Newspaper Page Text
184
Sontjjern, (Cljristip Allocate.
MACON, GEORGIA, NOVEMBER 25,1870.
Parsonages.
The letter of Rev. N. B. Ousley of Waynes
boro circuit, published last week gives a
very good text for a short sermon on par
sonages and furnishing parsonages. Notwith
standing the pleasantry the writer indulges
in about returning to his circuit to enjoy
the fruits of his labor, he is too good an
itinerant to work only for such an end—
knows too well the uncertainties of a preach
er’s appointment to calculate upon return —
and perhaps has had experience of the fact,
that to furnish a parsonage is no guarantee
that one shall live in it. We shall take it
for granted, therefore, that he has set to
work to prepare a pleasant home for his
successor—not that we would have it so,
or even would insist that one so capable of
enlarging this special area of Methodist
economy ought to be changed yearly, to get
up good parsonages everywhere—but be
cause the supposition is more creditable to
him, that he is working, not for self, but
from love to the brethren.
And thus it ought to be. Every preacher
should do what he can to provide, improve
and preserve the preacher’s home. Every
year should add something to its comforts.
Because the “ time is up,” it ought not to
be let go to ruin. Whatever can be done
to leave winter-growing vegetables coming
cn for the next year should be done—what
ever to tide over the fortunes of the preacher
from one year to another, whether for him
self or for some successor. What pains or
expense he has been at in one place may be
returned to him in another—in some other
year if not in the next—will be returned, if
his transfer should happen to be from one
• parsonage to another, and all the preachers
shall have adopted this parsonage-improving
policy. It can hardly be proper, that a
preacher should let the parsonage and its
grounds go to ruin toward the close of the
year, because he does not expect to occupy
them another year.
Far better that he should pursue the wise
policy of our correspondent, who we wish—
if he and his flock desire it—may go back to
cd joy the fruits of his labor, or, in any event,
may find next year as comfortably furnished
a home as he leaves.
Mercer University.
The Trustees of this Institution are to
meet in the Baptist Church, in Macon, 27th
December, to perfect arrangements for the
opening of the Spring term in Macon. A
site has been chosen on Tatnall Square, and
the work of building will, we believe, soon
bo begun.
The City Council of Macon has made a
handsome donation to this Institution, on
the ground of the educational and pecuniary
profit it will be to the City. It has done
well by this foster son; now let these gen
tlemen do something handsome for the in
terests of the 'Wesleyan Female College. For
thirty-two years it has been bringing thous
ands of dollars yearly to the merchants of
Macon. Every interest has derived more or
less profit from its being here—and soores
of girlshere, who from inability would never
have received a finished education, but for
the free tuition accorded without parade by
its Faculty, have been educated without
cost. The City owes the Institution this
muoh, at least—that it should receive a fund
sufficient to adorn and beautify its grounds,
and make it the ornament and pride of its
citizens. As it is, without a dollar of en
dowment, it has to tax its receipts from pat
ronage for the necessary annual repairs that
the wear and tear of time render necessary.
This, certainly, the City so generous to a
distant Institution, ought to remedy, by a
little justice towards its own daughter.
We trust that the city papers, which have
urged this endowment of Mercer University
by the City, will do somewhat for the Col
lege for which we plead. Even if not in
favor of tho policy we propose, we trust that
they will at least present the case to city
readers, by publishing this article on the
subject.
Tiie Virginia Conference.
Bishop Pierce opened this Conference on
Wednesday, 9th November, at Lynchburg.
A correspondent of the Richmond Dispatch
says:
The venerable Bishop Early, being pres
ent, was invited to address the Conference,
and afterwards to lead in prayer. It is won
derful to see what vigor of mind and body
is maintained by this beloved and honored
father of tho Church. His address bespoke
eo much of affection for the Church with
which he has so long labored; showed so
much love for its ministers and members,
and told so much of the interest he feels in
its success, that there was scarce any of the
audience who was not deeply moved. As
loving children after a long absence from a
devoted father, show their joy at meeting
again, so did the members of the Confer
ence and many of the friends of other days
gather about him to offer him their greet
ings and their welcome. Long yet may this
reverend sire live to witness the happy fruits
of his Christian life and faithful labors.
Wo learn from the same source, that four
teen preachers withdrew recently from the
Methodist Protestant Church, some, if not
all, to join this Conference. This Confer
ence is, we believe, the only one—Kentucky
may perhaps bo an exception—in which the
Episcopalians are courteous enough to rec
ognise our “ministry,” by inviting our min
isters to their pulpits. St. Paul’s and Grace
Episcopal Churches both were tendered to
the use of the Conference.
The following we take from the Richmond
Christian Advocate:
The attendance of ministers and laymen
is very large at this period of the session,
and we have promise of a pleasant and har
monious time.
Lynohburg receives the Conference with
its old and well known cordiality, notwith
standing the heavy losses by the recent flood.
The marks of the great disaster are yet seen
along the James and other rivers, and many
who suffered are yet in a condition calling
for help from the benevolent. On Wednes
day night the annual sermon before the Con
ference, was preached by Rev. W. E. Jud
kins, alternate, in place of Rev. Dr. Duncan,
who is detained at home, we deeply regret
to say, by the illness of his wife. Brother
J. preached an excellent discourse from the
«ast verse of the 15th chapter of Ist Corin
thians, After the sermon the Lord’s Sapper
was administered to the members of the
Conference, and many private members of
the Church. The season was a most gra
cious one, and all felt the presence of the
Head of the Church.
The business of the Conference proceeds
quietly and regularly, and we shall be able
to finish up in a week’s session. One fact
was commented on this morning (Friday)
by the Bishop, which ought to arouse the
attention of the Church, and that is the
small number of young men offering for the
travelling ministry. Only three or four have
been presented from the whole Conference.
Ibis sad fact should induce great heart
searching among our people. The Bishop
in a brief speech on this subject,
“Where are the young men whom God has
called to the work of the ministry? Are they
hid away like Saul among the stuff?” He
urged the preachers to bring this great want
to tho special notice of the churches next
year. There is a strong demand for young
enen. We have not the preachers to supply
the work as fully as we would do if we had
a full number of active and zealous young
men. Most earnestly should the people
pray that God would send forth more labor
ers into His vineyard. It is now a rare sight
to have fifteen or twenty young men coming
up for reception, but it was not so twenty or
more years ago.
We have.been called to mourn the loss of
several dear andfaithful brethren this year.
/Spriggs, Arnold, Hunter and Slaughter have
finished their earthly work and entered upon
eternal rest. They were all good men and
true, and were eminently successful as Chris
tian ministers.
