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$2.50 PER AKTHTUM, Invariably in Advance. VOLUME XXXIX. NO. 4. faefrj. Thou and I. BY PIKE BE CAKY. Strango, strange for thee and me Sadly afar; Thou safe, beyond, above, I ’ueatli the star; Thou where flowers deathless spring, I where tb< y fad ; Thou in God’s paradise, I ’mid the shade. Thou where each gale breathes balm, I tempest-tossed; Thou where true joy is found, I where ’tis lost. Thou counting ages thine, I not the morrow; Thou learning more of bliss, I more of sorrow. Thou in eterr al peace, I ’mid earth’s strife; Thou where care h ith no name, I where’t is life. Thou without need of hope, I where’t is vain; Thou with wings dropping light, I with time’s chain. Strange, strange for thee and me, L-rnd, loving ever; Them by life’s deathless fount, 1 near death’s river; Th iu winning wisdom’s love, I strength to trust; Thou ’mid the seraphim, I iu the dust. Contributions. “Tlio i\lode of Jolm's Baptism with Water Interpreted by Christ’s Baptism with the Holy Ghost.” Reply to Rev S. G Hillyer, in Christian Index, November and December, 1875. BY REV. W 0 DUNLAP, NORTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE. Some of the retdeis of the Advocate will remember the publication of a com pilation of Scripture under this head, ia the irane of August 18 h, 1875. I had no idea that any of my pugilistic Baptist friends would be provoked into a notice of it, as I certainly had no design to inau gurate a discussion upon this or any other subject. But, since the RiV. S. G. Hill— yer has published two very learned articles in the Christian Index, in reply, I think it proper to have a short say ia response, lest he should misc rastruo my silence. Ho takes me to task quite rouudly for my temerity in presuming to quote a few pas sages of Scripture on the subject of modal baptism. Ha says that I think I have demonstra ted that John’s baptism washy pouring. Now, I leave it to the reader if he is not mistaken. That the fact he mentions is demonstrated, I readily admit; but the question between him and me at present is, as to who the demonstrator is. Ha says f am, but I say the word of God is. Thera it is, so plain that the wayfaring man—unless he is a Baptist—though a fool, need not err therein. I do not say oue word looking to a demonstration by any argument of mine. The argument is all from a “ Thus saith the Lord,” which I had supposed even brother Hillyer would not object to. As to my “great ingeni ousneas,” as he characterizes my putting these Scriptures together, I am very much obliged to him for the compliment, but still I must beg his pardon for not accepting it. They are so iuseperably connected in the one lesson they teach, that the ingeniousness would be, not only in not so “ putting ” them, but also in so shading our eyes as not to S3e the truth they teach. So, brother Hillyer is the ‘' ingenious ” man after all. The brother has evidently hit the truth, when he says, “baptism with water” means that the water is to be applied to the person, and not the person to the water ; else it would doubtless have read, “ baptize the water with yon.” Bat as he is unable to •• de monstrate,” he resorts to “supposition,” which is another evidence of his “great ingeniousness.” Hear him : “ Bat sup pose, after all, this is a wrong translation,” t e., the Greek preposition en, transla ted with. He admits that the King’s trans lators so reuder it, but in the very same breath he charges them with down-light “dishonesty” for so doing. If so, Luther was dishonest too, and so of all others who have translated these same passages np to the nineteenth century. It is a great pity that Mr. Hillyer wrote those words. “ Dishonest,” indeed ! Mast a man see immersion in every word and syllable of the Bibie, a “ thus saith the Lord ” to the contrary, notwithstanding, even at the peril of being charged with the sin of dishonesty ? So it would ap pear from Mr. Hillyer’s ipse dixit. As to what Mr. Hillyer says of the Transition b lug iufl teaced by their pre ference for pouring as the mode of bap tism, I am surprised that a m m of his reputed learning and historical research should venture such an assertion in the face of the fact that their Ohnreh rubric required them to practice immersion at all times, except in a case of life and death. Men do not ordinarily disagree so palpa bly with the teachings of their Church, especially men of such renowned piety and learning as these men were. The truth is, the correct rendering was so self evident that they could not translate the word in that par ieular connection, in any other way, without being guilty of the very thing he charges them with. Bat after all his arguing about the word en and the charge of dishonesty against the Translators, he concludes to let me have the word “ with,” as they gave it to me— a morsel of comfort for which I ought tc be duly grateful. Mr Hillyer falls into the oil Baptist “ rut ” of confounding the thing, with the mode or manner of doing that thing. He forgets, or rather he does not choose to remember, that there are many way of doing the same tiling. If I say, “ John went to town to-day,” I declare that “ John ” did a curtain thing, and yet I say nothing about his mode of doing it. So when the Bible says, “ John baptized the people,” it affirms an action on tbe part of John, but does not tell ns how it was done. When, however, it declares he baptized with water, even ns Christ shonld “ baptize with the Holy Ghost;” and in spiration interpreting its own meaning assures ns that that was by “ pouring," we are no longer indoubt as to how he did it. I did not say that baptism and pouring were synonymons terms. Neither does the Bible say so. Hence. Mr. Hill yer’s effort to render the words of inspi ration ridiculous, recoils against himself with ten-fold force, for he does say, and contend o , that “ baptize ” and “ dip ” ate pne and the same word. f>att(hertt CbrisHatt gUhimtfc, Now let us try him by the same rule that he tries ns by. If baptize always means to dip, let us translate some of the passages under consideration, and see what sort of sense it will make : John said, “I, indeed, dip yon in water, but ... He shall ciip yom in the Holy Ghost,” Matt, iii : 11. ‘‘He that sent me to dip in water, (dip what ?) the same said unto me, upon whom thou shalt se the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which dippetb in the Holy Ghost,” John i :33. “And he