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130 ■ V Southern (Christian # MACON, GEOKGIA. AUGUST 15, 1876 the doctrine of affinities. Chemically speaking, we all know what af finity means—the tendency and capacity of substances to cohere and form one body. Is there such a law in the sphere of mind and morals? Does it pervade earth only, or is its operation extended throughout the spirit ual universe? The two great forces in na ture are attraction and repulsion—thr-se hold and unfold the phenomena of the material sys'em. Do not observation, reflection, and expe rience, teach us the potency of moral repul sions and affinities ? Men of like thoughts and feelings naturally, almost necessarilv, mix together; others repel and are repelled. We may find in these simple truths an expo sition of the great moral problems to be solved in earth and the world to come. The common conception of man’s future destiny is faulty, proceeding, as it does, on the as sumption of an arbitrary disposition of re wards and punishment. “ Character makes destiny”—an utterance worthy of Bishop Marvin. It is the truth powerfully condensed in expression, but the whole truth of our future. The holy gravitate to heaven, be cause there all are holy—their affinities carry them in that direction and to that destiny Angels rejoice at the repentance of the sin ner because this is a prerequisite to harmony with them in their allegiance to God. The impenitent cannot reach heaven, not for any arbitrary obstruction in the way they gravitate elsewhere in the future as here on earth ; left to themselves, sinners will, by the la v of affinity, arrange themselves in a real philosophic order. It is not necessary to conceive of the fu ture as if its joy and sorrow consisted of such sensuous experiences that a mere change of place would change the state of feeling. That there is an inherent capacity in man for association with the angels, may be fairly inferred from the intense interest these ex alted beings show in behalf of our race. And what, a dignity belongs t,o him who may as pire without presumption to companionship with the “angels who excel in strength. But what a change is essential to turn the forces of moral gravitation heavenward to overcome the repulsion and to perfect the alliance of earth and heaven. God’s law and grace are the agencies at work to efleet, this great object, and a faithful submission is man’s only redemption. CENTEXNIAL .ILIIILATION. llo! lor the Centennial Exhibition, tbe great American jubilee! Such is the cry, and rushing and gushing, the people go. We do not object to the sight-seeing —no doubt it is worth the trip and the money. Scarce ns the money is in this poor section, it will be greatly diminished by this exodus of the people. Can any one compute the sum total of the cash expended in this grand hegira, fully hall of which is as clearly lost to the South as if consumed by tire ? It would be a very moderate estimate to place the cost per capita at one hundred dollars—a sum, kept actively circulating, that might pay five thousand dollars of debt, while the whole amount would liquidate millions of liabilities. Well, this is the way of the times—self first, debts last or never. Aside from these old fossiliz and views of ours—integrity iu debt paying—we have no protest to make in tbe matter on merely material grounds. We can well conceive that a visit to the exhibition at Philadelphia is not only a source of rich pleasure, but also of large education. Books and teachers do not constitute the only resources of the learner—the fabrica tions of the mechanic and artist furnish in struction expanding and elevating to the mind. In this congress of the nations, the seeds ot civilization are interchanged aud distributed —future reaping must show what kind of harvest is to lie gathered. Americans are very exultant, rather proud, over this great country and its productions. It is only one hundred years old politically, and in physical resources, to-day, it is the mightiest, of nations —it stands peerless, fear less, defiant. But a century is a brief space for political experiment and our experiment does not promise success. We began well —fought seven years over a preamble, Daniel Webster said—and it would a priori have been admitted that a people so tenacious of principles as to do that might be expected to adhere to principles through all time. It would hardly have been believed that the people who resisted the Stamp Act unto blood, would end insetting up a worse tyran ny of the same kind. Onr fathers, from Mas sachusetts to Georgia, thundered at the can non’s mouth the right of self government ; every musket blaze was to show to mankind that governments existed by the consent of the governed ; were made for man. and not man for governments. But, Mr. Seward comes along, before the last of the patriots was buried, and says,““ This doctrine cannot be admitted by any government as against it self.” Our country has produced some great men, but the first generation seems to have been most prolific in this respect. Is this an illu sion; is it only “ Distance lends enchantment to the view ?” We think there is a real, a vast difference be tween Washington, the Christian patriot, sage, warrior, and statesman, and Lincoln, who (if his law partner is to he believed) was an infidel, to say nothing else to his dispar agement. Gen. Grant proved himself to be a great commander —his civil career has been such that now “ There are none so poor as to do him rev ence.” Whether his successor, whoever he may be, will succeed iu redeeming the nation lroin its present odium, and give it anew lease of life and glory, is a deep question on which the people are now called to consider. We make no predictions, nor even conjectures, as to our future ; the present posture of na tional affairs, however, is not very inspiring to hope. But, it is our Centennial, and we can but rejoice iu the vast progress made in material things; we feel delight in contem. plating the abundant facilities for mental cul ture aud the ripe fruit seen in every depart ment of learning. Above all, we are glad to know that Jehovah is honored in thousands of churches aud by millions of devout aud happy people. Emory College—Oxford, Ga.