The reports show a most encouraging state
of things in nearly all the charges. The
collections for benevolent purposes have
been very good, notwithstanding the failure
of crops and disasters by the flood, and the
preachers are far less deficient in their re
ceipts than it was feared they would be.
Up to this period but few visitors from
other Conferences have arrived. The only
representative from Nashville is the Rev. A.
G. Haygood, D. D., our excellent Sunday-
School Secretary. We had hoped to see
other brethren from the West, but they are
moving in other parts of the work. Mrs.
Allen, the wife of Rev. Young J. Allen, one
of our China missionaries, is here. She
left China last June to make her first visit
home, after an absence of nearly eleven
years. Mrs. Allen represents the condition
of affairs in China as now very unfavorable
to missionary work. The Chinese are clamo
rous for war, and the French power which
they feared more than any other, is now
powerless to arrest their rage. In this state
of things the Churches who have mission
aries in China, should appoint a day of
special prayer in their behalf. He can
restrain the rage of the heathen, and spread
a shield over the heads of nis faithful labor
ers. We would urge our people to make our
China mission a subject of special prayer.
Such a course would cheer the hearts of our
dear brethren there, who are in the midst of
raging and blood-thirsty idolaters, and will
be exposed to many great dangers.
Rev. John E. Jackson, a local deacon of
the M. E. Church, who has lately settled in
Chesterfield county, was on the presentation
of the proper documents, recognized as a
local deacon in our Church. This gentle
man has approved himself as a useful and
pious minister in the section in which he
lives.
The Bishops of Germany who opposed
the doctrine of Papal Infallibility before it
was proclaimed by the Vatican Council, says
The Methodist, seem to have abandoned all
further resistance. One of them, the Bish
op of Breslau, offered his resignation, in or
der to be spared the necessity of proclaiming
the novel doctrine in his diocese, but when
the Pope refused to accept the resignation,
he withdrew it and advised his diocesans to
submit. It now seems unlikely that any
bishops will take part in the agitation for
repudiating the doctrine of Papal Infalli
bility and the authority of the Vatican
Council, which is still actively continued
among the laity and a portion of the priest
hood. It is expected that all the professors
of theology of the University of Bonn will
be suspended by the Archbishop of Cologne,
as they persist in refusing submission to the
Council.
The Missionary Debt.— Dr. McFerrin
gives in this week’s Advocate, a very clear
and succinct statement of the circumstances
under which this Debt was contracted. We
believe, however, that this matter has been
pretty well understood within the bounds
of our circulation, where the Church has
been by no means indifferent to the pay
ment of the Debt. If all the Conferences
had met tbe obligations laid on them by the
General Conference in 1866, as fully as the
Georgia Conferences did, this debt would
have been paid. And as it is, they may
still take it on them to do more; if not, it
will be only because they are pledged to
raise a large sum for the China Mission—
an obligation taken on themselves, to which
other Conferences are not committed.
Dr. Boring’s Appeal to the Ladies.—
“He who gives quickly, gives twice,” is an
old proverb, very applicable in the cases for
which Dr. Boring appeals to the ladies for
aid. If the orphans now needing help are
to receive it, it should come quickly; for the
years of their penury are speeding on with
out relief, and without hope of it—and even
relief may come too late. Surely, Dr. Bor
ing’s request is so reasonable—the plan of
relief so simple—the means of meeting it so
easy and practicable, that the Ladies to
whom ho appeals will not turn a deaf ear
and a stinting hand to his application. But
what they give ought to be given quickly.
The Rev. A. M. Chrietzbero’s valuable
articles are drawing to a conclusion. We
have received his concluding article, in
which he states that he hopes his brethren
of the South Carolina Conference will re
ceive these letters as commutation for the
sermon they had requested him to preach
before the coming Conference,on the subject
of Christian Beneficence; but after that
number had come to hand, that one which
is found in this week’s paper arrived —hav-
ing, in some way been delayed on the road.
This has occasioned a delay which hinders
the conclusion of the series quite os soon as
the writer intended.
Registered Letters. —lt is important for
letter-writers to know that the Postmaster
General has issued an order requiring the
name and address of the sender of registered
letters and packages to be affixed to the
same, and in case of non-delivery, the regis
tered letter or package will be returned di
rectly from the office to which it was sent to
the sender without (as now) being returned
through the dead-letter office. If the sender
cannot be found it will go to the dead-letter
office and treated as other undelivered mail
matter.
Orii Colleges in Georgia.— We learned
recently from Prof. Lewis, that there are
about 130 pupils in the regular classes at
Emory College—a very handsome number
for the times. In the Wesleyan Female
College there are about 215 pupils, including
the Preparatory classes—a large number
there has been present foT some years, and
never exceeding more than one or two years
since the Institution was founded.
Georgia (Colored) Conference. —Our
preachers are requested to make known to
the members of this Conference, the change
in the place of its meeting, from Savannah
to Augusta.
Tlie Efficacy of Moral Sentiment.
But what is moral sentiment ? is a ques
tion that must be solved before we can un
derstand its efficacy. Moral sentiment is
the practical application of the moral sense
of mankind to all those things which may
come up as incidental to the advancement
of a country’s real good ip its rapid and suc
cessful development in arts, agriculture and
conservative policies; which things, however,
in the absence of the presiding genius of
moral sentiment, may become complicated
with things utterly irrelevant and demorali
zing in their influence upon society. This
moral sentiment, issuing from the moral
sense of man, I come now to invoke against
the present complication of Agricultural and
Mechanical Fairs, with horse racing, tourna
ments, skating rinks, dancing and drinking
accommodations.
All sensible Christians, sound moralists,
noble patriots and genuine philanthropists,
will join me in this invocation. And if there
is a man in Georgia claiming to belong to
either of these classes, and more especially
to all of them, who will dare to say these de
moralizing excresences ought ip be allowed,
and provided for at a State or County Agri
cultural Fair, I dare him to come out—own
his name and attempt to defend his alliance
with moral sense and practical moral senti
ment ; and I will assign him his place in the
judgment,of God—which is among IPod’s
enemies. And .by tfce judgment of God, I
do not mean anything jjfco His opinion pf
these spiritual adulterers and adiftlijresses, but
His decree. God’s judgment in their al
ready pronounced. They are his enemies.