came into all the country about Jordan preaching the dipping of repentance,” Luke iii: 3 “And he said unto them, unto what then were ye dipped And they said, “Uato John’s dipping." Then said Paul, “John verily dipped in the dip ping of repentance,” Acts xix : 3, 4. There you h ive a simon pure Baptist translation, and I insist, to nse Mr. Hill yer’s words, that this test is perfectly fair. The claim is, that these verses, as given in the Bible, prove “dipping" to have been the mode of John’s baptism. Then “baptizing,” means “dipping,” and “ baptize" means “ to dip,” and, accord ing to Mr. Hillyer’s theology, it cannot mean anything else. If so, the word when so translated, not only here, but everywhere in the Bible, ought to make sense. John verily “ dipped in the dipping of repentance,” etc. Wonld such a sen tertca as that pass criticism in a common school ; and if not, can we believe the inspired penman wrote it ? I have committed tho above solecisms simply to show to what absurdities ex clnsive immersionists are driven, in order to maintain their dogma. Everybody knowsthatin Baptist parlano, “baptism” and “ dipping ” are synonymous ; where as, in Methodist parlance, “baptism” and “ pouring ” are two distinct words. Mr. Hillyer closes his first article by saying that John’s baptism carmot be in terpreted by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Will he be so kind 83 to inform ns whit, John’s object was in thus calling such direct attention to his own and Christ’s baptism ? If he answers that it was to show his recognition of Christ's superiority over himself, we reply that that carries-with it an admission that Christ’s baptism with the Spirit was greater than John’s baptism with water. And if we can only find out how He baptized, we shall no longer be at a loss to know how John baptized. Now John’s words im port this, it seems to me, “Even as I bap tize yon with water (by Donring) so shall He—Christ—baptize you (by pouring) with the Holy Ghost. But Mr. Hillyer says that baptism when applied to spirit ual baptism is a figure of speech, i e., after all that Christ and the Bible says about the day of pentecost, aud all of our hopes that are centered therein, it is noth ing but a figure of speech—a metaphor— a mere myth. He forgets that Joel and Peter litiralize, and therefore make real, at least, the “baptism of the Holy Ghost;” for both of them doelate “iu the audience of all the people” that it was done by “pouring ” And now, in the conclusion of this article, I beg to say that in my next, and last, I shall present the whole argument in a nut shell, from tho pen of IVv. Dr. Harrison. I think lam clearly justifiable in doing so, inasmuch as he gives my views exactly. Besides, if I were to give it in my own language, I should seem (at least to those who have read his book) to be quoting from him, without at the same time giving him due ere lit. At the same time, I think it due to me to state that I did not borrow these ideas from him, having used them for years, an and never having read his book, as a whole, nutil recently. Then ami Now—The Two Re ceptions. It wrs a cold evening iu December when I arrived at my first appointment. The depot is about a quarter of a aide from the town. Oh, it was very dark and cheer less when, with valise iu hand I stepped from the cars. A few dim lamps cast an uncertain light around me, but I knew uo one, and no one spoke to me. By the guidance of a stranger and the little negro who carried my valise, I was conducted to the “tavern” where I war to lodge for the night. The tavern was a tottering, dilapidated old building, ut terly devoid of comfort of any kind. A small fire of greea sticks was soon kin died; but it gave out no heat, and very soon expired; a broken table held a tallow candle, a couple of broken chairs and at old bedstead completed the furniture of the room. There were windows on three sides, with much of the glass broken, and the winter wind seemed to laugh at the vain attempts I made to diffuse a little warmth from my tire of green wood. As may be supposed, I passed a sleepless night, shiv< ring in the cold. Next morning, having a “plan,” I called ou the first steward at liis place of fcusi ness. It was early and he was disengaged Introducing myself as the newly appoint el pastor, he replied: “Ah, is Conference or- r ? I had not heard < f it—where is brother C. sent this year ? Wa had up hill work to snpport him last year, and will not be able to rai.-e as much for jour support—had expected that a single mac would have been sent U3. ’ There was no cordial greeting, no word of encourage ment or welcome; the dollar and cent question was the uppermost thought, and was made the leading subject of- couver sation. Little did the dear brother know how his lack of sympathetic interest fioze what little of pastoral life there was left iu me. My next visit was tp another steward; to him I was introduced. He was en g.iged when I called, aud after I had wait ed probably ten minutes, he came forward with a.eold, stern, but frigidly polite man ner, and, hardly inviting me to be seated, said, as about his first sentence: ’ Yon had bitter tell brother to cal! a meeting of the stewarls frr this afternoon.” What wonld I have cot given for a smile of cordial welcome, a simple word of cheer, a grip of brotherly affection; but it did not come, and its absence produced a chill from which I suppose I never wholly recovered. It was a bright, balmy morning, when I reached my last appointment. Arriving with my family at the depot, I found two carriages in waiting. Two of the stewards PUBLISHED BY J. W. BURKE 4 COMPANY, FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH. MACON, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY' 26, 1876. were there to greet ns. Friendliness, af fection, and pleasure,were written on the faces of those two dear brothers, before the first words of welcome were spoken, and when these came, they were so gen nine and cordial. I had expected to be taken to a hotel, until I had gotten my home ready; but instead of this, we were taken at once to the parsonage. Two of the dear sisters met ns at the gate, and with kindly words of cheer, welcomed us to the parsonage. Eat°*ing, we were not a little surprised to find beautifully fur nished rooms, amply supplied in all the departments of a comtortable home ! nothing seemed to be overlooked or for gotten that could minister to our comfort and enjoyment. An