Newspaper Page Text
16
ioutjjeni Christian
MACON, GEORGIA, FEBRUARY 1,1871
Tlic Law of Mercy.
Mercy is not all gospel ifc is law
“ What doth the Lord require of thee? To
do justly, to love mercy.” Here is the or
ganic law of righteousness.
An ancient father said, “I could perad
venture, be willing that mercy and bounty
were not necessary but arbitrary; not under
■, law but presented by way of counsel and
advice; for the flesh is weak and would go
to heaven with as little cost and trouble as
may be; but then, the mention of the left
hand and the right, of tho goats and the
sheep, of the torments they shall bo thrown
into; 'not who have invaded other men’s
goods, but who have not given their own;
not who have beat down but who have sup
ported temples of the Holy Ghost; this is
that which striketh a terror through me,
and maketh me think and resolve that I am
as much bound to do acts of mercy as I am
not to to do an injury—as much bound to
feed the poor man as I am not to oppress
and murder him.”
To be merciful is a law.
This comports most with our natures,
and harmonizes with other natures—and is
the basis cf fraternity. We are bound to
consider tho poor, for we see in him .but
our own pictnre by the next reverse. The
abundance above my proper needs is not
mine by right, but it is his who is des
titute of any and I have it in trust for him.
The law of mercy recognizes no selfish own
ership of wealth. Our brotherhood is bound
ed by common wants and common sorrows,
for we are Christians. “If one member
suffers, all tho members suffer with it.”
This invests us with care for tho rest. No
man liveth alone. Each man lives for all
men, who are his brethren. The woes, the
pains, tho poverty and the wealth of man
kind are mine also.
The law of mercy makes harmony.
“Its puts those who are at liberty, in
bonds with the prisoners; it makes the rich
lie down with tho poor; it makes the strong
sympathize with the weak. Behold the
harmony that rises out of such discord when
the joyful heart weeps with those that
weep, and the sorrowful spirit rejoices with
those that rejoice.”
This is the work of mercy.
The word of God declares it and there it
stands staring us in tho face, and out of
countenanco if we dispute its claims.
Our own minds in reason endorse it. God’s
hand has not directly made the poor man
poor, “though tho rich and tho poor meet
together and the Lord is tho maker of them
all.”
No man is doomed to poverty.
But if the fashion of tho world impover
ishes one and enriches another, God speaks
at this point, that the painfulness of the
disparity might cease; He commands that
the want and destitution of the poor, be the
touchstone to try the mercy of the rich.
Reason looks Jab road upon the multiplied
agencies of God busily employed in blessing
us. Bounty descends from heaven. Fat
ness drops from the skies. Storehouse and
treasury are’ filled. But must I selfishly
hoard all this, because I have been dexter
ous in gathering it? Is it mine therefore?
Is it not the patrimony of God given for
distribution among his poor?
What do I want with it?
What can I do with it?
Let it alone, and it will rot and decay, or
take wings to itself.
I want it not in eternity.
t It belongs not to my personal effects.
The great auditor will not recognize it as
part of my account to my credit. It is on
the wrong side. Asa steward I misappro
priate my Lord’s goods. I wrong God by
failing to bestow my mercy and his loaned
bounty upon his poor subjects.
Besides if the contrary were true; if what
I seem to possess were indeed mine, reason
urges me to distribute.
Everything was made to move.
Nothing stands still. Circulation is the
lay of the universe, and circulation is the
law of mercy.
Stagnant ability is treasured trouble.
Hoarded wealth is uncurrent in eternity.
Things must needs move.
The law of traffic is to lay out that you
may gather in. It is also reason's interpre
tation of the law of mercy.
Expend that you may gain.
Scatter that you may gather.
Sow that you may reap.
Give that it may be given to you, for the
time will come when you will need it indeed.
No man was ever poorer for what he gave.
The highest gains are those which arise
from the exercise of mercy; and if we would
always find our bread, the best way is to
cast it upon the waters.
Let us apply these simple truths to our
daily ability, remembering that he who
giveth not in time as God hath given him,
disinherits himself in eternity. H.
Brilliant Tactics.
We clip from a leading Baptist journal
the following very original and brilliant ac
count of anew method of dealing with “in
fant sprinklers:”,
Inconsistency of Protestant Infant
Hurinklers. —Prof. Ivnap writes from Ma
drid: “The Cardinal Archbishop of Santi
ago lately did us a good turn, for which he
deserves' a vote of thanks. He issued a
brochure, which had an immense circulation,
warning the people against the virus of the
foreign religion. ‘When any Protestant,’
said he to the faithful, ‘offers you a book of
devotion and exalts the Bible to the stars,
at the same time opposing the true faith
and Christian practices, on the ground that
they are without Scripture warrant, tell him
to point out in his Bible where infant baptism
is enjoined, either by precept or example, a
THING WHICH THEY PRACTICE AS WF.LL AS WE.’
I availed myself of this effusion to adorn
the cover of a tract of thirty pages on Chris
tian Baptism, which I printed in a large
edition, and sent over the land on the heel
of the Archbishp’s letter, having first pre
sented His Eminence with a copy.”—Reli
gious Herald.
There ! Who will say that extremes may
may not meet in happy union and co-opera
tion? It is hoped that the militant hosts
who will have none but adults in their army,
will properly acknowledge the condescension
and service of the venerable “Cardinal
Archbishop of Santiago.” “A vote of
thanks” is good—very good. We commend
it to the next Convention. H.
Bereavement.
With sincere sympathy for our beloved
brother, we copy from the Bichmond Chris
tian Advocate a notice of the death, on the
23d December, of Mrs. Sallie D. Duncan,
wife of Dr. James A. Duncan, of Virginia.
That paper says :
She had been sick, with brief intervals of
improvement, for eight months. All that
time her strong religious character was
shown in its completeness. Faith, hope,
charity, grew stronger and purer in her
heart as it beat more and more feebly. AH
that love could suggest or medical skill de
vise failed to stop the destroyer. By unre
mitting watchfulness, and the tenderest and
most careful nursing, a few months were
added to her life. But nature, worn and
wearied, could stand the fight no longer,
and just before the natal morn of Christ was
ushered in, she went up to greet him in
heaven. Gently, as when a tired child falls
asleep on its mother’s breast, her mortal
life ceased. Her friends are numbered by
hundreds, and she was worthy of them by
reason of her generous nature, her warm
heart, her amiable temper, her cheerful dis
position, her sympathy with the suffering,
and her sincere, unobtrusive piety. A cloud
rests upon her household, but it has a silver
lining. The loss of her family is great, but
her gain is heaven.