—We have received a circular from Emory College giv ing announcements, etc., for the fall term. Emory is well located, well officered, and is rising into prominence as a place of learning. The late Commencement was a decided suc cess, and we are to'd the prospects are bright for the next term which will open in Septem ber—lst Wednesday. This collpge, for want of endowment, has a hard struggle, but if it could enroll 200 paying pupils on its cata logue, the professors could live, if not flour ish. Board is very cheap and so is tuition — the place healthy and religious—the build ings new and well arranged. Write to Dr. A. G. Haygood for a circular, at once —don’t delay. The Rev. John D. Blackwell, of the Vir ginia Conference, has been elected President of Randolph Macon College, vice the Rev. Dr. Duncan, resigned. At the same time, Mr. Charles Morris was elected Professor of Latin and Greek, aud Mr. R. E. Black well Profess or of Modern Languages. BOSTON TRANSCENDENTALISM. We give below the utterance of a late preachers’ meeting, in Boston, on the color line in churches. The insane ravings of these abstractionists are not worth the brief space granted them,but as fraternity (?) is the order of the day, we think the public should be kept informed of its every phase. If these evolutions of Christian (?) sentiment were only peculiar to Boston, the whole affair might be dismissed with a single dash —trash We find in other places, even in editorial writings, the same insane twaddle reflecting on South ern sentiment and conduct. We of the South did not m ike the negro, and we do not know how to unmake him — we will not quarrel with God for the way He did this work. One th ng we can tru'hfully say, we found the African a barbarian idola ter, so little removed from the lower animals, that he bad much of their habits. He has been elevated through the discipline of slave ry, higher in the scale of being, of employ ment, of enjoyment, than he had ever before attained in the annals of time. What wretch ed abuse of terms to talk of slavery being a degradation to the fetich worshippers of Africa—it was up-gradation. Will these Bos ton seers tell us of some practical plan for the redemption of Africa? They held on to the theory and practice of the slave trade when the South preferred to abandon it. We do not desire to return to this scheme. But we would do well to consider the hopeless* ness of that dark land. No people can ad vance in learning, in civilization, without property, and properly is the result of labor and economy. Let the Boston preachers rave—it is their habit, their joy, to “out venom all the worms of Nile.” The Methodist Preachers’ Meeting of Bos ton on Monday, July 3, adopted the follow ing resolutions in relation to the “color line ’ and Southern fra’eriiity : “t 1) That we most sincerely deprecate any action which looks to the division of exis’ing conferences, or the establishment of new ones on the basis of color. (2) That, any fraternization with any so-called Christian church that involves the remotest recognition of th**hateful spirit of caste now and forever rampant in the South will he an unspeakable disgrace to the Methodist Episcopal Church.” ASTEROIDS. The Editor, pro Inn, throws into his allot ted space numerous fragmentary items which are very like the old theory of a dismem beied planet, its fragments flying through space making those smaller planets called asteroids. We rather suspect our r-aders this hot weath r would prefer these brevities to the tu k of going over the huge editorial of la-.t week. Everybody to their liking— we prefer greatly to write short articles, but to read long ones when they are well con sidered. J- W. 11. What’s in a Name? —Now who wrote that? We really don’t know, for it lias been ascribed to Shakespeare, and to Shakspear, ami to Shakspere, etc. The variations in the spelling of the great poets name are very great, a fact in literary history not generally known. The name of the Bard of Avon was written in a dozen ways by his contempora ries. The question is how did the poet write his name himself? There are only three admitted autographs of the great poet extant —two of these signatures are to his Will, another to deed. He wrote “Shakspere.” In those days spelling was not much of a line art —the poet himself would spell the same word differently in the same writing This is some consolation to such as have no other guide than the ear in spelling. We once had a dignitary in Georgia, who could spell “coffee” without a letter belonging to the word—kaughphy. That man might have learned phonography, and perhaps would have spelled it “fonogrife.” The Hamburg Affair. —Two or three of our contemporaries of the Northern Method ist press go into dismal lamentation and croaking over the tragedy at Hamburg. Their trouble is that the Southern Methodist piess lias not animadverted (as it should have done,) on this late butchery. Do these gen tlemen of the quill read the columns of this paper? Let them read slowly with glasses on their faces the last issue ; perhaps Dr. Haygood’s article in that paper will cool them otf a little. Why this hot haste to find occasion for these scurrilous and slanderous fliugs at Southern Methodism ? Does it help fraternity to write of us as if we were particeps criminis in all the troubles grow ing out of the disorders introduced into the country by military rule and the reign of car pet-baggers? Go to your prayers; “and groan as if the very ribs of nature cracked.” Honorary Degrees. —We do notenter in to the strain of satire affected by some of our cotemporaries about titles unworthily con ferred. The New York Methodist is quite caustic in the matter —in that latitude where everything is on the extravagant, high pres sure schedule, the number of Doctors may be unduly large. We can call to mind some such talk as this twenty five years ago, when the title D. D. was conferred on two names, uot then un known to fame, now very high in the cata logue. One of these gentlemen was a fin ished, classical scholar and eloquent orator ; the other equally learned— perhaps more — without having a college diploma. The whole matter of conferring titles, is one about which people may be expected to differ widely in opinion, both as to the propriety in general and iu individual cases. Guess. —Guess what, you say. How it is that a whole people formed the habit ot using “guess,” as our Northern people are accustomed to do both in verbal and written speech. “I guess I won’tgo—guess it is not so, that it is—guess she is rich —guess he is poor,” etc., etc. The use of provincialisms and slang should be avoided by all people pretending to gentility. Doubtless this sec tion has its share of opprobium in high places and low. In this latitude there is almost as great abuse of the word “reckon” —used very much in the sense of guess, as above. Let Mr. Richard Grant White, the philolo gist of America, put in his pen well pointed at some of these vulgarisms and he will do good service. Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine— Orphans Home. —Rev. L. B. Payne, the ac tive and efficient Agent of the South Geor gia Conference Orphans’ Home, wishes through us to acknowledge with thanks the present to the Home of a Wheeler and Wil son Sewing Machine. It was given through Mr. Clark, the local Agent of this city. Women differ as much about Sewing Ma chines as men do about theology or plows— each woman has the best. At our house we use the Howe Machine, but we have long known that the Wheeler and Wilson was equal to the best, and better than the most. This was a praiseworthy donation. Brother Payne is an Agent of rare activity, aud if any man can in these times succeed, he will. Let us stand by the Orphans’ Home. Oglethorpe Circuit South Georgia Con ference. —We have just returned from an official visit to Oglethorpe circuit, Rev. J. M. Potter, and report a very propitious stale of things in every view. The quarterage was more than half paid two months ago, and re vivals are springing up and spreading all around. Bio. P. is untiring (not tireless, for he has a good buggy) and can carry on more meetings at the same time than any mau we know. He has a project tor anew camp meeting aud he will not be likely to fail. SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. REFORMATION IN MORALS IS RE FORMATION IS POLITICS. The political planets are all in conjunction. The very air is astir with the banner of con tending hosts. It is a flood—a deluge—or any .other figure that bespeaks bigness and general disorder. All sorts and sizes of offices are to be filled ; from tbe White House, to the cross roads log-pen-justice-court house, there is a chair to be filled by some patriot ready to sacrifice himself upon the altar of his country —“for sufficient pay.” In some of the States Governors, Judges, Congressmen, State legislators, county offi cers, greatand small, are to be chosen. 