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134 Sou%rn tferfstian ftlicaflj MACON, GEORGIA. I^s Dear AliVocati!: Altfer 3“h':W .'•fota&wwriJi* been in Philadelphia a little more than that length oftime: and while it would evince the r4i/Sto [4t4i4 |e4fSpt>on of an exposition the simple catalogue of whose, details covers nearly 500 pages |of closely 'fdinfdfrlWtftr, joint from which Ttnti give'sbm* ’iretierkl irJpressibiiS' of the “CerttehhiaT.” WHatt-vei AaftM'tfle ■ Wsilll in iitiatrcfal 1 jf>dM of vleW, jthvife dafr bU'pftVoiil-vefdidt'fttt tfritft'MtljMdWife • as rift* TtlthrtiatirfhaT Aligners and Vientift/ tihhdsffhfih^I'pronounce 1 'pronounce this eupertor ttfVfcker bf them. A critical and perfectly sathlftcWry inspection of all era hriaCed'rh'lfhe'iShcloHure would require even rfthre than' the six months fixed as the dura tion-Of the show. My plans allowing me lit tle more than that many days, my survey has been necessarily rapid and superficial; and yet in this short time I have seen more than in all my previous lifetime to impress me with the majesty of intellect and its marvel ous achievements, and have acquired a fund upon which memory will draw for the remain der of life. There are five principal build ings, and about one hundred and fifty small er ones, nearly every one of which is filled with objects to interest and instruct the visi tor. The Main Building—which is 626 yards long, by 166 yards wide—is packed with the wares of all nations, artistically arranged in bewildering profusion and variety. Memo rial Hall—a magnificent granite structure costing a million and a half, with an “an nex” more spacious than the main building —is brilliant throughout with the best work in statuary and painting of the most noted artists of the leading nationalities of the globe. Machinery Hall, an immense build ing, presents specimens of the machinery of all nations in active operation, and with courteous attendants who are always ready to answer every question and make any ex planation the visitor may desire. Of the entire exhibition, this was to me by far the most attractive and entertaining feature. The de partment of Agriculture and Horticulture, each have elegant and spacious buildings for the display of the earth’s products, and the vast variety of labor-saving machinery em ployed in producing, harvesting, and prepa ring them for market. These five, superb buildings, with their contents, constitute the most conspicuous features of the Exposition, but they present but a fraction of what is to be seen, and those who confine their visit to the main buildings, will miss much of equal if not superior interest, contained in the nume rous less imposing, but tasteful and elegant structures which grace the spacious grounds of the Exposition. The trouble is, there is too much to see. Day after day, my eyes have grown weary with looking, and my feet have been well nigh worn out, and yet there was all the time the annoying conviction that, look and walk as much as I might, there would still remain a vast deal that it would be impossible to see. I have devoted about seven days very diligently to the work, but despairing of accomplishing anything like a thorough canvass of the entire exhibition, and in fact finding that interest even in the most striking novelties is beginning to flag, I leave for New York this afternoon, satis fied for the present, but sorely regretting that it will not be practicable for me to re sume my tours of inspection after a recess of trwo or three weeks. There are two or three facts in connection with the management of the Exposition which have impressed me most favorably. The first is, the perfect order that prevails, and the entire unobtrusiveness of the machin ery by which this admirable state of things is maintained. Multiplied thousands of all sorts of people congregate within the enclo sure from day to day, and yet the supervision of the authorities is so thorough, and their corrective measures so promptly and quietly applied, that if there is any disorder, it is confined to a small space and a few moments. During my entire stay on the grounds 1 have heard no boisterous tones, and have seen but one drunken man, who was being quietly taken by the police to a station house. An other noticeable feature is the perfect cour tesy, which, sofaras my observation extend ed, characterizes all the officials and attend ants. Annoyed as they must be with the al most incessant questioning to which they are subjected, with marvellous patience and eiv ilty they reply politely to all, and seem ever ready to impart such information, or render such service sis is desired of them. And then again the entire absence of tfie extortionate prices which I vu prepared to expect, was an agreeable surprise. You can pay very high prices and spend a great deal of money, if this is your fancy and you have the means of gratifying it, but you can live very com fortably and provide yourself with a large measure of enjoyment upon a very moderate sum. Comfortable board can be obtained for from $lO to sl4 a week ; a very fair din ner need not cost more than fifty cents ; the street cars carry you over any single route tor seven cents, and over any two for nine cents; the steam railway transports you all around the Exposition grounds—a distance of three and a half miles —for five cents. The Centennial is “a grand thing”—by unanimous consent of all who have witnessed it, worthy of the United States and creditable to the American people. I shall always be glad that it was my privilege to attend it, and I heartily wish that every one of my readers could witness and enjoy the wonders it dis plays. I attended Dr. Hatfield’s church on yes terday week, hoping to hear him preach ; but he was absent from the city, and I listened to a very ordinary sermon from an Illinois preacher, whose main attraction was a very superb voice. In the afternoon, I attended the “Bethany,” better known as “Wanna maker’s” Sunday-school. I may in a sub sequent letter give some description of it. Yesterday morning I attended Dr. Hatfield’s church again, and beard a sermon from Dr. R. K. Hargrove, one of our Commissioners to the Northern Church. After service I met three of the Commissioners—Drs. Myers, Hargrove, and Finney. In the afternoon I made another visit to the Bethany Sunday school. I have an appointment with Dr. Myers at this hour, and therefore must close. AVill write again. F. M. K. Philadelphia, August 14, 1876. LTshop Marvin's Sermons. —The Chris tian Adcocate, Nashville, notices the appear ance of a volume of Sermons frem the South ern Methodist Publishing House. We have not seen the book, and defer, of course, ex tended remarks until it reaches our hands. We have an exalted opinion of Bishop Mar vin’s rank as a preacher—it is the front. He combines with the philosophic caste of mind a poetic and pathetic vein, rich and rare. We doubt not the Sermons will meet with ready sale. Personal. —The Editor pro tan., hereby notes the birth of his first grand child —a daughter, born August 15th, 1876. We will try to stand more erect, and walk more elas tic than ever, lest some weak-eyed person should affect to see symptoms of age in our carriage and step. The mother, Mrs. Isaac H. Johnson, is doing well. i of the