And this judgment will stand forever against
them, unless reversed by a sound conversion
to God. These Church members and strag
gling preachers, that are running after these
Fairs, complicated as they are, with racing,
tournaments, daily dancings, or set balls, as
a part of tbe Fair—with restaurants where
vile intemperance is fed—a conglomeration
of every evil thing and an occasion, as now
carried on, where every one with ten grains
of sound moral sense, sees that the immoral
element is the controlling element —there is
not, I say, a member of the Church, or a
false representative of Christ’s embassy to
sinners, loitering about one of these misera
ble scenes of well fed sensuality, who will
say that religion has ever received its first
contribution to its furtherance, its well won
honors, or its moral triumphs at one of these
Fairs. But its reputation has suffered at
every one one of them, and everywhere. It
is now besmeared with the merited derision
of contemptuous infidel scorn ; while every
one of these caterers to worldly amusement,
knows that irreligion has been pastured and
provided for in tbe combinations of these
Fairs.
God’s declaration is, that “whosoever will
be the friend of the world, is the enemy of
God.” Now, if there is any Church member
or light-minded preacher silly enough to say
those things I except to are not of the world,
even intensely of the world—of the world in
the very sense in which we are forbidden to
be conformed to it—let him or them so
minded, come out in defence of those things,
as proper appurtenanc es of the Church- as
really of the Church —and not of the world
as ministering to the moral and spiritual wel
fare of the Church—by holding in check the
depraved appetites of fallen humanity—and,
therefore, proper to be sustained and visited
by Church members and idle shepherds to
watch their lilce-priest-like-people flock. I
say, if any of these patrons and endorsers of
horse-race, tournament, and dancing Fairs,
from within the Church and among the
preachers, shall come out and affirm that
there is none of the world in all this accursed
appendage to an Agricultural Fair—then
the great grand jury of common sense will de
termine whether the flaw is in their head or in
their heart ; and upon this verdict must de
pend their moral currency hereafter. And
if conscience, as I suppose it will, forces
them to say that this much of a Georgia
Fair, as now carried on, is of the world,
without a plea of mitigation, then every
Church member and preacher found on the
Fair Ground after its programme is an
nounced, is there voluntarily and falls, by
consequence, into the ranks of the friends
of the world—and also, by consequence, into
the ranks of God’s enemies.
This is the text—“ Whosoever therefore
will be a friend of the world is the enemy of
God.” “Will be a friend of the world,” fixes
their religious status. They are among the
enemies of God —among them at the in
stance of their own will, giving aid and
comfort to the enemies of God, by their
presence and their pleasure. And that too,
after their moral sense had said, all this rid
ing and racing, and these tournaments are
of the world and not of the Father—and
that he who loves the world, thus put up to
his corrupt taste, the love of the Father is
not in him. His soul is denuded of all spir
itual attire —and there he stands in his
worldly duds.
Someone has reported that at a certain
Fair Ground, there were present at the
“trotting-match” about two dozen and a
quarter of preachers to witness it—he in
tending, no doubt, to have it understood
that preachers were so anxious to see horse
racing under cover of a Fair, that they ven
tured out in unusual numbers. As far as
the dispatch was true, I am obliged to the
reporter for giving due notice to the Church
of all these ministerial underwriters for
these knights of the stable and turf. lam
very much offended however, at this publi
cation witheut the names of this two dozen
and a quarter of preachers, who hung on to
see the last race. I am offended, because
every preacher in Georgia is indirectly im
plicated in this notice until excepted. I
would demand a denial of my being one of
them, if it was not that I am' well satisfied
there is not a gentleman in Georgia who
knows me—md whose disfavor would grieve
me —who believes that I could be prevailed
on to go to a Fair with these demoralizing
agencies attached—although I might be fold
again as I have been before; “why our Presi
dent is a member of your Church, so are
several of our Committee of Arrangements.”
This lam not at all surprised at. Every
new game of death, at which the devil plays
hereafter, will be played upon the chess
board of the Church. These brethren intend
ed in fact to preside over a simple Fair; vhile
being complicated, as Fairs are, they do in ef
fect preside over liorse-racing, tournaments,
skating-rinks, wit h every species of gaming
for men—and a late invention for boys, so
that they may get their hand in, in order to
be able to have Fairs hereafter ; for I under
stand it is already admitted by Church men,
endeavoring to pillar up their side of Fairs,
that if the horse race, tournament, rink, base
ball match-games and so on are ruled out,
Fairs are a failure. Thanh yon, my brother.
If you are right, and I fear you are —then
the sooijer Fairs are labeled “dead,” the
fewer souls will date the hell ward bent shape
of their wills and minds by tbe abuse and
misuse of Agricultural Fairs. This hoy ggme
is by means of a few nails fixed in a board
in some gambling order, with rings which
are tossed by these juvenile gamblers ; and
the game is the inclusion of one or more of
these nails within the ring. These, I think,
made their appearance at a Fair, and boys
were learning to game it upon their nail
board, while papa and uncle went it upon
the race course. Since which, I think, they
may be seep ip open daylight in city streets;
and these little freshmen gabblers delving
away.
A hint to the wise will be enough. Every
man of good moral sense knows, that every
boy in Georgia who grows up with a taste
for betting to get his spending money, will
be a moral nuisance in the State. And yet
these Fair Grojjijds are producing them by
the thousands.
My heart is sad. Sixty-one years apd ten
months, I have labored in Georgia for its
intellectual and moral glory. I have cor
rupted no man by word or example—have
preached against all conglomerations of
Church and world—have given God’s de
clared judgments against all complications
of religion and sin. But alas! what I have
tried to secure in the Church^-spiritpMgodli
ness—these loose-minded Church members,
and imprudent preachers hinder—these, who
instead of cutting off occasion from them
that are seeking occasion, give them occa
sion to impugn motives and traduce charac
ter, by being on the race turf, under the cov
er of attending an Agricultural Fair. These
sentinels of the turf, acting as detectives,
who telegraphed the joyous news of two
dozen and a of clergy, at the last
race in the evening, no 4<?ubt had been
keeping connt all the ti.m e i to isspe jjps
sneering bulletin. But Ido not .regret the
notice. If the gentlemen were out there, I
pnly vpgpet that they were out, so as to jus
tify this special notice. But I hope these
watchmen pf the turf wii} continue to act as
detectives and reporters, and will advertise
.every preacher they find at a Fair with a
hprse trs,c£: attached, and made by far the
mpst special and item in .the pub
lished bill of fare at the Fair, f his has been
thp .case at every pne of our great jFs^rs —
small piossiems on all that is of aqy read
value to the advance of the State in agri
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
culture, arts and manufactures —and large
premiums and purses on the horse traok.
Therefore, every preacher that lets down
his dignity low enough to be seen at a Fair,
with these demoralizing combinations and
attachments, deserves to be advertized.
These knights of the turf all know that the
place where they revel in horse worship and
hypocritical gambling, is no place for a
Christian gentleman ; otherwise, they would
not notice his presence. But knowing it i#
a ring of sin, unholy and unclean, they de
spise every preacher they see there, us a de»
mure hypocrite ; because they know
none but morally bad men will countenance
and patronize this evil—palmed off under
cover of a State or county Agricultural Fair.