1 here is no end of conventions to nominate, to rati fy, and to manage things generally. Present ly we will have mass meetings, with barbe cues—great slaughter of innocent sheep, calves and pigs, with largs waste of Centen nial eloquence. We fear, also, with much drinking of whisky and telling of lies. Of course, we are told on every hand that the crisis of Amerieau destiny is about to come; that the November election will set tle things. Heaven grant it may settle ten thousand rascals of both parties who want a good living without earning it, and who do not care a cancelled postage stamp for the “dear people” when the election is over ! But our firm belief is that the country will survive the November election. We have our no tions —our convictions, if the reader please — about parties and politics ; we have our pre ferences as to men and mea tires. We ex pect to vote when the time comes, as every good citizen ought, in the fe tr of God and with an eye single to the good ot the whole country. But we have not the least idea of getting into a rage of enthusiasm, anger, or fear, or hope, on the subject. We could mention several reasons for this view of the matter. One is, no possible good can come to us, or to any creature, by getting into a rage; but to us, at least, much harm every way. Th"re is one other reason, conclusive to this Editor, for keeping free from political rages: Salvation comes not to our peopie from Cincinnati or from St. Louis ; from Re publican “ Ins” or Democratic “ Outs.” Notwithstanding our convictions, prefer ences. desires —prejudices, if the reader will have it so—and what not, as to the parties, the platforms and the candidates, we do firmly believe that the salvation—financial, social and national--of our country must come elsewhere than through political,changes than through party triumphs or defeats. Partisans—perhaps deluded themselves, both Detnoera'icand Republican—are taking occasion, from the stagnation ol business, the scarcity of money, and the arrest of enter prise, to delude the people as to the “bottom facts,” both as to causes and remedies. Our rulers deserve blame, no doubt —and they receive it without stint. Bad laws and b.td government have had much to do with tbe deplorable state of our affiirs. But the trouble is with the people themselves—with us all, more or bss. We have not been wise in our generation, nor always honest. Our American methods of doing business—our over trading, our extravagance, our grasp ing, speculating spirit—these things may ex plain the origin of our trouble. And much of it was inevitable, under any administra tion, after such a war as that which swept over and desolated so large a p irt of our ter ritory for tou wretched years. These things being so—if there is to be only a change of masters —we will experience little charge o f condition. Extravagance, over-trading, un der production, avariciousness, laziness and corruption, will work out their results under any administration, Democratic or Republi can. There is great cry for “ reform,” and there is great need of it—especially tbe re form. But the reformation must begin and continue with the people. As well try to counteract a three months’ drought with street sprinklers—“ laying the dust” as they say —as to give us national reform by merely swapping rulers. Most of our political doc tors are thorough bred quacks. They treat symptoms —prescribing local lotions to cure pimples, and blisters when the very blood is full of disease and nothing short of a radical cotis'ittitional treatment can teach the trou ble and save the patient. American politics are bad enough, but American morals are worse. Indeed, bad politics are only symp toms —mere eruptions on the skin that tell the wise of disease within. One incidental but very great evil of getting into a rage about party triumphs, is this : we will exhaust our selves in seeking relief from our troubles in tbe wrong direction. Reform there must be; but, to be true reform, it must be reform of ourselves. This is discouraging to some per sons, who imagine that there is some “ short cut” out of the morass in which we find our selves. But, slow as the method is, there is no help for it —true reform is reform of the people. If the people, by the help of God, reform their morals, they will have reformed all else. Believing these things, we, for our part, expect to keep cool while the fight waxes warm. We propose, by all means, to cast our bal -1 lot for the best men and the best measures —judging according to the light that we have —but our hope is not in the candidates or the officeholders, or the law makers, or the par ties, the “Ins” or the “Outs,” but in God and iu the people themselves. Whoever im proves the morals of the people blesses the people, and it is said of an ancient city that its streets were kept clean by every man sweeping in lront of his own door. H. Oxford. HERE AND THERE. OXFORD. If a weary rest-hunter seeks a very quiet place, let him come to Oxford during vaca tion. The streets look wider and the glorious trees shadier than ever. The very katy-dids are siuging while we write, as if they were trying to wake up the stillness. It is charm ing, if one could only have time to enjoy it. But really this little college town soon gets tired of vacation ; all the girls with the rest want to see the hoys. west point. The Saturday after commencement we reached West Point, on the Chattahoochee. This thriving town is on both sides of the river, part in Alabama and part in Georgia, ihe greater part being in the latter State. The LaGrange District Conference was in session. Bishop Pierce presiding and preach iug as he usually does, to the edification of the people. The attendance was large, one hundred and fifteen delegates, as we were told, being present. The inquiries were spe cific and searching, particularly on all points pertaining to the spiritual interests of the church. This was as it should be. When the District Conference sinks into a business meeting or dissipates itself into a debating society, its usefulness is gone. Business matters were not overlooked, but kept iu their place. The preaching was not pyro technical, but direct, awakening, practical. Aud good results followed. The Rev. John W. Heidt is the Presiding Elder of this tine district. He is in the midst of his second year’s work and he is doing it well. There is a large ana flourishing cotton fac tory at West Point, erected since the war. The Chattahoochee, for perhaps fifty miles, furnishes exhaustless facilities for machinery. Our Southern people are waking up on the subject of diversified industries. It is high time. STONE MOUNTAIN. Leaving West Point Tuesday, we had one day at home ; the next