I'niversity of Georgia, at Athens. The speech furnishes us with a theme and gome inspiration for writing. Judge J. is now an honored member of the Georgia Supreme Court, a position which he fills with credit to himself jind the State. It is seldom we find united with devotion to the legal profession such fondness for litera ture and elegant culture as this address evin ces on tbe part bLits author. Not that there <]** attAitfbatibility between the highest ilegal learning and position and the circles of tfrhilasopherg and poets, but such is the usual .course of things, that contrariety ripens into antagonism. We are glad to see ex ceptions to this rule, and Judge Jackson is an example. The late Chief Justice Lumpkin of the the same Court was a notable illustration of a combination of qualities so rare, but so charming in a public man. We believe it was Judge Jackson who said in his eulogy on the late Dr. Longstreet, that take him all in all, he was the greatest man Georgia had produced. Admiring as we did the versatile Longstreet, whether as a hu morist in the Georgia Scenes, or in his graver and more dignified aspects of charac ter, we should with some hesitation assign to Judge Lumpkin, the pre-eminence among all our public men, past or present. His de cisions contained in the “Reports” beam with beauty as well as wisdom, charming to us, a non professional reader of such books. But we must not wander from our theme too far nor too long—the theme is the * Per petual Homestead.” Judge J. impressed with the migratory character of our people, and the damage to our civilization resulting therefrom, seeks to overcome this habit by showing the bearing which permanent homes have upon material, mental, and moral im provement. It may be a strange admission for an itinerant preacher to make, but we substantially agree with him in all this argu ment. There must be indeed some who toil for others who enjoy—the basis of wealth is poverty, if our readers can receive the para dox, for we cannot stop to write an essay on political economy. Our homeless Metho dist preachers, have in the condition of our country, by their self denial, made homes possible and happy to others ; and for this let them have due credit —it is an imitation of our Master. Homes, permanent homes, are essential to comfort and culture, to patriotism in our polities, and to wise legis’ation in our gov ernment. These positions are not self evident, hut are readily tested by rational proof, inductive and philosophic. Our au thor refers especially to England our mother land—with her grand old govern ment, her immense wealth and learning, her splendor among the nations, and all these fac s have their explanation and support in her homestead and patrimonial laws. In America, gradually receding more and more from the true wisdom of our ancestors in regard to land and homes, an agragrian s'pirit has been developed that gives as a necessary result instability, and foretells an uncertain, if not a dismal future to our country. Here indeed is a vast continent of unoccupied lands, and the homeless may ea sily be furnished with that prerequisite—a permanent home —to happiness and prosper ity. But this favorable condition, in itself considered, has so far been unused or abused, for scarcely any one has an absolutely fixed habitation. As there are no hindrances to selling, no legal entailment of landed estates, our whole population, with few exceptions, are a roving, restless, unproductive, unitn proving people. Our eonutry .is new, com pared to the Eastern continent, yet it is old enough to display in its various parts both the good and the evil involved in this ques tion. People of wealth often content themselves in houses repulsive to behold, because these places are but temporary abodes, ever ready to be sold to the highest bidder. Persons, whose poverty is a justification of their early environments, continue in their unbeautified tents, long alter this plea is untenable ; and generation succeeds generation with no in crease of material comfort, exhibiting the dwarfed, stinted mental proportions and tastes corresponding to these unfavorable situations. Judge Jackson is not a writer of verse, but he is a poet in his conceptions, and his vis ions are not phrensies of a wild imagination —they have a substantial basis in Baconian philosophy, and a firm support in the deduc tions of the statesman. He is emphatically a Georgian, and goes into raptures over our grand State when her varied and vast natu ral resources are brought into view. If our people were content to remain here, had fixed homes, our estimated greatness would become more than a reality: we should have a land, in the same parall el, of much the same caste, richer than Palestine, want ing only its sacred associations to make it the joy ot the earth. We are not unmindful of the sad complexion of our political affairs —we turn to the contemplation with a sad ness that borders on despair. Madness has ruled the times, and a rampant fanaticism threatens to reduce to anarchy that splendid ideal of government, which has been the wonder of our countrymen, and the envy of jealous nations. There may be in Anglo Saxon blood, in modern philosophy, a rem edy for the evils already on us and the worse that threatens to come. We do not think so, and our firm belief is, that through the agonies of anarchy, the nation will emerge into an Empire of huge proportions ; and if our civilization does not perish like that of Rome, under a deluge of barbarism, Amer ica will some day eclipse even that grand old empire in everything, not even except ing its corruption and folly. Y r ou cannot build a pyramid on its apex —a temple on pillars of ice —and governments cannot stand nor prosper when human folly and weakness are-relied on as its support. Eter nal laws have eternal penalties, and one is, “If you sow the wind, you shall reap the whirlwind.” There are men in office now (in the South) with little more intelligence than the baboon of Asia, and in moral fitness as little to be trusted with the sacred rights of others as the hungry Bengal tiger with the innocent lamb. To look to the slow processes of mental growth to remedy this state of things, is very like a man with wooden legs nursing them daily with a view of entering the arena of the athlete for foot-racing. But we are trenching on forbidden ground and must hasten away. Judge Jackson by an easy transition passes from the mere literal home to that which constitutes its chief charm —woman. He justly, not too severely reprehends the last phase of folly in American thought, the de sire to unsex woman by giving her the bal lot. We agree with these strong-minded sisters in some of their abstractions—they reason well, but only on the surface. If they are not wiser, they are better than men in many respects, but what they are is chiefly attributable to their restricted sphere —home life —out of this we do not hesitate to say, they would soon wane in their excel lencies, and rapidly develop those qualities which constitute the weakness of the sex. If a woman is unmarried, it may seem hard and wrong to deny her the right of voting, of assisting in making the laws by which she and her property must be governed. But SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. cases —they all want to B of them will succeed. ■ diversity of ernploy ment, dna NfieSKM of enterprise is open to her brains, iter money, and her hands. She must mot become a politician —we do not want to hear her preach. Let her nurse her babies, and be ambitious to rear great men, and daughters who will bring sunshine to the otherwise cheerless homes of men. She may write prose and poetry —may wield a painter’s brush that will bring money and fame —may make music sweet as that which drove Satan out of Saul, but when she gets on a rostrum to speak, for one, we would be glad to be deaf until the ear-piercing shrieks die away. Place a giant at needle-work just as soon as a woman in politics—the thing is incongruous. We are nearly over with our duty which has been a pleasant one, noticing this admirable address. Our friend is proud of his Alma Mater — the Georgia University—and well he may be when her records are unrolled. A galaxy of Nturs might be made that would shine with a lustre and light as beautiful and bright as the rainbow. Let all her sons have equal reverence for their mother all seek to honor and adoru her as she sits with queenly dignity in her beautiful home oa the bills and banks of the Oconee. We have written hurriedly, as we are wont to do, but not without, reflection,first, in com rnendation of this unique address We have known Judge Jackson long, if not intimately; have witnessed his fervor as a Christian layman ; have known he was a polished wri ter, and a pathetic speaker, hut this speech has evinced a breadth of thought, an extent of reading, a felicity of expression, which have enhanced our high estimate ami appre ciation of his admitted abilities. J. W. H. PREACHERS ANI> DEBT. We call attention to this topic with some reluctance for obvious reasons, but what is talked of so much in private may as well be aired a little in public. It is almost impos sible for our traveling preachers to avoid ma king debts entirely—our system of deferred payments necessitates buying on time, to say nothing of the small pay when it comes. The man and his household must eat, to doso he mustbuy; if not supplied with money, credit is the only alternative. The amount of final receipts is contingent—generally falls below the estimate of stewards and ministers. Under these circumstances it is easy to see how difficulties are likely to arise—debts will be made which cannot be paid. The preacher excuses his conscience on the plea that his failure is not worse than the stewards —it is an offset. Plausible as this plea is, it will not do either in theory or prac tice, and any man who follows the plan will become as bankrupt in moral character as in money. He does not and cannot buy exact ly from each of his people just what every one should pay him; most likely buys from the very persons who do pay him, as well as from others who have no other relation to him than that of a creditor. The set off will not do in such cases. lie is in a (ix —what is he to do? One thing he cannot afford— to ruin his reputation by inti lelily to con tracts. It is a nigh way to wretchedness. Let us reason together: Make your calcula tions closely, and allow a margin for a failure in receipts —a large margin at that. Now spend according to prospective income—put everybody around you on a war footing—live poor, unless your prospects are rich. Make frequent surveys of the situation, slate and pencil in hand—think, plan, retrench. Men who do this are not likely to fail; if they do, it will be deemed a misfortune and accident and not a fault. If a term of years shows that you cannot succeed, quit and try another vocation? God does not demand of you a service that does not even afford an economical living ; to con tinue under such circumstances seems to im ply a right to go through life by something like forced loans. We have been led into these remarks by a sophistical defense of a case which would be discreditable in a court-house, and is shock ing iu a Christian paper. There are preach ers who keep out of debt in both high places and low, a fact which shows that where there is a will there is a way. All men, indeed, are not alike—some will save and thrive on an amount on which others would almost starve. It is so in all vocations, and hardships are common also in every profession. The first iu the ministry never reach the highest pay which the first in talent in other callings do—they are the finan cially damaged class. With the bulk of the ministry, the pay corresponds more nearly with that of other trades, and never, except in rare cases, falls to the lowest possible point. The pay is uncertain, and for this there is no absolute remedy ; an approxi mate relief can only be afforded by toning the Church up to its promises as well as the preacher. Bishop Marvin goes farther than we do on this subject. He has such a horror of debt that he tells the preachers to “ starve, yes, literally starve,” rather than take on them such an incubus. “ Better have your clothes patched seven deep, or seven times, than to make debts you can’t meet.” The good Bishop is very severe in this mat ter, but he knows the evil by h is long obser vation of its working. We do not write in view of any special sng gestions coming from our own bounds. So far as we know, our brethren and their ex cellent wives, are struggling heroically these terrible times to serve God and keep free from embarrassment. Let no church take advantage of this integrity and devotion to scale payments down to a point just a little short of actual starvation. Encourage your preachers and cheer them with your sympa thy and timely liberality. MISSIONARY C ELECTIONS— SOUTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE. We would remind our brethren of the near approach of the time for taking our collec tion for foreign missions. Indeed, the time is near at hand—the work must proceed now, or very soon, or not at all. We are aware of the excuses for delay—they are specious, in some cases entirely just; but. if the post ponement of the Spring collections was in good faith (in order to get more money), let our people prove it by their contributions. We greatly fear, in defiance of authority, some brethren will combine these several col lections and make sad failures. Our crops are as fine as nature ever produced—univer sally so in Georgia—and there will be ability to meet all demands ; there ought to be in creased liberality as a thank offering to God for the abundant temporal blessings bestow ed. We insist, here and now, in the double capacity of Editor pro tern, and Missionary Secretary, that an earnest etfort be made by every preacher to bring up his full assess ment. These are always made on the mini mum scale—there is absolutely no margin for failure. We make a special appeal to our own district to redeem itself from the dis creditable figures of last year. Giving is as much our duty as praying—we incline to think that many people would get good sooner by doing good than by trying to get right through prayer to God. “ I will have mercy and not sacrifice.” J. W. Hinton, Sec'y, etc. The Galaxy for September will contain a biographical sketch of General Custer, writ ten by Captain Fredrick Whittaker of the cavalry service ; also a continuation of Gen eral