experienced cook— that usual trouble with house-keepers— had already been engaged and was at work ; a bright fire burned upon the hearth, and a sumptuously prepared breakfast tempted onr appetites, already quickened by our long journey, while tl e larder was abundantly supplied with t);e needfnl good things thereunto appertain ing. If ever a heartfelt prayer went up from grateful hearts, such prayers ascended that morning from ours that the richest blessings of God might rest upon and abide with these dear people. Moral — Let onr stewards generally look at these two pictures drawn from real life, and take a lesson. Itinerant, Modern Doubt anil Christian Be lief. Mr. Editor : I have set apart a consid erahle fragment of each of the last eight days to the eight lectures, which comprise Ohristlieb’s great work, “ Modern Doubt md Christian Belief.” Chrietlieb, yon will recognize as a very prominent, if rot the most prominent, representative of G rruan Christianity at the late Evangel ic tl Alliance at New York. I have just finished the last chapter of this noble work, and the thought first in my mind, after self-grutnlation at what I have been allowed to enjoy, is a feeling of deep interest and sympathy for the young men of the Church, whom I would have to share with me the enjoyment and benefit of this useful bork lam a young man rajself and claim the right to speak of such and to such. We need just such a book as this, which takes up the various phases of modern skepticism, and, in a style Dot so popular on the one hand as to be ru perfieial, nor so professional ou the other hand as to be painfully abstruse, exposes aud confutes their sophistries aDd brings into bold and splendid relief tbe strong points and the beauties of tbe Christian system of faith and life. Our author, recognizing in an introduc tory lecture, the breach between m< dern Cult ure and Christianity,proceeds at once to discuss the origin of our idea of God, d* fining the relation that exists between reason and revelation, and placing the theology of Scripture and the Church, i e , Biblical Theism und the Trinitarian conception of the Divine nature, in neces sary antagonism to such modern non-bib- Leal conceptions of God as Atheism, Ma terialism, Pantheism, Deism, and Ration alism. Then comes the modern negation of miracles—this chapter itself is worth the price of tha whole book —and then the anti-miraculous accounts of the Life of Christ, in which Schenkel, Strauss, aud Rmun, fall into the hands of our doughty knight, then a masterly vindica tion of the Resurrection, and finally a powerfully written defense of the origines of Christianity, against the learned Banr and the Tubingen school. This is a hasty bntcomprehensive view of the work of this distinguished German philosopher aud diviue. Without endorsing all his views —what man of any individuality will ac cept without mental reservation or prof' st any human composition!—we may safely adopt him as onr guide and companion in the conflicting issues of the present Chris tian age. Thoroughly evangelical in his sentiments—with a mind profoundly edu cated and stored with the learning of the schools, and a heart imbued with the spirit of truth and of Christ—Christlieb deserves our admiration and is worthy of onr most thoughtful study aud research. Let me relieve you and yonr readers with a sample of the style and thought and spirit of onr author. Here is one taken almost at random: “ ‘Give we great thoughts!’ cried Herder on his death bed. Yes; in death we all need great thoughts This at least you will not deny. The greatest minds, princes in the realm of thought, grasp after them in thei dying hour, and cling to them as a supper, amid a great shipwreck in which the eutm vis i de world is sinking before their eyes. But the greatest of all thoughts is God; the eternal, personal, holy God, who is love. And in such moments He is the only great and enduring thought. All others vanish and dissolve before Him. Woe be to him who at that crisis lacks the eternal support of this thought ; who only grasps it in earnest when he himself is being grasped by it!" Once more. Quoting the saying of J A Bengel, “ the most important contro versy 8 are those which a man finds in his own heart,” he proceeds: “Bat these latter, we add, point ns to the place where Thomas, the doubter even amongst the apostles, had to learn his faith. Only in the wounds of Christ can we learn by faith the truth which shall make ns free. There only does unbelief, even to this day, learn to surrender and hnmbly confess: ‘My Lord and my God!’ He who will not seek for the truth there will never find it. All that we can do for the skeptics of the present day is to make the way there as easy for them as may be, in order that the sign of Jonah, given by our buried and risen Lord, may be to them a rock of sal vation and not of offense.” Bat I desist. See here! the expression of a kindly interest and sympathy for my brethren has grown into a loDg newepa per article. Bat please publish it, Mr. Editor. Don't think my purpose is to advertise a book. None. I hate no axe to grind, bat such axes—may there be more of them and sharper ones—as the Master wonld lay at tbe root of the trees of unbelief and of sin. May the good Lord bless yon,my dear Doctor Kennedy, aDd your numerous readers with joy and peace, uninterrupted either by the vicissi tudes or by tbe end of mortal life. Very affectionately, S. A. W. WHliamston, 8. C. Letter from Mrs. Branch. My Dear Friend: The city of Sacramento was enveloped in a fog when we reached its depot, and as we passed through only a small portion of it, I will not attempt to describe it. For many miles about the city I noticed the same luxuriance of vegetation which makes California to dif fer from any other laud upon ihe earth. Here we have the rich growth of the tropics with air so pare and invigorating we can find no fitting words to tell of it; it must be breathed to be appreciated. A few hours later we neared the end of the Union Pacific Railway. We skirted the edge of Oaklands, but the fast fall ing twilight veiled the many handsome residences we passed. The etis passed for miles over a track, laid right over the bay itself. It looked a little dangerous, at least the children thought so. At Ust we reached the ferry boat, which was to con vey us across a portion of the bay of San Fraucisdo to the city. What a concourse of human beiDgs poured out from a few coaches! It