days of the Re
formation. when the long concealed and fet
tered Word of divine revelation shone iuto
the darkened mind of the Church, and at
tended by the resurrection power of the
Holy Spirit, breathed new life into the body
of Christ. It is still so. Do you desire a
religious revival that will bring sinners to
the knowledge of salvation, and one whose
influence for good will last forever ? Circu
late the Holy Scriptures, and induce men to
read and study them. Do you desire to
build up the Church, which Jesus bought
with his own precious blood, on the most
holy faith ? Then walk by the same rule
and mind the same things. But the Bible
has always been, in one way or another, op
posed openly; or secretly assailed. The
carnal mind, which is “enmity against God,’
is not —cannot be—reconciled to the truth ;
and “men love darkness rather than light,
because their deeds are evil.” Ignorance,
and priestcraft, and tyranny, cannot live
and flourish in the sunlight of God’s pure
word ; and, therefore, the enemies of truth
and righteousness would destroy or explain
away the doctrines and influence of this Ho
ly Book. Opposition to the Bible has as
sumed different forms, in different periods
of the Church’s history. One of the saddest
and most ominous developments of the
times, is a manifest tendency and purpose, in
some places, to exclude the" Bible from the
public schools of the land. While, of course,
we do not expect, or«desire. the inculcation
of denominational tenets in these schools,
aud while the Bible may have been but lit
tle read and studied in some of them, and
read to but little profit in others ; yet, to
refuse the Word of the Creator, and Re
deemer, and Judge of men a place in those
schools, seems to us much in the light of
a repudiation of this Holy 800k —an evil
and an iniquity, from the guilt of which we
desire our skirts to be clear, and to which
we do most solemnly protest. But the
“Word of the Lord abidetli forever.” No
weapon that is formed against it shall ulti
mately prevail, though it may be in the fu
ture, as it lias been in the past, greatly ob
scured and embarrassed by the negligence or
folly of its avowed friends.
Facts known to your Committee, and we
presume, well known to the members of this
General Conference, assure us of an exten
sive destitution of the Holy Scriptures in
many, and, indeed, most parts of our wide
spread country. And we cannot be too
much impressed with the importance of
making inquiries into the all-important sub
ject, aud of stirring up ourselves and our
people to increased liberality in furnishing
the necessary means to aid in supplying the
Word of Life to every man, woman, and
child in the land. Saida dying man, not
long since —one who had bequeathed a large
part of an extensive and valuable estate'to
send the Word of God to the destitute :
“Would that I had means to furnish every
human being with a copy of the Bible.” A
wish, this, worthy of a good man, and one
that ought to throb the heart of the Church
of God. Here is one platform on which we
all can stand ; one cause in which we can all
unite ; one great interest which we can com
bine to promote. And doing so with the
right spirit, with, right motives, and in de
pendence upon the blessing of the Head of
the Church, the gates of hell shall not pre
vail against us.
In conclusion, your Committee desire to
offer for adoption the following resolutions :
Resolved , 1. That it is the duty of the Church of
God to supply the world with the Holy Scriptures.
2. That we recognize in the American Bible So
ciety the most efficient instrumentality in the dis
semination of God’s Word, throughout the States
and territories of this broad land'.
3. That we continue heartily to co-operate with
the accredited agents of this society, in circula
ting the Holy Scriptures “without note or com
ment.”
4. That we recommend more systematic and
diligent efforts to ascertain the extent of Bible des
titution among us, and also increased liberality in
providing the necessary means to supply the
same.
5. That the Bishops be, and they are hereby re
quested, wlicn in their judgment, it is practicable,
to appoint to Bible agencies, sueli men as the
American Bible Society may elect.
C. 1. Vandeventer, Chairman.
COLORED 31. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.
To the Bishops and Members of the General Con
ierence of the M. E. Church, South, now in ses
sion in tliis city.
With profound reverence we wish to ad
dress your honorable body, on the subject
of the organization of our Church.
In doing so, it is not our purpose to agi
tate the past, nor cultivate present animosity;
we will be concise and explicit.