Custer’s “War Memoirs.” The pub lishers of the Galaxy received copy from General Custer just before his death’’"and his “VVar Memoirs” will be continued in several numbers of the Galaxy. Ex Secre tary Wells will also contribute articles in the next two numbers of the Galaxy on “The. Nomination and Eleciion of Abraham Lin coin.” Also articles by Richard Grant White, Albert Rhodes, and J. H. Siddons, together with several interesting short stories and poems. CHURCH PERIODICALS—LADIESVIE posiroitv. The eff irt to make something new aiJKbet ter out of the Lailies' lieposiloiy, Cincinnati, is suggestive of some reflections which we have revolved in our mind for some time of a general character. That periodical has had a subscription list of thirty thousand names—it has fallen off to about ten thousand subscribers. It was designed to be a first class monthly magazine, chiefly for ladies. It was to be pervaded by a religious tone and free from the taint that attaches to periodi cals of similar grade—the taint of worldliness and even of infidelity. Why has it failed (as confessedly it has) after a run of many under the most favorable auspices of editing and publishing, backed also by the greatest Church in America? Ddes this collapse show a decline in religious sentiment among cultivated people-a relaxing in favor of a free and easy style of thinking on religious subjects ? Partly this is so in the Methodist Churches, North and South ; the intense type of Wesleyan Methodi-on is now not promi nent, to say the least, among cultivated peo ple. But, then, the Repository was not ex effusively q religious print. ; it was a liGuary periodical of bqffi prcteusuips. We exactly understand this special ease, and it is none of our business, but we have <4ome views about the matter which may be worth the trouble of expression. It was a mistake to get up a literary periodical especially for ladies , as if they needed a peculiar kind ot literary food. So far as fashions are concerned, they do seek what the other sex values as trifling. A cultivated woman, rich or poor, would as soon be out of the wot Id as out of the dash ion. This is their nature, and (as Dr. Bond sa'd in relation to prejudices against colored folk,) “it cannot he ref ginned away.” But only a few women care to have a mere fash ion magazine; they consult their dressma kers ami each other. The only danger in this matter would be, not the absence of a fashion department, but an indiscreet and fruitless discussion of dress, etc., from a sectarian standpoint,. Some of the best magazines have no fashion depart ment —notably the Galaxy, which, wo prefer, to any monthly. The publishers have done well to change the name a periodical specifically rolled “ Ladies’ ” would not he sought by men; and after all, it is the sterner sex who must do the paying and most of the reading. We fear ladies do not read very much, but we aie rather afraid to say this itr view of the thou sands of graduates in the land. We give it as our opinion, not as strongly expressed as conceived. Hoping our Northern brethren will make the National Repository a success —because we are too poor in money to make such an enterprise —we cheerfully and , cor dially recommend our people to try Dr. Curry, the Editor, in his new field. We do not believe a magazine distinctly re ligious can succeed against the comp -tituin it must encounter, and this will not be its char acter. A religions tone it should have, and it should be a Repository of literature, beau tiful, refining, elevating from every depart ment of the world’s great affairs. The mind needs food, and, like the body, it craves va riety—the solid and the sumptuous, in pvoper alternation and proportion. Money liberally expended far original articles will pufAlfh*- repast to please the palate of all except those of such vitiated tastes that they can feed only on the garbage of Police Gazettes. What we say in regard to this higher class of periodicals, we think applies equally to the weeklies of the Church. They are nearly all “ Christian Advocates," as if Christianity was always on trial and in court, and these learned counsellors were ever ready t. do duty in the line of apology and defense. There is lack of variety and vivacity in a pa per exclusively religious which repels a large class of readers most needing religious in struction. A good church paper is a powerful auxiliary to the pulpit—it is a necessity—yet all the advantages it brings might he attained with increase if the mental, aesthetic wants of readers were consulted as well as the pure ly religious. Philosophy, poetry, biography, art, and scieuce, should all he laid under con tribution to meet the multiform desires of the human soul. If the weekly secular press in its best form could be expurgated ofits vicious lone, and in the stead of such features a&are relished by the, low and vulgar, would nave engrafted a religious caste, interspersed here and there in all its departments, this would give our ideal of what is needed for the good of the religious press. In fine, the secular prints should he more religious, and the re ligious papers more secular. Such are our ideas, for which no one is responsible but the Editor pro tem. Persona]..—We had the pleasure of meeting in the Advocate office, last week, two promi nent legal gentlemen, well known in Georgia, Judge R. J. Morgan, of Memphis, and Judge Jas. Jack Hon, now of the Georgia Supreme Court. Judge Morgan had cheerful words to say about Vanderbilt University, of which he is a trustee, and Judge Jackson talked to us about his Alma Mater, the University of Georgia. These gentlemen are true friends to the Church, and are properly appreciated. Obituaries. —We have an unusual number on hand. We publish in order of reception. All will appear in due time, though a little later than might ordinarily be expected.^ THE ROUSEMENT TEST. Some preachers and many hearers count the sermon and the service a comparative failure if there is no stir in the congregation. It seems altogether the part of wisdom to avoid extremes in our views on such a sub ject—perhaps it is wise to avoid extremes on almost all subjects. We have little confi dence in the power of preaching or of hear ing where there is never a stir. To be “Faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly null,” seems to be the fate of some preacln-rs and of some congregations. There is no life, no power, no fruit in such preaching or such hearing. An English Bishop once said of his Church that it was “dying of respecta bility.” An awful death, one would think. But we have very meagre and unscriptural ideas of the operations of the Holy Spirit and of the functions of the Christian minis try if we conclude that no good can be done where the emotional nature does not show signs of excitation. The Spirit is also the Teacher, and preachers should be teachers. Jesus, the greatest of preachers, was also the greatest of teachers. There must be in struction in righteousness. Men need to know the doctrines of the Bible; to know them they must learn them ; to learn them they need to be taught them. Many times, as we suppose, our most fruitful preaching is followed by neither tears nor shouts. And it is quite possible that we over value the shouts and the tears. Sometimes