seemed inoredible we could have been travelling in such a crowd. They rushed upon the ferry, and here we found the air keen at and biting so that we were glad to get inside the warm cabin. Soon there was another msh, and catching up of bundles and babies, and after a fearful effort to got through the crowd our feet touched the whuif We were soon on Montgomery street, and landed safely at a handsome hotel. The city was like day, so clear and beau tiful was the gns light, and most of the buildings to all appearance being built of white stone, the r< fl ■ t and light was great and the streets looke.i i.s if there was an “illumination." Wo all felt like sadorn when they first reach land, and some of us walked very strangely; yet we were all fresh, and felt no more fatigue than wo did the day we started from Georgia. In no other climate could we have come out so victorious over such long constraint. I have spoken before of that insane rash to the barber’s, of the head of this ft mily; now I can tell how that imprudence and absence was the cause of my reoeivitifr the first greeting to California. B.o.her Parsons of the Pacific Methodist called, aud I received him. It was delightful to hear his hearty “welcome to California.” He is a most genial, pleasant man, and being from Alabama,and a friend to many of onr dear ones, we felt quite at homo with him. After the first greetings were over, he took ns into anew jewelry estab lishment, which was like a scene of en chantment. It was not very spacious, but every wall, and even the ceiling, was a mirror. It is impossible to describe the effect of these countless reflections, with the brilliant lights of the store. It is no exaggeration to say they were myriads— bewildering they were truly. The jewels and precions stones, were handsome, but the tout ensemble was the happy success of the proprietor; I never expect to see any thing of the kind more beautiful. After a refreshing night’s rest, we were ready for any enjoyment which offered for the forenoon as we were to leave at two o'clock for Santa R ;sa. Brother Parsons was confined in his office until eleven o’clock, so we started out with only our own party, to see a little of the city. Mr Branch suggested that I might be trou bled to keep tbe children together, but I scorned the ridiculous idea, and we march ed out two by two. We made quite a respectable crowd as to numbers, with our young lady friend, who bad accompanied ns all the way. We admired the Palace Hotel, which is truly magnificent; but as I know little of architecture I will go into no details, but say it was immense, and built of the same white bton6-looking material. It was beantifuily ornamented with frescoes, Corinthian pillars, etc. But truly I enjoyed the tours through the markets more than anything else. Such fruits I never saw aggregated to gether. Luscious pears, grapes, straw berries —such as we never see, so large and fresh looking—snch beautiful butter press ed into tall cylindrical shapes and as firm and sweet and clean as heart could desire. Such quantities of mammoth and perfect vegetables of all varieties; oh, it made me long for a home, that I might go to cook ing. Then the meats ! such rare looking turkeys, with their hangiug heads all neat ly tied up in clean paper, such tempting looking fish, some looking like sardines just, from the pure brine, and angel and flounders, and more than I cri possibly name. It wonld weary you to name them, and it sets me to longing for them, so 1 will cease. Ido not think there is such another market in the world. We passed out, all looking rather hun gry and subdued I thought, and we walk ed quietly along through the seething mass of humanity, and the rushing of street cars, omnibusses, and vehicles of all sorts. It was impossible to converse, so we stepped into one or two stores for some little things, every now and then counting to see that we were all together. We had wandered up and down some lit tle tini9, when I felt that one of ns was gone. I turned back and began to count, I conld make oat but eight—arktd Mr. B. to help me count. He too looked serious He counted over twice. I cried out, 1 yes ttnra is one gone” and nowhere up i r down in sight was oar slow motion ed boy Frank. At first it seemed rather ridiculous, and you mothers who have never been situated just as I was, will never kaow the anguish which came steal ing into my lightened heart as the min utes wore on into an hour, and he was no where to be found. Oae scouting party went to the hotel, another went up the streets where we hud gono, and one or two stopped with me where we first lost him. How little I heeded the hurry ing,bustling crowd, which kept streaming on. My thoughts resembled a drowning soul’s le trospect, only mine reached forward into the far future of my child. I can never give them embodiment, but will never forget them as long as I live. After awhile Mr. B persuaded me to go back to the hotel, and let him go look for tho police. Slowly and drearily I returned, bitterly lamenting the scorn with which I hud received the warning abont lost children. How wise was he, how foolish I. I am sure the officers of the hotel must have wondered at my wofnl looks. Just as I was stepping into my room so dreary now, and so late the scene of merriment, Orsy cried out, “there’s Frank!” Aud there he was, coming into the as quietly as if nothing had happen ed. I could not Ecold him, and I dared notrlet him see all I felt; yet he was sub dued enough. After I had smiled a little at him, he said, when someone asked him if he enquired the way to the hotel, “Why, I knew the way to the hotel, I was’nt such a goose as not to know.” Mr. Brrnoli asked me what future I had map ped out for him, when lihonght he was lost. I remembered Bret Harte’s lecture, and bis pictures of the dens in San Francisco, and I pictnrcd my boy as lost. It is so mach easier for a child who has never yet tasted the sweetness of being good, for its o*:i sweet sake, to fall into wrong, that I had little hope of his Christian teachings, pri serving him safe in the hours of temp tation, which surely come to the home la-- wanderers of earth. Santa Rosa Cal ~ Deo. 31. 