Newspaper Page Text
02.00 P*EH ANNUM,
luvariably in Advance.
VOLUME XXXVIII. NO. 50.
yicrrtlj (tcoryia Confrrcnrt imports
Report on DliMions.
The Board of Missions beg leave to re
port that there are nineteen Missions
within the bounds of the North Georgia
Conference, which have been served with
considerable efficiency and success by the
missionaries appointed at the last session
of this body. We submit a synopsis of
their reports:
In the Augusta District there are three
Missions—St. Lake’s in Augusta, Belair
in Richmond snd Columbia, and Factory
Mission at and nar Sparta.
The \St. Luke's Mission was served by
Rev. O. W. Key. He began with 12
members; now has 43 Has a good edi
fice in thorough repir; a Sabbath-school
with 86 pupils. The mission has good
prospects of ultima**- success. It has paid
321 ior m.saionb; 3600 ior Church repairs;
and 355 to meet incidental expanses. The
missionary has given mnch thought and
labor to the interests committed to him,
and has borne about one-half of the ex
pense of his own family while serving it.
Belair Mission has been greatly blessed
by outpourings of the Holy Spirit during
the year. There have been 01 additions
to the Church and 72 adnlts baptized.
It numbers 272 members, has 5 preach
ing places, and three Sunday-schools
with 95 pupila 1c has been served
for the third year by Rev. E. F. Bon
ner, a laborious, faithful local preacher,
and has paid the missionary 305; the Pre
siding Elder 315; fcr missions 315; and
for Bishops 33. The people are generally
qnite poor, and the mission should be
continued.
. Sparta Factory Mission haß 3 preaching
plttOf-n, 105 members; has had 64 additions,
with 58 adult baptisms and iring the year.
There aie 3 Saaday - schools with 60
scholars. It is thought by the Board
that the mission oan be well served by the
pastors of Hunoock Circuit and Sparta
station. It paid the missionary bnt
848.15, and nothing raised for other pur
posed.
Elisfrton District has three missions:
the Ciayton, Belton,and Franklin Springß.
Clayton Mission has been served with
nnusnal snec'ss by Rav. G. E. Bonner.
It has 7 preaching places, 210 members,
and bss had 45 additions this year. The
missionary received 8140, and 812 was
contributed for other purposes. There
lirr been growth at the county town from
18 to 85 members. New sections are now
open to our missionaries, and marked im
provements sre taking place in the county.
This is an old mission, whose history
demonstrates that well directed, persever
ing efforts to establish onr doctrines and
Church will be finally crowned by success.
The young missionary deserves credit for
sagacious, untiring, stKjoessfnl work.
Belton Mission was served by Rev. D. L
Parrish. It has 5 preaching places, 4
organized <ohnrch< s, 3 church edifices
and one to be built at Belton, which is
upon the Air Line Railroad. There are
246 memtw-rs ; 24 joined this year ; 13
adults and 12 infants baptized; three Sun
day schools with 130 pupils. The mis
sionary was paid 804. and 860 was ex
pended in repairs. The mission is in a
prosperous condition aud gives promise
to develop into a good Circuit.
Franklin Springs Mission has 171 mem
bers ; it has prospered somewhat—psid
the missionary 8132. He thinks it would
develop more rapidly if absorbed by ad
joining Circuits. We recommend its dis
continuance.
Athens District has two missions: the
Oconee St. Mission at Athens, and the
Factory Mission near Athens.
1 he, Oconee St. Mission has been served
by Rev A. W. Williams. ItnnmburslSO
members, has had 15 additions by profes
sion of faith, and has a Sunday-school
with 160 pupils. It is in better condition
now than it has been since the establish
ment of the Oconee St. Chnrch, and it is
believed will rapidiy develop iuto a self
sustaining charge. Athens Is rapidly in
creasing in population, and we must go
forward with it, or lose onr long main
tained position in that community. The
missionary was paid 8350; the Presiding
Elder 815, and 8107 were raised for Sun
day-school purposes.
Ihe Factory Mission is connected with
Princeton and Georgia Factories chiefly.
It meets with some embarrassments, bnt
makes some progress, aud cannot be
abandoned, as the poor have a divinely
bestowed right to the gospel of salvation,
and in this instance, most receive it, if at
all, at onr hands. There are 205 mem
bers, 2 Sunday-schools, and 200 pnpils,
for whose nse 823 50 was raised. The
missionary received from the mission 830,
and 828 was expended in repairs to church
edifices.
Gainesville District has three missions
—Porter Springs iu Lumpkin county,
Blairsville iu Union county, and Morgan
ton.
Ike Porter Springs Mission was served
by Rev. E. L Stephens. It has 6ap
pointments, . 153 members, 3 Sunday
schools, 130 pupils. There were 16 mem
bers received dnring the year, and 8 in
fants baptized. It has Church property
worth §1,050. bat of what it consists the
missionary does not report. Collected
for various purposes §63. This mission
has its central point at the Porter Spring,
a watering place in Lumpkin county of
considerable resort, and may be devel
oped into a Circuit, if active,earnest men,
are sent to serve it.
The Blairsville Mission is one of the old
est missions in upper Georgia; was served
by T. J. Edwards,who represents it to be
in an interesting country, with a working
membership. The missionary thinks it
might be well to try it as a Circuit.
Church edifices 9. members 370, added
during the year 25, baptized 7 adults aud
14 children. It has 3 Sunday schools,
with 150 pupils. It paid the missionary
but 810. aud nothing for any other pur
posel These are remarkable facts, when
we consider the opinions of the mission
ary with respect to the mission and its
membership.
Iks Morganton Mission was served by
the Rev. R. W. Arwood. The Presiding
Elder reports that the mission has 6 ap
pointments ; one church organized the
present year, and several members receiv
ed. Paid the missionary 840, and mis
sions 88. He states that some of the em-
f'fluUicrn Christian Adtuuale.
v *
barrassments that have existed since the
war are gradnally yielding. He does not
recommend its continuance.