In my next, I shall seek to vindicate the
efficacy of moral sentiment by calling into
array against the present demoralizing effect
of Fairs the true moral sentiment of the
Church on the issue. L. Pierce.
Fund of Special Relief.
This is one of the charitable funds of the
old Georgia Conference —controlled by an
incorporated Board of Managers—of whom
Dr. Lovick Pierce has for many years been
President. The object of this charity is to
afford relief to special cases of distress among
the travelling and local preachers—and the
widows and orphan children of such. Since
1838 the board have made appropriations
amounting to 813,500.00; giving ten or fif
teen dollars here, and twenty-five or thirty
there, as the necessities of the case de
manded, and thus has afforded relief to many
of our suffering brethren and their families
During the late war about one-half of tire
capital stock of the fund was invested in
Confederate securities —-which of course be
came valueless—leaving us on band in good
securities 89,457.98.
At the division of the Georgia Conference
the larger portion of this amount went to
the North Georgia Conference, leaving the
South Georgia Conference about 82,500 as
her share of the capital stock. Since then
we have been slowly increasing—as a part
of the interest is annually funded—giving us
about 8150 per year for distribution.
The object of this notice is to solicit do
nations to the capital stock of this fund. It
is managed by careful and judicious men,
who appropriate the interest where it is most
needed. Last winter a benevolent lady, not
a member of our Church, donated one hun
dred dollars to the fund, and her gift will
yield this year nine per cent. How many
among those whom God has prospered will
imitate her generous example? Donations
to North Georgia Conference may be sent
to Rev. W. F. Cook, Treasurer, at Rome,
Ga.; and for tho South Georgia Conference
to the writer at Savannah, Ga.
Geo. G. N. MacDonell,
Treas., Fund S. Relief, S. Ga. Cons.
“ Not Dead.”
Editor Advocate : — While I believe I can
say with Job, “I would not live always;’’
yet it is a pleasing reflection to myself that
lam not dead. Twice this year has this
been reported of me: tbe first time in conse
quence of placing my initials before the
name of our beloved and deceased brother,
Jno, Wesley Reynolds. This last time, it
aeema Dr. Haygood dug it up somewhere;
and if it had been true, I would not be sur
prised if this long known, greatly esteemed,
and eminent servant of the Church would
have been among the first to know it,
and give expression to all the sympathy your
unworthy servant deserves.
Perhaps the Doctor knowing into whose
hands I have fallen this year, and the dis
parity between the size of my family and tho
capacity of the work, thought human nature
had reached its limit of endurance; and his
calculation would most likely have been cor
rect, but he has forgotten that I am an itin~
erant; and you know they are hard to kill
by stint, neglect, or any other invention of
Satan. However, if I have to repeat the
]§st eleven years of my life, which have been
devoted ia tfc.s itinerancy, I shall trouble
someone to commence my obituary pow,
By the way—let me add a few paragraphs
growing out of recent reflections. Turning
to our last Minutes, I find but one circuit
reporting as high as one thousand dollars for
preacher ami assistants.
You have said much, and that much has
been vejl said though distasteful to many,
of ministerial support, p.mtajnly no q»s,
not abandoned to selfishness and covetous
ness, “ which is idolatry,” will for a moment
claim that our preachers get a support. The
question is, who is responsible? The clergy
say the laity; the laity charge it to the cler
gy. It is perfectly safe to admit that fault
lies pt pffe door of each. But this is not ex
actly the line upon which yoijp cqpegpqjjdepf
would briefly skirmish.
J 4m satisfied that those who plan the work
are as much to blame as either of the other
parties. And I here raise my /usee and fire
into that encampment; if I have to retire
very hastily and ungracefully the next minute.
The venerable advocate for small circuits and
the father of the plan, in the estimation of
your correspondent, made this one capital
blunder in his life. Look over the field,out
up as it is, and there is not a work outside
of the cities, that gives a decent support to
a family of even a half dozen children. Some
of us are getting exceeding sore over the
thought, that the “cabinet,” year after year,
are put to difficulty and have the fountain
of their, sympathies so heavily drawn upon
eaeh recurring Conference season.
Many of us are preachers, thank God,
with large families, given us by the good
Lord, since becoming members of the itin
erant connection. None of the fields in the
limits already referred to, are able to sup
port our large family class. (I speak of
available ability.) What shall we do, men
gnd brethren? Locate? If the appointing
powers say ao, I ara ready. But perhaps
the contrary is the conclusion. Then, whqt
is to be done? Give away, drown, or let the
church apprentice out? Shocking! my
brother. Os course it is. Bnt where is
your remedy?
Now, the Head of the Church never de
signed that the work should be cut up into
sucji dimensions, that only a certain class of
preachers could Jive es ft. If so, the Cath
olics did well to forbid their priestsentering
the married state. Let us do away with the
iron bedstead and shape the work so that
some fields may be left for the unfortunates,
to whose class I happily belong.
I love the itinerant and his work; and
hence place location as the last station of the
road, I espept to travel; but push the pres
ent programme and the pepple will rebel at
sending them men with families; the C<>3-
ference mast locate them or they mnst starve;
and if that is to be the fate of me and mine,
give us choice of modes and we will submit
to protracted immersion.
Again: as popular as the system of object
ive lessons in some quarters is, it ought to be
watched; for I have no doubt it is the same
seed which produced the pictures of Rome.
Jjrf are not beyond the possibility of a re
production of J?orpish errors and supersti
tions.
Finally: I never thing of Dr. Boring’s
Orphans’ Home, but I also think of the con
vent, and wonder if this is the appearance of
PtrP 7? un ß that monstrosity. Some things
we have seen gt maturity, huge in propor
tions and hideous of aspect, that looked
harmless and were attractive in their intan
tile state. * ' ‘ ' *'*
jE wjdj jspy to brother Y. that the Metjhod
ists are from the Catholio Church, and, by
the help of God, we will keep as far froon that
organization as possible.
Mr. Editor, these every-day reflections of
your humble correspondent are submitted
in the spirit of kindness and of sincere love
for the Church.
May God bless the Advocate and its Editor,
is the prayei' of your humble servant,
Jno. A. Reynolds.
Anions the Indians.
BY tBISHOP KEENER.