1875. (lace more, upon the L.st night oi the dyng year,l take up the broken thread of iaer writing. This dying old year has a new and fresh life to ns truly, Gcd grant that it may be more and more devoted to His service! Etch morning as l awake, the new life dawns upon me aff-sh, for my dreams are all of the old. lam glad it ie so. Lst me not be cut off at once from such sweet visions. My waking hours are too busy and practically employed to savor of dreams, so let me sleep and dream that I am still “at home.” T.W- rain is pattering softly, the firo sing ing dreamily, and the breathing of the sleeping children alono bears me company. There are faces upon the walls, pictures of dear friends, that smile upon me and will not let me be lonely. Whtt a joy they are to u>4 I came upon one unex pectedly a day or two since—it had been h’.irg ic my absence—and when the sweet smile greeted mo, I had to hide my tears. Snob a longing for the “ tried and true ’’ esme over me, I forgot that I was content. My last letter left us in the city of San Francisco, so I must retrace a little. After recovering from my fright about a lost cVY'.d, I was eager to see more of the place. We wre to leave at 2 o’clook.and it was after eleven, so we had to be quick in our movements. Brother Parsons came to escort ns, and we were soon on our way up one of the hills which rise right in the midst of the city. We were in a very curious kind of street ear, which had no horse, nor mule, nor engine draw iifg it, to all appearance. It seemed to go up hill full spaed by itself. I sup pose there was some m ichinery at the top of the bill, but will not pretend to explain. [Dummy ? Ed.J We sat in the observation car, which had Y*ry small seats on the outside, and really they seemed inseenre, the wind blow so hard against ua as we whizzed along. All at once a lady who sat near us tumbled off and was soou left far behind. It was no gentle fall, aud I clung very tightly to the scat. It seemed so dreadful to leave her there. The brakeman, seeing my“‘die “|ft'Bed looks, card: “I giroes she ‘got, off,’ aiid she stepped down hill instead of up, as she ought.” In a few minutes, as we stopped at the next crossing, she took her seat again atid said smiling, “ I dropped my parcel.” It would be well it weoould all preserve the same sang froid nnder circumstauces as trying. How exhilarating was the air, how blue and beautiful the sky ! I never breathed city air like that—never thought I should like to live in a city until then. It was charming. The houses were of beautiful structure, built to resemble freestone,and they looked so white aiid fresh. Toen the emerald green shrubbery, so different from our green, so soft-looking aud fresh. The rare-looking flowers, of many and brilliant color. Often we saw upon the low fiat roofs among the Chinamen’s quarters, a great array of white clothes fluttering and struggling within the grip of many clothes pins. The Chinamen make nice larindrymen, and make gar ments look like “ new.” We passed also one of their Joss houses, where they hold a kind of worship. They had large round woclen balls painted in bright colors, with Chinese figures, suspended in front of these houses I suppose to mark them an Joss houses. So set are they in their su perstitions that I believe all efforts fail sime'imes to drag them from their idols. When we reached the highest point in the street, we loft the cir and proceeded on foot quite out of the city proper. After an old fashioned fence climbing, we stood upon tbe top,of a mound, which gave us a view,worth all the climbing we took to reach it. There was the “ golden gate,” opening out into the Pacific, the busy sunshine-capped city, encircling like a coronet tbe land bordered in crescent shape by the blue waters of tbe bay. sparkling like so many diamonds in myri ad forms. It was the blua, sweet sky above, that gave euih bright coloring to the waters, Far out toward the ocean rolled tb - white mists driven by the wind, and over all mailed tha sunlight, and it sat upon sea and land “like a glory.” What is gl- ry but light, and what ia light but God’s love! Oh! how sweet to walk therein! We were silent as we looked. It was like breaking a charm when we talked of dcTirent points of interest, and retraced our wa vto the city. It was rapid (ravel ing, for the descent was so great we conld scarcely keep from running. Among the many buildings with grace ful spires rising upon the sky. we saw our new church, —the Southern Methodist cong-egation has just bought. It was as attractive to the eye as any I saw. With tingling cheeks, and feet in which the blood tingled also, we reached the hotel; but I did not fed tired at all. In deed, I felt wonderfully invigorated and charmed by onr walk. We were sorry to say good-bye to our pleasant friend. Bro. Parsons; but our destiny bade ns go still feather, and we soon bade farewell also to the white city, that sits like a great sea gull upon the shqre. The steamer was soon plowing its way np the Bay, and cariying us nearer to our jour ney’s end. Whou we started, the air was pure and sweet and sun ny; but as we neared Donohue two hours later, we had gone into what the English people call a “ nasty fog.” It is an inelegant phrase, but I never realized how expressive it is, until I had realized how a fog makes a very charming place look. More than half the time sinoe we reached Santa Rosa it has been enveloped in fog; and though it is a beautiful young city in sunlight, it is not pretty in a slop. PJ fog. It was dark when we took tbe oars again, aud still darker when a half hour later the conductor announced that we had reached Santa Rosa. The last gath ering of satchels and shawls and bundles, the last counting of children, and we stepped ont, and finished onr journey of mote than 3,000 miles! Oar family filled a hack; and with Bro Fitzgerald,who gave us a kindly welcome, we rode up toonr temporary home with a true Southern Methodist sister. All was bright and cheery within her pleasant heme, and it was not many minutes be fore I found out that her brother was mar ried to a cousin of one of my best friends. Every one knows how pleasant it is to find mutual friends, when we think ourselves strangers in a strange land. A sweet, little girl was in the house—niece of our hostess, and child of this mntual friend. How pleased I was to take her in my arms and hear in her innocent prattle, the sweet Southern accent. We were at home, and we slept soundly and sweetly, after thank ing God for all His goodness to the wan derers. 