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VOLUME XXXIX. NO. 2.
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Another Y'ear.
BT W. P. B.
Another year!
Another year!
So mortals plead for time and life,
And man shrinks back from thought of death,
And loves this earthly march and strife,
And covets more with anxious breath;
Another year of life—Oh why?
Because he fears and loathes to die.
Another year!
Another year!
My life prolong, the miser cries,
’Tis sweet to live for worldly gain;
To spend this life for gold is wise,
To gather wealth by toil and pain;
Another year of life give me,
To spend, oh mammon, all for thee!
Another year!
Another year!
The man of pleasure pleads to see.
That he may fill his appetite.
And join the gay in revelry.
And taste and know each vain delight;
Another year, he cries, give me,
To spend, oh pleasure, all for thee!
Another year!
Another year!
The man ambitious fain would live,
To consummate some selfish plan,
To win a crown the world may give—
The breath of fame-the praise of man;
One year, he cries, oh time, give me,
That Ia prince of men may be!
Another year!
Another year!
The drone—the idler asks to stay.
To live without an anxious care,
’Ere he sinks back to earth and clay,
To go—he knows ana cares not where!
Another year, and then, —Oh what?
To lie forgotten, and to rot!
Another year!
Another year!
Oh what a boon of God is sought—
A year—a month—a week—a day!
To spend for self —for earth—for naught,
T’ abuse and madly throw away!
Another year,— each in his lot,
Desires of time, and oh for what?
Another year!
Another year!
Oh what a boon of God is sought—
A year on earth—to live—to be!
Probation's hour redeemed and bought,
By Christ—for man—for you—for me!
Another year, oh God, bestow!
That I, thy grace, and love may know.
Another year!
Another year!
’Ere I shall yield this fleeting breath,
By Christ redeemed, and to me given;
’Ere X shall hear the voice of death,
Who calls my soul to hell or heaven!
Another year, oh Christ, give me!
That I may toil, and spend for Thee.
Another year!
Another year!
’Ere judgment’s trump shall wake the dead.
And Christ the judge is at the door!
’Ere life’s vain pageantry is fled,
And time itself shall be no more!
Another year, oh Christ, give me,
To labor for Eternity /
Jr' Contribnltons.
Salvation l>v Eaitli.
Mr. Editor: I think the article in yonr
paper of December Bth, introduced by
R. M. L., from the New York Sun, should
not pass nnnotioed. It is well written, is
very plausible, and oommends itself to a
large class of professed Christians of the
present day, and many pastors, who are
opposed to revivals of religion, and be
lieve that sinners should be indoctrinated
into religion by a process of education
and religious observances, rather than by
tbe “ washing of regeneration and the
renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
The whole piece strikes surely bnt cov
ertly at salvation by faith in Cbrist, and
bolds up prominently a man’s own per
formances as a means of salvation. It
ridicules all emotionalism in religion and
denounces tbe work of revivalists as too
shallow to reach the life of a single con
vert, and does not teach the poor sinner
to look to the cross and believe and be
saved. The article is in reply to an awa
kened sinner who is trying to find the
“ wicket, gate ” and enter into life. But
this Mr. Legality takes him away from
the cross, and leaves him under the
lightening and thundering of Sinai, where
he will certainly perish, if he cannot find
“ Him of whom Moses in the law and the
prophets did write.”
It is strange that after Moody and
Sankey should have waked up the dry
bones of the valley in Great Britain in a
way that even Wesley and Whitfield failed
to do, that is, by reaching the clergy, and
even the bishops, of the Established
Chnrcb, inciting not merely sinners out
side of the church, but in the church and
in tbe pulpit; not merely tbe masses, bnt
tbe aristocracy, and the crown, to do bet
ter, to live nearer to Christ, and go ont
and work more faithfully in his vineyard;
we say, it is strange that after all this the
Daniel of the New York Sun should
undertake to lecture these evangelists
about preaching tbe cross of Christ and
salvation by faith, and denonnoe tbe
whole thing, becanse they do not tell the
sinner he can only be saved by an obedi
ence of tbe law and tbe commandments ;
that faith in Cbrist is not sufficient to
save the soul without these things, just as
though the whole system of Christian
morality and righteousness does not follow
this faith in Christ.
What did Peter tell them on the day of
Pentecost ? Did he turn away from the
cross of Christ, and say you must fulfill
the law, you must be good, keep the com
mandments, etc ? Not a word about all
this. His theme was the cross. “ This
Jtsus hath God raised up, whereof we are
all witnesses. Wherefore being by ihe
right hand of God exalted, and having
received of the Father the promise of the
Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this
■which ye now see and hear.” “ Repent
and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost.” ‘‘Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized and the
same day there were added to them about
thr< e thousand souls.”
What did Philip preach to the eunuch?
“ Then Philip opened his month, and
beg in at the same Scripture and preached
unto him Jesus.” “If thou believest with
all thy heart thou mayest? And he an
swered and said, I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God.” Quick work;
po sooner said than done. And Peter
Hftttiherfi Chtistiati
told Cornelius and Bis household, that
“whosoever believeth in Him shall receive
remission of his sins.” “While he yet
spake the Holy Ghost fell on all them
which heard the word. And they were
baptized in the name of the Lord.” The
case of the jailor is still more significant.
In the very moment of his being awaken
ed, he cries, “ Sirs, what shall I do to be
saved?” What did Paul tell him ? Did
he preach keeping of the law, and living
right, as the New York Sun doe3 to the
awakend sinner? Not a word of it. “Be
lieve on the Lord Jesns Christ and thon
shalt be saved, and thy house.” He was
baptized and all his straightway “ and
rejoiced, believing in God with all his
house.”