Thursday, July 27th, we looked in on the Atlanta District Confer- ence, Rev. Dr. James E. Evans, P. E., in the chair. The repor s were more varied than usual and not alt igelber so good. Per haps there was more application of the straight-edge to the timber than common. Two or three of tbe leading pastors were ab sent on account of ill-health. Our friend Dr. Harrison, of First church, Atlanta, was re ported as in a very feeble condition. The prayers of his brethren follow him. ELBERTOX. Thursday night found us on the night train for Elbertou, the county site of the good old county of Elbert. Elbertou is a delightful town, twenty-eight miles off the railroad and not quite so far from the Savannah river. But the good people of the county ought to mend their ways —their roads, e mean. Going to sleep in the buggy, the driver we suspect in the same condition, missed the right way aDd carried us out of the way and over the rough est plantation roads we ever traveled. But we were leeompensed in this; we saw some cribs lull of old corn, home raised at that. But there was a draw back ; they can’t haul it away. The District Conference, largely attended, was in full blast, the P. E., the Rev. A. G- Worley, in the chair Lei it all be summed up thus: it was gi od to be there, for tbe Lord was there. GOOD SCHOOLS. The Elbertou District is looking up in the matter of good academic education. In El berton, they have the Andrew High School, under the care of Col. P. E Devant; in Jef ferson, the Marlin Institute, under the care of Prof. J. W. Glenn ; in Hartwell, a good high school under the care of Prof. M. V. Looney ; in Toccoa City, anew town on the Atlanta and Richmond Railroad, a prosper ous school under the care of Prof. E. W. Bollenger. The people of Northeastern Georgia are setting a good example in the matter of education. They do not forget their daughters ; in Elbertou, Mrs. Capers, the widow of the Rev. Thomas Capers, is doing a great and good work iu her manage ment of the high school for young ladies. Nothing is more encouraging, as to the fu' ture, than the deepening convictions of our people as to the necessity of sanctified edu cation. Such education our children will never get unless the church takes the matter vigorous'y in hand. There are few more im portant questions than this school question. Let our people see to it that our children are so taught science us not to doubt thebible, or to despise the church. A RAILROAD RIDGE. It is fifty miles from Elbertou, northwest ward to Toccoa City. The good people of Elbert and Hart counties are trying “to con nect” with the railroad world. The survey ors found a natural railroad way —a sort of ridge, so level, so uniform, that there is not a deep cut nor high embankment on the line. They do not cross a stream of water that re quires a brid‘ e ; as one told us, not even a spring branch. The grading for the whole fifty miles is done, and as the Treasmer, Ma jor Joues, of Elbertou, told us, it has cost less than $50,000! It is almost incredible, fifty miles of grading for a broad-guage rail road, for less than *SO 000. Elbert is rich and populous ; so is Hart. This railroad ought to be finished at once. It will pay good dividends almost of necessity—the in vestment is small. The road bed is ready for the iron. Capitalists would do well to look into this matter, and if capitalist don’t help the p ople of Elbert to finish it, they should do it themselves, it they borrow all the money necessary to put themselves in connection with our great railroad system. There are no worthier people than the people of this Northeast section of Georgia. A lit tle more push and pluck, a little more finan cial enterprise and faith in themselves, and they will soon be as prosperous as they aTe clever—and that is saying a great deal. Oxford. H. EMORY COLLEGE. Mr. Editor : Please announce to the public that Fto r . H. A. Soomp, the pro fessor elect of “ Greek and Hebrew" in Emory College, will be at his post ready for duty at the opening of the Fall Term, Sep tember 6. Very respectfully, Joseph S. Stewart, Sec. Board Trustees of Emory College. August 10, 1876. Correction. —By a slip in type, or pen, we stated that Mr. John G. Dozier had re ceived the honorary degree of A. M., from Emory College at the late Commencement. It should have said Mr. John W. Dozier — the wor by Principal of the Fort Gaines Academy. Corrcspnkntt. VIEWS AND OBSERVATIONS. Mr. Editor : Within the past mouth I have made anew departure, for me —I have actually been to two District Conferences outside of my own district. I felt a little strange and out of place at the first one, sim ply from the novelty of the situation, not at all from any strange looks of the brethren, or even any gentle hints of the presiding Bidiop that I hud better be attending to my own work ; but, by the time I got fairly aroused and introduced at the second one, I felt quite comfortably at home, and be gan to understand how easily one may come to love other people’s work better than his own. Bur. I 3aw some things that may be encouraging to others, and I want to tell your readers about them. At Dahlonega every charge in the district was represented in the Conference by the preacher in charge and several lay delegates, [f I were to say no more, every thinking reader would have hope for that country. But, I have more to say. The Presiding El der and the preachers knew the boundaries of the circuit, the distance and direction of one church from another, the geography and topography of the whole district, the charac ter and number of the population in the sev eral communities in it, although they were, for the most part, young men, and new men, in that country. Every day of the Confer ence manifested more and more the homo genity of the entire district in population, in industrial pursuits, and in social sympathies, impressing all with the wisdom of the Bishop and his cabinet in the new organization of the district, ff brother Parker suggested it he deserves thanks. The reports from the p esent missions in the district show such an advance in material and religious prosperity as to indicate that, they will he so nearly self sustaining by another year that the ilnee un occupied portions of he district may be or ganized in’o missions with very little, if any, increase of the sum total of the missionary appropria'ion, and that the district will con tribute more largely than ever before to the missionary cause. The State Agricultural College at Dah lonega is doing an incalculable work for the intellectual and moral advancement of that country. And. just here, I like to say that Col. Lewis, the President, is immensely popular with the students, and seems every way the mau for the place. Before I pa3s from this district, I must add one thing more which impressed me favora bly. The Presiding Elder, preachers, and laymen, seemed really to enjoy the privilege of speaking well of each other. This char acteristic, stopping short of fulsome praise, was really beautiful My next point wus the Rome District Con ference, held at Cedartown. In going to and from Cedartown, I passed almost entirely through the district. I have nowhere seen such a good prospect for a crop of corn and cotton. A most beautiful crop of oats had already been harvested. The agricultural