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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.