Mr. Editor: l T ou have herewith the ap
pointments of the Indian Mission Confer
ence. The Indians have, for the most part,
taken English namies. So one reading these
appointments woulil scarcely be able to im
agine what sort of looking preachers they
represent. Like the Reformers in the days
of Erasmus, they rejoice in two names—one
the classical rendering of the other. I was
informed, when upon the edge of the terri
tory, that the brethren had a name already
selected for me. The Cherokees were the
only tribe present. The Choctaws, Chieka
saws and Creeks would not travel so far from
home, with the prospect of high waters and
ferriages. Though as a general thing they
are fond of attending Conference—go early
and stay patiently to the end—no feverish
inquiries as to the time of adjournment. As
the brother said at the General Conference:
“They are preachers, and time is nothing
with them.” All Indians take things leis
urely, and when they get hold of a good
thing they have sense enough to enjoy it.
"We have a fine work going on among the
Chickasaws. Our Manual Labor School, in
the Creek nation, which was burnt a year
sinee, is being rapidly rebuilt. The chief of
that nation has, for the past three years,
been the presiding elder of the Creek dis
trict. A good increase was reported from
each of the districts, and the whole Confer
ence has had an increase in membership of
one thousand two hundred and twenty-nine,
of whom eight hundred and forty-four were
Indians. This speaks well for the men of
God who are laboring in this field; it is an
increase of thirty-three per cent, upon last
year. Probably no mission field in the
world has yielded a better return for the la
bor and money spent upon it. Dr. Green,
in one of his missionary speeches, estimated
that it cost the government 850,000 to kill
one Indian, and compared that with the
expense of converting an Indian ; which
this year has not exceeded 810.
The minutes of this Conference are: Thom
as K. B. McSpadden, admitted on trial; Hen
ry Butler, John Sevier, C. C. Campbell
(Cherokees,) remain on trial; Rope Came
ron (local preacher,) ordained deacon; Ste
phen P. Hicks, ordained elder. Numbers
in society, four thousand five hundred and
fifty-two; adults, six hundred and thirty
one; infants baptized, four hundred and
thirty-one. Next Conference to be held at
Boggy Depot. Tote on the proviso, twelve
yeas, no nays. Amount raised for old mis
sion debt, 8100.
After the Sabbath morning service a col
lection of 8530 was taken up to pay a debt
due on our mission chapel at fort Gibson.
This relieved the house and the audience.
The attendance on preaching was good, and
much good was done during the session.
This is the most venerable body of men
for its numbers that I have ever met with—
men who, for forty or fifty years, it may be,
have been preaching Christ, and are still
taking an appointment. They are now rich
in faith and experience. While many young
men are fainting and looking about them for
some soft place where they may nurse their
“call” until it shall gradually expire, these
hoary veterans are furbishing their armor
and feeling the edge of their swords. It
was refreshing to hear them in the love
feast. They still contemplated new con
flicts and new victories. At the sacrament
qf the Lord’s Supper it was a full recom
pense for a month’s travel to see the Indian
preachers stapding with their brethren
weeping in memory of the blessed Master.
Surely “tliere are many tongues, but one
language.” The Holy Spirit has filled them
with the knowledge of tk*e Father and qf his
Son Jesus. One of them, a tall man, a fpll
blood Cherokee, who is said to be a very
eloquent preacher, but who understands
but little English, stood immediately before
me, dressed in a striped hunting shirt, his
iron-gray hair falling qver his forehead as
Ije bent bis bead reverently; tbe tears were
flowing from his eyes profasely; our hearts
were in sympathy, and an image was left up
on my mind which will recur upon every
sacramental oooasion at a Conference. Out
here one feels as if he were well to the front
in the great campaign.
The war did its mischief as fully among
these missions as in the States. Our schools,
churches and everything else were dam
aged, and the work of rehabilitation has
been necessarily slow. But the returns of
fhig year’s labor demonstrate that wo are
now on the' vantage ground. Our Indian
schools, which have been so fruitful of good,
must all be revived. Tho superintendent,
the Rev. John Harrell, is now lending his
energies to this great work among the
Creeks, and will, by his success there, no
doubt open the way to the gradual and full
restoration of all these institutions.
The Indians arc greatly excited just noy
at tiia prospect of tire 'seotionisihg their
land's by the’Lnited States. The railroad
monopolists are moving Congress in order
to build their Missouri and Texas railroad
lines, which must take the Indian territory
in their route. Already the rails are within
forty hours’ staging of Fort Gibson, and
two lines are chartered, which are to pass
through the heart of this fair land- Then
it will be but three days to $
fearful uejglibqr for a people who wish only
to serve God and be let a}one. The chief
of the Cherokees has calledi for a day of
fasting and prayer, It daprecates the ter
ritorializing of the Indian lands by Congress,
This document may not allay the excite
ment: but shows that the United States has
been dealing with the Indian pretty much
as with other “reconstructed” parties.
appoiut^sn^s,
Clierefee District.—he oung Ewing, F K.; Tahle
quah ct,, Thos K. B McSpadden; Fort Gibson,
James Y Bryce; Grand River, David B Cumming;
Eliiah Butler; Spring Creek, Isaac Sanders; Sale
saw, Charles C Campbell, John Sevier; Canadian,
Heavy Butler; Barren Fork, to be sup by Flute,
Flint ct, Thomas B Ruble, supply.
Choctaw District.— Stephen B Hicks, P E.; Skul
lyville, to be sup; Mashulatnbbee, to be sun by
WiilisF Fulsom; Sinboy, to be sup fcy Gibson
Batters'. Perryvilie, to be gup by Robert Jackson.
Chickasaw District,—Jesse H Walker, P E.;
Tishmingo, John C Robinson; Kiamichi, to be
sup by Bylinehia; Boggy ct, to be sup by Jeffer
son Long; Dsakesville, Simon P Willis; Chicka
saw, to be sup by Jesse J Gardiner; Jack’s Fork,
to be sup by Moses Perry.
Creek District. —Walter A Duncan, P E.; Oak
mulgee, James McHenry; North Fork, to be sup
by Caesar; Creek Agency, to be sup by Joshua
Soule; Little River, to be sup by Walker Collins;
Asbury Manual Labor School, J ohn Harrell, su
perintendent; John Harrell, superintendent Indian
Mission Conference.
John H Porter, transferred to White River Con
ference; Samuel Chicote, located at his own re
queste.—X. 0. Advocate.
Fort Gibson, Oct. 30,
<£omspoitace.
Comments on a Gate Advocate.
Mr. Editor : I have just laid aside your is
sue of the 4th November, and a few thoughts
suggested by it seek expression through the
I hope the venerable Dr. Fierce wili con
tinue to write on the subject of revivals.