Ah, this rejoicing is what hurts these
anti-revivalists. “ These experiences,”
says the writer, “ belong to a class of
phenomena that are interesting to
students of the human mind. But they
are not true religion. They are not
genuine conversion. They do not
transform the life.” No, but they result
from faith in Christ, just as holy living
and keeping of the commandments do
And this is what these two unlearned men
Moody and Sankey preach, faith in Christ
and salvation by faith ; and we earnestly
hope that the poor sinner who wrote to
the New York Sun, will not listen to Mr.
Legality, but to these men,who represent
Evangelist,pointing the awakened sinner
to the wicket gate that leads to the cross
of Christ.
The writer of the article in question
represents a large class of religionists of
the present day who ignore the witness
of the Spirit, and preach a change of life
as conversion and a means of salvation,
instead of salvation by faith in Christ.
They are very anxious to have something
to do with their own salvation, and to
take some credit for their reformation.
They compare themselves with the com
mon herd of mankind, and are often
tempted to say: “God I thank thee that I
am not as that poor publiean. ” This class
exist in all the churches. The very best
men are tempted to it sometimes —self-
grutulation, self-righteonuness, glorying
in one’s own performances. The spirit
of Phariseeism is not dead by any means.
Many live in all onr churches to whom
the scathing denunciation of our Saviour
may well apply: “Publicans and har
lots go into the kingdom of heaven before
you.” It is hard for poor human nature,
even after being genuinely converted, to
from being considered something,
because we go to church regularly, say
our prayers, keep the commandments,
give to the poor, and do justice to all
men. It is especially hard for that class
to apprehend what the apostle Paul
meant by saying, “By grace ye are saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God.” E. M. P.
Athens, Ga.
Tire Laymen in Couucit—--Tlie
more Efficient Support of the flliuin
tvy—-A Most Important Matter.
Griffin, Ga., December 4th, 1875.
The lay members of the North Georgia
Conference, now in session, met accord
ing to appointment in the basement of the
Church, at 4 )4 p. m., to digest a plan for
the more efficient support of the ministry.
Gen. A. H. Colquitt was called to the
chair, and Jno. M. Richardson was ap
pointed Secretary.
The chairman invited a free interchange
of opinions.
Bro. O. D. McCutcheon urged the as
s ssment plan, tbe systematic collection
of assessments at short and regular inter
vals—that special attention be paid to
financial matters in church conferences,
that at such meetings reports be read
showing individual assessments and pay
ments, and that every effort should be
made to interest church members, old and
youug, in said meetings, aud to get them
to attend.
Bro. R J. Powell claimed that the great
tvil of the day is the legal repudiation of
monetary obligations through bankrupt
and homestead laws, that it had invaded
the Churoh and was sapping the founda
tions of religion and society. He urged
that this great evil should be combated
by tbe Church with all her force, so that
her members may be guarded from falling
into the snare of belitviDg that what is
legally right, is also, and necessarily moral
ly right. “The time has been,” said he,
“when for one to exclaim ‘ lam a Roman
citizen,’ brought protection to life, liberty,
aud property. And I want to live to see
the day when to say of a man ‘He is a
member of the Church,' will be the highest
indorsement which can be given to him,
the best testimonial in his favor.”
In his practice as a steward, brother P
does not beg, he does not appeal to the
charity of the membership, for the sup
port of the ministry, but he demands it
as a right, as something due by them.
He calls, too, upon the irreligious, and
insists upon their aid in maintaining reli
gion, which is the mainstay, the chief
support, of law order and society—the
conservator of peace, the real protector of
life, liberty and property. In illustration
of his method, he gave examples demon
strating its successful working. He in
sisted that we should act upon the Biblical
maxim—“ Ask and ye shall receive”—and
have faith in it.
Bro. Jno. M. Richardson stated that
the chief difficulty seems to him to be that
the members are not individually alive to
the great duty of giving as a means of grace.
He believes that giving is just as much a
duty, and just as much a means of grace,
as praying, and that the conscience of the
Church ought to be quickened on the sub
ject. How can a Church, rich toward
itself, but poor toward God, be clean in
his sight? How can individuals? How
can they prosper in spiritual life?
He maintained, too, that few are aware
of the cost of living and of its great in
crease duriDg the last decade—that the
members ought to be induced to inform
themselves on the matter, so that knowl
edge may prepare the way for liberality.
The farmer who has no wood, butter,
milk, chickens, eggs, corn, wheat, meat,
etc., to buy, and who pays out money
only for sugar, salt, coffee, shoes, oloth
ing, etc., is often surprised that it takes
more money to support his preacher than
he himself expends for the few artioles
not produced by his farm—forgetting that
the preacheer has to buy many things
that the farmer raises. Not one producer
PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE & COMPANY, FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.
MACON, GEORGIA, WEDNISSfUY, JANUARY 12, 1876.
in a hundred, perhaps, kc-eps an account
of all his expenses, and not one in a hun
dred really knows the cost of living.
The woman power in the Chnrcb (
brother R. thinks, ought to be utilized
and brought into active exercise, and he
recommends that the stewards of each
charge shall call to their aid several pious,
zealous, and intelligent sisters. “In what
ever I engage,” said he, “I always want
a woman for my right hand man. If that’s
a bull, I can’t help it.”
Every member, male or female, young
or old, ought to be urged to give, as God
has given the ability to do so. That is
the Gospel rule.
A heathen poet lay stretched upon his
dying bed, and as he recalled the past he
cried out in the bitterness of his soul—
“ What once I spent, that once I had!” It
was all he could say about it. He had
had it—he had spent it—it was gone. He
summed up the possessions he was about
to leave, and again he broke forth “What
now I leave, all that I lose!” How true!