Men Love Darkness Rather Than
Light.
The impressive truth that the vast majori
ty of the Christian world are never moved
by any higher or more_ permanent religious
excitation than that which may once or move
in a life-time extort the brave declaration,
“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Chris
tian,” illustrates the assertion of the Sav
iour: “This is the condemnation, that light
has come into the world; but men love dark
ness rather than light, because their deeds
are evil.” Did not the experience of the
race attest its truth, this declaration would
be laughed at as an irreconcilable paradox.
Light has come into the world, and whether
it be regarded as having its source in Nature
or in the verbal and personal Revelation of
Christianity, the world is compelled to the
acknowledgement, and government is driven
to the recognition and enforcement of the
cardinal principles and virtues of the relig
ion taught by the poor Nazarene. The Gos
pel is the ultimate standard of righteousness
between each man and his fellow, and be
tween each nation and its compeer. It pro
mulgates the supreme law of moral duty,
and furnishes the guiding principles for the
government of the household and the social
relations, and prescribesthelawsof political
and national justice. It contains the only
authoritative injunctions compelling
ence to virtue even in the imagination, and
also in such circumstances of secresy that
the eye of hnman law cannot take cogni
zance of them. The general recognition and
stern enforcement of the ethical, moral and
political laws of Christianity, are absolute
requirements of the family, the social con
dition, and the political relations of peoples
and nations, in order to just and good gov
ernment. The best government is that one
which fully and implicitly recognizes these
laws as its highest models, and enforces them
with the most scrupulous exactness. The
constant violation of the most excellent vir
tues, and the habitual disregard of the most
righteous principles, known to man, by indi
viduals, and oftentimes by nations, are but
too sad and general proofs that “men love
darkness rather than light,” because they
prefer to , follow the sensuous objects that
minister gratification to tho depraved nature,
rather than the pure light of Christianity.
“Bible Women.”
In a late letter from Rev. Young J. Allen,
he mentioned a “Bible woman,” of rare de
votion, who is assisting him greatly in his
work. The following from the pen of Mrs.
Julia M. Olin, taken from the N. Y. Advo
cate will give our readers a good idea of
what is meant by this particular designa
tion :
Some years ago, much interest was ex
cited by the publication in London of the
details of anew form of Christian activity
and beneficence, designated by the happily
chosen name of “The Missing Link.” Ear
nest Christian women, under the superin
tendence of ladies, who received their
monthly reports, and directed and encour
aged their labors, were employed to visit
the poor, to read the Bible to them, and
sell them copies of the sacred volume, to be
paid for by small installments; to help them
to help themselves; to aid them in making
their homes neat and cheerful, and, in every
possible way, to promote their well-being.
The work was beautifully systematized and
energetically carried on. Ladies of rank
and wealth assumed the duties of superin
tendents, gifts flowed in freely till SOO,OOO
a year were received, and two hundred and
fitty Bible-women were employed.
One gentleman la so convinced of the ex- -
cellence of this mode of penetrating dark
masses of humanity, that he visits Mrs.
Ranyard twice a year, examines her books,
and leaves his semi-annual gift of £SOO or
£IOOO. His name is not known, even to
the lady in whose hands he places his muni
ficent gifts.
Sucli has been the progress of the Bible
work in London; and in the city of New
York, so ready to sustain every worthy
charity, we hope for a similar career of
prosperity. Our Bible Mission was estab
lished in 1861, under the auspices of the
New York Female Bible Society. The Bi
bie-reader of the first winter was in two
years one of a company of twenty-five, and,
in succeeding years, of thirty and thirty-six
women, whoso daily ministering leads them
from house to house and from room to room,
in the densely populated parts of the city.
Each Bible-woman has her appointed dis
tricts, where she visits the poor, reads and
distributes the Bible to them, gathers the
children into day-schools and Sunday
schools, forms sewing-classes, where they
are taught to make their own garments, and
establishes clothing clubs and mothers’ tea
meetings, where the poor women enjoy
glimpses of social comfort, and listen to
words of counsel and encouragement from
the lady superintendent.
The Bible-woman is ready to minister to
the varied needs of the poor, to nurse the
sick, to pray with the dying, to aid the
drunkard to escape from the thraldom of
bad habits, to give lessons of thrift and
cleanliness to struggling wives and mothers,
and, above all, to direct these weary toilers
in the rugged ways of life to the only Source
of comfort and strength. Twenty dollars a
month supports the Bible-reader, and a
small sum is placed in the hands of the su
perintendent for her to draw on for the re
lief of cases of extreme poverty. Ladies
who cannot leave their homes to visit the
crowded, dreary tenement-houses, who have
not the strength or ability to climb rickety
stairs, or descend into damp basements,
may do this work by sending in their stead
Bible-women skilled in detecting cases of
imposture, and in discovering in obscure
homes real objects of charity.
Quietly and steadily has this work been
pursued; and no one can tell the amount of
misery relieved, and the number of human
beings lifted into a better life by the kindly
grasp of this helping hand. Our “Missing
Link” is welded into a chain of Christian
benevolence that unites rich and poor in
kindly sympathy. But so quietly lias this
work been done that it has not asserted its
claim to recognition among our great char
ities. It is akin to them all. It touches
misery at almost every point. It brings
many a forlorn one into some new sphere
of activity or warm atmosphere of Christian
love. Through its humble instrumentality,
the ignorant are taught, the naked clothed,
the wanderer reclaimed. Children learn
the alphabet of good, happy lives, and hearts
and homes are brightened with the soft
shining of a heavenly hope.
Our Silk-offering.
There was no transfer of guilt from man
to the human nature of our Lord. This is
an imaginary fiction, more dishonoring to
God, than would be his letting humanity
perish forever. There was no transfer at all
of either the natural depravity, the personal
sins, or the guilt of men; but a voluntary
assumption of substitutionary pains and
penalties, for those due mankind on account
of universal defection, transgression and
unholiness. How did Christ bear our sick
nesses? Certainly not by having all our
diseases transferred to his mortal body. No,
he bore them by substitution—by sympathy.
And who can estimate the acuteness of the
pains of universal and multiform disease, as
they laid hold on the sympathetic chords of
the heart of him who, alone, was capable of
voluntarily taking on our griefs and carrying
our sorrows. How did he bear our sins?