there are shouts and tears without repentance for sin or amendment in morals. What should have resulted in conviotidn often expends itself in mere emotion. Thwe is great danger here, not only of failure to produce good results, but of deception. There are those who “do wonderful works in the name of Christ” who never truly know Christ—who are never known by Him as his true disciples. If, in our preach ing and in our hearing, we will only yield ourselves to ihe leadings of the Spirit then the right—because the most needful result— will always follow both the preaching and the hearing. And the wise preacher and the wise hearer will prefer that result which the Spirit prefers, H. Oxford. A 814,000 FARM. It lay in the North and belonged to a saintly old Methodist woman. She was nearly ready to go to a country where there is no need of farming—where they do not “ eat bread in the sweat of their face.” She had a fine farm—worth sl4,ooo—and the Wesleyan University that lost so much by Mr. Drew’s failure was in sore need of it. So she gave it to the College—gave it in the name of the Lord and in her love for the cause of Christ her Saviour. Nobly and wisely done ! Her farm will yield large returns; it will make substantial contributions towards the progress of the race in true knowledge and godliness. It will feed many hungry minds; many of the Lord's poor will get ready, through this ben factiou, to do the Lord’s work. Many of our friends say “Emory College must be endowed; our boys must be educa ted ; especially our poor boys must be pro vided for. But alas 1 we have no money.” They mean no money they can give without. p But how myiy have land they can’t manage, that they don’t know what to do with ? Give laud, brethren and sislers. And don’t wait. Give it now. A chair at Emory College should be endow ed —can be—iu thirty days, by gifts of land if those will give who can and ought. 11. Oxford. CULLODEN-DISTRICT CONFERENCES —CHOI'S. The praises of Middle Georgia have been celebrated by many writers. Good Geor gians believe that there is in all the world no country like theirs, and with Middle Geor gians Middle Georgia is the very flower of it all. We will not he over-careful in defining the boundaries ot Middle Georgia, but, Ox ford is in it. So is the Griffin District, whose District Conference was held at, Cul loden, Monroe county, August. 2-0, Ihe P. E., Rev. G. W. Yarborough, filling the chair to everybody’s satisfaction. In one thing especially he had rare skill and success. He so managed a searching inquisition into Church finances as to make questions, an swers, and discussions minister to spiritual ity. How important is this ! In fact, Church business rightly adjusted and managed should always contribute to the development of true religious power. Any so-called Church bus iness that cannot be so managed is not true Church business, but a foreign and injurious element. All such business the Church should throw off, at whatever cost. The more we see of the District Confer ences—and we have attended scores of them —the more we are satisfied that whatever tends to diminish their religious power tends to destroy them. It is a great blessing that the law of the Church leaves the District Conference comparatively free. It is nei ther legislative, judicial, nor executive, ex cept as to the one thing of electing lay del egates. Keep the District Conference where it is. It should not trench upon the terri tory of either the Quartetly, the Annual, or the General Conference. Nor should it come nearer the Church Conference than it is now. The District Conference rightly managed 'is a great power ; otherwise there is no need of it, nor good in it. The District Confer ence was not designed to furnish opportuni ty for elaborate essays in theology, in sci ence, or metaphysics. We have heard of one District Conference where a brother was appointed to read an essay on Darwinism 1 Fortunately he did not get there. Another appointed a learned brother to discuss the “immortality of the soul metaphysically considered.” Fortunately for us, we were no there. And still another appointed a brother to read an essay on “ The Interme diate State”! No wonder that in some few sections they complain of the District Con ference that it is dull. Any meeting can he killed, if only the right means are used. A District Conference that does not send its members home refreshed in spirit, with increased zeal, wilh greater devotion to the Church, with broader and clearer views of duty, and above all, with more love to Christ, is—a failure. Culloden, the seat of the recent District Conference, is a fine old village where the cultivated and comfortable and hospitable people think and talk, perhaps, too much of what they used to be, and too little of what they now are and of what they could be—if they only use the mpans that God has so bountifully given them. Culloden has been a famous place in Georgia. It has been a good place to bring up men and to raise fine crops and fine horses. Last year Culloden claimed as her “boys” Governor Smith, Senator Norwood, and Judge Trippe, of the Supreme Court, all in office at the same time. Judge Spear, of the Superior Court, is another Culloden boy. Many preachers have gone out from Culloden. Dr. E. H. Myers went to school here once; Rev. Dr. Eustace Spear, of the North Georgia Con ference, was brought up here. So were Rev. W. F. Cook of the North Georgia, and the Rev. J. O. A. Cook, of the South Georgia Conference, and others, “ not a few.” Hon. A. D. Hammond, of Forsyth, is of Culloden. “ But the time would fail me to tell of” law yers, doctors, teachers, preachers, senators, judges, and governors, that have gone out from this delightful village. Our very hospi table host, the Hon. Orren Woodward, has the whole history in his heart and at the end of his tongue. If we are not, mistaken, the Rev. Alexander Spear, the honored father of the two gentlemen above named, is buried here. The veteran Prof. John Darby once taught school here. A gentleman pointed out the house in which, as he said, the Pro fessor first invented and manipulated “ Dar by’s Prophylactic Fluid” —a good thing, by the way, that “ every man should have in his family.” What has become of it? Traveling to and fro through this great and wonderful State of Georgia, during the last three weeks, we have found out several things, two of which we mention here. In the first place, our preachers are, for the most part, badly behind in their finances. Who is to blame we do not undertake to determine. But our opinion is, Messrs. Panic and Hard-Times gel more blame than they deserve. We have a painful remem brance that the papers said last winter that Booth, the actor, gathered up nearly $30,- 000 in Georgia in about three weeks 1 We do not know —only he got none of this cor respondent’s money. One other word we venture on this deli cate subject—there is a great difference in stewards. Perhaps also there is some differ ence in preachers. But we notice in some cases that the hardest working preachers are as poorly paid as some others who spend more time than Wesley would approve whittling goods-boxes and “swapping yarns.” A right lazy preacher is an incu bus, and of the kind —to borrow a rather mixed metaphor from a friend —“ that