resources of the Rome District are surely much better than in any other district of the North Georgia Conference. I was impressed, also, with the superior quality of the farm houses, and tbe general good condition and thrifty aspect of the farms. Add to this the mineral wealth of the district, espe cially the iron mountains, and it is difficult to over-state the value of that part of Geor gia. At the Conference that which impress ed me most and gratified me much, was the fact that the preachers and the laymen—re presentative men from every county —seemed deeply impressed with the fact that the churches in that district had never come up to the measure of her ability iu the support of the institutions of the Church, and that she ■Krat awake to a sense of her obligation in this direction. From day to day this senti ment seemed to diffuse itself over delegates and visitors, and to become more intense with every hour. Indeed, the reports from the various charges showed that this senti ment had already been at work in the district, and produced very marked changes in some of the circuits. Under the wise management of the Presiding Elder, who adopted the topical method of hearing tbe reports, the compaiative increase of the Church in mis sionary sentiment, in spirituality, in the sup port of the ministry, in Sunday school work, ip taking the Advocate, and in others mat ters, or any deficiency therein, W3B obliged jkbe seen and felt by the most careless' nKnber of the body. In some cases I am l*ppy ,0 say that the increase in the support of the mini-try ad of the missionary cause, has been ulmo-l and übethu of Inst year, not withstanding the ha and times. Haralson Mis sion has ieit once more tlie impulse of life, and instead ol being abandoned, as some feared it would have to be, will almost be self-sustaining. The outlook for the district is cheering. The Presiding Elder and the preachers are brimful of faith and hope and deal. Nobody seems put of heart. The ad vance already made has not been by spas modic action, but by wise and persistent ef fort. But few protracted meetings had been held up to the time of the District Confer ence, and yet many accessions to tbe Church were reported, and a considerable increase in Sabbath school scholars. If all signs do uot fail, we shall hear glorious things from the Rome District before Conference. Ce dartown ! what shall 1 say of its hospitality ? Well, it can’t be beat in Georgia. - After leaving Cedartown I spent a few at Cave Spring, on the Selma, Rome and Dalton Railroad —a delightful place to rest, and noted chiefly for being the place where the “ Georgia Institution for the Edu cation of the Deaf and Dumb” is located. This institution ought to be well known in the State, and yet, it is probable, that there are many mutes in Georgia whose parents aud friends are not well enough acquainted with it to send them there for instruction. In the hope ot doing good to someone of this unfortunate class, I will write specifically about the institution, and ask preachers and others who read the Advocate, to give the to every one whom it may con cern : Ist. The institution is for intelligent mules —not for idiotic mutes. 2d. Board aud washing, and lights, and tui tion, are furnished without charge by the State of Georgia to all mutes between ten aud twenty-seven years ol age, for the course of six years. 3d. Clothing is given to such mutes as are unable to clothe themselves. ♦ ■fib. Their education is under the control of a competent and faithful corps of instructors. sth. The physical wants of the pupils, their health and manners, are well cared for by the steward and his wife, who seem made for the place. No parents having mute children need to fear that they will not be cared for with pa rental tenderness and diligence by Brother and Sister Quillian, who have had charge of this department now about ten years. The Trustees have showu their wisdom and their humanity in retaining them so long in this position, and will doubtless continue them in it as long as they can. For, while rota tion in office may be just and wise in some offices, in those departments requiring pecu liar qualities of head and heart and rare combination of talents, as in this institution and in asylums for the insane, rotation in office, merely to make a place for the largest number of office-seekers and friends of a party, is not only a sin, but an act of unpar donable inhumanity. I emphasize the state ment that none need hesitate to place their route children or wards under the present management of this institution. 6th. The Institution has attached to it a boot and shoe shop, and a printing office, where the boys can learn a trade that will give them a competent support, and Sister Quillian teaches the girls to cut and sew dresses, and prepares them well for the ordi nary duties of house-keeping. Though her self an artist of no mean gift) in drawing and painting, she does not overlook those com mon industries essuit.ial to the comfort of mortals. In this department she is assisted by a very competent young lady. The reli gious instruction of ihe mutes is carefully at tended to by the teachers of the institute. They have pre aching every Sunday, and have regular Sunday school lessons, as well as a short religious lecture every morning at the opening of school, and prayers morning and evening. Many of the mutes have professed religion and joined the various churches in town. Nothing sectarian is allowed in the school. W. H. Potter. * Athens , Ga. GJtAUAMVILLE CIRCUIT, SOUTH CAR OI.INA CONFERENCE. Dear Brother Kennedy : We have just closed a delightful five-days’ meeting at Beth el, in the Gi .haiu circuit. The d.vine pres en e < w>s graciously manifested to u. f in first to la.t. We have a small, but noble band of Christians at this point on our woik. They havq in successful operation, the old fashioned class-meeting, a weekly prayer meeting, and a prosperous Sunday-school. Though the promptness and faithfulness of their steward they are well up with their fi nances Tht-y were prepared to receive the refreshing showers o*' grace that come upon them during our meeting, by which they were strengthened and greatly encouraged. We received three valuable members into the Church —all, except one, in the commu nity large enough to join, and we hope ere long to get that one. Dr. B. G. Jones was with us, and labored with his characteris tic zeal and usefulness. Our Secretary will, according to resolution, furnish a brief ac count of our District Conference. I must ask a little Bpace to record my gratitude for substaucial manifestations of kindness to myself and family by the good people of my charge during our Conference. Turkey, chickens, fresh meats, hams, fruits, cakes, melons, preserves, jellies, etc., literally flow ed in upon us. God bless the dear people forever. Our Sunday-school celebration at Graham a fortnight-ago was unusually interesting, and I trust profitable. We were largely in debted to the ladies of the church for the pleasure and success of he occasion. The brilliant illumination of the church; the skill and good taste displayed in its decor ation, in connection with other necessary preparations elicited the admiration and ap plause of a large and sppreciat’ve audience, and was rewarded with the