Since the organization of our first Annual
Conference, we have had no doubts in refer
ence to the ultimate completion of a full
organization, and that we would realize to
the fullest extent all of the voluntary offers
and promises of the M. E. Church, South.
Others have sought to interdict all that has
been said or done in our favor. They have
poured on us calumny and vituperation with
out mixture of mercy. Avarice and cupidity
have marked their actions. We pray that
they may be forgiven, for very many of
them know not what they are doing, and are
more to bo pitied than blamed.
No frowns or smiles have been sufficient
to change our purpose. We elected our
choice from the fractions of Methodism in
this country; we acted on principle , believ
ing it to be the best for the races. They
have been born and raised here together,
and there is no plausible reason that they
may not live and die here together. We re
joice in your wise plan in bringing us to a
full organization, and that the time is not
far distant when we shall witness the consum
mation thereof. And, as you have rightfully
held the property for the Church to whom
you now bequeath it, we wish you to accept
our grateful and heartfelt thanks. And we
want to assure you that, as you have held a
sacred trust for us, we will endeavor to pre
serve it to the end, for the purpose which
you have intended it—that is, for the use
and benefit of those who are now and those
who may hereafter become members of our
communion in accordance -with the ritual of
our Discipline. The violation of this rule
by onr Church anywhere will make us par
ticeps admin is (as an attorney would say) to
the wrongs imposed upon us.
We feel that we owe a debt of gratitude—
1. To the worthy Bishops who devised the
plan for organizing our people into a sepa
rate Church.
2. To our devoted Superintendent, the
Rev. Thomas Taylor, who, w'itli much labor
and sacrifice of time and money, has assisted
so efficiently in the work thus far; and we
heartily endorse the action of the Committee
recommending him to the consideration of
the Bishops, to continue his services, if nec
essary, to its consummation.
. 3. To the Rev. Samuel Watson, D. D.,
who, for many years, has been so ardently
engaged on behalf of the colored people in
their spiritual welfare, and often donating to
their temporal wants, and who, with his char
acteristic kindness, is now gratuitously edi
ting the Christian Index,an invaluable paper,
in the interest of the Colored Conferences of
the M. E. Church, South.
4. And lastly, to the present honorable
General Assembly, for their crowning labors,
speedy action, and unanimity in amicably ad
justing all the business in the interest of our
Church.
We feel very sure that the whole transac
tion, from first to last, will meet the approba
tion of our heavenly Father, and that He
may reward you fourfold, we will ever pray.
We will still beg yonr prayers, your sym
pathy, your influence', your co-operation, and
your money, to assist us in our great and glo
rious work.
“ Together let us sweetly live,
Together let us die,” etc.
T. N. Stewart,
Benj. Bullard,
Beverly Ford,
Jeremiah Bowman,
John W. Lane,
R. Mitchell.
Job Crouch,
J. E. Thomas,
Acting by proxy for the Memphis, Ken
tucky, and other Colored Conferences.
Memphis,'May 12, 1870.
Ingratitude.
The Friend of sinners was a perfect mas
ter of the healing art. It formed part of
his earthly mission to “ take our infirmities
and bear our sicknesses.” There was no
quality of the absolutely perfect physician
that he did not possess. There was no abode
so lowly that he was not prompt to enter,no
disease so desperate that he was not ready
to undertake its cure, and without slightest
expectation of fee or reward. Nor did he
offer his succoring gifts with freezing man
ner or voice that repelled, but with gentle
and winning accents that inspired confidence
and awakened kindly sentiments in the
bosoms of those needing restoration. Nor
were his remedies merely tentative, and the
result of employing them doubtful; but
those he undertook to cure were infallibly
cured of “whatsoever diseases they had.” A
word of authority bloke the spell of the
worst malady. A simple “I will; be thou
whole” was equally efficacious in lifting tho
fever-wasted patient from his bed, in making
tho “ impotent man,” who had remained so
for “ thirty and eight years,” strong and
halo, and in causing the leper whom men
loathed and shunned to stand forth “healed
of that plague” which had shut him out from
neighborly association from his kind.