ought to be eradicated.” The career of such a preacher —to borrow from another frieud— is generally “not only short but brief.” Would it were more so 1 In the second place, we find that the crops in most sections of Georgia are just as good as the soil and culture can make them. But better culture would help the soil wonder fully. If Georgia takes care of her magnifi cent corn-crop there will be little need of Western corn in these regions next spring. But let nothing be wasted ; the grass-hopper —whose skirmishes have startled us this . summer —may come in force next season. And let none of it he worse than spoiled in the still house. But some would make whiskey of the corn if every grass-hopper in the world were poised in mid-air and ready to descend upon our fields. Ingrates. Oxford. ' H. Corrcsponknct. SUNDAYS FROM HOME. In the judgment of friends it was deemed advisable for me to escape the warm sum mer, my physical condition being such that the least exposure to the hot suns would bring back the symptoms of paralysis, if not the fatal disease of apoplexy. To avoid these, I started out upon another journey, seeking a cooler place. The first. Sabbath from home I spent in Philadelphia. In the morning l visited, with a number of Macon Methodists, a Quaker church, on Race street, known as the Hicks ites. There is something peculiar and sol emn in the very silence of this simple-heart ed people. To a meditative mind there is great opportunity for improvement, even in the absence of a sermon. 1 have never felt more devout, or prayed mere earnestly in Church service, than I did upon that Sunday morning, as I sat with these quiet people for nearly an hour, without a word spoken audi bly. There was an earnestness depicted in their countenance, that would assure the most skeptical of their sincerity. One broth er and one sister spoke a few words of en couragement before the congregation sepa rated. It was not a profitless hour to my heart. At, night our party went to Dr. Hatfield’s church, on Ihe corner of Arch and Broad streets. This is said to he the finest church building in the city. It is a nAssive struc ture, and is most elegantly finished. Not withstanding its vast dimensions, it was crowded to its utmost capacity, even the isles filled with chairs. Dr. Hatfield is a very popular preacher, hut I was greatly disap pointed in him. He Was neither in stature or delivery what, I had conceived him to be. And wherein bis great power lies to control multitudes, is difficult to determine. I should judge from the meager information I have upon this point, that, it is a combination of elements, rather than any one peculiar or prominent characteristic. 1 have heard men more eloquent in some of the more obscure pulpits. I have heard men more profound in thought, and more complete in analysis, than he, who never could command the pub- lie ear. Yet there is a charm about his preaching that claims the attention of the listener. He is in the meridian of life, and will doubtless make his influence felt upon the Church many years to come. He be longs to that class of preachers so common in the Northern Church, and becoming some what, annoying in our own, known as “Star preachers,” moving from point to point, to gratify the whims and caprices of pretentious congregations. They are never much in building up the Church, but tremendous in drawing crowds. A set of stewards dis cover that they have so much money to raise; to do this they must have a preacher to attract the crowd; the peligjous character of the sermon is not of so much importance as the monetary. Dr. Hatfield has played this role successfully. Starting in the New \ r ork Conference, thence to fill the promi nent Churches in Cincinnati, thence to Chi cago, and now in Philadelphia. He is no charlatan, however, but a man of fine cul ture and ability, and an earnest Christian. Although recently transferred to this Con ference, the brethren honored him with the lead of this delegation in the General Con ference at Baltimore. He is less to blame for what'seems to be a want of stability in Conference relations, than the fastidious and aristocratic congregations in the Church, and the disposition of the Bishops to pander to this unhallowed propensity. The grandest exhibitions in Philadelphia, is that of John Wannamaker’s Sunday-school at the Bethany Mission, on the corner of Cherry and 22d streets. I was a little late in reaching the building, and the doors were closed. Every seat was taken and even standing room was scarce, and there were some forty or fifty visitors waiting at the door. I felt disappointed, but gaining a position near the door, and whispering my desire to the doorkeeper within, he opened it for my admission only, leaving the others standing without. ITe conducted me to the gallery for visitors, which I found filled by about 2,000 strangers like myself. I looked down upon Ihe most magnificent scene that I ever beheld. Standing upon an elevated platform in the centre, near the fountain, was Mr. VVannamaker, the soul of the insti tution. By him was his choirister, organist, and cornet player, who led the music, with the vast multitude joining this branch of worship. About him, in all directions, were seated 2,200 teachers and pupils. The open ing exercises, similar to that of other schools, being over, folding glass doors were loosen ed and brought together, and with sundry curtains, and the massive building was divi ded into ten or twelve different apartments, grading the children according to their ages and capacities. The Superintendent’s Bible Class, for want of room, was compelled to assemble in the church near by. The infant class, the ages ranging from three to seven years, numbered two hundred and fifty, al most in itself as large as the largest Sunday school in Macon. Then there was the inter mediate rooms for boys and girls, from eight to twelve. It was an interesting study to watch the movements of the Superintendent. The secret of his success evidently lies in the consciousness of his power. He moves among them as a master; he never hesitates or seemingly doubts, before his audience, whatever may be his struggles of heart and mind in private. Like a commander and chief of an army, his will is law, and the peo ple are never to suspicion even but that all that he does is right. It is one of the most complete exhibitions of will power that I have ever witnessed ; and what is best of all, it is power exerted for good. These thou sand gather thus every afternoon, to learn of God and his goodness, and every year hun dreds of souls through this instrumentality are brought to the Saviour. Should the reader ever spend a Sunday in Philadelphia, do not fail to visit John Wannamaker’s Sun day school, on 22d street. There are other features of this school, and other impressions of my first Sunday from home that I would gladly speak of, but my article is already to long. S. S. Sweet. Jonesboro , E. I'enn., Avgust 9, 1870. Cairo Circuit, South Georgia Confer ence.