Certainly not by having all our impure per
sonal acts of transgression borne over and
placed on his immaculate nature. No, he
bore them by substitution —by enduring,
freely and of his own will, such pains and
penalties, material and immaterial, as should
stand in the place of the future and eternal
punishments of all sinners who should hear
tily repent of their sins, and thenceforth
love and obey their Heavenly Father. And
who can measure the greatness of the mys
terious trial of Jesus in the wilderness of
temptation—who give the intrinsic value of
the blood-drops of his mortal anguish in
the srarden of Gethsemane —who fathom the
depths of his humiliation before the bar of
Pilate—who analyze the ingredients of his
tears over the guilt of our fallen world—who
weigh the concentrated bulk of his trial, and
anguish, and humiliation, and tears, and
groans, and blood, on the accursed tree, as
man’s substitutionary sin-offering!
“The Tongue of Fire.”
Have all our preachers—the young preach
ers especially—read this book? If not, they
should read it; and even a re-reading of it
will profit any of ns. It is small and cheap,
and can be had at Burke’s. A writer in the
Richmond Christian Advocate thus very justly
speaks of it:
In our opinion, notices of the “Tongue
of Fire” should be renewed, and the book
more extensively circulated. It is a book
for all classes of readers; and is, emphati
cally, a book for this, or any other age; es
pecially profitable to be read and studied by
the Christian ministry.
The simplicity and power of the gospel
are beautifully and spiritedly portrayed by
the author. The designs and diversities of
Divine gifts bestowed upon the Church and
ministry are defined and defended in a man
ner and with a strength which must chal
lenge the devout respect of all Christian
minds. The sacred and responsible charac
ter of the office of tho Christian ministry is
drafted in living lines of burning light; pre
sented in such pathos as to produce refor
mation, or drive in terror, mercenary minis
ters from the sacred desk—to seek a living
by other lucrative pursuits and professions
in life. The book is a faithful moniter
against ecclesiastic and Christian lethargy.
It abounds with glittering gems of scriptural
revelations and definitions of the sequel of
the power and efficacy of the gospel—of the
abiding, clustering glories and heavenly
charms of the cross.
The young man in the ministry, of well
balanced mind and honest integrity, who
studies the book may find it an excellent
shield against vain aspirations, sought to be
satiated in fulsome puffings; issues, more
momentous in their character, will occupy
and exercise his pious mind. And the more
aged, advanced and experienced, professed
ambassador of Christ, may, if need be, find
true cause of his failures —barrenness of soul
and want of success in his ministrations in
holy things. If the truth is preached, it is
well; but more is in demand. It is not
enough to present well arranged subjects—
sound systems of theology, in polished forms,
piled up in solid blocks of frozen parcels.
Without the persuasive warming, and melt
ing influence of the Holy Spirit attending
the Word, all will prove abortive. The pow
er of the gospel must be understood, secured,
sustained and retained. Even now, as in
the days of the early history of the Christian
Church, “by their fruits ye shall know
them.” A fruitless, or barren ministry,
stands opposed to the Bible testimony of a
divine call to and qualification for the min
istry of reconciliation. Ministers of God
are not called to convert sinners; but to
preach the gospel, in power and demonstra
tion of the Spirit; then God will attend to
the converting and sanctifying part. He
will honor his word when preached accord
ing to his prescribed will.
Moral Death.
The death of the sinner's soul has forerun
the dissolution of his body. The moral de
cease of his spirit, is a fact already accom
plished. His mortal frame is dying, but his
mortal form is dead. His body is the living
sepulchre of a spiritually dead soul. The
oue is working its separation from the spirit,
but the soul of the unt'orgiven sinner has
already severed itself from the Lord its life.
This is its death. The first willful sin, put
an infinite distance between it and the Crea
tor. To be separated from him, is to be in
the most fearful abandonment. Wretched
ness and woe will follow it all through ex
istence. How is the sinner to rejoin his soul
to his Creator? Voyager in a compassless
and shattered vessel ov«r tile gloom;emb08-
omed sea of tibjie, what hsaven-sent £«gel
will take the Helm and steer him into the
port of everlasting safety? Wrecked, and a
lost wanderer over the pathless and parched
desert of sin, what beacon-light will guide
him to the spring of eternal life? Behold!
the Star of Bethlehem breaks on the fearful
darkness of the sinner’s sonl—the Man of
Calvary reaches forth his hand to guide it to
the bosom of its God! Sinner, will you fol
low your blessed guides? If you do not,
your present separation, will prove but the
forerunner of an everlasting disunion from
God—the loss of heaven and the inheritance
of changeless woe. Every day’s wanderings
in the broad wastes of sin, lengthen the sin
ners distance from the starry-home of the
saved, and shorten that to the rayless prison
of the lost. »
Bad Behavior of Dancers.
Ju3t now Mr. D. L. Moody and Mr. Lee,
President of the Young Men’s Christian
Association of Chicago, are the subjects of
profuse ridicule at the hands of the Chicago
secular press. It appears that the hall of
the Association was granted on certain con
ditions, to the managers of the Protestant
Orphan Asylum, of Chicago, for the purpose
of holding a fair. One of these conditions
was, that there should be no dancing in the
hall, “round” or “square.” During the
course of the fair, it came to the surface that
the managers were arranging for a “calico”
ball, to take place on the last day. Mr. Moo
dy, with others, heard of it, and went to the
lady managers and remonstrated against such
use of the hall. They listened impatiently,
and declined to accede to his wishes. Next,
J. O. Farwell, Esq., after whom the hall is
named, called on the ladies, and offered to
pay a generous sum if the dance was aban
doned; they were also deaf to his request.
The dance began, but just at that moment,
at the order of Mr. Lee, the gas was shut
off from the entire building ; but it seems
that the dancers had provided themselves
with nearly a thousand star and tallow can
dles, which, lighting, enabled them' to pro
ceed with their festivities. The carpets and
furniture were badly soiled by the grease,
and many burlesques have been perpetrated
on Messrs. Leo and Moody.
The above item from ah exchange is not
the only instance of which we have heard
where a company of worldlings have defied
decency, and “run over” the Church. We
have heard of dancers joining the Sunday
school picnic and obtruding their offensive
amusements on the party, and of their in
viting ministers to an entertainment, and
persisting in'the dance, after asking a per
mission which was not granted. Oh! if the
servants of God were as bold and brave as
are his enemies, the world would never put
on these airs before them—nor have a chance
to despise them for weak compliance with
temptation, and cowardly desertion of the
cross of Christ. When will Christians be
true to themselves ?
Tlie Christian Index.
We unite with Bishop McTyeire in recom
mending this paper, which he does in the
foUowing communication he sends us :
This is the organ of the Colored Methodist
Episcopal Church in America.