He could take nothing with him, nor
could he give a ransom for his life. He
writhed awhile in anguish, but suddenly
a smile illumined his countenance and he
joyfully said—“Whatl gave away, that still
I’ll have!” And a greater than he hath
said—“lt is more blessed to give than to
receive.” And a still greater —“Whoso-
ever shall give to drink unto one of these
little ones a cup of cold water only in the
name of a disciple, verily I say nnto you,
he shall in no wise lose his reward.”
Bro. G. L. McCleekey said that the
membership must be educated to give—
that we should commence with our chil
dren, teaching them that it is a duty and
a privilege to give to the cause of religion
in order to glorify God, and to do good
to our fellow-men. He illustrated his
views by giving an account of a little com
munity, whose contribution for religious
purposes was gradually raised from S4O
per annum to §3O0 —the latter sum being
as cheerfully and as easily paid as the
former—and yet thero was no apparent
change in the financial ability of the citi
zens. They had been educated to give.
“We must not only ask,” said he, “but
we must seek to devise the best means to
further the spread of the Gospel and to
support the embassadors of God, remem
bering the promise—‘Seek, and ye shall
find.”’ v
After this exchange of views, the follow
ing brethren—C. D. McCutcheon, Geo.
M. Nolan, R J. Powell, W. C. Smith, and
Jno. M. Richardson —were appointed a
Committee to report by resolution or
otherwise, and the meeting then adjourn
ed until Monday the Gth, inst., at 8)4 a. m.
Griffin Ga , December 6th, 1875.
Gen. Colquitt called the meeting to
order, a. m., when the following reso
lutions were adopted:
1. We earnestly recommend that our
brethren of all the circuits and sta
tions in the North Georgia Conference,
devise and put into execution seme plan
by which the membership in their repee
tive localities shall be more strongly im
pressed with the necessity of sustaining
tue financial interests of our Church—-
bringing, if possible, each member to see
that to contribute according to his ability
for the support of the Gospel is not only
a duty, but is to the giver himself a means
of grace, and blessing, and a high privi
lege.
2. A. H Colquitt, C. D. McCutcheon,
Gjo. M. Nolan, R J. Powell, W. O.
Smith, and Jno. M. Richardson, are re
quested to digest the whole subject in the
form of a brief address, and to present the
same, with these proceedings, to the
Church through the columns of the South
ern Christian Advocate.
3. All papers, secular and religious,
favorable to the increased efficiency of the
ministry, and to their better support, are
respectfully urged to lay this subject in all
its details before their readers, and to
invite their prayerful consideration of it.
4 Every preacher of the North Georgia
Conference is most earnestly requested to
read or canse to be read these proceed
ings, and the address provided for, before
each congregation in bis charge, and to
comment freely thereon, or to gat some
zealous and judioious brother to do so.
Bro. Geo. M. Nolan supported the
fourth resolution very warmly, saying that
he considers the financial problem in tbe
Church as of the very greatest importance.
He has thought much about it, and has
prayed much over it. The question is
one of difficulty, and the difficulty is as
formidable as the question is important.
But there is a solution of the problem,
and earnest men oan, he thinks, find it
out.
Oar preachers shrink from pressing the
matter home upon the people. It is natu
ral that they should. They are men of
delicate feeling, and of true refinement,
and they do not like to do anything, or
to take any position, which may be mis
construed and subject them to the imputa
tion of laboring for the pelf of this world.
No one who knows anything of the miser
able pittances which they receive, or of the
heavy sacrifices that they cheerfully make,
could think of uttering such a charge
But they are the Captains of the Lord’s
Hcst; they must not hesitate to encounter
opposition without and treachery within;
nor should they shrink from performing
any duty. If it is the duty of the mem
bership to pray in private, in the family,
and in public, and to attend upon the
ministration of the Word, and upon all
the ordinances of religion, it is the duty
of the ministry to exhort them faithfully
to the discharge of the obligation. “And
so,” continued brother N., “if it is my
duty, and your duty, my brethren, to con
tribute of our substance to the support of
God’s cause, it is the duty of our pastors
to remind us of it and to urge us to its
performance. I want our preachers to
speak out on this subjeo —to speak boldly
and pointedly.” We are citizens of a
kingdom, of a glorious kingdom, and we
ought cheerfully to pay the taxes of citi
zenship for the privilege. Shall the sons
of God be more niggardly toward Him
than toward Cesar? Let us be up, and
doing in the great work of converting the
world. But “how shall they believe in
him of whom they have not heard? and
how shall they hear without a preacher?
and how shall they preach, except they be
sent?” And how can they be sent with
out the means? Without money, there
can be no organization; without organiza
tion, there can be no union of effort and
means; without union of effort and means,
there can be but a meagre success. Money
is therefore, in the present constitution
of things, largely the motive power of
machinery, the life of organization. Out
off the money Bupplyi and the machinery
ceases, orgrnizition peiishes. God is, it
is true, independent of us, our efforts or
our means. But He has chosen to adopt
human agencies to c irry out His plans for
the spiritual regeneration of the world,
and whilst we cannot thwart His pnrpo??f'
we may bless or blast ourselves and others
by co-operating with His will or refusing
so to do. Onr preachers should, without
any fear of misconstruction enlighten onr
people fully on this subject as well as on
all others, and bring it home to the con
science of each one.
The meeting then adjourned sine die.
ADDRESS OF THE COMMITTEE.
To the membership of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, of the North Georgia Confer
ence.
It will be seen by the foregoing pro
ceedings and resolutions of the lay dele
gates to our last Conference, that we the
undersigned have been charged with the
duty of appealing to our membership in
behalf of more adequate support of our
ministry. While we admit thaLmnelL
might be said in charity and pi^H.vsjsg
something in justice, in excuse
ness and shortcomings as regard
support of our preachers, yet at last there
stands the impiessive fact that they are
not adequately or properly provided for.