greater satisfac tion of having impurtel a needed imne us to a noble Cause. Bio. A. A Connor render ed us good service iu training tbe boys with speecbes and dialogues, all of which were appreci ted and well delivered. The dia logue of the “graces and virtues’ led by Mrs. S. accompanied with eleven “maidens,” was truly impressive and enjoyable. The music lor the occasion was selected from the Gem an 1 Amaranth, and was rendered to the delight of'the audience. The address of L. T. IzV, E q., of Blackvtlle, was an admirable sequel to one of the most delight ful celebrations it has ever been my good fortune to attend. Tbe address was well conceived and happily delivered. It illus trated tbe familiar! y of the speaker with the subject, and it was indeed a noble contribu tion to a cause with which he has identified himself as an earnest and able worker. The outlook with us. upon the whole is eneour aging, except in a financial point of view. It is hoped that the promising prospects of the crops will very soon work the desired change in this direction. A. J. Cacthen. Graham, S C., July 2~th, 1876. MACON DISTRICT CONFERENCE. Mk. Editor: The Macon District Confer ence convened in Marshallville, July 27th, with Dr. J. O. A. Clark, P. K., in the chair, and forty delegates present during the first session. 'I he welcome on the part of the good people was cordial, and the hospitality liberal and bountiful. The business of the Conference was trans acted after ithe usual order, but without cotft iniMees, all the interest of the Church were duly considered and emphasized, and the session was harmonious and profitable. The combined reports from the various charges showed a sound spiritual condition with here and there advancement and progress. We had but few visitors outside of the District. Dr. Lovick Pierce, our venerable and beloved father, gladdened our hearts by his presence and wise counsii, both in the Conference ad the pulpit. Dr. Clark called special attention to the Southern Christian Advocate, and urged its circulation among all our people. It was truly gratifying, in this connection, to see many of the lay delegates volunteer a word of hearty endorsement of our excellent church paper. The following were elected delegates to tbe South Georgia Annual Conference: Rev. Win. I. Green, Henry S. Wimberly, Isaac Hardeman, Thomas J. Cater. By order ofthe Conference, I enclose you some resolutions for publication. S. D. Ct. ements, Sec’y. Resolution offered by Dr. W. H. Hollins head. Resolved, That feeling our dependence upon the Providence of our Heavenly Father for all temporal, as well as spiritual blessings, we do hereby as a body express the sincere and devout gratitude of our hearts for the bountiful harvest of small grain already reaped, the good prospect of the growing crops, and the gracious promise of an abundant harvest in the future. Resolution offered by J. R. Glenn, on Class-meetings. Whereas, The suspension of regular class meetings in the various charges of this Dis trict is very deleterious to Methodism speci ally, and to religion generally. Resolved, That the pastors in charge of the several stations and circuits in t 'is Dis trict, be r> quested to arrange a regular plan or system for class-meetings in their various charges, and report results at the next Dis trict Conference. The Committee on Resolutions beg leave to submit the following: Resolved, 1. That we have heard with devout gratitude to God, notwithstanding the great depression in money matters, our in stitutions of learning, to wit; the Wesleyan Female College at Macon, Emory College at Oxford, aifd Andrew Female Collage at Cuthbert. are in a better and more flourish ing condition than at any time since the war. And that officered, as they are, by able and experienced educators, these Colleges offer to us bet'er and greater facilities for the proper education of our sons and daughters than can be found anywhere in our own loved South, where alone they should be trained and educated. 2. That it is our duty to do all that we can to sustain these institutions of learning by sending our children to them to be educat ed, and by contributing of our means towards their endowment, and placing them in a con dition where they shall be inferior to no sim ilar institutions in the land. 3. That we commend the Orphan’s Home to the fostering care and constant support of all within the bounds of the South Georgia Conference. 4. That we cannot say too much in com mendation of the Southern Christian Ad vocate, and we do earnestly recommend all our preachers and members to place a copy in the hands ot every family within the bounds of this Conference. Respectfully submitted. Isaac Hardeman, James R. Glenn, J. Rufus Felder, Henry S. Wimberly. Thoma3 J. Cater, W. H. Hollinshead, D. B. Fred erick. LAGRANGE DISTRICT CONFERENCE. The LaGrange District Conference met in West Point, Friday night, the 21st of June. The business sessions began on Saturday morning—Bishop Pierce in the chair. A general committee was appointed consisting of one layman from each charge, with Geo. G. Smith from the ministry, to consider and report upon the matters of interest which came before the Conference. The Commit tee found that the general religions state of the dis'rict was very encouraging. In the Troup Circuit, and in the LaGrange Station, there had already been revivals, and there was promise of a like result all through the district The standard of piety was rising, and the Church was advancing in all its spir itual intere ts. The Suinlay--chool interest in the district was still growing, and peril ips in no part of the State is th* re more attention paid to it than in the LaGrange District. The Com mittee recommended a simple plan for con dueling schools, and especially urged upon the preachers the duty of preaching to the children, bringing them early to the knowl edge of Jesus, and looking for and praying tor their early conversion. They found the state of things financially less encouraging. Although two thirds of the Conference year was gone, not one third of the assessments had been paid. Newnan, in which the Church had been struggling to complete its new house of worship, had paid more than half its assessment, and the Whitesville Circuit, which had been desola ted by the cyclones and burned with the drought, had paid a larger sum relatively than any other charge. The Committee re commended the assessment plan, and fre quent collections, and expressed its opinion that that covetousness which was manifest in refusing to support the ministry, rendered the guilty party obnoxious to the stern dis cipline of the Church. The general feeling was one of confidence in the ability of the Church to meet the demands upon it, and its willingness to do its duty. The Educational interest was represented by the Rev. Dr. Haygood, President of Em ory College, and by the Rev. J. R. Mayson, President of LaGrange Female College. The present prosperity of the male college grati fied the committee and the Conference, and they gave a hearty endorsement to all ihe plans of the Board of Trustees to complete the only needful building, the chapel, and the endowment of professorships. The La- Grange Female College was recognized as a most valuable adjunct in the work in the Church, aud the committee