Thb Dalton District has but one mis
sion—
The Murray Mission. —The missionary
reports 8 preaching place*, 2 church
edifices, 265 members; 60 have join
ed daring the year ; 10 adults aud 2
children baptized ; 4 Sunday-schools,
160 pupils. The missionary does not re
port the amount paid him. 32 50 for
missions, and 325 for church repairs. It
is expected that 3 other church edi
fices will be erected this Conference year.
The missionary speaks hopefully of this
work. We think it should be continued.
The Rome District has two missions:
the DeSoto aud the Haralsou.
The De Soto Mission was served in con
nection with the Firrrestville Circuit by
Rev. F. F Rynolds. It is located in the
subui bs of Rome. The missionary re
ports 3250 subscribed to build a Church,
and thinks there are 25 persons who will
unite with it. We think it should be dis
continued.
Haralson Mission is another old mission
located in the western part of the State,
remote from railroads and large town*.
It has 174 members; 2 Sunday schools,
100 scholars; 6 have joined during the
year; 6 adults and 7 infante have been
baptized. Nothing was paid the mis
sionary; 32 for the Bishops; and 36 15 for
Church repaiis—and the Presiding Elder
35 00. It is bounded on the esst by Villa
RicaCircnit; south by Carrollton Circuit;
on the north by territory oocupied by the
Northern Methodist Church; and west by
the North Alabama Conference. This
mission has not yielded Urge results, hut
we have 174 members in it, and must con
tinue it.
The Atlanta District b*s two mis
sions: the AtUnta City Mission, and the
Octnulgee.
The Atlanta City Mission, whfch hs
yielded saeh gratilying results in form*r
years, has done well during the present
year. It has been served by Rev. W. C.
Dunlap. A tasteful, commodious house
has been erected, 36x54 feet In dimensions
at a cost of 31,400, which is complete ex
oept blinds,vestibale, and belfry. It was
dedicated on last Sabbath by Bishop
Keener, aud the entire debt paid in oash
or good subscriptions. Two mission
churches iueligibly iooated wore sold for
3485, and the money used toward the
erection of this chnroh edifice. It is
thonght to he well located at the corner of
Peachtree Street and Merritt Avenne
The missionary thinks that in the conrse
of a year or two this will be one of onr
best suburban churches. There are 76
members, an increase of 38, 11 of whom
were by profession of faith. One Sun
day-school with 78 pnpils. Raised ~'or
mi-sionary 329.50, for Suuday-sobool
850, and for church building 8518 35;
and have good subscriptions for 8500.
The Board thinks that this movement
should be pressed vigorously, and that
strenuous i-ff >rts should be used to estab
lish a church through the agency of At
lanta missions at West End in that city.
Ocmulgee Mission was served in connec
tion with the Ocmulgee Circuit by J, H.
Mshbnrn, Jr., from whom no report has
been Ho is r.bsent from the
Conference.
LaGrange District has bnt one mis
sion, whioh is located in Heard county,
remote from railroad facilities. The mis
sion brings a Methodist preaoher in con
taot with many who gladly hear him, and
has yielded good results. There are 140
members; 4 Sunday-schools, 70 pnpils.
Paid the missionary 8140, and Presiding
Elder 83.50. It is not doing anything
worth recording for missions, Conference
claimants, or other Chnrcb interests; but
we hope the missionary who serves it the
present Conference year will make a spe
cial effort in that direction. Giving is a
means of grace the poorest shonld be
encouraged to use and enjoy.
The Griffin District has three mis
sions: the Jones, West Ocmulgee, and
Flint River.
Ihe Jones Mission was served by Rev.
E. H. Wood, who thinks it shonld be
continued or served in connection with
the Clinton Circuit. The Board is of
opinion that it bad better be continued as
a mission, with a sufficient appropriation
to support an experienced, zealous work
er. There are 2 chnrobes and 2 school'
houses preached in by the missionary;
there are 153 members—l 4 have been re
ceived; 13 adnlts and 1 infant baptized.
Two SuDday-Bchool3 organized, bnt did
not live ; the section served by the mis
sionary has been largely under the influ
ence of a Chnrch organization that antag
onises Sunday-schools. The missionary
has received 873 60 for his own services,
bnt raised nothing for the other interests
of the Church. If we desert this people,
there will be no preacbiDg except by
Primitive Baptists.
West Ocmulgee Mission was served in
connection with Jackson Circuit by Rev.
W. T. McMichael. He reoommends its
severance *nd the erection of a Butts
Mission. Number of preaching places 2;
one a school honse, the other a Congre
gational Methodist Chnrch. There are
65 members, 10 received by profession of
fsith; 8 adnlts baptized. One Sunday
school with 90 pnpils, which raised 810
for books. This school is a hopeful fact.
Missionary received 875; for missions 86;
for Conference olaims 84 60. Other de
nominations have partially abandoned the
territory occupied by the mission, and
the missionary thinks that a door of en
trance is now open.
Flint River Mission has not succeeded.
There are 5 preaching places, and bnt
35 members. Paid the missionary 88.05.
Its discontinuance is recommended.
We learn from the reports of the mis
sionaries that 421 have been added upon
profession of faitb; that there are 2,922
members connected with the missions;
that they have raised for all purposes
82 887; have built —new churches; have
39 churches; have 31 Sunday-schools,with
1,509 pnpils.
The Board will report its receipts
through the Assistant Treasurer, bat
would remark in this connection that if
we go forward, we most sustain onr mis
sionary operations both at home and
abroad. We must be an aggressive or a
decreasing Chnrch. Heavy demands are
upon as, large offerings mast be made by
PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE & COMPANY, FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. SOUTH.
