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Southern Cbristinn Sbforate.
MACON, GEORGIA, OCTOBER 24, 1876-
UNSETTLING THE SETTLEMENT.
Whether or not ihe happy i sue of the
Methodist troubles supposed to have been
reached at Cape M >y is to be realized, is by
no means a se'tled question yet. it would
seem, from the course pursued by at least
one Northern Methodist journal, and the ac
tiou taken by one Annual Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Upon tbe first.
annoancem 1 nt of the settlement agreed up >n
by th Joint Commission, the Northern Chris
Van Advocate published at Syracuse, N. Y..
alo’ e among the numerous organs of the
Methodist Kpi copal Church, expressed very
deeid- and dt approbation of the action, declar
ed that it was a dedbera e falsification of the
history of that Church, and that its Commis
sioners had wholly transcended the powers
delegated to them in assenting to any such
agreement. While we rrgretted thm single
jarring note in the otherwise universal psalm
of rejoicing with which the work of the Com
mi-sinners was followed throughout bo h
Church's, still we hoped, and were disposed
to believe, that this dissent was the compar
ativelv uoimpi riant utte ance of an indtv d
ual, and not representative of any form da
ble dissatisfaction Some recent events
howevtr. go to show that the sentimen's of
the Northern we no* without a respec'abl
and itifl ien ial following among th" minis'ry
of tha' section, and j stify the he ief th-O
streruons and possibly succes-ful efforts will
be made to secure the repudiation, by the
General Conference of the Me'hodist Ep : s
copal Church, of the platform of Fraternitv
adopted et Cape May.
At the late session of the Central New
York Conference, the Report of the Com
mute on Fraternal Relations, was adopted
hy a vote of 112 to 1. This Report, after a
long argumentative preamble adverse to the
basis of Fraternity agreed upon by the Com
missioners, closes with the following Resolu
tions:
Resolved. Ist. That while we are anxious
to live in peace at and harmony with all bodies
of people who own our common Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ, and who are laboring
to give to the world the redemption he has
wrought out for it, and while we will cheer
fully concur in any measures for promoting
peace and unity among brethren, which do
not involve the sacrifice of principles vi al to
truth and Christianity; yet in the name of re
ligion, and our beloved Church, we protest
against the acceptance of fraternity on such
conditions as retract one word of our past
censure of the Church South, for her guilt in
support and practice of slavery.
Resolved , 2d That in our judgment, the
declaration and basis of fraternity, adopted
by the Commissi ners of the Methodist Epis
copal Church, with tho-e of the Church South,
by going back to the past, and recognizing
the legitimacy of a distinct ecclesiastical or
ganization which had no other justification
for its origin and separate exist nee than
slavery, is in violence to the history and
principlesol the Me'hodis! Epis'copal Church,
and seems to us to be in excess of the author
ity of the Commissioners.
Resolved, 3d. That the concession o r the
said Commission, of the lawfulness of seces
sit u, either ecclesiastically or civilly, is con
trary to our traditions and usages as a Church,
and is rep’ete with untold dangers, while un
rebuked, to both Church and State.
Resolved, 4th. That, as an A nual Confer
ence, e respectfully petition the General
Conference ol 1880, to emphatically and de
cidedly disapprove the work of those Com
missioners, so tar as it relates to those par
ticulars.
It is manifest that if the almost unanimous
action of this large Conference even approx
imately represents the rank and file of the
Northern Methodist ministry, the dream of
peace is destined to a rude awakening, and
the Churches which we thought had been
wisely conducted to a common platform
upon which they could fraternize and live in
brotherly love, are. after a brief truce, to
resume their antagonisms, and again con
front each other rath r as belligerents than
brethren. Upon what understanding of the
powers with which the Commissioners of
the Methodist Episcopal Church were cloth
ed, the last of the above series of resolutions
was based ; or, what form the “emphatic and
decided disapproval ” of the General Con
ference is expected to take —whether accep
tance of the settlement, accompanied wi'h a
statement that he “basis” is not in accord
ance with the wishes and sentim-m's of the
Conference: or, a sweeping repudiation of
fraternity upon that basis —we do not know.
Nor is it important to the issue. The good
work of the Commissioners depends for its
prac'ical results in the matter of real frater
nitv, if not upon is correspondence with the
general sentiment of ihe Churches concerned.
atlea-U upon their unq talified acqu escence in
it. So far as th- Church, South, is concern
ed. if there is any dissatisfaction, it has no
where found voice within our knowledge
Now, if the constituency of the Northern
Commissioners either hold that their agents
exceeded the authority delegat-d to them,
and that their acti m is therefore null; or,
admitting that the powers of the Commis
sioners were plenary in the premises, and
that consequently the Church is bound by
their action shall, nevertheless, through
their highest representative body, the Gene
ral Conference, qualify their acceptance of
the “declaration and baiss of frabruity,”
with some such “emphatic and decide! dis
approval,” as the Central New York Confer-
ence suggests ; in either case, the peac ful
aim of the Commission would be frustrated,
and fraternity indefinitely pos'poned The
practical repudiation of their work would be
as effective in the one case as in the other.