0. B. The Milleui\iiiin. Mr. Editor: I have read your editorial on the late prediction of Dr. Camming, and another prophet of his school. As to that “day and hour,” no interpreter of unfulfilled prophecy should venture to designate, as Christ has plainly stated that neither men nor angels shall know it. And yet it is remarkable that so many prophecies of Christ’s second coming should center in the past and present, de oade. I myself believe that Christ has come and suffered, and been crueifi and a second time. This cmcifixiou took place in the Church, South, at the downfall of our nation. This is the “ vesture dipped in blood," and into which He will soon return in His Spirit’s mighty power to claim all nations. lam daily looking for His secoLd advent—His advent in His body the Church, aud not in the H ad. In my conception, Christ in His Head will not return until He comes at the end of the millennium to judge the world. "The greatest events come as noiselessly as the rising of the sun." Asa thief in tho night has Christ come, and they have done nuto Him in His body wh>.t wan written concerning Him. As ho suffered and wan crucified iu His Head by the Jews who recognized not their King iu the lowly Nazarene ; so iu like manner has He been put to an open shame and crucified a second time in His body the Church, by the wicked Puarisees and Doctors of the Law, aud Judases of this generation. He will soon come—how long hence I know not —in this same despised Body, the true Church upon earth, and will go forth to gather together his elect from the four quarters of the globe ; and then all his rejectors among these Gentile nations will wnil on account of Him. For He comes not this time toTraffct and die, but to reigu in His elect, aud to destroy His enemies. “ Unto you it is given to know the mystei'ies of the kingdom of heaven.” And these great mysteries are more fre quently revealed to “ babes ” than to the wise or learned of earth. C. M. C. Marion C. 11, S. C., January 12 th, 1876. Board of Missions—-Secretary’s Report. The following is a condensed statement of the faots contained in the report: No. of Missions 10 Membership 632 Increase 136 Infants baptized 82 Moneys raised for Pastors $ 933 28 For Presiding Elders 153 42 For Sunday-schools 85 00 For Missions 81 75 Conference Collection 70 00 For Bishops 11 00 For Buildiug 800 00 For other enterprises 25 00 Total $2,159 45 The appropriations made by the Board to these missions amounted to about 31,200 00 For the amount thus invested we have the above returns. Surely the result has justified fully the policy of cul tivating our own destitute fields! The following are the assessments for the ensuing year: DOMESTIC MISSIONS. Tallahassee District $450 00 Live Oak |District 300 00 Jacksonville District 450 00 Tampa District 300 00 Total $1,500 00 FOREIGN MISSIONS. Tallahassee District $249 00 Live Oak District 166 00 Jacksonvfile District 249 00 Tampa District 166 00 Total .'...5830 00 T. W. Tomkies, See. Board of Missions. Skepticism Declining. We have long known that German skep ticisai was ebbing from that tide which had so long overflown universities and churches alike. A writer in a late number of tbe B.bliolheca Sacra mentions the fol lowing facts iu proof of this decline: “1. Tnat iu the German univen-ities tho rationalistic lecture rooms are now empty, and the evangelical crowded ; while fifty or eighty years ago the ration alistic were crowded, and the evangelical empty. “2 That histories of the rise, progress, and decline of German Rationalism have been appearing for the last fif'een years, in the most learned portions of the liter ature of Germany. “3 That such toacbcr.-i as Tholuek, Jn lias Muller, Darner, Twesteu, Ulimau, ‘ Linge. R ithe, and Tischendorf, most of whom began their professorships with great unpopularity in their universities on account of their opposition to ration alistic views, are now particularly hon ored on that very account. * 4 That every prominent German University, except Heidelberg, is now nnder predominant evangelical influences, and that Heidelberg is nearly empty of theological students. “5. That the attitude of the general government at Berlin has destroyed the force of many of the political causes of disaffection with the State Church. “6. That the victory at Sedan and the achievement of German unity diminish the chances of demoralization from Euro pean wars, and by contagion from France. “7. That in the field of re search, while rationalism has caused the discovery of many facts, and the adoption of anew method, the naturalistic theory by Paulas,the mythical theory of Strauss, tne tendency theory by Banr, and the legendary by Renan, have been so antag onistic to each other as to be successfully outgrown both by Christian and by ration alistic scholarship.” The door between ns and heaven oannot be opened if that between ns and onr fel low men is shnt. F. M. KENNEDY, D. D., Editor J. W BURKE. Aaaiala.il Editor.* A. G. HAYGOOD, D. D., Editorial Correspondent. The Joy of Incompleteness. BY J UESEMERES. If all onr lives were one broad glare Of sunlight, clear, unclouded; If all our paih were smooth and fair, By no soft gloom enshrouded; If ail life’s flowers were fully blown, Without the sweet unfolding, And happiness were rudely thrown On hands too weak for holding— Should we not miss the twilight hours, The gentle haze and sadness? Should we not long for storms and showers. To bre k the constant gladness? If none were sick and none were sad, What service could we render? I think if we were always glad, We scarcely could be tender. Did our beloved never need Our patient ministration, Earth would grow cold and miss indeed Its sweetest consolation. If sorrow never claimed our heart, And every wish were granted, Patience wonld die, and hope depart— Life would be disenchanted. And yet in heaven is no more night, In heaven is no more sorrow! Such unimagined new delight Fresh grace from pain will borrow— As the poor seed that underground Seeks its true life above it, Not knowing what will there be found When suubeams kiss and love it. So we in darkness upward grow, And look aud long for heaven, But can not picture it below t ill more of light be given. —Sunday Magazine. The Power of Darkness.l “Auoient Egypt, however, supplies per haps the best illustration of the connec tion which subsists between a state of dat knots and a state of indolenoe. God said to Moses : ‘ Stretch out thine hand towards heaven, that tnere may be dark ness over the land of Egypt, even dark ness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven ; and there was a thick darkness iu all the land of Egypt three days.’ And how passed these three days of darkness ? They neither bonght nor sold ; they neither married nor buried ; they neither rocked a cradle nor embalmed a corpse. No hummer rang ; no merry wheel went round ; no fire burned at the brick kiln : no woinau sang ‘ behind the mill;' no busy trend sounded on the pavement, nor cheerful dash of an oar upon the water. An awful silence reigned throughout the land. As if every house had been in a moment changed into a tomb, and each living man into a mummied corpse, that sat motionless—the king on his weary throne, the peasant iu tbe field, the weaver at his loom, the prisoner in his dungeon. As iu the story of some old romance, where a bold knight, going in quest of adventures, sounded his horn at the castle gate, and, getting no response, enters to find the king, courtiers, servants, horses, all turned into stone —they sat, spell bound, tvheie the darkness seized them. ‘They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days.’ ” “ But if wo wonld see spiritual darkness represented on a scale, in any degree com mensurate with the multitude of its vic tims, and with its destructive power, let us turn to the host of Midian. Tbe me morable night has come, when animated by a Divine courage, Gideon leads his throe hundred to a bold assault. Silently he plant.-; them around tbe enemy’s lines, waiting till song and revel died away, and that mighty host lies buried in stillest slumbers Then, one trumpet blows loud and clear, startliug the wary sentinel on his round. He stops, he listens ; and ere its last echoes have ceased, the whole air is torn with battle notes. Out of the darkness, trumpet replies to trumpet, and the blast of three hundred, blown loud and long, wakens the deepest sleeper— filiing tho car of night with a dreadful dia, and the hearts of the bravest with strung') and sadden fear. Ere they can ask what mean, whence come these sounds, a sight as strange blazes throngh the mnrkey night. Three hundred torch fires pierce the gloom, and advance in fl lining circle on the panic stricken camp. •Suddenly extinguished, once more all is dark. Then—as if the dust of the whirl wind, or tbe sands of the desert, or the leaves of the forest, had turned into armed men, ready to burst on that nncircum cised host —in front, on their rear, ou their flank, rings the Hebrew battle cry : ‘ The s word of the Lord and of Gideon I’ For dear life the Midianites draw. Mis taking friends for foe, they bury their swords in each other’s bosoms. Wild with terror, stricken mad with pain, each man seizes his fellow by the beard, giving aud receiving mortal wounds. And so, not by tbe arms of Gideon, so much as by the hand of darkness, was skill out witted, and bravery defeated, and that mighty army routed and slain. Such is the power of darkness I Yet, what is that dying hoßt to one lost soul.— Dr. Ihomas Guthrie. Ilis Font on the Rock. Bishop Butler, the author of “The An alogy, ” at the age of one-aud-twenty, com menced his career as a philosophical divine, by a memorable correspondence with the ripest metaphysician of the age, Dr. Samuel Clarke, on the a priori evi dence for the Being of God. He excused himself for his intrusion on that able theologian, by telling him, in his fourth letter, that he resolved “to make the search after truth the object of his life.” Such was the commencement of Butler’s career. And the termination was like to tbe commencement. Shortly before his death, while walking in the garden and conversing with his chaplain on the things that appertain to the life to come, Butler stopped short, and after musing for a moment, he gravely said, “I feel my foot upon the Rook." And that Rock was Christ. When nature was sinking, and the spirit of the great, good bishop, was well nigh in the more immediate presence of Him whom he had loved and served, his chaplain reminded him of his Savior's words, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out;” the dying man was just able to articulate, “Oh, this is com fortable 1” and expired. 'i lie Desire of Desires. The neart of man is wonderful. How many, how very many desires are there in these hearts of ours; but is there not, deep down in onr hearts, one desire that g-ems stronger than all the rest ? What is that desire ? Perhaps you cannot tell; perhaps you are afraid to know what it is. You are trying to smother that desire, to 1 drive it away; but there it is, and it will not be suppressed. Oh, reader! that de sire is more to you than you can think or say. Let it remain unsatisfied, and you are lost. Let it be satisfied and yon are saved; for that desire is the desire for God’s favor —the desire to be at peace with Him, to rest in Him. “ O God,” oried Augustine, “ the heart of man is made for Thee; and restless it must ever be until it fiuds its rest in Thee.” It is this deepest desire the Lord Jesus came into this world fnlly, perfectly to satisfy. Simple, childlike trust in Christ, us your own personal Srviour, is the way, the sure way to delight yourself in the Lord; and delighting yourself in Him, yoq will have all the desire of your heart satisfied. When you pee loveliness in one near yon, aud leel that lovely one loves yon, yon will not be long before yon delight your self in that one. Do yon fee nothing in the Lord to love; and do you not feel tht He loves yon ? When you look at Christ, who is God unvtiled to human sight, and trace His life on earth, beholding Him in the lowli ness and helplessness of infancy, the no bleness and unselfishness of boyhood,the quiet obscurity of Nizareth, where He toiled in the carpenter’s shop; when you think of the temptation, self saorifioe, and earnest labors of His pnblio ministry ; when without one hnman being perfectly WHOLE NUMBER 1979 to sympathize with Him, he found it His meat to do the will of Him that sent Him, and to finish Hih work; and,.above nil, when you go with Him to Gethsemane and Calvary, aud hear Him, for your sake in bitterest anguish of soul exclaim, “My God, my God. why hast Thou forsaken me?’’ can you tnrn away, and your heart not feel the love of God? “Herein is love, not that we love God, but that He loved us, and gave His Son to be a pro pitiation for our sins” —From “Heart Sat isfaction” a Tract, The Many-Sided Wesley. John Weßley was one of those “ many sided” men whose genius only reveals itself gradually, and by successive revela tions. Some new student of tho life and character of tbo