To those who feel the weight and im
portance of the mission of these devoted
men, what need of argument to demon
strate and fix our responsibility? Whose
duty is it, if it is not ours, to see that all
weights and binderances of a mere mate
rial sort should be removed from ‘cfelT
laborers who are engaged in the holy work
of ministering at our own altars? It must
be evident that men who are expected to
“give themselves continually to prayer,
and to the ministry of tho word” must
not be forced to “serve tables,” This is
our duty. The dictates of wisdom in the
Church, as well as of sacred conscience is
to send our laborers into the field, not
burdened and oppressed with the thought
that those at home near and dear to their
hearts are suffering restrictions and pri
vations, that are neither justly nor merci
fully imposed.
At best, as the world kuows, the found
ations of a Methodist preacher’s life and
labor, are laid in sacrifices and self denials.
At best, these labors and life-long trials
are softened and cheered by too little of
those material helps, that men are accus
tomed to regard as alleviators of hard
work, and personal sacrifice.
Is it just—is it magnanimous on onr
part, to see these men wearing their lives
out in the service of our Church, while
we are at ease in Zion, and deny to them
a parsimonious assessment? In soue
communities the assessments or volnn
tary contributions, are liberal and are
promptly and cheerfully met. In others,
the promises are liberal, but the fulfill
ment scant and grudging. In others still,'
promises have been of such a moderate, I
and limited character, and they have been J
so poorly redeemed, that they havu4
brought trouble to our conscience, aud'
discredit upon our Christian profession.
We can do better in the future, and h
it presuming too far in ns to say, we can
and mast do better. We are aware that
in matters of finance where there is a
“will,” there is often no “way,” or if a
way at all, the way is not a good one.
Here we feel our difficulty. We are not
prepared to propose any general plan for
raising means for the support of our min
istry. The only rule which would at all
admit of general application has long ago
been found and profounded: “Give ac
cording, as God has prospered yon;” “It
is more blessed to give than to receive,”
ought to be the guide for the universal i
Methodist conscience. Then as auxiliary
to this, we suggest that plan, for raising
funds, be adapted to such
and conditions as affect each class and i
locality. Let the farmer set apart the
acres which are to be God’s, and see to
it that the fruits are faithfully returned
and laid npon the altar. Let the children’
too, who are in training for Heaven, as
they should be in every Christian family,
be made active participants in the care
and labor which are necessary to bring
forth the family offering. Aud so from
every calling and department of life, let
the little rills of contribution and offering
come to the central treasury of the Church.
It is amazing how few numerically of the
membership of the Christian churches
have to bear the burden of the support of
their ministry. Right here, we think, is
to be found the greater part of our finan
cial troubles. If the widow coming with
her mite, was joined with thousands of
humble contributors, those who have but
little to give, would soon see with what
increased spirit the rich among ns
come up to the help of the Church.
The moral effect which we think world
be inevitably felt throughout our entke j
membership, when every member belong
ing to it had become an active contributor
to the support of the Church would hash!
no assignable limit. It would be beyojiC
doubt profound and widespread. On
little children must be enrolled among
these active workers and contributors.
Then will their young hearts feel that
there is a work for them to do, and the
transition from this feeling of interest'tc?
a higher and more saving alliance witl
our blessed religion, will be natnral anc
easy.
We need not say here, that it is not ir
our power, nor do we attempt to present
the Methodists we address, an exhaustive
paper expanding the whole subject of
ministerial support with suggestions of
practical details. We must rest the mat
ter with your conscience, and the lovo
and veneration, which we are sure we all
feel for our communion.
It must be plain—painfully evident to
us all —that if there had not been a press
ing need, this committee would not have
been appointed, and would not now be
uttering this appeal. We cannot gut
away, if we would, from the fact, that we
are suffering that noble body of men, who
are devoting their whole lives to our best
interests, to feel solicitudes and endure
privations that should never be allowed to
fall upon them. We cannot fail too to
see how this injustice will after awhile
begin to have its effect upon our ministry
—how it must naturally repel men from
onr field of labor—how it must dwarf onr
enterprise as a church —how it must re-'
strict every denominational effort in tha
grand emulation of improving and
the world—and last, but O! how far
|ps(P<
least—bow it must chill and damage the
fervor of our Christian life.
Wifl not the Church arouse itself, and
with renewed and harmonious purpose get
abciri the Master’s work?
I A. H. Colquitt, ]
O. D McCutcheon, j
George M Nolan, !. Oom .
_ R. J. Powell,
W. C. Smith,
Jno. M. Richardson, J
Report on Education, South Car
olina Conferenc.
. Jihe Committee on Education respect
fully present the following report :
While the general monetary pressure
has had its obvious effect on all the finan.
cislj interests of the country, and especial
ly the educational, we are glad to be able
tp iay, that with the disability arising
froii the scarcity of money, the institn
ticus under the care of the Conference
a prosperous condition, and all but
free from embarrassment, the
defc pf which is being gradually liquida
only remains for the Church to
• , and determine
HWLe divine blessing, these insti
tutions shall receive the necessary sup
port, and the year upon which we are
entering shall witness a condition of
things far in advance of any period since
the .war.
The great desideratum at present is an
Increased patronage. Many of the Meth
ods youth of the State are educated out-
Jde om own institutions, and some not
no sympathy with us as a denom
ination,but really iu direot antagonism,
while meay who are fully able, fail to avail
themselvis of the educational advantages
offered Methodist parents most be con
vinced b( direct appeal of the suicidal
couise tliy are pursuing, and their child
ten breupht into our institutions.