But, although the indications are discour
aging, we are still hopeful that the conclu
sions unanimously reached by the wi e men
who conferred at Cape May, will be heartily
accepted by their respective General Confer
ences, and that there has been already in
augurated an era of real fraternity which is
to be permanent and increasingly cordial.
We feel that we risk nothing in pledging
unanimous support to “the declaration and
basis of fraternity” from the Methodist Epis
copal Church, South ; and, despite the note
of opposition that is now sounded from the
extreme North, we cherish the hope that
when their General Conference meets in 1880,
it will appear that the overwhelming senti
ment of the Methodist Episcopal Church, rat
ifies the treaty or convention —whichever it
may be regarded—signed at Cape May.
Should it be otherwise, the responsibility for
the evil consequences that follow, will be
chargeable upon those who reject the settle
ment. Profoundly as we should deplore
such a course on the part of our Northern
brethren, with its inevitable consequences,
we could confront the Christian world and
confidently claim its acquittal from all blame
for the termination of the truce, and the re
opening of an era of alienation and strife.
Aye, more, we could look heavenward with
approving consciences in assured expectation
of divine acquittal. Wearied with strife, and
anxious for reconciliation, we agreed to subl
mit the differences between the Cburches to
the arbitrament of a Commission composed
of an equal number of representatives from
each communion. They have performed
their work with wonderful unanimity, and
Southern Methodism accepts the result and
will abide by it. Let us hope that the actioa
we quote above is rather a symptom of the
heated political atmosphere, than a fair ex
ponent of the sober sentiment of any cons and
erable poriiou of the Methodist Episcopa
Church.
PRAYER FOR THE COUNTRY.
There are Christian people in great num
bers, it is to be feared, who wholly omit
from the subjects which they bring to the
mercy-seat in prayer, the condition of the
country in which they live and with whose
prosperity and safety their individual wel
fare is intimately involved. They are firm
believers in the efficacy of prayer, and daily
invoke the divine protection and blessing for
themsrlves, their families, and friends, and
pethaps, the Church of Christ. But, even if
thpy utter a perfunctory amen to the petition
in Ihe public congregation on Sunday morn
ing, they never name their country in the
ardeut supplications they breathe at the fam
ily altar or in the closet. These Christians
would resent with feeling any impu a'ion of
skep icism as to the superintendence of
Providence over national affairs, and yet,
rank infiielity at this point could hardly
ban-sh the country more effectually from
their prayers. There may be doctrinal
soundness, a theoretical acceptance of the
'ruth that God directs the destinies of the
nation, but depend upon it, there is a vast
amount of real practical skep icism on the
suhj-ct. else would the country share largelv
wi ll their personal and Church interest' in
the prayers of all Christian people. Let
the reader test his own true status on th's
question, by recalling if he can. wh'*n with
real f-rvor of desire he plead for God’s
blessing upon the country in his secret devo
lions. The doctrine of God’s oversigh- and
control in human governments is as distinct
ly revealed in Scripture, as 13 the duty of
prayer and the truth that he makes the be
stow ment of many blessing' con ingert upon
b ing 1 “ enquired of by Hts people to do it
lor them.” Every Christian, therefore, who
desires good government, besides discharg
ing faithfully the outward duties of his ci i
zenship should enroll his country among
the objects upon which he daily and earnestly
invokes the divine blessing.
But the object of this brief article is not
so much to impre-s this general du'y. as it
is to urge its readers to offer special prayer
for our country at this time. I' is a period
of almost unprecedented political excite
ment; wise men regard the issue of the
pending elections as virtually involving the
very structure of the government; and the
rival parties are exhausting every resource
wi'hin their reach in the struggle for ascend
ency. In some of the States served by this
paper, the national canvass shrinks into sec
ondary importance beside the more immi
nent and urgent perils which are believed to
threaten the commonwealth. As citizens,
we will all give emphatic utterance to our
convictions through the ballot on the 7th of
November. As Christians, let us demon
strata the sincerity of our faith in the super
intending providence of Almighty God, by
imploring Him to direct and overrule in the
issue of the pending struggle. We are short
sighted and fallible, and therefore may err
in our judgment as to what, is really best for
the country and for us in our relations to it:
but we cannot be mistaken in the belief that
•* Except the Lord b tild the house, they
labor in vain that build it; except tbe Lord
keep the city, the watchman waketh but in
vain.” While, therefore, we may not pray
with confidence for the triumph of any par
ticular party, we can, and ought to, pray
with perfect assurance of being heard, that
God would take the government of our
country into His own hands, and so inter
vene and overrule in the coming elections as
to secure the be,-t interests of the people of
the several States. Most earnestly then do
we call upon every Christian reader of this
paper to make the country a special subject
of prayer, at least from this time until the
elections are over. Pray God to so influ
ence and direct in these elections that the
reins of government may be committed to
the hands of men who will ‘‘fear God and
work righteousness,” so that H s name may
be glorified and our welfare as a people se
cured.