It is published semi-monthly, by contract,
by A. H. Bedford, Agent, at the Southern
Methodist Publishing House, Nashville,
Tenn. The price is $1 00 per annum, in
advance.
The Colored General Conference, at Jack
son, Tenn., December, 1870, elected Samuel
Watson, D. D., Editor, and L. J. Scurlock,
Assistant Editor.
The Index begins its second volume with
the January number, new out, enlarged and
improved in size and style; but not increased
in price.
As an organ for the colored people lately
in connection with the M. E. Church, Sonth,
it is of vast importance. It contains sound
doctrine, and good religious reading, for
preachers and people, for the old and young.
It carries facts of history and arguments,
with which oqr colored friends of a non
political church can meet their enemies,
who, we are sorry to say, are numerous, and
who use the press freely.
The Index contains Church notices and
news; the appointments, of their Bishops
and Conferences; obituaries, marriages, etc.
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
Will our preachers, traveling and local,
and our members, bring the Index before
the colored Methodists everywhere? Take
their names and subscriptions, and forward
them to Nashville addressed to “The
Christian Index, care of A. H. Redford,
Nashville, Tenn.”
Many of those who ought to have this
paper, are not aware of its existence or na
ture; or where, or on what terms, it is to
be had. Put them in communication with
it, and thus do a great service to this new
Church.
The Spirituality of Christ’s King
dom.
The Kingdom of Christ is not temporal
either in its essence or duration. It has to
do with the spiritual constitution of man,
and when its laws have monlded this to con
formity with the Divine Image, the spiritual
conforms the natural constitution to it, and
makes the latter the organ through which
the new life manifests itself. And this new
life is the infant existence of every believer,
growing into full stature and then into im
mortality. Like the germinal life of the
seed, the creative power of the Holy Spirit
works in the nature of the true child of God,
until it bursts into fadeless beauty. The
operating agents, or creative law’s of Christ’s
Kingdom are wholly and simply spiritual,
and are as perpetually immanent in the sonl
of the Christian as his own life.
Burke’s Magazine for Boys and
Girls.
The publishers regret the delay in issuing
the January number of this magazine. It
was unavoidable, but hereafter we hope to
get it out juomptly. We trust all onr
friends, especially among the little folks,
will give us a helping hand. Let no boy or j
girl send North for a magazine when they
can get one of superior merit, published at
home, and made up of good Southern liter
ature. See prospectus. Any present sub
scriber to the Advocate can get the maga
zine for §1 50.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Buhkl's Magazine for Bovs and Girls : Maeou,
Ga. J. W. Burke & Cos., pp. 48. $2.00 per au
num. Vol. 1. No. 1.
This is the Magazine age, and we have be
fore us anew candidate for our examination
aud acceptance. It wears a very pleasing
exterior and at once takes our eye for the
young people. The cover is of thick blue
paper, with a beautifully engraved title page.
Jack and Ned are busy flying their flue large,'
kite; Robby is perched “high and dry," ab
sorbed in the first copy of “Burke's Month
ly /’ Charley is down on “all fours” teach
ing his pet rabbit, rabbit slight of hand; Katy
is having a good time with grace hoops, and
little Mamie is teaching “Pussy” obedience, •
and tying on her bell, while from
the scenes protruding, is seen the laughing
face of the eldest sister of the group evident
ly enjoying the picture before her. The
Magazine contains 48 pages, profusely illus
trated. The table of contents is as follows;
The Lost Children: a Fairy Tale. By Mary
Faith Floyd— lllustrated. Died in Summer:
By Dr. F. O. Ticknor. A Walk About For
est City— lllustrated. The Indians at Dirt
Dauber’s Nest: a Tale of the Seminoles. By
J. C. Duval. Mind Your Own Business. By
Theodosia Ryder. Keeping His Word. By
Margaret J. Preston. Wonders of the Mi
croscope—lllustrated. Tho Hermitage Chil
dren. By M. Pendleton Kennedy. To Ro
salie. By Mary Faith Floyd. Walk with
Mamma— lllustrated. The Wilful Tree. By
Theodosia Ford. Vacation Letters. Cruel
ty. By Mrs. Fanny R. Feudge. NoticesT>f
Books, etc. The Let'er Bag. The Cliitu
ney Corner.
A thorough reading enables us to accord
unstinted praise to this delightful woAfc
The articles are in 4 lively fltvUBS
»rty*HTanged with Vxcellent taste> yj,
If our juvenile readers will allow us just
a whisper in their ears we will say that
Burke’s Magazine is the “Merry’s Museum”
of the South, aud that no expense will be
spared to keep it up to the very high stan
dard it has reached in the first number. We
predict for it great success. H.
The Southern Farm and Home. February, .f.
W. Burke & Cos., Macon, IS7I. Geu. W. M.
Browne, Editor. $2.00 per annum.
This sterling Agricultural Magazine is
steadily gaining upon the confidence and
co-operation of our planting communities.
The present number is invaluable. The
editor’s experience with commercial fertili
zers presents a trustworthy picture of facts
and data—which will prove extremely useful
to agriculturists.
Mr. “John Plowhandles” argues strongly
for an Agricultural College, and calls upon
the approaching Convention to settle this
question. Such a movement will, or ought
to, meet with universal favor.
Prof. L. H. Charbonnier gives a timely
article on House-building for the South. He
proves that frame buildings are utterly un
suited, and shows how, with little expense,
better and more durable structures, can be
built.
But tlie article in which we are most in
terested is Hon. E. Steadman’s Prize Essay
on the practicability and profitableness of
manufacturing the Cotton crop of the South
within our own limits. This is a very satis
factory exhibit of facts and figures. No
man, in our judgment, can read the essay
and not feel that the time has come for a
general movement towards the manufacture
of Cotton within our own limits.
Our want of space will not permit us to
make extracts from this article as we design
ed doing. We refer the reader to the val
uable Magazine itself, not only for the aiticle
mentioned, but for very many excellent and
necessary things—to know.
The Editor’s Table is, as usual, exceedingly
full and spicy.
The Southern Farm and Home is an illus
trated Magazine, and is furnished at the low
price of $2.00 a year. H.
The Sunday School Magazine, Rev. A. G.
Haygood, D. D., Editor, Nashville, Tenn., Pub
lishing House of the M. E. Church, South, 1811.
This charming Magazine for Sunday
school readers, already vindicates the wis
dom of the General Conference it its estab
lishment. It contains first of all a number
of short articles from gifted pens—directly
bearing upon the teacher’s work. Then we
have the lessons for the month, with nume
rous notes from the best Bible expositors.