MACON, GEORGIA. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1875.
. -j
onr people despite the stringency of the
times, else we shall suffer loss spiritually
as well as numerically. He who bought
ns with His blood demands of us sacrifi
ces, as well as service*; expects when it
exists onr ‘‘deep poverty to abound
unto the riches of our liberality.” Freely
ye have received, freely give. Let ns
signalize these comparatively evil days by
a devotion that shall insure success in
this and every department of the great
interests committed to ns by our fathers,
and the God of our fathers.
All of which is respectfully and affec
tionately submitted by your Board of
Missions. Hab’m. J. Adams, Sec.
Report on Education.
There have been referred to your Com
mittee, reports from the proper authori
ties of the four lef ding Colleges belong
ing to and under the patronage of this
Conference, to-wit: Emory College, Ox
ford. Ga.—Rev. Dr. O. L. Smith, Presi
dent; Wesleyan Female College, Macon,
Ga.—Rev. Dr. W. O. Bass, President ;
LaGrange Female College, LaGrange,
Ga.—Rev. J. R. Mayson, President ; and
Dalton Female College, Dalton, Ga., Rev.
W. A Rogers, President.
Theee reports, severally and taken to
gether, famish abundant reasm for de
vout thanksgiving to Almighty God, and
for increased confidence and earnestness
in recommending these noble and worthy
institutions of learning to the patronage
of our people.
Emory College. —And first, we con
gratulate this Conference and the whole
Church within the bounds of the patron
izing Conferences upon the rapidly
brightening prospects of Emory College,
as appears from the report of the retiring
President, Dr. O. L. Smith. Four years
ago, soon after Dr. Smith entered upon
his duties as President, it became neces
sary to take down every building on the
Oollege grounds, as time and the injuries
received daring the war, rendered them
unfit for their intended nse ; and the dis
couraging task of rebuilding, in the midst
of the severest monetary stringency this
country has ever known, was undertaken.
It is needless to recount the toil and
trouble of this undertaking. With the
College “out of doors,” and money scarce,
patronage was comparatively meagre, and
there were not wanting those, even among
the friends of the College, who despaired
of snocess and feared the worst. But the
noble President, sustained by a united
and self-sacrificing Faculty, stood bravely
and oheerfally at his post. Prayer was
made without ceasing to God, seconded
by most faithful and prudent work ; and,
to-day, your committee quote from the
cheeriug report of the President when
they say that the last of the four new
buildings undertaken, to-wit: “the Scien
tific Hall,” is completed, whioh, with the
three previously erected, gives the College
a complete outfit of rooms for the work
of instruction, c-qnal in taste, comfort,
finish, and furniture, to the best Colleges
of the land. Your committee are not sur
prised, therefore, although it afforded
them unspeakable pleasure, to learn that
ther has never been at any opening of a
new term, even in the prosperous days of
yore, a greater, if as great a number of
new students, as were matriculated at the
beginning o! the Fall Term now just
closed.
Yielding to a preference, often avowe-l,
but whioh he oonld not consult, according
to his convictions of duty, while the pros
pects of the Oollege were gloomy and its
success doubted by any, Dr. Smith, on
his own motion, now retires from the
Pwsidency, followed by the grateful ben
ediction of all the partners in the cargo
contained in the vessel at whose helm be
so nobly stood till the storm was over and
the dangers past.
The following resolutions are copied
from the minutes of the meeting of the
Board of Trustees at whioh Dr. Smith
tendered his resignation, to-wit:
Resolved , That this Board has received
the resignation of Dr. O. L Smith with
sentiments of increased esteem, if that
were possible, of his character as a Chris
tian gentleman, and of that trne great
ness of nature which makes man akin to
the and lowly Saviour,
Resolved, That he has exhibited a no
bility of sonl of which few men are capa
ble, and has practically exhibited the
teaching of the great Apostle, “ let each
think the other better than himself,”
Resolved , That this Board was not only
well satisfied, bnt highly approved of bin
entire administration as President, and
had he remained in that high office, he
would have received onr continued and
undivided snpport.
Resolved , That our admiration, love and
prayers, follow him into the humbler posi
tion he has voluntarily chosen, and that
in onr hearts and minds he has already
realized the trnth of the Lord’s word,
“he that hnmbleth himself shall be ex
alted.”
Rev. Dr. A. G. Haygood is Dr. O. L.
Smith’s successor, and the eminent quali
fications of the incumbent for the high
and responsible position to which h 9 has
been called, spontaneously by the voice of
the Chnrch, and officially by the Board of
Trustees, suggests the thought that,
onerons and distasteful as were the honors
and responsibilities of the higher position
to his worthy predecessor, he would have
stood in his lot, if there had not been
another to take his place, so competent,
so oapable, and so near at hand. With
Dr. Haygood at the head of the College,
and the blessing of God upon the bead of
Dr. Htygood, your committee feel assured
that the work of faith and love so well be
gun in the interest of Emory College, will
be accomplished with power, aud the
prayer of the retiring President find a
speedy answer in greater and richer bless
ings on the College than ever in the past.
Since the last report, Prof. Hopkins,
after long and efficient service, resigned
his.position, and Prof. J F. Bonnell was
elected to succeed him. Prof. Bonnell
entered immediately upon his dnties, and
is filling the place with the promise of dis
tinguished success.
We congratulate the College that at
the recent meeting, tb6 Board of Trus
tees provided so fitly for the Chair of
Euglish Language and Literature, by the
election of Rev. Dr. Morgan Calloway as
professor in this very important depart
ment. Dr. Calloway’s tastes and thorough
onlture in this department give us assur
ance of his entire snccess and eminent
usefulness.