No one is better fitted to handle the sub
ject. But, is the revival the normal state of
the Church? I think not, if we adhere to a
strict definition of the term. A revival pre
supposes a decay of life, and is the resusci
tation of life. It neither begins nor termi
nates the history of an important crisis in a
Church—-it is only the middle chapter. The
first is made up of backslidings and winter
deadnesa, the last, of life and fruitfulness;
this, of the budding leaf and the flower,
the normal state of the Church is life—
continuous life —that expends its force in
fruit-bearing. What the Psalmist asserts
of the good man: “Efe shall be as a tree,
planted by the rivers of water, that bring
eth forth bis fruit ir> his season; his leaf also
not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall
prppper”—i3 in accordance with the philos
ophy of spiritual life ijj the Church as a
wliole, as well as in the individual member.
Observe, it is an ever-green, over-growing,
ever-fruitful tree. A Church thus symbol
ized is not in a revival state, hut in the state
of its normal development.
i fear the wapt pf strict definition in the
use ojE tins" term leads us po stress revivals
too mUcth; and that continued vigorous
growth that would render them unnecessary,
too little. The protracted meeting has
grown into an institution in the Church;
and a good one it is, if kept in its proper
relations. If the Church is in its normal life
state, its score or hundred conversions is not
a revival, but the gathering in of the fruit.
If, however, the protracted meeting is to
“get up" a state of unusual religious fervor
annually, to supply the place of continuous
church-life and fruitfulness, it will be a
cause of decay in the Church, instead^!
growth. I have seen many places,
believe this to be the case. I fear many'
look upon the normal state of the Church as
being ti continuous oscillation between a
backslidden state and the annual protracted
meeting fervor. Hence, the fearful reaction
that often follows our most success revival
meetings.
I hope I am not understood as putting any
discount upon revivals. To a lapsed soul or
church, a “Holy Ghost revival” is its only
hope. But far better is a state of health
than of convalescence.
Besides the ordinary “ills that flesh is
heir to,” editors, I dare say, have many pe
culiar to themselves. I am sorry one has
come upon you, threatening to affect the
prospects of the dear old Southern Christian
Advocate. It is not the “organ" of my
Conference; but there is not one of the
Advocate family that comes as near to my
.ideal of a family religious newspaper. It is
not too dear at S3 per annum. This idea of
cheapening our papers, Ido not believe to
be a good one; for the simple reason, that
to sustain themselves upon a cheap scale,
they are forced to give up, in part at least,
their character as family religious papers,
and become advertising media. To see the
fair columns of the time-honored Southern
Christian Advocate so full of gospel fatness,
blurred to any additional extent by adver
tisements—even the most select—will pain
many of your readers. But what is to be
done? Others have cheapened, and that
fact will recoil upon the Advocate interest
generally. 1 see the difficulty of the prob
lem, but am not in a situation to help you
in its solution, further thau to look after
the interests of your paper hereabouts; in
doing which, as heretofore, I will waive all
commissions. Will not all your agents do
this, rather thau see their “organ" strug
gling for existence under a load of debt and
advertisements? I am satisfied, that, in
most cases, the complaint that our papers
cost too much proceeds, from a sense of pov
erty that is felt most when some interest of
the Church is pressed.
Your editorial, unmasking the character
of the Fairs —“so called”—is well timed. It
is time that the Church open its eyes to
these monstrous sinks of iniquity. The
“twenty-soven preachers and Jewish Rab
bi,” decoyed to the “trotting match” at At
lanta, are not the only ones whom I have
known imposed upon by these so called Ag
ricultural Fairs; neither is Georgia the only
State cursed with their demoralizing influ
ence. A friend of mine, a prominent church
official, was once honored with the position
of Marshal to a gambling assembly under the
title of “State Fair for the State of .”
He felt that his engagements would not per
mit him to withdraw after its character was
unmasked; and day after day, with brow
burning with shame, he followed the “ex
citement” qloqg its slimy trail to, the end,
and went home under the (distressing con
viction that his Christian character was
compromised, almost heyond the power of
recovery. He was a wiser, if not a better,
Wap.
The telegram at the head of your “decla
ration of wax,” reminds me of what took
place some time since in a village that I wot
of, A circus oame along, and so general
was the attendance of chureli members, that
the local paper boasted that those who went
wore sufficiently in the majority to expel
those who went not. The “exchanges”
caught it up, and it went over the State as
a note of triumph. And, O! what a triumph
it was! Old fashioned, Scriptural Christi
anity, wfth its keep peqsjtiyeuess \o, sin—
the Christianity that oheered our fathers “in
the dark valley,” was completely flanked and
driven from the field! “God’s innocent ani
mals—can it be any harm to go and see
them, and carry the children?” What fol
lows does not require a prophet tp tell.
Few things Ud ar h such an ora in the life
u| snipe places as the advent of the skating
rink. That class of church members who
see no harm in theaters, balls and circuses,
are sure to he on hand. They seize it as
a God-send, lying, certainly, within tfie
limits of the allowable, though it
embodies every objection able feature of the
‘Tpuud dapce,” with the additional liabili
ty o.f falling in no vmj graces ul style ? Did
not a Bishop commend the rink ? Does
not one of our leading editors defend fash
ionable amusements in the abstract ; and can
the abstract idea be realized, except iq the
concrete form? What if said dtishop did ac
knowledge, top once, be was caught
pap.pms> r and withdrew his commendation?
This little circumstance is easily slurred
over by an elastic conscience. Truth is,
Mr. Editor, after all your righteous indig
nation over the telegram in question, it is
to be feared that many church members loyp
as much to be imposed upqp Vy fashionable
sin, qnd e i’ its various guises, as the world
does to deceive them. But there is more of
coquetry between them and the world than
of deception; and both parties are about
equally pleased. In the case of Fairs, such
as they now are, there are many exceptions.
For their sake, let the • ‘fight” go on, until
those sinks of iniquity are either reformed,
or every genuine Christian breaks off all al
liances with them. Omikron.
An Appeal.
Friends of education, heav j A noble monu
ment is abput to fall! A mighty benefactor
totters—not from age—but from the cruel
wounds of war!
The children are in tears as they watch
the death struggle ; and, wringing their
hands in despair, cry out, “Is there no balm
in Gilead ? Can nothing be done to save ?”
Would you know where to find the suffer
er ? Would you help, as far as you could ?
Then, come with me to Spartanburg, and
logk at the wreok gs 'Vyofj'oi'd College. Hear
how nobly the Faculty have given their time
and talents to it, and and how little has
been given them as an equivalent for their
services. They all have large families ; but,
with cheerful heroism, they have borne their
trials—and have preferred to stand by Wof
ford in her distress—whether help came from
the brethren or no. The building needs re
pairing—-parts of it are unsafe; and the
cpipfori o r r Tapqjty aipl students requires at
tention. There is no endowment; and most
of the students are beneficiaries. Action
must be taken, or the College will be closed.