With such a help, no teacher can plead pov
erty of matter.
Accompanying each magazine—where lea
or more are taken, are six lesson papers for
the use of pupils in the Sunday-school.
These lesson papers correspond with the
lessons in the Magazine, and each paper con
tains the lessons for the month. We hear
tily commend the Maqazine and the system
of lessons to all Sunday-schools. They wiU
be found to meet the long felt want. $1 00
per annum.
Sunday School Visitor, Nashville Term., 1871.
This delightful friend of the Sunday
school, is as bright and cheerful as ever. It
is published in three forms—weekly, semi
monthly and monthly, at very reasonable
rates. It is filled with choice matter for the
larger scholars, and is a most faithful adjunct
to the pains-taking teacher.
Our Little People, is a four page peri
odical for the “little people.” It is in
dispensable to infant class teachers, and
costs but $lO per 100 copies, per annum.
The publishers say this is the cheapest
child’s paper in America —and we cheerfully
add—one of the very best too. H.
ft ural Carolinian. February. Charleston, 8. C.
Walker, Evans & Cogßwell. $2.00 per annum.
The February Np- of this exceUent rural
Monthly, contains a number of very impof-
tant articles from distinguished writers. The
leading article is from the pen of E. M.
Pendleton, of Sparta, who attacks and de
molishes Prof. Ville’s theory on “ High
Farming without Manure. ” This article is
worth much to the practical farmer. The
“Rural” is elegantly illustrated, and the
editor's department is fully up to the re
quirements of the season. H.
Comspnbme.
jp- __
* Letter from Our Missionary.
Mr. Editor—By the last mail we are in
receipt of numerous letters from friends who
seem from their earnest expressions of sym
pathy and solicitude to be painfully anxious
as to our personal safety. There was a time
perhaps when real danger existed, and their
apprehensions doubtless were excited by let
ters written by us at that time; but we are
happy to say now that the crisis bar, passed
and we once more dwell in peace.
.By the November mail you were partially
informed of the settlement of the Tientisn
difficulty. Since then other particulars have
transpired. The French demanded and are
to receive two hundred and fifty thousand
taels (ozs. silver) indemnity; all the Protes
tant houses of worship are to be rebuilt aud
compensation made for all losses whether of
property or time, sustained by the Mission
aries and their native agents; and Chung
How, who was Military Governor of the city
£t the time of the massacre, is to proceed to
Trance, England, Belgium and Russia to
explain if he can, his conduct on that occa-
I siou. Very grave suspicious of complicity
' hfest against Chung How, and the Shanghai
and the Hong Kong Chambers of Commerce
have done all in their power to prevent the
foreign Governments to whom he is accredi
ted being ensnared by his specious sophis
tries.
A great change in our relations with this
•country is destined to result soon. The re
action inaugurated by the Clarendon Gov '
eminent has achieved for itself a painful
history and must be abandoned, or we shall
all, sooner or later, share the same fate as
the Sisters of Charity in the Hospital at
Tientsin. A show of foreign prestige aud
power must always be kept prominent before
this people or they will never keep the faith
of the treaties or fulfill their promises. The
idea of England and America receiving such
a country into the Court of Nations, and
stipulating to treat her as on a par with the
most favored nationality! Theoretically, it
is very well, but practically, is about as in
sane as that Radical heresy recently imposed
on the South. So far, tho attempt has yield
ed the bitterest fruit, and if persevered in,
Paganism accompanied with its most barba
rous cruelties, will reassert its exclusive pre
tensions and expel us all from the holy
presence of the Son of Heaven.
Missionaries of whatever nationality,
have serious apprehensions as to the tenden
cy of events, aud have recently prepared a
very important memorial to be submitted to
the various ministers at the Court of Peking.
It is now circulating at the several Ports for
signature by the Protestant Missionaries in
China and will perhaps be ready for presen
tation about the first of January, 1871.
“The aspect of affairs here,” (Peking) says
Dr. S. Wells Williams, Secretary American
Legation, in a private letter, dated Nov. 28,
and just received, “is quite peaceable, but
there is no doubt much ill will against us in
the minds of people and rulers. The fault
is not all on their side either; hut as is usual,
the evil on both sides comes uppermost
soonest aud prevents listening to the good.”
After alluding to the great difficulties in the
diPa gfttlsfa’ct«fry the Tim.*
tsin affairs, 110 says: “I think we forget pos
sibilities among these rulers, in our wish to
bring about good ends; and you have no idea,
I think, of the way the Romish priests are
working on the people under their influence
to weaken the power of this government
over .their converts. It would exasperate
any government, it is breeding difficulty fast.
What is the remedy? Will conquest do it?
Will threats do it?” “I believe,” he con
tinues, “that the present government wishes
to keep the peace until the young Emperor
becomes nominally tho head. What set of
men can rule thi3 country better than these?
and how much these have learned in ten years
you would know(by comparing 1860 aud 1870
in their records. My idea is that this dynasty
will refuse to keep pace with the pressure, but
its successor has not appeared.”
Note the idea I have emphasized in the
above lines: “This dynasty will refuse to
keep pace with the pressure.” What pres
sure? Why, the demand to recognize for
eign countries as the equals of China; to
open the country to foreign nations as they
are willing to do toward China and to keep
or enforce faithfully treaty stipulations al
ready entered into. Such is the pressure in
fact—but such we are assured they will re
fuse —Absolute Exclusivism is their doctrine
That the Romish influence in China is be
coming a serious evil there can be no doubt,
and it would be well, perhaps, if it could bo
checked, but that cannot be by an indis
criminate onslaught 011 the citizens and
subjects, merchants and Missionaries of for
eign countries generally. Perhaps the French
Republic, if established, will abate the
iusolence and ambition of these dangerous
emmissaries by witholding its sanction from
the hierarchy, and leaving them without
that military support upon which they have
so confidently relied heretofore.
The real difficulty with China is not so
much inability as un willingness. She is stub
born and treacherous. Hence the pressure,
hence also her resistance and hence further
the absolute necessity of making her “toe
the mark.” lam not by any means in favor
of war, but rather in favor of preventing
war, which can be done only by foreign gov
ernments maintaining their prestige and
insisting on their just rights. We have as
sayed to treat China from a Christian stand
point, all the while knowing that she is not
Christian nor amenable to Christian law.