The necessity is upon the Church to
educate ler sons and daughters, or suffer
them feitier to remain uneduoated, or
influences, if not entirely
adverse o the peculiarities of Methodism,
at least riot favorable to them. While
"tithor Qifbodox denominations, with com
-1 no-nil able zeal, are industriously engaged
in btildsig up their own denominational
schools (nd colleges, and pressing in pat
ronage, ft becomes Methodism to follow
in tho fake of her great founder, and
push toward her educational agencies.
Amoig the many Annual Conferences
dl our own Southern Church, none is bet
ter provided with institutions of a high
grade than ours. Cokesbury Conference
School, Columbia Female College, and
W6&)rd College, form a literary galaxy
upon which South Carolina Methodism
may well look with feelings of pleasure
and satisfaction.
Wofford College.— The anticipated
of Rev. A. M. Shipp, D. D.,
WsSdhe Presidency of this institution,
was accepted by the Board of Trustees at
their late meeting in June, and James H.
.'r.&A&iej Ai -Li xj. , uuaiiruioUßij oigcieu
,P.re:s.ioent, The Board of Trustees and'
friends of the College are gratified in
Jiavjßg been able to command the services
of Dt. .Carlisle, whose connection with
the Institution from the beginning, long
experijnce as an instructor of youth,
varied learning, commanding literary in
flueßcs in the State, and devotion to his
vvqas&On, point him out as one unusually
qualified for the position to which he has
been preferred, and the success attending
| his opening administration augurs a bright
i luture.
Rev. Wallace W. Duncan, A. M., has
laeen elected Professor of Mental and
Moral Science, Daniel A. DuPre, and
I Charles F. Smith, Junior Professors, all
iof them alumni of the College. The
jtyjprd feel oonfident, that these gentle
men, whose qualifications in their several
departments are of a high order, in con
nection with the other gentlemen of the
Faculty, will place the College in a higher
"pßmfKTh of usefulness than ever before.
The committee recommend that three
thousand five hundred dollars (83,500) be
the educational assessment, to be applied
to Wofford College.
Columbia Female College. —This In
stitution has on her roll more than a hnn
dree" pupils in the College proper, and at
her iast commencement added seventeen
names to her list of twenty-nine graduates
sines her opening in 1873.
The debt, which has been a great incu
| bus Upon her prosperity, is being gradu
ally reduced, and her Trustees are confi
des 1y looking forward to an early liqui
' datitn of the entire amount. The College
neecs the hearty sympathy and co-opera
tion of the preachers of the Conference.
If ill the members would make effort to
jLcpnjentrate the Methodist patronage of
I the State upon this Institution, she would
soon relieve herself of the remaining por
| tion of the debt which has so long crip
i nlod her energies and fully accomplish
h . f high mission without appeal either to
Har Board of trustees, alive to the im
portance of E*uataiaio£,a full complement
oil first-class teachers and professors,
eleoed last year, Stafford to the
aready large aioaffflWWtps of instructors,
all under the leadership of the accom
plished and scholarly President, Rev.
Samuel B. Jones, D. D.
Cokeobuby Conference School —This
Institution has closed a successful year
inder the Rectorship of Professor J. L.
.'ones, who came with flattering endorse
uents from Bishop Pierce and other dis
tinguished gentlemen of Georgia. His
mccess the past year has demonstrated
hie ability as a teacher and governor of
The Trustees cannot express too
highly their gratification in having the
services of Professor Jones.
The Board has succeeded in negotiating
an exchange of the school property, con
' of a residence and school house,
both considerably out of repair, for the
Masonic Female College, a large and
bnilding, in good repair, and
awaiting the sanction of this
Hp to perfect the trade. The Trustees
pre persuaded that this exchange of prop
erty will add greatly to the success of this
educational enterprise.
' The Trustees propose to edneate the
sons of the preachers of our Conference
free of charge, which they have not felt
able until now to do, since the war.
Tour Board think that it iB the duty of
members of this body to recommend
J Wis old and successful Institution to the
more general patronage of the Methodists
aud people generally of the State, so as
to enlarge its circumference of useful
ness.
Yonr committee recommend the adop
tion of the following resolution :
Resolved, That the exchange of build
ings now owned by the Cokesbury Con
ference school, for the Masonic Female
College, be made, provided that a good
and sufficient title in trust, with tbe pre
cise terms of the title which they now
have, be obtained ; and further, that the
Trustees be satisfied that arrangements
can be made to remove the incumbrance
of abont three hundred dollars (8300) now
npon the property.
Your committee recommend the ap
pointment of Rsv. Samuel A. Weber, as
Trustee of Wofford College, in the place
of Dr. A. M. Shipp, resigned; and also
the appointment of the following brethren
to the several institutions of learning with
which they are now connected, viz: Rev.
Whitefoord Smith, D D,, and Rev. W.
Wallace Duncan, Wofford College ; Rev.
A. M. Shipp, D. D., to Vanderbilt Uni
versity ; Rev. Samuel B Jones and Rev.
A. J. Stafford, Columbia Female College;
Rev. Samuel Lander and Rev. Snmnel A'
Weber, Williamston Female College.
Yonr committee also recommend Rev.
Jno. M. Carlisle to preach our next annual
sermon. Henry M. Mood, Chairman.
Report on Books and Periodi
cals, South Carolina Conference.
The Committee on Books and Periodi
cals, to whom certain communications in
relation to our publishing interests at
Nashville, Tenn , and Macon, Ga., were
referred, beg leave to report that they
have considered the same.
We are gratified to learn from the report
of J. W. Burke .% Cos., that the financial
condition of the Southern Christian Advo
cate is better than it was at our last session.