Founder of Methodism is ever eomiLg upon him from a fresh quarter, and discovering qualities which have remained hidden, or have never ap peared in so clear a light before. There are such varied gifts in this “ all the world’s epitome ” that men of the most opposite schools have found in him some thing to admire. It is scarcely surprising .that he has been eulogized by Dr. Now man on the one baud, aud Dean Stanley on the other, and that his churchmanship has been described as of all hues varying from Puseyism to lutitudinarianism. Notwithstanding the large quantity of lit erature which has been give a to the world about Wesley of late, Mr. Llewllyn Davis has commenced a sketch oi his character and system of church discipline in the current number of the Contemporary Re view. We shall probably reler to Mr. Davis’ sketch at greater length, but we will be content nmv to say that be seems surprised not to find in Wesley more of the “milk of human kindness,” in the gußhing sense of that terra. He does not see much of tenderness for the foibles and fallings of humanity. Wesley’s be nevolence was a force of sufficient strength to work out a life of the highest benefi cence and self-sncrifice, perhaps, which later generations have known ; and a wiser student of human nature would not have expected to find iu the hero of great deeds the emotionalism of the recluse. Wesley had many featnr s in his moral character; but the world has yet to know ihe man who could develop equally the endurance, the resolution, tho faculty for command, which serve to evangelize a nation, and construct and rule a great sooiety, with the more womanly and emo tional side of our humanity. We do not look to tho Puritan Ironsides of Crom well for the moral qualities of the ancho rite; and there was much of the stern stuff of Puritanism iu Wesley, in spite of his early high-churchmanship. —London Methodist. Service of tlie Master. Christians acknowledge Christ to be their Master, and are disposed cheerfully to obey him; but sometimes they find diffi culty in knowing what to do. They wonld work in the Lord’s vineyard, but do not discover any work ready for their hands. We suggest twelve paths of usefulness open to them. I. They can persuade neglectors of the sanctuary to attend it. 2 They can themselves be regularly present at the prayermeeeting3 of the church. 3 They can be teachers in the Sabbath- School. 4. They can converse wiili their impen itent neighbors and friends on the sub-* ject- of religion, and endeavor to lead them to Christ.. 5. They can drop an encouraging word in the ear of their pastor. 6. As Chrirtians, they can speak often one to another of the kingdom. 7. They can “ visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions.” 8. They can help forward the good cause of temperance, and benevolent en terprises generally. 9. They can aid some worthy young man who is just commencing business. 10. They can contribute to well furnish ft large Home Missionary box. 11. They can imitate Christ, and show in their daily deportment what Christ wishes them to be. It is the best preaeli ing in the world. 12. They can subscribe and pay for sev eral copies of this, or othor religious pa pers, aud send them to some poor fami lies who cannot afford to take the papers. In these twelve ways—uot to mention others—can they acceptably sorve Him whose professed friends they are, and be a blessing in their day and generation. Man’s Impotence Without God’s Assistance. “Without me ye can do nothing.” John xv: 5. These are the words of Jesus. Never man tanght as he did. To enlighten the minds and win the uearts of men, by un folding to them in the plainest terms the plan of salvation, was the object of his preaching. Whenever error had entered the mind and heart he sought to eradicate it by presenting the truth. And wberever his truth was not rejected it effi oted the spiritual wrrk that he designed it to ac complish, thus proving, not only that “in him was life, and the life was the light of the world,” but also that “the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” No fact seems to be more clearly estab lished by the Scriptures than man’s ntte helplessness aud inability, per se, to effect his salvation. In spiritual things the na tural man can not understand, believe, begin, accomplish, do, or effect anything, without the assistance of God. out me ye can do nothing,” is the assur ance of the Saviour of men. In his na tural state, man is wholly and entirely corrupted, and dead to everything good. So depraved is ho that not a single spark of spiritual power remains by which he can prepare himself for tho grace of God. So completely is he the servant of sin and the captive of Satan, by whom he is lad, that he is not even able toco operate iu anything towards his conversion, even in the most insignificant part, for “the carnal mind is enmity against God”—and where enmity exists there can bo no co operation—for the carnal mind is not "subjtct to the law of God, neither in deed can be.” It will, therefore, ever re main true, as the Son of God declares, “without me ye can do uothin.g” The assertion ol Paul also vindicates tbe same troth, when he assures us that “it. ie God which worketh in yon, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” What the Bible is Like. 1. It is like a large, beautiful tree, which bears sweet fruit for those that are hungry, aud affords shelter and shade for pilgrims on their way to the kingdom of heaven. 2 It is like a cabinet of jewels and pre cions stones, which are not only to be looked at and admired, but used and worn. 3. It is like a telescope, which brings distant objects and far-off things of the world very near, so that we can see some thing of their beauty and importance. 4. It is like a treasure house, a store house of all sorts of valaable aDd useful things, and which are to be had without money and withont price. 5. It is like a deep, broad, calm, flowing river, tbe banks of which are green and flowery ; where birds sing, and lambs play, and dear little children are loving and happy. My dear, dear children, because I love yon, I want you to love the Bible. If you attend to it, it will make you, through God’s blessing, wise rich and happy, for ever and ever. It is God’s book. It is the best book. It is a book for little child ren. I hope yon will learn it, and learn to sing, too, that beautiful hymn— “ Holy Bible, book divine Precious treasure, thou art mine,”