Wesleyan Female College. —The re
port oosoerning Wesleyan Female College
comes from the Praeident of the Board
of Trustees, Judge James Jackson, and
is presented at the close of the first year
of Dr. W. C. Bass’ administration as
President of the College. Your commit
tee are greatly gratified to learn that it
has been, all things considered, a year of
unprecedented prosperity. Tne memory
of the venerable and indispensable Pro
fessor of Mathematics, Rev. Dr. C. W.
Smith, runneth not back to the period,
even in the palmy days of our country s
former prosperity, when this “ancient
seat of learning ” was favored with so
brilliant an opening as was witnessed at
the beginning of the present Fall Term.
The number of pupils, the morale of the
Institution, the health and peaoe from
God in which the whole College family
so richly shared, all attest the truth of
Judge Jackson’s declaration, that “ the
elevation of Dr. Ba6S to the Presidential
chair, has evidently met the approval of
the great Head of tho Church, from whom
cometh every good and perfect gift.”
Much might be said by way of commend
ing Wesleyan Female College to Geor
gians and Georgia and Florida Methodists.
The report r. ferred to does contain muoh
concerning the distinguished abilities of
the professors and teachers severally in
the various depsrtments of College in
struction, much every way concerning
the attractions of this Queen Mother of
Colleges, but it is needless here:
“ For none know her but to lore her,
None name her bnt to praise.”
Appropriate notioa is taken of the res
ignation of Rev. W. F. Cook and the
election of Rev. Howard W. Key, to fill
the vacancy occasioned thereby in the de
partment of Natural Science. “Professor
Key,” writes the President, “ has entered
upon his duties, to the eminent satisfac
tion of his colleagues as well as of the
patrons snd the pnpils of the College.”
There was one, and only one, item in the
report whioh your Committee feel to be a
matter of regret. We refer to the fact
stated that not one member of the Visit
ing Committee from this Conference was
present at the last commencement, and
only one the year before. It is greatly
to be desired that this failure in duty to
the Chnroh, the Conference, and the Col
lege, shonld be avoided in the future.
LaGrange Female College. —This In
stitution is located in a town noted for its
healthy climate, refined society, and in
telligent population. This Oollege has
been one of the most flourishing institu
tions in the Southern States, but the de
struction of the buildings has interfered
materially with its usefulness.
Your committee are glad that they can
state that during the year the sum of four
thousand dollars has been contributed,
principally by the citizens of LaGrange,
for the completion of the Oollege edifice.
About twenty-five hundred dollars is
needed to tarnish the Coliege with all the
necessary facilities for the accomplish
ment of its important mission, and to
enable it to enter upon anew career of
usefulness. It is proper to state that the
amounts subscribed and paid, and the im
provements, made are mainly due to the
untiring zeal and energy of the President,
Rev. J. R. Mayson.
The Faculty is composed of competent
and pious teachers, and the grade of
scholarship is ns high as can be found in
similar institutions. We make an earnest
appeal .o the friends of Methodism to
rally to this enterprise of the Church.
The Oollege is the property of the Con
ference, aud we should do all we can for
the completion of the building and the
increased patronage of the school, as the
prosperity of the Church in LaGrange is
intimately connected with the prosperity
of the College.
The Dalton Female College is favor
ably located in a very healthy city, and in
the midst of a plentiful region where liv
ing is comparatively cheap. TbeFacnlty
oonsists of four male and two female
teachers. Every department is supplied
with efficient teachers, and also with all
appliances in the way of mnsical instru
ments, apparatus, etc., necessary for
thorough instruction.
This College, though now only in the
third year of its existence, is in a qnite
prosperous condition, and gives high
promise of continued success. The in
struction of the pnpils is thorough.
The ability of the President, the Rev.
Wm. A. Rogers, and his established char
acter as an educator of yonth, coupled
with the advantages above referred to,
must make this institution a highly use
ful one to our Church. A gracious revi
val of religion prevailed among the pupils
during the present year, resulting in thirty
or forty conversions.
Whereas, The Church is commanded
to educate ihe people—commissioned to
teach all nations, she is charged with
the duty of training them for the life that
now is, and for that which is to come. So
certainly as mental and moral culture will
affect future and eternal relations, she is
culled upon to dispense the blesaiDgs of
sanctified learning. And this duiy is
made more imperative by the conflict
through which religious truth is now pass
ing. Infidelity, armed and viralent, is as
sailing the oitadel of Christian faith. The
sacred, time-honored, consoling truths
of our holy religion, are being subjected
to the most rigid examination by men,
who ask for pi oof equal to scientific de
monstration. And while there is nothing
to fear as to the truth itself, there is mnoh
to fear as to the safety of those who may
be carried away into the errors of philos
ophy, falsely so-called. The Bible fur
nishes the surest protection against its
opposers. Let the pure Christianity the
Bible inculcates be made indispenaable in
the teaohing furnished our sons and
daughters, and the religious prosperity of
the future is insured. We are glad to
state that we have able men most satisfac
torily performing this noble work, and it
is due them that they have the hearty co
operation of the members of this Confer
ence.
Resolved, Ist. That it becomes ns to re
cog uiza with grateful hearts the gracions
Providence which has blessed onr institn
tions of learning with so good a degree of
prosperity during the present year.
2 That this Conference oommend the
question in the order of Quarterly Con
ference business, “ What is doing for the
cause of education ?" to the attention of
the presiding elders and members of the
Quarterly Conferences in every District,
with the hope that it will in every oase
receive all dne and proper eonaidera
t on.
3. That the Conference reqnest the
Bishop to appoint A. G. Haygood and M.
O. Calloway to Emory College, Oxford,
Ga. ; W. A. Rogers to Dalton Female
College, and J. R. Mayson to LaGrange
Female College.
W. F. Cook, Chairman,
Report on the Bible.
Your Committee do not understand that
they are called upon to report upon the
Bible. That speaks to ns with a thou
okd tongues, snd in tones of power snd
eloquence.