And if Wofford College is closed, it will be
a shame to Methodism ! Why should it be
clpsed ? There is money enough in the land
to endow it handsomely.
Brother fb of Spartanburg proposes tp
give one thousand dollars towards an endow
ment. Who wil,l. respond, ? Think the mat
ter over, brethren ; arrange the plans for
collecting funds towards the endowment —•
Mid God yill prosper, you in the good work.
What if yous boy does not go to
Did not your boy and mine stand shoulder
to shoulder in the struggle for liberty ?, I}o
they not lie, ride by side, near the battlefield
where they gave up their lives ? They did
not die for (State, but for Southern, indepen
dence.
It is a lost cause, and what we left but
each other ?
Then in the Brotherhood of ‘Methodism
wipe out this stain—and help us build up
Wofford College.
Some of our best men have sat at the feet
of this Gamaliel—and some bright buds of
promise still linger there. For their sakes,
for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom, open your
hearts and help us! So that the world may
on in wonder, and say, “See how these
Christians love each other.” Visitor.
Centenary Camp Meeting.
Mr. Editor: —At the suggestion of the
presiding elder of the Marion District, South
Carolina Conference, I propose to give your
readers some information as to the results
of camp meeting efforts, at old Centenary,
in the Marion circuit. Many years ago, this
was one of the rallying places of Methodism
in the Pee Dee country. I wish I had the
facts at hand connected with its earlier his
tory as a Methodist camp ground. I am
sure they would be full of interest to the
general reader, as well as to those who are
personally connected with that history. I
cannot, however, trust to memory when at
tempting to give the public the legands of
our fathers; and having no other than the
records of memory at hand, I will not un
dertake the task, however tempting. Allow
me to say, in passing, that this Pee Dee
country is rich in incident, connected with
our Church. Someone, with the time and
the talent, ought to gather reminiscences of
the heroic days of Methodism, in Horry,
and Marion, and Marlboro’, and Darlington,
from the descendants of the men who toiled,
and wept, and prayed in “seed time,” and
shouted over glorious harvest scenes, before
they themselves are garnered in the skies.
Someone should do for this country what
brother Mood did for Charleston—give the
world its Methodistic history. It would do
us good as a people, and perpetuate the
names of men who ought not to be for
gotten.
My first acquaintance with Centenary be
gan in 18(50, At that time, the people had
determined to reinstate camp meetings as a
power in the land, and Centenary, with oth
er camp grounds that had fallen into disuse,
was rebuilt. A fine shed was erected, which
stands to-day, and the ground was occupied
by ample, comfortable tents. Most of those
who tented then have since gone to their
eternal home. Munnerlyn, Alison, Richard
son, Gibson, and others have passed away.
Os the traveling ministers who were there,
Betts, English and Durant, were perhaps
among the foremost. Durant and English
rest from tlieir labors; Betts still lives, while
his sons in the gospel delight to do him rev
erence.
Tha twas a memorable occasion. The throng
that pressed to hear the word, became as wax
in the heat of the furnace, and the men of
God were permitted to mould and shape the
mass almost at will. None who were present
can forget the melting influence that rested
upon all hearts.
In 1862, notwithstanding the war, a sec
ond meeting was held with good results,
though not equal to. the first in power and
blessing.
AH efforts to hold the camp meeting since
the war failed until this year. The presiding
older, Rev. J. W. Kelly, with the preaoher
in charge, Rev. In M. Little, determined, if
it were possible, to have the camp ground
rebuilt. The state of the country, the po
litical excitement of the summer and the
poverty of the people, all conspired to pre
vent sucoess. They worked, and prayed,
and trusted in God, who gave them their de
sire. Eight commodious tents were built,
and the services of the meeting commenced
on Thursday night, October 27th. The lit
tle group of friends who had gathered, felt
that it was good to be there. God gave us
very gracious communion with himself, and
very sweet communion one with another.
The meeting continued with, four services
each day, closing tyn. Sunday night. Every
(jeiyice witnessed an inereaso iu tho congre
gation, and was marked by deepening,
widening interest on the part of the people.
Sunday was the great day of tho feast, and
when its services closed, no one regretted
the labor or oxpnuse of the camp meeting.
The teat holders were amply rewarded. The
people, who came for miles, bringing their
baskets, had but one regret—many of them
at least—and that one regret was that they
had not tented.
I cannot te\i tho number converted, or
the pumhej of accessions the Church. The
general result will only be known in the fu
ture. Resolutions were formed, vows made
—obligations forgotten were remembered,
and purposes of holy living were strength
ened—fruits which will mature in the future.
Among the results 3»oat worthy of note
was the revival of the oamp meeting spirit
the people. Next year the circle of
tents will be full, if God spares the people
and gives them bread. O, fora camp meet
ing in every circuit! Let us thank God and
take courage, as we see the returning pros
perity of onr Zion. (\ SJ. Wells.
November 7th, 1870,
Tefretl Ct., So. Ga. Conference.
Mr. Editor: When I came to this circnit
last December, I was somewhat discouraged.
I found no parsonage and no arrangements
made for a home for my family. So I com
menced to hunt out a place for rent. After
some time I procured a house in Dawson. I
had two objections to living in Dawson;
first because I would be entirely out from
among my flock ; and secondly, I bad to
pay twenty dollars per month for the house
and it but a log house.
I began my first round rather low-spirited—
soon got to where I scarely knew what to do;
for our supplies were out, and I had no
money ; but a good brother who knew my
father in bis life time, came to my distress
and relieved me.
In revising the Church book on the cir
cuit, I found 305 members and 5 local preach
ers. Several of those members haye effect;
some received letters ; a great sqany have
been discontinued ; some expelled. One
local preacher expelled. During the year
up to this time the membership is 475.
There have been three brethren licensed to
preach, one of whom has a recommendation
to the Annual Conference—a young man
without a family—John W. Glenn, a nephew
of Bro. J. Walker Glenn. There have been
nine Sabbath-schools in the circuit this year.
Some live all winter.
We have built one new church during the
year.
Our financial matters will oompare pretty
well with some other oircuits of South Geor
gia Gonferenee as will be seen in the next
Conference Minutes.
I have left Dawson and now live near the
center of my circuit. We have a parsonage
now located in the village of Chiokasaw
batchie—not only a house, but some eight
acres of land, I iiope by next Summer there
will be a camp-ground added to this charge.
Some of the most able men on the circuit
speak of building tents if one is established.
There are several good springs where an
ample supply of water could be had—so I
am informed.
I think Ip a short tiipe the Terrell Circuit
will compare with the pest circuits ip the
South Georgia Conference.
G, T. Embry.