This fact is mainly due to the cash system
they have adopted—the cutting off of
non-paying subscribers having diminished
the oost of publication. We would be
pleased if the price of the Advocate oould
be reduced to two dollars per annum; but
it is doubtless true, as they allege, that
this would be impracticable while the
postage is prepaid and commissions are
allowed npon collections, all traveling and
local preachers receiving it at $1 25 and
superannuated preachers and the widows
of deceased preachers, free of charge.
At all events, we are satified that while onr
own able, efficient, and genial Kennedy is
at the helm, tho old Southern will remain
among the very best of the Christian Ad
vocates. He certainly merits the hearty
co operation of every member of this
body; and we onght, for our love to him
and our common Methodism, and espe
cially for the sake of onr Lord aDd Sa
viour Jesus Christ, to labor earnestly to
introduce it permanently into every
household. We are also especially grati
fied that the name of the Rev. A. G.
Haygood, D. D., now appears at the head
-i Uid paper as editorial correspondent.
Already nave aia a .. —o—i 0 —i
contributions added greatly to the inter
est and value of its columns, and we look
for much more in the same line.
The report of Rev. A. H. Redford,
D. D., Agent of our Publishing House at
Nashville, affords the most gratifying in
telligence in relation to its financial con
dition, especially in view of the present
monetary stringency. Dr. Redford is
certainly the right man in the right place
—worthy of the utmost confidence—and
we do most heartily commend his man
agement of the Publishing House. While
we appreciate the appeal he and the Rook
Committee make to our Conference, and
regret that we cannot respond to it as we
would, we pledge ourselves to do the best
we can.
The Nashville Christian Advocate is
worthy of an extensive circulation, and
every dollar that adds to the list of sub
scribers enhances the value of our pro
perty at Nashville, and we truly tosh it
every success as the central organ of the
Church; but the Southern Christian Advo
cate is the adopted official organ of our
Conference, and we must really present
it to onr people first.
We regret not having seen a copy of
the Sunday school periodicals proposed
for the ensuing year. We have, however,
perfect faith in the capacity, adaptability
and fidelity of the Rsv.W.G. E.Cunnyng
ham, D D., to fill well the editorial chair
in that department, and we commend him
and his work heartily to our people. We
had learned to love the name of the Rsv.
AtticusG. Haygood, D. D., for the many
good and great services he had rendered
the teachers and children of our Sunday
schools, and he certainly merits the praise
of a hearty “well done” from the whole
Church. Many will yet rise up to call
him blessed.
The Southern Quarterly Review, “ pub
lished under tne auspices of the Method
ist Epie£pai<4j|uroh, South,” is worthy
of commendation , class of persons
for whom it is maimy designed, as afford
ing the most solid literature in its depart
ment. It seems to us the only publica
tion of the kind that we can recommend,
and we do it heartily.
A oopy of the contract between the
patronizing Conferences and J W. Bnrke
& Cos., for the publication of the Southern
Christian Advocate, is herewith submitted
to be filed among the archives of the Con
ference.
We recommend the appointment of S.
Bobo, E-q., as the representative of this
Conference on the Publishing Committee
of Southern Christian Advocate.
We are pleased to learn by a communi
cation from the Rev. Dr. Sommers that
he remembers his former co-laborers of
the South Carolina Conference, and we
regret that he has.not foundjit convenient
to be present at this sesssion.
Resolved, That we will use the utmost
efforts to to eirculate the literature of our
Church. L. Wood, Chtirman.
The Scribes.
Generally all that were in any way
learned among the Jews were, in the time
of our Saviour and bis Apostles, called
Scribes, but especially those who, by their
skill in the law and divinity of the Jews,
were advanced to sit in Moses’ seat,
either as judges in the Sanhedrin, or
teachers in their schools and synagogues.
Both their name and profession began
immediately after the Babylonish captivi
ty, about five hundred years before the
birth of Christ, for Ezra himself was one
of the first. They were a body of the
/most learned men of the nation, and
chiefly of the sect of the Pharisees,
F. M. KENNEDY, D. D., Editor
J. W BURKE .’. Ann!* fa ill Editor.*
A. G. HAY GOOD, D. D., Editorial Correspondent.
though some of them might possibly be
Karaites, or Auti-Traditionists. as it ap
pears from one of them asking onr Savio.ir
(see Mark xii :28) “ which was the first
commandment of all,” and being so high
ly pleased with his answer.
Those who were descended from the
stock of Levi were nsnally called Scribes
of the clergy ; but such as were sprung
from any other tribe were named scribes
of tbe people. The business of the latter
was to take care to preserve the purity of
the text in all the Bibles whioh they copied
out, and to see that no corruption crept
into the original. It was not held proper
for every vulgar pen to transcribe the
great mysteries of the law, and therefore
this peculiar order of men was appointed
for this purpose ; but they did not so en
tirely apply themselves to it as not to act
in many other matters both of civil and
religious concern, being public notaries,
in the Sanhedrim and courts of justioe,
as well as registrars iu the synagogues.
The office of the Scribes of the clergy was
to teach in public, and instruct the people
by expounding to them the law in their
sermons and set discourses; by which
Draotioe they grew into such repute in the
Jewish state that it was hard to say
whether the Pharisees or they were held
in greater veneration ; for what the Phar
sees gained among the common people by
their pretences to extraordinary sanctity,
these more justly obtained by their zeal
for the written Word, in preserving it
from the dangers of corruption, and ex
pounding it in the ears of the people.—
Stackhouse.
“Prepare to Meet tliy God!”
The most impressive sight in a geolo
gist’s cabinet is a collection of meteoric
stones; for each one of them is a piece of
another planet lodged on this.