—The Rev. J. T. Ainsworth writes August 10th : “It is with much gratitude that I report through yourcolums a gracious revival of religion. Early in June we began to hold prayer-meetings twice a week in Cairo among the families, which resulted in a very gracious revival about the middle of J uly. Our protracted meeting at the Church continued two weeks, and resulted in four teen accession by certificate and profession of faith, and a large number of conversions, and a very general revival among the mem bership. So the prayer-meetings are carried on when I am absent, and many families maintain family religion. Since the above meeting we protracted at Tired Creek one week, which resulted in ten accessions, and a number of conversions, and a gracious re vival in the membership.” MARION DISTRICT. Mr. Editor : The first sermon preached iu Marlboro county by a Methodist minister, was addressed, nearly a century ago, to an audience assembled in a Quaker gentleman’s barn. The seed then sown fell into good ground, and lias been very productive. No where in South Carolina has Methodism been more successful. Bennettsville, the county seat, was named in honor of Governor Ben nett. It is a beautiful little town, and is distin guished for the morality, intelligence, and generous hospitality of its citizens. A first class High School, under the care of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Moore, both of whom are ex perienced and accomplished teachers, oilers line advantages to those who have children to educate. Here the parsonage of the Ben nettsville Circuit is located, and the preach er who occupies it, will never have cause to complain of any want of social, educational, or religious advantages, either for himself or his family. For many years, this has been justly regarded one of the best circuits in the Conference, and notwithstanding the fact that anew “swarm ” has ever now and again left the “ old hive,” Bennettsville Cir cuit remains, in numbers and financial strength, second to none in the State. When the last transfer of territory was made to the North Carolina Conference, this circuit lost a membership sufficiently large to make a separate charge, which now bears the name of Laurenburg Circuit, and raises yearly for ministerial support, the sum of one thousand dollars. Two years ago another draft was made upon it, and nearly three hundred members were taken to aid in forming the South Marlboro Circuit; still Bennettsville Circuit remains at the head of the list, with a membership of more than eight hundred, and means sufficient to do all that is neces sary for the support of the Church at home, anil much, very much, to aid in sending the Gospel abroad. May the Lord enable his people here, whom He has so greatly pros pered, to consecrate soul, and body, and substance to his service. Rev. J. M. C is in charge of this circuit, and Rev. D. /. D. is his assistant. This is brother D’s first year in the itinerant work, and I may say of him, as my first, presiding elder said of a young preacher iu his district, “ He’ll make a valuable man if he will only continue to study.” Zealous yet prudent, affable yet dignified, with a clear, well-bal anced, and sprightly mind, and a heart all aglow with love to Jesus and his caiiße, he cannot fail if he continues humble, studious and prayerful, to make “ a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” Brother C. has long been a member of Ihe Conference, and has ably sustained the in terests of the Church wherever he has been sent. In appearance, he more nearly re sembles the celebrated Valentine Cook, than any one whose likeness I have seen. He walks with his head very much bent, and when approaching you in haste, looks as if he intended to run into you head-foremost. Like Thomas Carlyle, the essayist and his torian, he is an inveterate smoker, and like Tennyson, he prefers a clay pipe to any other. Asa preacher, he ranks among the first in the Conference When he speaks, you are charmed with his soft, round, full voice, delighted with his jpire and nervous English, and impressed by his intense ear nestness. He is greatly beloved by the peo ple of his charge, who, in addition to many other evidences of their regards, have made him up a purse sufficient to cover all expen ses, and requested him to take a few weeks’ vacation, and visit the Centennial. The spiritual condition of the Church in this circuit is improving, and there has re cently been about fifty additions to the mem bership, and a number of bright, Scriptural conversions. The northern portion of this county is embraced in the North Marlboro 'Circuit. This charge has a Church membership of more than three hundred, and is under the pastoral over-sight of Rev. M. M. F. This is brother F’s second year in the ministry, and he is laboring with commendable zeal and diligence to advance the interests of Christ’s kingdom. Up to date the stewards have collected for ministerial support forty hree dollars, leaving a small balance of only? four hundred and eighty seven dollars to be raised at the close of the year. Of course the preacher is hopeful, and has no misgiv ings about being able to meet all his expen ses, and providing anew suit in which to make his appearance at Conference. W. H. F. ST. MARY’S MISSION, FLORIDA COX KNOK. Brother Kenneiiy: The good work still goes on iu this mission. I feel hopeful, yet we have many trials and much opposition to bear with. We had on the middle prong of the St. Mary’s River a very flourishing Church ; many were being added to this Church, and much opposition was manifest ed. This Church was burned up ; a stunning blow to the small band of Christians, yet they have rallied and are now hopeful, and are going to rebuild their Church. This burning was the work of unknown parties. These Christian brethren need the sympathy and prayers of the Church. The work of Church goes on slowly on this mission, but surely we see great changes in the society, and here and there is added one or two to the Church. Oh may God hasten the time when His Church may become a blessing to this wicked people by being fully established in their midst. We have had many good meetings, and we are now going on our round feeling that we shall be blessed with the presence of the Lord in all our meetings. Pray for us, brethren. Now, friends of the Sunday-school, we are laboring in a mission where Sunday, schools are denounced, and greatly opposed, therefore, we have not been able to organize many schools, we have now adopted the plan of establishing schools at our appointments, and to hear the lessons once a month our selves, hoping that, by this means to awake an interest in its favor wilh the people. We believe this is the best means of working for good here. The hope of the Church is in the children. We should then feel that we are individually called upon to help in this work. We are poor, and we need books to teach 140 children. Methodist books or Union books, and from the first catechisms to good Bible question-books. May God send the needed help. *W. 0. Hamiton. Appling Circuit, North Georgia Con ference.