For a person saved from the jaws of death
by the skill and assiduity of his physician,
to feel, warm gratitude toward him is the
most natural sentiment of the souj. A pa
tient needs must feel it and express it, as
not to do so, would evince a heart dead to
humanizing influences. Not grateful for a
benefit like this, would argue ingratitude for
every benefit. Yet such ingratitude precise
ly was shown to the Greatest Physician. Ten
lepers, on a certain occasion, found them
selves made whole by his word, In their
E. H. MYERS, D. D., EDITOR
WHOLE NUMBER 1804.
sore distress they piteously invoked his
mercy and at once obtained it. The transi
tion is instantaneous from foul disease and
misery to joyous health. The great benefit
quickly obtained is as quickly forgotten.
Only one of the ter, shows the least con
sciousness of any favor received, by showing
a disposition to acknowledge it. He alone,
a Samaritan and stranger, and less likely on
this account to recognize the favor conferred
by a Jew, fell at the Benefactor’s feet, and
poured forth his thanks, while the heartless
conduct of the rest, Christ himself points out
and condemns, by the significant question,
“Were there not ten cleansed, but where are
the nine?”
Some ingratitude is shocking, and right
minded people instantaneously reprobate it.
Yet is not. ingratitude almost as flagrant
practiced by many every day, who would
loudly condemn the thing as seen in others,
or this particular case? Is not the Lord,
who wrought this great recovery from the
lepers, the most tried Friend, the most con
stant Benefactor of all men? Is not the
hand that exorcised the foul spirit of disease,
the same that guards man’s defenceless head
from a thousand dangers, spreads his daily
table with the good things of his bounty,
lightens the life burdens that would other
wise be unbearable, and scatters unnum
bered-'benefits along his path, so that life to
him is a eothfort and a joy, rather than a
long, lingering agony? And is not the voice
that graciously answered the imploring ory
of these leprous wretches, the same that in
vites the w r eary and heavy-laden to come to
him for rest; speaks peace to the troubled
soul and pardon to the penitent, and prom
ises to all who find the world hollow and its
joys a mockery, the substantial treasure
which faith may lay up in heaven,forever se
cure there against rust and robbery? And
wliat is the return for these priceless bene
factions? Here and there a few are Jound
who fall at the feet of this Great Benefactor
to glorify and give him thanks, while the
many pass morosely along through weeks
and months and years, without the smallest
acknowledgment or evidence of gratitude
for all these mercies shown. They lie down
at night without thanks to the All Merciful
for the blessings of the day. They rise in
the morning without gratitude for the pres
ervation granted through the;night, and the
health continued, to renew toil and prose
cute their chosen aims. Food, shelter,cloth
ing, health, family, friends, success in affairs,
peace, security, and countless “good and
perfect gifts” besides,. are received and en
joyed with as little sense of obligation to the
generous Bestower as though they all sprang
whence Job says affliction does not spring,
“out of the dust.”
Well might the prophet compare this class,
large in his day as well as ours, to the beasts
of the field, to the manifest advantage too
of the latter, in these striking words in which
we point the moral of the whole matter:
“ The ox knowetli his owner, the ass his
master’s crib, but Israel doth not know, my
people do not consider.” —The Interior.
Tlie Water of JLife.
And then other convicted sinners came to
us saying—-“Oh, sir, I cannot understand
these doctrines of the Atonement, of Faith,
of Repentance. Explain them! Explain
them !” As if a poor, thirst-stricken man,
by a sparkling spring should say, “Oh, tell
me, tell me, what this water is ma de of, and
how it came here in the hot wilderness, and
why is it offered to me, and how can it
quench my intolerable agony ?” Alas, poor,
foolish questioner ! Let the philosophy of
salvation alone. Come, drink—drink—
drink, of the living water.
“Come, take the water of life freely.” Oh,
what a precious and glorious call this! “The
water of life Who can tell us all its mean
ing? “Water—water!” How sweet the
sound to a fainting pilgrim t “Water—wa
ter 1” How
It cooleth the lip, it eooleth the brain,
It maketh the siek one well again.