On the other hand, China refuses to deal
with ns, notwithstanding all our Christianity
as other than barbarian. She attributes to
us the worst of motives, and thinks that we
have no rights, except such as she is com
pelled to respect. “Might makes right” is a
pagan law. It may not be in China’s code,
but it certainly is in her practice and all our
rights end when the might to maintain them
is withdrawn. The question then resolves
itself into this: we must either submit to be
expelled or become pagans, subject to the
Chinese Government; or which is better, by
a power judiciously applied, compel China
to respect us, tolerate our presence and pro
tect us in the enjoyment of those rights,
privileges and immunities mutually guaran
teed by Christian nations to each other.
Yours truly,
Young J. Allen.
p. s,— Notwithstanding the very strong
feelings of antipathy recently manifested
against us and an apparent disposition to
get rid of all foreigners in the Government
employ, the authorities of Shanghai have
earnestly solicited me to take charge again,
for the third time, of the Government Anglo-
Chinese School at this place.
As yon are aware, perhaps, I gave it up at the
close of last year, not because I might not havo
continued in it, nor because I did not think
it the best possible field for the exertion of
missionary influence, but simply that I
might conform my life more strictly to that
particular kind of labor which the Board is
supposed to support and a Missionary to do.
After the lapse of twelve months it is again
forced upon my attention. I am embar
rassed about it. I know not what to say,
and because it is impossible (too late) to re
fer it to the Board I have taken counsel of
missionary brethren. They all advise me to
resume it, and encourage mo to believe that
with the school, and the Chinese Newspaper
in hand, together with what preaching I
may be able to do, my influence could never
be greater or exercised more efficiently.
This I fully believe myself, and us I know
the pupils are anxious to have me return,
I could not hesitate but from an earnest de
sire to always have the sanction of tho Board.
But it is now too late to write to the Board
about it, as a teacher must be found imme
diately and the school opened early in the
new year.
What I do I shall perhaps Vie able to in
form you next mail.
By the way, we have not received a line
from the Board since the meeting of the
late Foreign Missionary Board in Baltimore,
last March, now fully nine months since. I
am sometimes almost constrained to wonder
if there be any more gall, any more bitter
ness in the Missionary cup. Y. J. A.
Shanghai, China, Dec. 12, 1870.
Letter from California.
Dear Doctor: Is it not getting to be time
that I should advance another short instal
ment of those letters, which were promised
for tho Advocate ?
■ The former series, furnished some account
of the country, in those features of it, most
likely to interest those of your readers who
had been driven by stress of circumstances
to think of emigration, as a means of better
ing their condition. It would not be inter
esting to go over that ground again. Were
I to do so, however, I should only here and
there stand a little apart from the old blazes.
I should say that there is more of irregulari
ty in the winter rains, and, therefore, more
uncertainty in the crops, than I supposed at
tho time of my previous correspondence.
Lands, remote from transportation, are still
to be had at government prices. Along
Railroad routes, aud rivers, aud around our
centres of business, prices do not vary much
from the old figures—ranging from twenty
to one hundred dollars per acre, according
to quality, degree of improvement, and oth
er modifying circumstances.
We have had two years, now, of light har
vests in succession, and the prospects at
present, are gloomy for the crop of 1871. It
is now almost mid-winter, and very little
rain has fallen. If the next harvest should
be a failure, thousands of farmers will be ru
ined, and all other industries will be more
or less involved in the consequences.
The public journals long ago informed
you of changes at Vacaville.
The Pacific Methodist College has been
transferred to Santa Rosa, Sonoma county,
owing partly, to financial embarrassment—
aud partly to other causes of a local charac
ter, which would not interest your readers.
We found 214 names upon our catalogue,
for the year previous to our iuauguratiou,
as the executive head of the Institution.
Upon the catalogue for the year closiug last
may the number is 207.
You will perceive that the removal was
necessitated by a decline in the numerical
status of the College. The patronage was
large during tho three years of our adminis
tration—and the tuition receipts were largo,
but not equal to the annual expenses—and
of course, in the absence of endowment
fund, there was, necessarily, a growing debt
against the Institution. The people of Santa
Rosa proposed to place the concern upon a
' living basing auA herein yqu have the promi
nent, assignable reason for the change of lo
cality.
Under the pressure of labors, such as I
have rarely ever performed—added to the
wear and tear of home cares, under protract
ed family affliction, my own health crum
bled down ; and early in the Spring of last
year, I notified the Board, that I should re
sign, in May following, and that they might
be casting about for anew incumbent. By
request, however, I extended the term of my
presidency to the close of 1870, as it was
thought best, not to create a vacancy at that
time, although, the College was to he sus
pended until the new buildings could be
made ready at Santa Rosa.
My future is contingent—depending en
tirely upon my health. The still habits and
onerous cares of a life devoted to teaching
are responsible for the unnatural and pre
mature feebleness of a constitution once
supposed to be robust and vigorous.
I hope that by resisting importunities,
now pressing me to take an independent
school under the most flattering auspices—
and by engaging for one year in active pur
suits, my physical vigor may be renewed
agaiu.
As to the future of P. M. College I have
serious apprehensions.
The public school system of California is a
gigantic affair, supported and sustained, as
it is, by enormous taxation and immense
landed estate, donated by the Legislature.
The State University has an immense en
dowment, which enables its Regents to
provide the amplest facilities —and yet to
offer tuition to everybody, as a gratuity.
The Messrs. Le’Cont of Georgia, occupy
chairs in the University, and are addiug
fresh laurels to their former renown as sci
entific men.
The Institution is destined to take high
grade among the educational agencies of the
country—and I am happy to believe, is set
ting out, in its career, under healthful, mor
al influences. Our mutual friend, Dr. Fitz
gerald, is one of the Regents, and his influ
ence is very appreciable among the moral and
religious elements which are expected to give
the right tone and bias to the lustitutiou.
This colossal system of free school, must
absorb, it seems to me, all denominational
enterprises, in the course of a few years—or
at least so cripple and embarrass them, as to
result in their final abandonment, altogether.
It would be little less than a miracle, if
people should be wiUing to pay for tuition,
seventy-five doUars per year, when it is of
fered for nothing, and in an institution too,
which has the name and prestige of State
University—especially, if it should be true
that these people have more pride than piety,
and that -their avarice, overmatches their
loyalty to the church.
I have serious misgivings about the fate
of all denominational institutions in this
State. As long, however, as there is a peg
in the temple, I will hope and pray for the
success of P. M. College.
I should be more sanguine, if we had in
our favor the same healthy tone of moral
sentiment, which you have in Georgia.