Oxford Circuit, Ga. Conference. —
The Bcv. M. '\V. Arnold writes.- hav?
been fayojed through the Summer apd fall
YOL. XXXIII. NO. 47.
with a revival influence throughout this cir
cuit. The Church has been greatly edified,
a large number of backsliders reclaimed.
Many family altars, long neglected, revived.
Many now ones erected, and one hundred and
seventy-six have been added to the Church.
This is the Lord’s doings, and blessed be his
name forever.
Orphans’ Home.
THE APPEAL TO THE LADIES.
Some time sinoo, I proposed, through thef
Advocate, that the Ladies should organize
Societies iu the towns and cities, as also else
where, or individually, as they might find it
most convenient, prepare such articles of
bedding and ready-made clothing for chil
dren, as they could without much trouble or
cost to themselves, and stated that I would
at the proper time, direct as to tho shipment
of such articles as they might prepare.
I beg again, to call attention to the sub
ject, and to suggest that no matter how
much or how little, any Lady or Society may
contribute in this way, if but a single arti
cle, or valuable package, each aud all will
be gladly received and applied to the pur
poses stated, and a little from each will make
much when brought together, and greatly
assist us in the outfit of the institution.
It is our purpose to put the Home into ope
ration soon after the approaching Confer
ence session, and as soon as the location shall
have been determined upon, and tho neces
s&ry notice for shipping the goods and cloth -
ing will be given in the Advocate.
Will the preachers call attention to this
matter, throughout the Conference, and es
pecially will the Ladies promptly respond to
this appeal, by such plans aud means as may
be to them most convenient and practicable?
Think of these homeless and shivering
Orphans, as the dreary winter is approach
ing, and how easily each one of our friends
can send one or more articles of clothing or
bedding, to cover them, and of the blessings
that will accrue to the giver and recipient.
Atlanta, Ga. Jesse Borino, Agt,
Monroe Ct., No. Ga. Conference.
Mr. Editor: Perhaps a few lines from this
work will be read with interest, especially by
subscribers to the Advocate here, and to.
preachers who have served the work.
We began to hold our protracted meet
ings soon after our District meeting (sth
Sunday iu July) and continued week after
week for eight or nine weeks. At Pleasant
Valley, we had a gracious outpouring of tho
Holy Spirit. Fifteen were added to tho
Church, and the members much revived aud
blessed. Nearly all the conversions were
among the Sabbath-school scholars and
among the number was ouo young lady who
had shown herself able to memorizo whole
chapters of St. John’s Gospel weekly, and at
tend to her household duties. There are
in the school here two or three others almost
as apt.
Our meeting at Hopewell resulted iu four
accessions to the Chuivh, and the Church
revived. Campbellism prevails in this com
munity to some extent.
We had refreshing seasons at Bold Spring,
Mt. Carmel, Concord and Monroe. At the
latter place, I had tho constant assistance
of Bro. Allen Thomas of F.mory College,
Oxford, a promising young preacher. We
were much refreshed by the arrival of our
venerable brother, W. A. Florence, vlio
preached twice for us, iu his usual “way,
building up his solid argument with Scrip
ture, book, chapter and verse. &mho were
blessed, and I hope much good was done.
Six were added to the Church—all Sunday
school scholars. In all we report 27 addi
tions. The brethren say that they aro going
to rebuild Bethlehem Camp Ground and
hold a camp-meeting there next year. It will:
doubtless strengthen the circuit much.
The work as a whole I regard iu prettv
good condition spiritually—congregations
large and attentive generally. While I have
tried to miniates to them in spiritual, they
have not forgotten to minister to mo in car
nal, things. I have many friends in Walton,
and I love them much.
Pray for us even here in Monroe Circuit
We are still in protracted meeting, with the
altar well crowded with penitents.
I close this article with this remark. Our
revivals used to be in Summer ; now it takes
all the preaching of Summer to break through
the slate, and revivals come in the Fall.
This ought not so to be. G, for an unfal
tering faith—a constant spirit—aud God
would in answer to the prayer of faith bless
his people at all times.
C. A. Conaway.
Monroe, Nov. 7th, 1870.
Flint iiiver Mission—So. Ga. Con
ference.
Dear Advocate :—Again we have been re
freshed “ from the presence of the Lord,”
I preached on fifth Sunday at Titi, (a name
suggested by a species of swamp shrubbery
abundant in that .locality.) Calvin had
reigned emperor “time out of mind,” “in
all the region round about,’’and the onjy al
ternatives were to let him continue his iron,
reign or to take him by the foreiop, drag
him to light, scatter and expose his iron para
phernalia, and then bundle and burn it.
On Saturday before the fifth Sabbath nit.,
the work began, and continued until Thurs
day following. Tower attended the word,
and opposing influences gave way. And,
although derisive smiles and growls were
seen and heard on the outskirts, yet the
work .went on. Ten joined us aud were
baptized, nil happy in believing. Others
were converted, and 1 think will be mem -
bers of our Church.
When we began there, we had no houso
and but one member; but now we have a
regularly organized membership, a house
far enough advanced to worship in, and title
to sufficient ground around it; and it is the
second one built this year on the mission.
Yours in the love of Jesus,
H. Puckett.
The Old Missionary Debt—An Ex
planation.
Worthy and intelligent persons have sta
ted that many of our feiends do not yet un
derstand how it was that the old Mission
ary Society contracted so large a debt, and
insist that I explain. Well, with your con
sent, Mr. Editor, I will address myself to.
the task.
Before the war we had one Missionary So
ciety and one Board; all the Bishops wert>
members of the Board. We had an annual
meeting in April or May, at which the ap
propriations were made to all our Missions,
Foreign and Domestic, for the year follow
ing- The Board inquired of the Bishcps,
“Bpw much missionary money will be re
quired to sustain all our Missions at home
and abroad?” The Bishops answered, “We
want so much for China, so much for the
Indian Mission Conference, so much for
Kansas, so much for Texas and California,
and Kentucky, and Tennessee, and the Col
ored Missions in the South, and Domestic ■
Missions in all the Conferences- -amounting
to, say, one hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars.” The Board said to the Bishops.
“You shall have the amount asked for: go
to your Conferences and draw, in quarterly
installments, for one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. True; we have but little
money in the treasury at present, but it is»
now only April; tlje Coherences will not
begin before September; it will be twelve
months or more before the drafts all ma
ture; by that time the collections will all be.
in, the Conference returns made, and wa
shall be able to honor all your drafts.” So
it, was in 1860 and IsGl. The Bishops went
to tfieir Conferences, drew upon the Treas
urer for the amounts authorized. Before
the drafts aM fell due the war broke out and,
cut off many of the missionaries from all in
tercourse with Nashville, The war had not
as j*t reached tbw fields of labor, but ths