But of the Bible Cause in Georgia we
may speak. The American Bible Society
through its Superintendent, Rev. Wm. A.
Parks of our Conference, has one hundred
auxiliary Societies in Georgia,—one in
every ooucty where it can be sustained.
f’he work of supplying the destitute
wi h the Bible has been steady and pro
gressive. Successful effects have been
made to secure Bible distribution by min
istrn of the gospel where Auxiliary Socie
ties cannot be sustained.
Georgia is the beneficiary of the Ameti
can Bible Society, to the amount of four
thousand dollars annually. Wbat a grand
- efaction! What a debt of gratitude
we owe this great Institution!
The happy invention of onr Agent—of
supplying railroad coaches with the Bible,
is being adopted in all parts of the United
States.
The following is the work of fifty-four
auxiliaries reported within the fiscal year:
Families visited 8,412
Families found without the Bible 1,999
Destitute families supplied 1,835
Receipts of atuxilliaries from sales $3,519.25
In prosecuting his work through the
year, the District Superintentent, has
visited.
Auxiliaries and Committees 89
Anniversaries attended 44
New Auxilliaries formed 11
Ecclesiastical bodies visited 9
Sermons aud addressed delivered on Bible
clause 65
Miles traveled 8,460
Wo offer the following resolutions:
Resolved 1. Tbat we heartily commend
the American Bible Society to onr peo
ple, and recommend that onr preachers
co-operate with the District Superinten
dent in carrying the Bible to all the peo
pie of our State.
2 That we respectfully request the
Bishop to reappoint Rev. Wm. A. Parks
as District Superintendent of the Ameri
can Bible Society in this State.
Wm. A. Simmons, Chairman.
Report on Orphans Home.
The Trustees of the Orphans Home de
air* to express in this annnal report their
gratitude to God that the orphan wards
of the North Georgia Conference have
had food, clothing, education, and a
Bone for one year—one more year of re
fuge, Christian culture, and home-com
fort, for the fatherless, friendless, home
less orphan 1 These benefits have been
secured for them notwithstanding the
extraordinary financial depressions and
disasters which marked the year just past.
No little difficulties rnnst be overcome to
provide for this helpless family, and estab
lisl:- this institution. The Home has
struggled almost for existence. But so
have our Colleges trembled—so onr pub
lishing interests have been imperiled—so
ha A' our missions been threatened with
failure—so our preachers have been driven
hard, and pressed sorely—and so, too, has
the Church of Christ fought its way over
contested ground, inch by inch, forward
toward triumph. Every enterprise which
is taken in hand for Christ’s sake, “ must
suffer maDy things. ” It is not to be sup
posed, then, that this special charity of
the Church which seeks to execute the
will of Christ concerning orphaned obild
hood, snd whote appeals evoke, inorease,
perfect Christ-like sympathies in all who
hear and heed, will be exempt from trial.
The Church, in all its institutions and op
erations, will have a warfare until the end
be, and the Orphans Home will have to
share the conflict.
The Trnstees gladly say that the general
management of the Home has been eco
nomical, and repeat the statement in their
last report that thoy oan overcome ail
difficulties as to current expenses of this
institution from year to year. The agent,
Rev. W. R Foote, Sr., has industriously
devoted himseif to his work, and, amid
unusual embarrassments, has collected in
oasb, 81,926 ; in notes, 8225 ; in other
subscriptions, 8800. The subscriptions
for previous years, still dne, amount to
83,700. The Superintendent, Rev. Joseph
Carr, has had general oversight of the
farm and the family. The farm products,
consisting of cotton, corn, potatoes, etc.,
amounted in value to about 8900, all of
which, except the cotton, are appropriated
by the Home. The orphan inmates are
twelve boys and fourteen girls. The large
boys work in the farm, and the large girls
attend to the domestic affairs of the fam
ily, Assisted by his excellent wife, the
Superintendent hss given parental care
to the children. Their education has not
been neglected. The Superintendent re
ports that he has given laborions attention
to their mental improvement, and that
they habitually attend Sunday-school and
publio worship. Not one case of serious
sickness has occurred.
The trustees continue the policy of pro
viding for such children as arrive at suit
able age by placing them in bnsiness or
in homes with Christian families. But
the trustees retain the legal guardianship
of all Buoh until that relation become dis
solved by the law of the land. In regard
to arrangements for the forthcoming year
the Board have resolved seriously npon a
new movement on which they pray God’s
blessing, and in which they beg the earnest
sympathy of their brethren. In order to
save the expense of a salaried agent the
the Trustees by formal resolution have
engaged themselves without any remuner
ation whatever to divide the territory of
the North Georgia Conference among
themselves, and to canvass the same for
the purpose of procuring food, clothing,
and money for the orphan children. They
are twelve Trnstees in number —laymen
and travelling preachers. With prayer,
in faitb, and commissioned by the Master
these twelve will go forth among the peo
ple everywhere to beg for the orphan
wards of this Conference. In person, by
letter, and through the publio press their
appeals will be made; and they pray yon
to give the encouragement of your pas
toral support. At once, without delay,
this month, daring Christmas, be ready,
give bread, give raiment, give money, give
your prayers for the orphans, and take
their gratitnde and the blessing of God.
A Superintendent to stand in place of
father to these poor children, to live in
their home, to supervise the farm, to nur
ture the family in all physical, mental,
and religions respects, to prepare them
for life here, and point them to life here
after is absolutely indispensible. Bat
who is sufficient for these things! Who
will consecrate himself to this work! The
Board by unanimous vote call Rev. Peter
A. Heard to superinted the Home f next
year, and respectfully ask the Bishop to
favor their ehoiee.
The Trustees in conclusion have the
great pleasnre of saying that God has
raised up another generous friend of the
Home in the person of brother Wm.