There is, however, very little sympathy with
the enterprises of the church outside her
membership, and on the inside, we regret
to say, there is no great surplus for extraor
dinary emergencies.
While the aggregate of church communi
cants, including all the sects, makes a re
spectable per cent, of the entire population
of the State, yet each branch of the Chris
tian Church—Roman Catholic excepted, is,
numerically and financially weak for all prac
tical purposes, in building up any denomi
national institution, against formidable op
position.
In point of numbers, North Methodists
stand at the head of Protestantism on this
coast; Southern Methodism takes second
rank, and Missionary Baptists next, Pres-
byterianism is strong in our cities— very
strong in her pulpit,* and relatively strong
in money, in sooial rank and influence.
Episcopalians are, numerically, very weak,
and some of their foremost men are anxious
for eclesiastieal union with Southern Meth
odism upon a basis of equality.
Whether this feeling extends to the clergy
I am not informed, nor do I know that it ap
pertains to any considerable number of the
laity, but I do know that the subject has
been canvassed, by influential men, on that
side.
It is hardly possible for all the Protestant
Churches here to unite in any effort to re
sist the settled purpose of politicians to ab
sorb and secularize the entire educational
interest of the State. Roman Catholics are
largely predominant. About our large cities
they have a controlling influence and
throughout the State they hold the balance
of power. Politicians of all parties know
their strength and bid against each other for
their suffrage, and, often pay high for it, at
the expense of Protestantism.
The time is not distant, when, through
the combined, if not concerted influence of
Romanists and Deists, the Bible will be ex
cluded from all our public schools in this
State—and I fear, in many other States of
the Union.
By the way, Deists swarm like the locusts
of Egypt all over California. One may hear
them buzzing about onr cities and our small
towns, about railroad depots, and about
workshops—among professional men aud
day-laborer3, wherever you go, in town or
in country, in mine or on ranch, you may
hear the flutter of their tiny wings remind
iug you of their presence.
Two Summers ago, at one of our watering
places, we met with a man of English birth
and education who professed to be the help
less victim of non-faith with respect to the
Christian religion. He was a man of mass
ive brain and large reading, and withal, a
man of rare strategetic ability in religious
controversy.
Affecting great distress, on account of liis
having been captured by unbelief against
his will, and in despite of early education
and prejudices, he had the address to elicit
our sympathy, and to draw us into a discus
sion on tho subject of his trouble. During
several days we had repeated conversations
upon the divine authority of the Bible, and
the reasonableness of its claims upon our
confidence.
During the history of these colloquies
which, in the main were courteously con
ducted, and without much of unparliamen
tary episode, two things were worthy of be
ing noticed.
First, This strong-minded mau, who did
not fail to recognize the importance of be
ing honest with himself, had brought him
self to believe that ho was sincere in his un
belief.
In the second place, it was mauifost that
he had dealt very uncaudidly, not to say
treacherously with himself, in making up
the ground of his religious opinions. Al
though a man of large reading, yet it was
patent, that his reading had been confined
to one side of the question, and the garbled
quotations of deistieal writers from the Bi
ble, was about the measure of his acquaint
ance with that holy book..
This man, as thousands like him have
done, was flattering himself that he had
found a place of safety under shelter of his
honost convictions, convictions, neverthe
less, which lie had arrived at by a dishonest
or exparte examination.
We commended, to this troubled infidel
as we would commend to all of liis class, the
terrible import of the words of Solomon—
“ There is a way which soemeth right unto
a man, but the end thereof are the ways of
death.” • * v_ —-
On the following Sabbath, the proprietor
of the Sulphur Springs invited us to preach.
The crowd assembled, occupying seats that
had been arranged upon an ample platform
around the Spring, where we were sheltered
from the evening sun, by the mountain,
from whose base issued these medicinal wa
ters, while we endeavored to point them to
the “fountain that was opeued for sin and
uncleanness.”
Our English friend came aud seated him
self almost near enough to be reached with
the hand, and gave respectful attention to
the sermon.
Before we parted he was pleased to say,
but with how much of candor I cannot tell,
that his views had undergone some slight
change upon the topics discussed, but he
was still embarrassed with doubts which he
would be glad to have relieved. Since that
time, these doubts have been fully resolved.
During the last year he was summoned to
his final account, and we have not been able
to learn, the state of his mind in his dying
hour.
How sad, that a man so capable of inves
tigating tho foundations of religions truth,
and of forming his own opinions about the
most precious interests of humanity, should
act, so like a “driveling idiot” in a matter
so important, as to exclude all the witnesses
on one side of the case, and rely altogether,
on those of the other side, not only for the
facts of the case, but for the handling of
these facts iu making up a final conclusion.
Does it not have the effect of a serious dis
count upon the tone of the religious feeling
and sentiment in a community, when men
of infidel proclivities wherever you meet
them—and in California you meet them al
most everywhere—obtrusively thrust their
infidelity upon you, and do it, evidently for
the purpose of letting you know that they
are a little above the vulgar herd—not one
of those credulous and timid souls, who have
no more of brains than to believe a proven
fact, and so little pluck as to be afraid of
God Almighty ?
Unbelief in its relations to Divine revela
tion is a diseased, mental condition—which
need to be skillfully treated.
There are a few sincere unbelievers, at
least a few men who think themselves sincere
in their unbelief. Asa class, these are seri
ous, thoughtful men—yet men whose think
ing and reading have been one-sided and
partial. Very naturally, therefore, they
have settled down iu their convictions on
the wrong side, and after awhile they have
come to think themselves very sincere in
fidels. They are always the victims of a
morbid sensitiveness, and a ready resent
ment of every utterance that has the appear
ance of an assault upon their religious opin
ions.
It appertains to the functions of a Chris
tian teacher, not so much, to abuse or de
nounce these men, as by courteous reason
ings and soft persuasive, to convince and to
woo them from the delusions of error,
to a “knowledge of the truth as it is in Je
sus Christ.” When an unbeliever of this
class approaches a Christian minister polite
ly, claiming to be desirous of knowing the
truth, and to hold his mind open to convio
tion—if that minister be “wise to win souls”
he will never bluff him off with the rudeness
of a curt speech, or with that affectation of
cold indifference, which might be due to his
clerical dignity under some other circum
stances. He will rather take the unfortu
nate man by the hand, assure him of his
sympathy, deal kindly with his prejudices,
correct politely his misapprehensions, dis
sect gently, yet' faithfully, his false logic,
speak wisely of the doom that awaits the
unbelieving, showing it to be a necessity in
the very nature of the case, a doom whieh
God Himself, could not avert, without work
ing a miracle, that would convulse the uni-
YOL. XXXIY. NO. 5.
verse. He will have the address to show
that sin is the seed of sorrow, and that
wrong-doing and wretchedness stand related,
under the inevitable law of cause and effect.