SAVANNAH AND BRUNSWICK.
During the past week we have received
private letters from brothers Simmons and
Wynn, and had hoped that before going to
press we would receive something for publi
cation. In this, however, we are disap
pointed; doubtless, because the claims upon
them in their respective fields are sufficient
to tax fully their but partially recovered
strength. Brother Simmons, when he wrote,
had gained sufficient strength to walk out, and
hoped to fill his pulpit on the ensuing Sab
bath Brother Wynn was still improving,
and sister Wynn, who had suffered a relapse,
and had been more seriously ill than when
first attacked, was again improving, with
hopeful promise of restoration to health.
Later intelligence received through a f'r-end,
conveys the sad and alarming information
that Miss Anne Wynn, the beloved and
faithful daughter of our afflicted brother, is
at. last prostrated by the epidemic and is
seriously ill. Most earnestly do we pray
that it may please God to spare her life and
save her parents the unutterable sorrow
which a fatal issue to her sickness would in
flict upon their hearts. May the consola
tions of the divine Comforter be multiplied
to our brother and his wife in these hours
of unspeakable anxiety.
Rev. Arminics Wright. —Bro. Wright,
a r ter remaining for some weeks in Macon,
has, by the advice of his physicians, deter
mined to try the climate of Florida, and
with his family, departed for Mellonville,
in that State, on the ‘2sth of September.
Those who have had the opportunity of
carefully watching his case, are of the opin
ion that within the past few months there
has been some improvement in his general
health, and his friends hope that he will
experience very decided improvement from
the climate and such out-door exercise as
he will be able to take in the mild tempera
ture of the region to which he goes. The
failure of Bro. Wright’s health has been a
great grief to his devoted congregation, and
he and his family will be followed with the
fervent prayers of many hearts for the Di
vine blessing upon them, and for the speedy
and complete restoration of his now shat
tered health.
Camp ground for the Macon District.
—We are glad to learn from Dr. W. I. Green
that Mr. Elbert Fagan has generously do
nated a sufficient area of land for a Camp
gronud, about five miles southeast of Fort
Valley, and that it is determined to estab
lish a permanent encampment there within
the next year. The Doctor is enthusiasti
cally interested in this enterprise, and is con
fident of success. ;We sincerely hope that
the people of all that region will join him
heartily in this movement, and that the next
camp-meeting season will find a goodly num
ber of tents erected, and a large multitude
ready for the religious services. We join
Dr. Green in his hearty appreciation of the
liberality of Mr. Fagin, and also in his anx
ious desire for the establishment once more
of a regular camp-meeting within the bounds
of the Macon District
Emory Coi.usge. —We are gratified to hear
from all quarters encouraging reports of the
growing prosperity of this institution. Dr.
O. L. Smith, in a private note of October
19th, says : “We are all in usual health, and
going forward smoothly. The patronage is
good for the times. We have 101 students
in College classes, and about 30in the Acade
mic department. Our new Professor, Stomp,
is a decided success in every respect.”
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
STRONG TESTIMONY.
We publish in full in our News Depart
ment an address which was sent forth to the
whole country during the past week through
the Associated Press, from Charleston, S. C.
It relates to the representations of the con
dition of things in that State which have b“en
spread abroad, and which have resulted in
bringing upon its native white population
the bitterest odium, invoking against them
an Executive proclamation, and introducing
into their midst the whole available force of
Federal bayonets. The Address —which is
temperately written, and sicced hy repre
sentative men, both of the Church and sec
ular circles—pronounces these representa
tions basely and malicious’y false, and wick
edly invented to perpetuate the power and
authority of a class of men who 1 av“ brought
the Sta'e to the verge of ruin, and whose
defeat at the polls pres-nts the only hope of
averting absolute and irretrievable disaster,
and securing to its cit-zens of both races the
blessings of honest and righteous govern
ment.