Richards leoently of Gainesville, Ga., who
has made a munificent gift of real estate
in the city of Gainesville from which the
Trustees hope to realize the sum of four
to five thousand dollars. In a brief re
port but little oan be said to express onr
appreciation of this donation. But the
donor has his reward in the gratitude of
the orphans and in the blessing of God.
This donation, it is believed will relieve
the Trustees of all present embarrassment
in respect of the amount due on the Home
property.
The Bo rd commend the Home to the
brethren of the Gonference and to the
Church and people at large, and pray tbat
it may be established firmly and be for
ever the refuge of the unprotected, des
titute, homeless orphans.
T. M. Meriwether, President; O. H.
Johnson, Secretary; Y. R.Tommey, Trea
surer.
Jeese Boring, L. J. Davies,W. R. Bran
ham, W. H. Potior, C. A. Evans, W. F.
Cook, E. E. Rawson, A. H. Colquitt, aid
H. P. Bell—Trustees.
The report was adopted and the follow
ing resolution was presented and unani
mously passed:
Resolved, That we will receive, welcome,
anu aid, the trustees —t specially the lay
members of the Board of Trustees of the
Orphans’ Home—whenever they visit our
charges, to plead the cause of the orphan.
Report on Books and Period
icals.
It may be thought by some to be super
fluous and unnecessary for us ns a com
mittee to urge the importance of religious
literature, and insist that it is the duty of
onr preachers to aid in its circulation, and
conducive to the best interests of onr peo
ple to purchase it.
Bnt we are reluctantly forced to con
clude from onr observation that many
heads of families in onr Oodnection deem
it a waste of money to provide any kind
of reading for their households, and that
many others are disposed to give pre
ference in the selection of books and
periodicals to such as are not only ut
beneficial, bat positively injurious. Not
a few have scarcely a religions book ex
cept the Bible, aDd thousands of onr fami
lies take no religions paper.
And is not this state of things attributa
ble to a large extent to a want of proper
interest on the part of many pastors, and
a failure to exert themselves in this direc
tion? We adopt reports and pass resolu
tions upon the subject at every Confer
ence; hut unfortunately too many of us
fail of substquent action in there matters.
We should not be satisfied until every
family is supplied with at least one of onr
Advocates and as many religious books of
our own publication as they may be able
to purchase, aid every Sunday-school
with onr own Sunday-school literature.
The papers presented to your body by
Dr. A. H, Redford Agent of the Publish
ing Home at Nashville, and referred to
us, have been duly considered. The in
stitution is one of vast importance to the
Chnroh, and deserves and shonld receive
our patronage and support. Its efficient
agent has a right to expect this at our
hands. We would respectfully suggest
that, in compliance with the demands of
the people and in adaptation to the strin
gency of the times, it will subserve the
interests of the House, as well as our be
loved Methodiem, to get up the books of
the best material and workmanship, and
at the lowest possible prices.
The Christian Advocate and its editor,
Dr. Thos O. Hammers, need no endorse
ment or commendation from ns. Asa
central organ it shonld be patronized by
us, as far as may not conflict with the
paramount claims of onr own special
organ, the Southern Christian Advocate,
We, as a Conference, have so repeatedly
endorsed Dr. Haygood, as Editor of our
Sunday-school Periodicals, and onr peo
ple have so well evinced their apprecia
tion of bis services by their patronage of
the publications, that it is hardly neces
sary for ns to assure him of our increased
approbation during the past year. We
will endeavor to extend the same hearty
co operation to the new Editor, Dr. W.
G. E Cunnyngham.
There was also referred to ns a com
munication from R O. Oliver President,
and Wm. Baker Secretary, calling the
attention of this Conference to an organ
ization known as the “Sontherq Tract
Association,” and to the “Way of Holi
ness” and other publications issued by
them.
There being qnite a number of valuable
standard books and other publications
upon this aod kindred subjects, issued by
the Publishing House of the Methodist
Episcopal Chnrch, South, we would most
respectfully aecline to make any special
recommendation in the matter brought to
our notice in this paper.
Respectfully submitted,
H. H. Parks, Chairman.
Report on Southern Christian
Advocate.
After seeking all the light we oonld ob
tain relative to the Southern Christian Ad
vooate. your Committee beg leave to re
port, that the paper is now being pub
lished by J. W. Bnrke & Cos., according
to contract made with them at the last
General Conference, and that they are
now publishing the paper on a cash basis
with a view to the liquidation of the in
debtedness of the paper.
The Advocate has at present about 6.300
paying subscribers, and the income of the
paper for the year ending November 30th,
has exceeded the expenses about 81,700,
which goes to the payment of the old debt.
Yonr Committee would repeat with
emphasis the fact already announced to
this Conference by the publishers, that
the services of Rev. A. G. Haygood, D D.,
as corresponding Editor have been secur
ed for the paper. While we have ever
appreciated the able manner in which the
other Editors have conducted the paper,
we are persuaded that articles contributed
by Dr. Haygood will add mnoh to the
interest of the paper, and is, in onr judg-
F. m. KENNEDY, D. D., Editor.
W RIIRKE ksNlNlanl Editor.
A. G. HAYGOOD, D. D., Editorial Correspondent.
ment an additional reason why we shonld
increase our zeal in behalf of the paper.
Having as it now does so stroDg a corps
of Editors we may confidently expeot what
the publishers promise as, “a paper wor
thy onr support and confidence.”
Asa Church paper the Southern Chris
tian Advocate demands the attention, and
shonld excite the zeal of this entire body,
because it is in a lsrge measure the only
religions literature tbat finds its way into
many hundreds of the families of our peo
ple. Wherefore,
Resolved 1. That we congratulate the
patronizing Conferences on the fact that
the publishers are now realizing an income
over and above the expenses about 81,700,
per antmm and express our hopes that
this increase will continue until the in
debtedness of the paper is canceled.