He will not omit to enforce the great truth,
that, although God stands related to us,
prospectively, as a retributive Judge, ho is
by no means a vindictive despot; and that
if we would find a factor, that will solve the
terrible problem, of the “wrath of God” and
the mystery of the “undying worm,” we
must look to the love-side of the divine at
tribute, which cannot tolerate either bad
men or devils in their marauding forays
against the peace and social order of the
universe.
This serious, thoughtful class of infidels,
who confess that they are at unrest, deserve
to be pitied and need to be tenderly handled.
Some of the pleasantest recollections of
the writer’s life, stand connected with avow
als, made by men of this class, of benefit,
derived many years ago, from considerate
conversations which he held with them on
the credentials of our holy religion.
But as for that other class—that numerous
horde of garrulous, flippant fellows, whose
tongues, like the mouth of a rabid dog, are
always dripping with gall and venom, these
men deserve no attention.
These slandering, spiteful individuals are
mere pretenders. “Bona fide” infidels are
made of different material, aud fashioned
after a different model, altogether. If you
should catch a dozen of these obtrusive ma
ligners of Christ and bis religion, and cram
into their noddles half the brains of one se
rious, respectable deist, and if the shock did
not kill them in five minutes, they would at
least be startled by the novel consciousness
of little ideas thereby engendered. Let them
pass. They are little better than mere ap
paritions of human intelligencies, and it
were folly to waste argument upon them.
The number and the marvelous imperti
nence of this small variety of would-be infi
dels in California, is our only apology for
the faot as well as for the manner of obtru
ding the subject upon the readers of the
Advocate.
The climate of California is varied. The
strong, coast winds which prevail at some
seasons, and the parching hot winds which
prevail at other times, render tho climate of
Vacaville, very unpropiiious for valetudina
rians and for all persons of acute, nervous
We shall likely change our
locality at no distant day.
This letter is too long. But I will make
it shorter to your readers generally, aud to
yourself especially, by an allusion to the
rich treat we enjoyed in meeting at Confer
ence, our mutual friend and old preceptor,
Bishop Wiglitman, whom wo had not seen
for nearly twenty-five years. We found him
in the vigor of manhood, physically and in
tellectually.
He despatched the Conference business
with the ease and promptness ol' a mau who
well understands the machine he is running,
and while his rulings were marked by tho
decision of one who is self-reliant and well
balanced—they were at the same time sus
tained by a logic at once cogent and con
vincing.
When we say that his pulpit efforts were
creditable to Bishop Wightman, we say that,
which will be taken at a high value by his
friends, and yet will not offend his modesty
or good taste.
We believe the Bishop’s visit and preach
ing have done much, to build up the South
ern Church in California, by enlarging tho
views of the ministry, and by lifting up to a
higher plain of spiritual apprehension, both
the clerical and lay members of the church.
His wife, whose acquaintance I had tho
pleasure of making, and who is worthy to be
Mrs. Bishop Wightman, is a descendant
any father's friend, John Lucas of Sparta,
Georgia, one of the pillars of primitive
Methodism in that State. In his house,
Bishop Asbury held ths first Annual Confer
ence that was ever held in Georgia. The
discovery of this relationship added, if pos
sible, to the pleasure of first acquaintance
with Sister Wightman. J. R. Thomas.
Vacaville, Cal., Jan., Gth, 1871.
Americau Bible Society.
To the Officers of the Bible Societies
and others Co-operating with the Ameri
can Bible Society in South Carolina.
Dear Brethren : Permit me to direct your
attention to the foUowing important in
structions from the Secretaries of the Ameri
can Bible Society, Bible House, Astor Place,
New York city:
1. “The Committeo on Distribution have
instructed us to state, that hereafter they
will expect all applications for grants of
books by auxiliaries, and so far as practica
ble all others, to receive the endorsement of
the Agent from whose State the requests are
made, together with full information of the
facts which enforco each case. They are
especially desirous to kuow the extent of
destitution, the efforts made by applicants
to help themselves, or to pay in part for
books received from our Depository, or to
contribute to the cause, the number and
character of the population to be supplied,
and, in fine, all that may assure the Com
mittee of the propriety of these requests."
2. Persons needing Bibles and Testa
ments for Sttbbath-sehools, or distribution
amonq all readers alike, must apply to the
officers of the Bible Society, in the city or
court-house town or to Branch Bible Socie
ties or Bible Committees in the county
where they reside; uud if they cannot be
supplied, the officers will please request me
to procure books for their Sooiety, to meet
the demand, from the American Bible So
ciety.
3. Persons in writing to mo to procure
donations of plain books direct from the
Parent Sooiety, must state the number
needed and give full and distinct directions
for forwarding. Sign all applications of
ficially. Whatever you wish to say to me
besides your books please write
on a separate sheet. Should you wish me
to purchase fine books for you from the
General Agent, C. T. Rowe, Esq., at the
Bible House, write your letter in the shape
of our order.
4. As all requests for donations of books
must be addressed to the Corresponding
Secretaries of the American Bible Society,
by me so that they may reach the officers at
the Bible House, before the Tuesday preced
ing the first Thursday of each month, you
wiU please commnnieate with me at an early
day. Attention to this suggestion will often
prevent long delays in supplying books.
Yours truly,
E. A. Bolles,
Ag’t Am. Bible Society for S. O.
Columbia, S. C., Jan. 19 th, 1871.
Ready for Distribution.
The Minutes of the South Georgia Con
ferenee are now ready. You are entitled
pro rata to twelve copies for every hundred
members. The cost, including freight or
postage is ten cents per copy. Will the
preachers please send the money at once for
the number of copies to whioh their circuits,
stations or missions are entitled ? The Min
utes ought to be in the hands of preachers
and people at an early day. I will look for
your orders soon. J. Blakely Smith.
The largest advertising contract made by
Geo. P. Rowell & Cos., the New York Ad
vertising Agents,(with any individual adver
tiser in 1870, was made with E. O. Allen <fc
Cos., publishers of The People's Literary
Companion, at Augusta, Maine, on the 22d
of December last. It will be remembered
that this is the same firm whioh advertised
in 1860 in every American newspaper, and
whose payments to Messrs. Rowell He Cos.,
were, at times, as high as SIO,OOO monthly.