—The Rev. B. F. Fariss writes August 14th: “We have held five protract' ed meetings since the District Conference at Milledgeville. I think I can truly say the Spirit was present in great power at every meeting. The churches much blessed, and many converted. The meeting at one of the churches (St. Marys) I think was the most remarkable and powerful I ever at tended. Within ten days there were seventy three accessions to the Church, and I pre sume there were seventy-five or one hun dred converted at this meeting. The con versions were as bright and clear as any I VOLUME XXXIX., NO. 34. ever witnessed. One hundred and thirty have joined the Church during these meet ings. I can’t tell the precise number con verted. Many already in the Church were converted, and most of those who joined, probably the number would amount to one hundred and fifty.” IJdus of fl;c (QlcHr. GENERAL NEWS. Omaha, August 11. —Parties from Fre mont report that immense bodies of grass hoppers have lighted there. Washington, August 11. —The river and harbor bill, as it passed both houses of Con gress, makes the following provision for the rivers of Georgia: Coosa river $30,000, Etowah SIO,OOO, Ocmulgee $16,000, Chatta hoochee $20,000, and the Savannah harbor $02,000. It. also provides $270,000 for the Tennessee river, to he expended in opening Muscle Shoals, anil SIO,OOO for the Iliwas see. The bill provides for improvements along the entire line of the proposed water communications between Mississippi and the Atlantic Ocean at Savannah, except con necting canals between the rivers. The South gets nearly two of the live millions appropriated, the House insisting that she should have a due proportion. It is regard ed as the fairest bill for the South ever passed. Lynchburg, August 13. —On Saturday morning about three o’clock a water-spout struck the line of the Virginia Midland Rail road, near Mclver’s station, six miles north of Lynchburg. The flood extended for about live miles, swelling the smallest creeks into rivers, and submerging hundreds of acres never under water before. A culvert was carried away, leaving a gyip ninety feet broad and fifty feet deep, into which the south bound freight was precipitated, killing C. 1). Keyes, an engine man, and Bob An derson, a brakesman. The storm lasted only a few moments and all passenger trains were stopped by the track-walkers and es caped without disaster. In six hours the water had receded so as to allow a child to step across the stream. Passengers were transferred around the break and there will he no interruption to trains after Sunday night. Washington, August 13. —In the Senate, the concurrent resolution passed by the House for a commission of three Senators and three Representatives to devise a gov ernment for the District of Columbia, was adopted. The Hawaiian treaty was resumed and Norwood concluded his speech. In con clusion, he said: “The effect of this bill would he to give to the Hawaiian Islands a bonus of a million dollars a year, and would increase the difficulties iu the way of their being acquired by the United States.” lie argued that the Chinese upon the islands were increasing; the coolie labor Was in creasing, and suppose the United States should acquire them, it would only get a race of Chinese coolies and half-breeds. The people of this section were more inter ested in the defeat of this bill than all of the United States. Besides, to take the duty off of rice.would lie to diminish its price below the cost of production in this country. He said that over 300,000 people were depend ent upon the production of rice in South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana, and that the interests of all these people would be in jured by the passage of this bill. Mr. Mor rill of Vermont spoke against treaty. Logan supported it; Boutwell also. Mr. Gordon of Georgia said it was his purpose to have spoken on this bill at some length, but he was physically unable to do so. He pro tested against the passage of a law to carry into effeota treaty so partial in its operations and so unjust to a number of the people of one section of this country. One objection existed against this measure as a matter of policy and another as a matter of principle. It aimed a death blow at the interests of one section of this country that, was of doubtful constitutional propriety, and therefore should be rejected. He knew the Southern rice and sugar planters, and no people on this continent were more capable of self sacrificing patriotism than they were; they were in favor of free trade, but. was it a mat. ter of surprise that they opposed a bill which proposed to single out of all our pro ductions, those two upon which they solely depended. It was not just, and begging the pardon of the overwhelming majority of this Senate, which thought proper to force upon this section this measure, we must say it was not consistent with that equality guaran teed, not only by the constitution, but by the formation of the American Union ; much less was it just to try this experiment upon a people, who, by the vicissitudes of war, had been made poorer than any other peo ple ever were before. After further argu ment, he moved to postpone the bill to the second Tuesday in November. Rejected. The bill was then read a third time and passed. Yeas, 2‘.) ; nays, 12. Savannah, August 14. —A special to the Morning News says : A fire at Quincy, Fla., yesterday destroyed several stores. Mayor John 11. Gee was killed while blowing up a warehouse to stop the spread of the flames. Plli i.aoki.piiia, August 14. —This morn ing the Statue of Washington was placed in position in the front of the Judge’s pa vilion and unveiled without ceremony. Nkw'York, August 14. —The first traveler wire for the construction of the East river bridge was carried across the river and stretched between the two towers this morn ing. This wire is made of twisted chrome steel wires, and is three quarters of an inch in diameter. Washington, August 15. —The August statistical returns of the Department of Ag riculture show an improvement in the cot ton crop during July, bringing its general condition nearly up to a full average. Hsu ally, there is a decline from the July figures. South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee, show an improve ment, especially Tennessee and Louisiana, which maintains their July average. North Carolina, Florida, and Mississippi, have de clined in some of the eastern counties, and along the Mississippi river local drought or excessive rains have injured the plants. The caterpillar has also appeared at numerous points, but it has done but little damage at the date of the returns, and anticipations ot serious ravages in August were expressed, but the planters were preparing to resist them. The average condition of the cotton States was as follows: North Carolina, 96; South Carolina, 97 ; Georgia, 104 ; Florida, 89; Alabama, 103; Mississippi, 92 ; Louis iana, 89 ; Texas, 100; Arkansas, 98 ; Ten nessee, 102. San Francisco, August 15. —News of the passage by the Senate of the bill to carry the Hawaiian treaty into effect was received on ’Change with much satisfaction. Several disengaged vessels in port will at once be chartered for Honolulu on account of local refiners. Columbia, August 15. —The State Demo cratic Convention convened at 8, p. in. Jas. A. Iloyt, of Anderson, was elected tempora ry Chairman. Every county is represented, making the most imposing body of whites ever assembled in the State since 1860. The permanent organization was effected, with W.W Harley, of Marion, as President, and one Vice-President from each Congression al District, as follows,: First, J. W. Har rington ; Second, ex-Governur Manning j