2. That we not only approve, but are
highly gratified at the action of the pub
lishers in securing the services of Rev.
Dr. Haygood as corresponding Editor.
Respectfully submitted,
Geo. H. Patillo, Chairman.
Report off Sunday-school Board.
In presenting this r port itisnotneces
sary to disease the importance of Sunday
schools, nor the blessings derived there
from, nor argue that the Sunday-school
is a com ponent part of the Church. These
facts are already acknowledged.
The rapid progress of Sunday school
work, and the thousands of children
brought to Christ through the Sunday
school, call for gratitude to Almighty God.
We have in the bonnds of the Confer
ence,
Sunday-schools 538
Officers and Teachers 5,470
Pupils 27,161
Increase 5!,052
Money contributed and expended for
Sunday-schools $5,370.34
We most earnestly urge that each pastor
acquaint himself with the lessons for each
Sabbath, and the wants of each school in
his charge, and tbat he give his personal
labors every Sabbath in the Sunday
school, otherwise he cannot fulfill his
vow to “instruct the children in every
place.”
We offer the following resolutions:
Resolved 1. Tbat it is the duty of each
pastor, and every member of the Confer
ence, to attend Sabbath-school each Sab
bath, and labor for the prosperity of the
sobool as well as the conversion of the
children.
2. That we highly appreciate the ser
vices of Rev. A. G. Haygood so long and
so faithfully rendered as Sunday-school
Secretary, and that we regret tnat we will
be hereafter deprived of bis labors in that
department of Church woik.
3. That we oontinne our hearty support
of onr Sunday-school publications at
Nashville, and will cordially snpport onr
brother the new Secretary, Dr. Cunnyng
ham.
4 Tbat we request the Publishing Com
mittee at Nashville, and Sunday-school
Secretary, to publish an infant catechism
composed of the brief and appropriate
lessons found in Our Little People prepared
by Rev. A. M. Thigpen.
W. A Parks, Chairman.
Report on Church Buildings.
ATLANTA DISTRICT.
Number of Chuiches 63
“ “ Ceiled 36
“ “ Stoves 40
. ROMS DISTRICT.
Number of Churches 77
•‘ “ * Ceiled 22
“ “ Stoves.... 32
DALTON DISTRICT.
Number of Churches 56
“ “ “ Ceiled 30
“ “ Stoves 41
ATHENS DISTRICT.
Number of Churches 57
“ “ “ Ceiled 88
“ “ Stoves 30
• ELBERTON DISTRICT.
Number of Churches 58^
•- “ “ Ceiled 19
“ “ Stoves 18
LAGRANGE DISTRICT.
Number of Churches 59
“ “ “ Ceiled 28
“ “ Stoves 28
AUGUSTA DISTRICT.
Number of Churches 46
“ “ “ Ceiled 29
“ “ Stoves 25
GRIFFIN DISTRICT.
Number of Churches 61
“ “ “ Ceiled 23
“ “ Stoves 21
GAINESVILLE DISTRICT.
Number of Churches 104
“ “ “ Ceiled 30
“ “ Stoves 21
RICAPITULATION—TOTAL.
Number of Churches 581 %
“ “ “ Ceiled 255
“ “ Stoves 256
Very Respectfully Submitted,
W. C. Dunlap, Chairman Com.
JVlemoir.
Rev. Joshua M. Parker, son of the Rev.
Wm. C. Parker was born in Atlanta, Ga.<
and died in the same city December 2d,
1875.
He was converted at Evans’ Cbapel,
September 1858; and licensed to preach
by the Oxford Quarterly Conference in
1869. He graduated at Emory College
Jaly 1871, and was receievd on trial at
the Annual Conference of the same year.
He served the following appointments,—
Little River Circuit in 1872; Bethlehem
Station in 1873; and Roswell Circuit in
1874. He was ordained deacon by Bishop
Paine at Newnan, December 1873. In
1874 rapidly failing health indicated that
his work was nearly done, and his Presid
ing Elder suggested a superannuation,
which he declined, and asked only a
supernumerary relation; as he preferred
to attempt his own snpport, that he might
bear the Conference fund to more aged
claimants. Converted while he was bnt
a child, he had a bright experience. In
that glad hour, a friend said, “Joshua,
oan yon tell your father how good Jesus
has been to you?” The reply was, “I can
not, for it is better felt than told,” All
who knew him regarded him as a good
child, and afterwards as a pious, studions
yonth. Asa preacher, he had a high
conception of bis work, possessing gifts
and graces for the holy office. He was a
good preacher, and consecration and
studions devotion to his calling gave pro
mise for the fntnre. Asa young writer,
he touched, with accuracy and elegance,
the various fields of poetry, history, and
theology.
Asa friend he had qnalities of heart of
peculiar tenderness. Only a few months
ago, when he was scarcely able to walk j
hearing of the bereavement of a minis
terial friend whose wife bad died, he took
a journey of nearly two hundred miles to
condole with him in hiß night of sorrow.
In revival seasons he wonld linger in
prayer with penitent sonle nearly all night
long. It is believed that exposure in the
work of saving sonle, added to excessive
study, hastened our brother’s death. For
months past be has seemed to be in the
land of Benlah. Some of his last utter
ances communicated to the pastor of
Trinity Chnroh, were, “I desired to go to
Conferenoe and meet the brethren there,
bnt tell them, U is all right ; my religion
WHOLE NUMBER 1974
has been obedience to God. Perfect
obedienoe, in suffering and doing his will,
is the goal for which I have been striving.
I have learned to suffer His will, and am
happy in it.” He remained in this spirit,
until the second day of the present Con
ference, when he died with a heavenly
radiance on his countenance, and the
praise of the Lord upon his lips. He
could not come to our general gathering,
but since we have assembled here, he has
doubtless taken his place in the General
Assembly of the Church triumphant.