A fountain of water ! Not a poor reser
voir, stagnant and hot, but a living fountain,
with its green banks and bright palms.—
How sweet to the sun-struck wanderer, as it
bursts in sparkling freshness in the midst of
the desert!
A fountain of the water of Life—Life 1
Life physical, spiritual, immortal, eternal.
Oh, that glorious vision of John ! “A pure
river of the water of life, clear as crytal, pro
ceeding out of the throne of God and of
the Lamb. And on either side of the river,
the tree of life, which bare twelve manner
of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month,
and the leaves of the tree were for the heal
ing of nations!”
Oh, what means it ?—“The Water of
Life !” Tell us ye bright ones ! Ye risen
spirits before the throne ! Ye ransomed out
of every tongue, and tribe, and kindred,
and people ! Ye that walk the green pas
tures, beside the still waters ! Tell us what
it means—“ The Water of Life.”
Dear, dying fellow sinners, why stay ye
from the fountain ? Why do you talk of
future times, and convenient seasons ? How
marvelous to procrastinate the thirst-quench
ing ! To say, “I am in love with my agony;
let me pant and pine a little longer !”
Oh, no, no, no ! Come to-day—come this
moment—eome just as you are ! Oh, for an
angel’s voice to utter the call fittingly ! You
are poor prodigals in a far country —come
home ! come home.'
You are wanderers in a desert—athirst,
imperiled, doomed, death-struck! And
here, behold ! the palms wave—the rock is
smitten —the bright streams murmur and
sparkle, Come, then, this moment, just as
you are ! Come, come, eome—“Come, take
tho water of life freely !” Wadsworth's Lec
tures.
The Heart or the Home.
AU really happy and useful homes have a
heart-centre toward which every member
gravitates, drawn by attractions resistless
because unfelt. The house-band that sur
rounds, strengthens, and protects, is usually
the husband and father. The house-heart
is usually the wife and mother. More than
several times have we known the weak, the
sick, the needy one of the family to become
the house-heart, to and from which the ac
tivities of evt-ry member were in steady cir
culation. For her room the best in the
house was chosen. The stately parlor gave
up its best chair and picture. To that room
came the first flower, tho first berries, the
first fruit of orchard or vineyard. The news,
paper came into that room first of all. There
the father “reported” when returning and
left his good-bye when going. Thither tho
young girl, dressed for a party, came in to
be admired in the household heart. Thither
the sons have come thrice a day fresh with
the. last'excitement, and stories from the
street. For her the concert, the lecture,
and the sermon have been listened to, and a
story of them brought home. Her need has
wrought a gentleness and unity through the
whole family. Her tranquil judgment has
tempered hasty speeches and taught the way
of impartial thought. Around her chair, or
couch, or bed, as around an altar thrice con
secrated, have come the daily worshippers
with Scripture, song and prayer. And so
through years of chastened enjoyment and
trembling hope, this family has found train
ing in a life of unity, purity, and love. The
house has had a heart. The passers-by said
“ afflicted.” But the dwellers knew’ that the
affliction was working out fruits most peace
able and rewards eternal.
The heart ceased to beat. The room was
empty. The errands and the services of love
ended. And the stricken ones stood togeth
er, and with voices low and earnest, vowed
and prayed: By the memory of the past, by
the ache and emptiness of this hour, and by
the hope of the future we vow a holy living
in the Lord; and we beseech him that in his
house of many homes, we may have one, and
may she be tlie heart of it. Amen. Blessed
ARE THEY THAT MOURN.
The Man That Never Failed is a myth.
Such an one never lived, and is never likely
to. All success is a series of efforts, in which
when closely viewed, are seen more or
less failures. The mountain is apt to over
shadow the hill, but the hill is a reality,nev
ertheless. If you fail now and then, don’t
be discouraged. Boar in mind it is only the
port and experience of every successful man,
and the most successful men often have the
most failures.