The fragment of a verse from an old
book in the Bible with which this article
is headed, has in it a power which we re
cognize, and yet know is not at all com
mensurate with anything we behold on its
surface. It arrests attention at once from
even the most careless mind. And the
reason of its impressiveness is found in
the fact that it utters directly and author
itatively a thought addresstd to us out
from another world.
A thick cloud of darkness hangs between
us and the future life. We Lave become
satisfied, after years of impatient waiting,
that the veil is now wholly impenetrable,
aud was meant to be so from the start.
Yet so painfully do we long to know tbe
mysteries beyond it, that we often in onr
hours of meditation find ourselves sitting
before its folds, passionately peeping into
them,listening meanwhile, trying to force
onr wistful vision clear through to the
other side, and know what there remains
yet for ns to discover.
Suddenly the silence is broken by a
voioe. It rushes upon us all the more
startling because wo have been bending
our ears with strained and excited atten
tion But it bears no new information.
It does not seem to be aimed to relieve
cariosity. It only urges an admonition
of intense solemnity. “ Prepare to meet
thy God!”
Singularly enough, that was precisely
what we anticipated. No matter what
else we imagined might be behind that
curtain, we knew God was there. Every
man, tbe moment be draws any picture of
the future world, instinctively conceives
of the presence of his Maker at the,centre
and capital, as tbe one grand spectacle of
heaven. We talk more of recovering the
friends gone, of beholding celestial glo
ries, of discovering fresh wonders, of ex
gtfiFa9lD6.,^°^j°ary. j°y s ’ Bn *’
es the interior of his own honest heart,
there he finds himself saying what marks
the transcendent and ultimate expectation
of his entire being; he exclaims, “The
moment this veil is drawn I shall see
God!”
Hence we are wont to yield full
sympathy to what would otherwise seem
most inexplicable reserve in the transla
tion of the Scriptures—the sacred and
suggestive exclusiveness with which the
awful word eternity vs used. It occurs but
once in all our English Bibles, and then
it indicates the dwelling place of Jeho
vah. He is called “ The High and Lofty
One that inhabiteth eternity,whose name
is Holy?” So when we are candid to each
other, we acknowledge the fitness as well
as the unparalleled majesty of such a form
of description. What is eternity? So
we ask ourselves with hushed voices. And
the answer is: Eternity is the habitation
of God. Wbat, then, in the tremendous
moment when we enter its doors, shall we
earliest see ? And the quiet answer is,
Whatever else I shall see.there, I am cer
tain that my first sight will be— God!
And tbe next thing I shall see will be
that he sees me. That will be one mo
ment of intense meaning to each of us,
of more importance perhaps than will
ever occur again in onr personal history;
that moment when, all bodily hinderance
removed, our souls shall step forth from
th 6 multitude, and come, at the call of
our names, out into the white light of the
eternal judgment. Then there will be a
mutual recognition. We shall meet God.
And I suppose that means we shall be
seen by him as well as see him.
It might be a great grntification to ca
rious and speculative people to gaze at
God from a distance and in a crowd; as a
pilgrim sees the pope at Rome when he
sprinkles holy water on a multitude. Even
the pageant of the final judgment would
rise on onr imagination as a very impos
ing spectacle, perhaps, if we knew we
were only to be present as spectators,and
could rehearse it afterwards as some exci-
ting adventure of celestial travel. But
we shall not be tourists, but culprits, on
that day. No prisoner at a grand assize
ever held his breath in anxiety, as he was
ushered up before the presiding justice,
with a deeper hush than we shall hold
ours then; for never had human beings
such mighty issues at stake in onr court
as we shall have in that stupendous
trial.
i’ne very first act in the tremendous
drama will be a full and powerful exhibi
tion of Jehovah and his attributes before
onr souls, with not a thing between. We
shall find tho veil withdrawn from before
that ineff able love, which makes the an
gels believe and sing, which makes the
devils believe and tremble. The one
blazing centre of all radiance aDd majesty
in that hitherto hiddeD, bnt now suddenly
disclosed world, will be seen by every eye
in the universe.
Of course the result of this will be the
necessary disclosure of ourselves. That
man who stands so near the sun will be
rendered instantly visible, and become
terribly conspicuous. History will be re
called. All those pretty little draperies
and gauzes of oonventional concealment,
polite duplicity, sooial reserve, and per
sonal dignity with which we are wont to
keep ourselves away from indecorous
scrutiny will be crumbling in the coffin
with the body they used to adorn. God’s
divine glory will search as it shines,
And the one absorbing and overmas
tering thought in every human mind will
be, as if left all alone in the moment of
its vast discovery to express in soliloquy
its wonders, “ Here, then, am I, come np
through all the windings of personal
biography, now a bodiless soul,at last face
to face with'the Supreme Monarch of
heaven; at last, through all the sunshines
and shadows of life, I have reached its
awards,and am in the nr. dimmed presence
and revelation of God!” “Now we see
through a glass, darkly, but then faoe to
face; now we know in part, then shall we
know even as also we are known.”
And the question is, whether or not it
is wise for any man to come to that crisis
of his existence unready—whether there
is not something to be heeded in the
counsel, “Prepare to meet thy God.
—American Messenger,
WHOLE NUMBER 1977
Tlie Minimum Christian.
Tbe minimum Christian ! And who Is
he ? The Christian who is going to heaven
at tbe cheapest rate possible. The Chris
tian who intends to get all of the world
he can, and not meet the worldlings’
doom. The Christian who aims to have
as little religion as he may without laok
iug it altogether.
The minimum Christian goes to church
in the morning; and in the afternoon
also, nnless it rains, or is too warm, or
too cold, or he is sleepy, or has the head
ache from eating too much at dinner. He
listens most respectfully to the preacher,
and joins in prayer and praise. He ap
plies the truth very judiciously, sometimes
to himself, oftener to his neighbors.