While our brother has gone upon high,
he has left to our care and Christian love,
his noble, young, Christian wife, now in
extreme physical suffering and perhaps
soon to follow him into eternal life. She
will retain the affection and be remem
bered in the prayers of the Conference.
Alex. M. Thigpen.
Our Duly.
Mr. Editor: Can the small voice of a
simple steward away up in the hills of
North Georgia be of auy nse in stirring
the lagging Church up to its duty ? I was
very deeply moved some days since at a
remark of sister C. who with many others
had come to my country store. Men
whose broad acres yielded a bounteous
supply were pocketing cheeks for loads of
wheat, and vain were the attempts of your
scribe to get a pittance from those who
were membeis of onr Church, and were
able, yet had no desire to cast into the
treasury of the Lord by paying the
quarterage. I was standing near sister
C. who is a widow—very feeble, extremely
poor, and has care of six small children—
all girls, and no means of support save by
hard labor. The good sister has one cow,
and she had come in to dispose of a little
batter; when I asked her what she wanted
in return, to my great surprise she said—
“l want to pay brother T. for his labor
for me.” “But sister, you are not ex
pected io pay anything. Here are men of
ability, whose duty it is to pay—and you
are not able to spare anything from yonr
little children. Let me give you some
thing for your butter which will do you
and your family some good.” What a
mingled look of pain and pleasure o’er
spread the wrinkled face of this mother
in Israel as she replied, “My faith is in
my Master and were I not to contribute
my mite to the support of his ministers,
my faith would not be strong enongh to
allow me to seek my pallet at night, trust
ing to his care. No, my brother—take
this—would that it were more—but ’tis
all I have—God will not let me snffer be
yond my ability to stand—and Til have a
blessing for my sacrifice." Ob! ye profess
ed Cnrihtians —what a lesson for yon!
How can you say—“give us this day our
dally bread” and y<4 feel that the cling
ing depravity ot yonr souls is withholding
tho things that belong to God. Do you
only render unto Caesar his dnrs? or do
you not east at the feet of mortals, that
offering which belongeth to God? How
is that faith in your heart to day which
mskes you trust (?) in Jehovah whilst you
have let you preacher wear his old clothes
to Conference and assist him not to in
crease his collections for benevolent pur
poses? Meditate upon these things and
piay to God that you may be delivered
from the charge of embezzlement. Soon
we will welcome our preucher for 1876.
We have not done our duty this year.
Some have been umible to do much —but
tell me not that there is a man in Georgia
(who is not a confirmed invalid) who is
not able to pay something for the suppoit
of the ministry. This is not true.
Ninety nine per cent of the Chnrcb mem
bers in the State of Georgia consume more
in the shape of luxuries than would snp
port the ministry aud pay a missionary to
every five miles tqnare over the whole
empire of China. Brethren, will not God
hold us to a strict accountability for the
way we dispose of what he haß given us?
Yea verily. Then let us bestir ourselves
and determine, by the help ol God, tbat
we will do our whole duly to the Chnrch
and look to God for His gracious bless
ings upon ns. Carvosso.
II Grows Brighter.
“ I’ve traveled this road forty years,and
it grows brighter all the way.”
The experience of this aged Christian
is not au exceptional one. Many can tes
tify of the “shining light that shineth
more and more.”
“ Brighter all the way ’’—rough and
thorny may be the path, trials and temp
tations may abound, sorrow and disap
pointments often may be met, yet the way
is not dark.
Perchance for a little season a cloud
may enfold.
“ The grief that must have way ” —but
the light scon breaks forth with a brillian
cy unknown before, and the tried soul
can say:
“ ‘ It is good that I have been afflicted,’
the Lord takes away one gift to bestow a
greater; ‘Blessed be t'-e name of the
Lord.’”
Thus it is the path grows brighter ;
through toil and reward, trial and victory,
temptation and coLquest, sorrow and joy,
the Lord reveals himself to his children.
The discipline of life he nses as a means
to subdoe the stubborn will—the nature
so prone to go astray; yet He draws the
ehiid of His affection nearer to His infinite
heart of love, and then there is increasing
light, for “ with Him is the fountain of
light.”
“ Brighter all the way!” O, how bright
as earth grows dim: we serin almost to
catch a glimpse of the glory beyond when
the triumphant spirit wings its flight to
the home where the Lamb is the light
thereof. ” Watchman and Reflector,
The Board of Missions of the M. E.
Chnreh have made the following appropri
ations for their work in the South for the
ourrent year:
Alabama, 7,000; Arkansas, 5,000; Ar
kansas, for trausiers, (traveling expenses)
at disposal of Bishop, 500 ; Baltimore,
4,000 ; California, 3 500 ; Delaware, 1,500;
Florida, 3,800; Gemgia, 7,500; Holston,
6,000 ; Kansas. 3,500 ; Kentucky, 6,500 ;
Lexington, 2,500; Louisiana, 7,500 ; Mis
sissippi, 7,500; Missouri, 3 500; Nebraska,
6.500 ; N. rch Carolina, 7 000; Sc. Louis,
5,000; South Carolina, 7,500 ; South Cali
fornia, 2,500 ; Southern K .nsas, 4 500 ;
Tennessee, 7,000; Texas, 5.500 ; Virginia,
7 500 ; Washington, 3,500 ; West Texas,
6,000; West Virginia, 4,500 ; Wilmington,
3 000. _
Faith addresses itoeii to man's whole
being; it sonuds every depth ; it touches
every spring ; it calls back the soal from
its weary search within itself, fall of doubt
and contradiction ; it presents an object,
implicit, absolute, greater than itself—
“ One that knoweth all things.” It pro
vides for everv affliction, everv want and
aspiration.— The Patience qf Hope,