noted with great pleasure the valuable efforts of the Rev. Mr. Mayson in bringing the work of providing a suitable building for all purposes so near to completion, and commend the school to the patronage of the Methodists in the district. Tbe Advocate was represented by Dr. Hay good, and while it does not receive tbe pa tronage it deserves, yet it is not from any failure to recognize its great value. The religious interest manifest during the Conference was great, aud the services de lightful and edifying. A revival of consider able power followed the Conference, as i l began during the session. The Conference was most kindly enter tained during its session by the good people of West Point, and in all respects it was pleasant and edifying. We were gratified at the visit of the Rev. Dr. Means and of Dr. Haygood, who were our only visiting brethren from Georgia, and at that of Brother Hunnicut, from the Mis sissippi Conference, who paid us a short visit. The Conference, by a unanimous vote, de cided to meet in Fairburn the next year. The Conference adjourned early on Tuesday morning, having elected Rev. John Little, J. T. Waterman, Young H. Thompson, aud Brother Camp, delegates to the ensuing An nual Conference. After the departure of the Bishop the Pre siding Elder took the chair and presided with Episcopal dignity. The attendance was quite large and the major part of the delegates remained to the close of the session. The session was too short by one day. Four whole days are not too many to be devoted to the work of a Dis trict Conference, and thtyonly reason why a Conference meeting on Friday may not be r perfect success, arises from the anxiety of the delegates to leave the place of meeting soon after Sunday. The Secretary of the Conference, John T. Waterman, was instructed to prepare a report for the Advocate, but, owing to a pressure of duties, he was unable to prepare it, and at his request I have ttied to fill bis place. The Conference was a good one. The Pre siding Elder has evidently done his work well, and the district is well manned by most earnest and faithful workers. We trust this year will be one of gracious ingathering into the Church, and we believe the exhibit at Conference will be gratifying to all the lovers of the Church. Geo. G Smith. WALDO CIRCUIT, FLORIDA CONFER LACK. Dear Brother Kennedy: When I came to this circuit last January everything looked dark and gloomy. We landed at Waldo after traveling three hundred miles, weary and tired. Waldo is a station on the A. G. and W. I. T. Railroad, the northern extrem ity of the circuit. Here we expected to get accommodations until our horse and buggy should arrive, but alas 1 it was with great difficulty that we succeeded in getting a shel ter at all. The next day I set to work to get a conveyance to go out in the country, and after working hard for nearly two days, begging, persuading, etc., I succeeded in getting a buggy and an old mule, doubtless a survivor of the late war, or some Indian war. So we set out for the country- —but that mule —it took a good deal of urging to produce an ordinary walk. So after a free use of the usual persuasives, and patience, we reached our destination. We found the work cold and inactive—no parsonage —and it, was with great difficulty that we succeeded in getting a place to board. But a change has since succeeded. We have built a nice frame parsonage iu the ceu tre of the circuit, with plenty of good land for an orange grove, garden, etc. We have also set out seven sweet orange trees, and intend to put out at least fifty more, which will support the circuit in Bor 9 years. We moved in our new parsonage home June Ist. Find it much easier for us and our people. Oh that every circuit had a parsonage; and with proper effort they would have. All over the circuit the signs of revival crop out. I held a two-days’ meeting, em bracing sth Sunday, and Saturday before, in July, seven miles south east of Gainesville. Several of my neighbor preachers promised to come over and help us, but they all failed. The Lord met with us from first to last; so we had a good meeting. Many were blessed and praised God aloud. Four united with the Church. One promising young man, a son of one of our departed itinerants, was happily converted. We also organized a new congregation of 31 staunch Methodists, who intend to build them a nice, commodi ous Church by January, 1877. K. D. Gentry. Orange Creek, August 3, 18 76. TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE, AND : FItIENDS OF THE COLUMBIA FEMALE COLLEGE. This institution lias been reorganized with full faculty of twelve professors and teach ers; the buildings have been thoroughly bur nished and white-washed; the furniture has been repaired and revarnished, so that the whole surroundings present a sweet, health ful invitation ; in a word, first-class facili ties are in readiness to educate your daugh ters ; therefore send them on first of October next. By reference to advertisement in the Ad vocate, it will be seen that new features are added to the curriculum of studies. These are, “The Daily Lecturing System, Kinder garten, Calisthenics, Telegraphy,” etc. In addition to these, it is the purpose to add yet other facilities of instruction, in Photo graphy, Type Setting, etc. “ The world moves," and educational advantages must go forward, also, to meet the pressing wants and demands of the age. From the discus sions that have actually taken place in the American Congress, in which it would seem the purpose is to abolish the postal system, in a great measure, and substitute the Tele graph, the most wonderful of all means of communication from the constant im provements now going on, by which it is al ready claimed that four messages can be sent over the same wire, at the same time, and that your photograph and hand writing, fac simile, can be produced at the other end of the line ; we repeat, from these, and other reasons that could be mentioned, it is evi dent that the time is not distant when the great body of correspondence will be carried on by Telegraph. We measure the distance of the stars; paint with the sunbeam; navi gate the air; travel a mile per minute ; and are now engineering to tunnel the sea ; there fore me must correspond by lightning. When all business houses, and even pri vate families have their “Batteries,” how ap propriate and convenient, to have the “weak er sex" prepared to carry on the correspond ence. Similar suggestions might be given in re ference to other refined and useful arts, in which we expect to offer facilities of instruc tion. Our motto is , “ Indoor work for the girls and outdoor business and pursuits for the boys." Get out boys, gel out and let the girls take seats. The Board of Instruction is now employed on salaries, therefore, the pecuniary respon sibilities rest on the owners of the college. Every member of the Church, in South Caro lina, is part owner of this property, worth from $30,000 to $40,000, aud therefore should regard himself or herself, under some obligation to do something to make it useful. We do not ask of you money, just now. We ask that you send for circulars, inform your selves of facts, for those seeking information. Send your own daughters and induce your neighbors to send theirs, and especially send VOLUME NO. 