The minimum Christian is very friendly
to all good works. He wishes them well,
but it is not in his power to do muoh for
them. The Sabbath school he looks upon
as an admirable institution, especially for
the neglected and ignorant. It .is not
convenient, however, for him to take a
class. His business engagements are so
pressing during the week that he needs
the Sabbath as a day of rest; nor does he
think himself qualified to act as a teacher.
There are so many persons better prepared
for this important duty, that he must beg
to be excused. He is very friendly to
home and foreign missions, and oolpor
tage, and gives his mite. He thinks there
are “too many appeals but he gives,
if not enough to save his reputation,
pretty near it; at all events, he aims
at it.
The minimum Christian is not clear on
a number of points. The opera and
dancing, the theatre and oard playing, and
large fashionable parties, give him mnoh
trouble. He cannot see the harm in this,
or that, or the other popular amusement.
There is nothing in the Bible against it.
He does not see but that a man may be a
Christian, and dance or go to the opera.
He knows several excellent persons who
do. Why should not he ? He stands so
close to the dividing line between the
people of God and the people of the
world, that it is hard to say on whioh side
of it he is actually to be found.
All, my brother, are yon making this
attempt ? Boware, lest yon find at last
that in trying to get to heaven with a little
religion, you miss it altogether; lest,
without gaining the whole world, you lose
your own soul.
Striving with God.
It is assumed that men do sometimes
u rive with God. However foolish and
wicked it may be, men do sometimes
measure their power with the Almighty.
Men strive with God when they do not
follow the awakening influences of his
Spirit. There is a singular indifference to
spiritual interests. Even where there is
a careful, conscientious life in other things,
there is apathy in regard to the things of
God. The emotions awakened by the
trnth are allowed to subside quickly, the
convictions aroused are permitted to die
out, and life settles down to the lower
level of duty postponed, and conscience
held in abeyance. Often men think of
themselves as if only their own interests
are involved, and forget the claims of God
upon them, and that in resisting these
they are striving against him, Grace is
of God, and if not accepted may be with
drawn. The indifference thus cherished
may in righteousness be confirmed, so
that no awakening to life may ever be
known.
Men strive with God when they resist
any movement confessedly good. They
may not mean it so, they may not thiDk
of God at sll. and may not regard men,
' Uev strive with God who
is always working to escaDinm rigmuuua
ness.
Tbe dishonest man thinks only of gain,
and does not consider that he wars against
one who detects what is hidden from
men, and who, by nnerring processes, will
expose and punish his wrong-doing. The
impure man only thinks of his own grati
fication, but his desires are an offence to
the Holy One whose righteous orderings
will sooner or later inflict the penalty.
The liquor seller may shield himself nnder
law, and persnade himself that becanse
his business is legal by civil statute it is
legitimate nnder moral law ; bnt he ar
rays himself against him who loves man,
and who is the Avenger of the widow and
the orphan. We cannot escape the pen
alties of a sinful course of life. There is
one who looks narrowly into all onr paths,
and who sets a print on the heels of onr
feet by which he may track ns to the
judgment.
Movements for the accomplishment of
objects admitted to be good often find de
termined opposition where cordial support
would have been looked for. When an
evil has grown so that it is rooted in so
ciety, and the interests of many persons
grow with it and upon it, any movement
for its removal awakens hostility. The
questions of right and duty to God are set
aside, and only tbe interests of those in
volved in it are regarded. Men raise a
cry against all who work for its suppres
sion as agitators and distnrbers. They
do not see that the movement is God
working for righteousness, and that their
face is set against him. No Christian
ever bows the knee to God in prayer
for tbe extension of intemperance, bat
many resist every movement that looks to
its snppression. They listen to the ar
guments of liqnor interests, they look at
the capital invested, they think of the
men to be thrown ont of employment by
suppression of the traffic, bnt do not look
at the immoral natnre of it, nor at tbe
interests of those who suffer by it. And,
therefore, they do not see that in uphold
ing it they are resisting God in one of his
gieat movements for the deliverance of
men from the power of Satan.
A Startling Calculation.
If we were to suppose the present pop
ulation of onr globe to be sixteen hun
dred millions, which is probably an over
estimate, and that in all that vast number
there was bnt one true Christian,and that
he should be instrnmenlal in the hands of
the blessed Spirit, during the coming
year, of the conversion of two others to
Christ, and that each of these new con
verts should instrumentally lead two oth
ers to Christ duriug the first year of their
spiritual life, and that tbe work should
thus continue —each new convert leading
two others to Cbrist within a year of his
conversion, how long would it take at
this rate for the whole sixteen hundred
millions to be brought to Cbrist? Tbe
answer will doubtless startle many of our
readers; but if we may rely upon figures,
the whole world would be converted in a
little less than thirty years and a half, or
within less than a single generation ! Is
such a work too mighty for God’s Spirit
to accomplish, or the Church to strive to
achieve? But let us vary somewhat the
conditions. Instead of supposing, as
above, that there was but one true Chris
tian in all the world, let ns, with a nearer
approximation to the truth, suppose tbe
number to be at least twenty millions.
This is probably much below the truth.
If each one of these should bring to
Christ instrumentally a single soul within
the coming year, the whole number
would be doubled before tbe close of
1876 If similar blessed results should
follow prayer and effort in 1877, and be
continued year after year—each true
Christian becoming instrumental by
prayer and personal effort in the salvation
of only one soul each year—long before
the year 1882 would have come to a close,
the grand chorus would be heard in hea
ven: “ The kingdoms of this world have
become the kingdoms of oor Lord and
His Christ, and he shall reign forever and
ever.” By each true Christian bringing
instrumentally one soul to Christ each
year, in less than seven years the world
would be regenerated I— Weekly Review^