33. ms the navies of all persons who have patron, age to bestow—do those things, and with an institution so distinguished for health, that there has been but one death among its pu pils since the foundation in 1856, we promise results of which Church and State may be proud. All in the name of Him who doeth all things well. J. L. Jones, Pres. C. F. C. TO THE PREACHERS AND LA YMEX OF THE GEORGIA AND FLORIDA ( OM UtKM Ks. The manuscript of the History of Metho dism in Georgia is now ready for the press. It includes an account of the Church from 1788 to 1805, giving as free a sketch of the workers and of the work as I have been able to secure. There are brief sketches of Humphries, Major, Hope Hull, Rtndall, Cowles, Mead, Asbury, McKeudrie, George, Bruce, Lee, —of Andrew, Hodges, Pierce, Parks, Glenn, etc., etc. —and of Jerry, Slade, Smith, of the Florida work. It shows the introduction of Methodism into all sections of Georgia and Florida, and de votes a large chapter to Methodism in the cities. Gives an account of schemes for education, Missions, and benevolence. It will contain about 550 pages, and will be published in the bes’ style, and embel lished with portraits of Andrew, Lougstreet, Pierce, Capers, and others. It will be delivered to subscribers at ?2.00 per copy, with a discount to preachers and agents of 30 per cent. I have now over 200 copies subscribed for, and as soon as I can get 1,000 the book will be put to the press. Bishop Pierce was unable to do more than write the introduction, except to give me much valuable information verbally, and the book must go forth on its own merits. I should be gtad to publish it very soon, and if the preachers will send me an aver age of five subscribers from eac-h circuit and station I can do so. There will be no profit in the first edition, and I am unable to take the risk of publishing a book which may not be sold. No money will be looked for until the History is delivered. I cannot, of' course, speak of the merits of the book. Those in whose judgment I place great reliance have spoken favorably of it. The subscribers must risk it. Please let me know at La- Grange how many copies are desired. Geo. G. Smith. P. S.—l have paid special attention to the History of the Church iu Florida, which is one of the most thrilling in the History. TIIE POPULATION OF TURKEY. At the present time, when everything con cerning Turkey is of interest, our readers will be glad to be made acquainted with the following statistics of the population of Eu ropean Tuikey, which we take from the Journal Ojliciet of Paris. While the exhi bition of 1873 was open, a society was form ed at Vienna of public men. journalists, merchants and Orientalists for the collection and publication ot informa'ion relating to the East. This society issues a monthly journal, and from its pages the Journal Offi del has taken the figures which we reproduce. At the Vienna Exhibition it was found that there was not a single map which accurate ly represented the prlitical division of Tur key, and the information on other matters was little more satisfactory. The society en deavored to supply the defects thus brought to light. At the capitals of most of the vila yets there are published annually salnames, or official almanacs, which c niain. in addi tion to lists of the public authorities, statis tical notices of the provinces. From these notices the information respecting the popu lation is drawn. Of course, it is to be re membered that no regular census is taken ; but the information of the salnames is likely to be more correct than that found anywhere else. Until a tew months ago European Turkey was divided into six vilayets and the district of Constantinople, which forms a government apart. Since the insurrection in the Herzegovina broke out, it may be re membered that the province of Bosnia was was subdivided. Constantinople forms a division apart, and contains 080,000, inhab itants. The district of Constantinople is the moat thickly peopled part of the Empire. After it comes the vilayet of Adrianople where the density of population is not more than 168 to the square mile. The sparse ness of population, indeed, is so great that there are only two other countries in Europe more thinly populated. These are Greice and Russia. But in proportion to the tuea, the population of Spain, and even that t f Sweden, is larger than that of Turkey. A point of more interest than the density of population is its amount. We get no infor mation regarding the number of women, but the male population of each province is giv en according to religious denominations. It is as follows: Vilayet. Mussulmans. Non-Moslem. Bosnia . . 349,522 300,707 Monastir . . 485,993 417,805 Janina . . 250,749 467,601 Salonica . . 124,828 124,157 Adrianople. . 235,587 401,148 Danube . . 455,767 715,938 Total . . 1.862.446 2,433,356 The total male population of Turkey, ex cluding the vassal States, as also the islands, but including the district of Constantinople, is, according to the official almanacs. 4,976,- 000, or, in round numbers, about 5,000,000. Assuming that the sexes are as nearly equal as in other countries, the population would thus somewhat exceed 10,000,000. Return, ing to the information given by the official almanacs, we find from the above figures that the non Mussulman population hears to the Mussulmans the proportion of 57 to 43. In Bosnia it will be seen the Mohammedans are very slightly in the majority; in the vila yet of Monastir the majority is somewhat larger, and in that of Salonica there is al most an equality. But in the three remaining vilayets the Christians very largely outnum bered the Mussulmans. In the European part of the district of Constantinople, again, the proportion of Christians to Mussulmans is in the proportion of 54 to 46. It must not be fbrgotton that these statistics are official, and that the officials are naturally desirous to make the number of Mussulmans appear as large as possible ; and in the hope of es caping taxation the Christians would try to make their own numbers appear small. It is likely, therefore, that in these statistics the Mussulmans are overestimated. But, even if we make that allowance, the Mussul mans seem to be much moie numerous than is generally supposed.— Pall Mall Gazette. A letter to our Mission Rooms, from Rev. C. Wright, dated at Helena, July 13, states that much excitement prevails with regard to Indian affairs. Unless the military were liberally reinforced at once, it was feared the Sioux could not be held in check, and that the Territory would be overrun. Many of the inhabitants were leaving, the miners for the Black Hills, by the way of Bismarck and Benton, and their families for the Unit ed States. The letter closes with the follow ing : “What the result may he to our work here I cannot at present tell; but lam firm ly convinced that it is my duty to stay here and hold the land God has given us, and leave results with him.”— N. Y. Christian Advocate. Here is a grateful word from Dr. Maclay, superintendent of our mission work in Ja pan. “I have the pleasure of informing you that by a recent decree of the] Japanese Gov ernment, after April 1, 1876, all Government offices will close at noon ou each Saturday, and reman closed until Monday morning.”— N. Y. Christian Advocate.