Now we refer our Northern brethren to
the names appended to this Address, and
ask them as honest men to weigh this evi
dence in the opposite fCale with the testimony
upon which the State has been revile ! and
practically outlawed, and in the fear of God to
draw theircit elusions. Political adventurers,
trembling in piospect of losing the positions
they have p ostiiuted and the po-’er they
have abused, with their satellites and parti
aans. aflirm ; Bishops, leading clergy of all
editions, and pro nine nt business men of
unbletnish- and reputation for integrity and
truth, who have no mercenary inducement
to stain their souls with falsehood, deny ;
what honest jury would leave their seats i e
fore signing a verdi -t for the defendants?
However the appeal in this Address may be
disregarded, we feel Bure that it cannot fail
to convince all reasonab'e men of the truth
fulness of its utterances.
NORTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE.
The Preachers will bear in mind that the
session of this Conference will begin on Ite
cember 6th, instead of November 29ih as
first announced.
OUR QUARTERLIES.
We have had time to examine these ex
cellent periodicals only very superficially—
having read two articles in the first, one in
the second, and none as yet in the third —so
that we will have to be contented with giv
iug the tables of contents :
The Southeiix Review: Chrstian Theol
ogy ; Mind and Matter ; Caroline Herschel ;
The Theistic Conception of the World;
Robert Emmet,; Capital Punishment ; Lou
isa, Queen of Prussia; The Heart of the
Continent; The Teachings of our Lord in
Regard to a Future Life ; Notices of Books ;
Miscellany.
The Methodist Quarterly Review: Re
cent Origin of Man ; Symbolism of the Pre-
Christian Cross ; Relations ol the Methodist
Episcopal Church to the Cause of Temper
ance ; Gautama and Lao-Tzu ; The Ili-tory
of Protestant Missions in India ; Synopsis
of the Quarterlies ; Foreign Religious Intel
ligence ; Foreign Literary Intelligence ;
Quarterly Book Table.
The Southern Presbyterian Review :
The Philosophy of Dr. Bled-oe ; Tne Mod
ern Doctrine of the Unknowable ; God and
the B ble; Our Church Not Sufficiently
Evangelistic—Why ? ; Recently Discovered
Memoranda of the Westminster Assembly ;
Geographical Revolutions; Critical Notices.
OUR MAGAZINES.
Scribner for November begins the thir
teenth volume of that magazine and opens
with a fully illustrated article on Hartford,
under the title of the “Charter Oak City.”
In this number Charles Barnard’s articles on
Cos operation in Great Britain are begun—
with a paper on “A Scottish Loaf Factory
Mrs. Herrick’s very carefully illustrated mi
croscopic papers are also here begun—the
first being entitled “The Beginnings of Life.”
Mr. Clarence Coc k continues his talks about
furniture. Mr. C. F. Thwing givi s us the re
suit of his investigations in regard to the ex
penses of an education at the principal col
leges—including cost of board, etc. Donald
G. Mitchell (Ik Marvel) writes about some
of the features of the great Exhibition.
There is an illustrated paper on Rome; a
short story by James T. McKay ; a short
story by Mrs. Burnett, whose serial “That
Lass o’ Lowrie’s” iscontinned. Mr. Hale’s
tory draws toward its close. There are
poems by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, George
Parsons Lathrop, and others. In the de
partments at the end of the magazine, Rtich
various subjects are disclosed as Country
Homes, American Art, Politics, the Jews,
the proper treatment ef infants, “Daniel
Deronda,” anew photographic process, etc.
1 Brie a Brae” contains among other thi gs,
the ballad of the Fair Isolinda. by Hugo
Howard; and The Old Hostler’s Experience,
by Irwin Russell.
St. Nicholas for November contains : The
Kingdom of the Greedy, Part 1 ; A Remin
iscettce of Abraham Lincoln ; Granny’s Sto
ry; A Little Boston Girl of 1776 ; The Bees
hat Went to the Sky ; Leap Year; All about
Lead pencils ; The Owl that Stared ; Listen
ing; A Queen and not a Queen: Beni'a;
Good Times; Story of a “Tolerbul” Bad
B'y; Sea-foam; A Parable; Far Away;
Carlo and the Milk pan ; Borrowing a Grand
mother ; Flowers in Winter; The Sunday
Baby; Partners ; Tinsie’s Conclusion ; A
Centennial Pen-wiper; Jack-in-the Pulpit;
Our Music Page; Little Housekeeper’s Page;
For Very Little Folks ; Young Contributors’
Department; The Letter-Box ; The Riddle
The November Atlantic contains the con
clusion of General Howard’s account of the
Battles about Atlanta; a description of the
Ascent of Takhoma (Mount Ranierj by Haz
ard Stevens ; an essay on Early Provencal
Poetry, bv Harriet W. Preston ; a striking
story by F. D. Millet, entitled The Fourth
Waits; an Oriental sketch, The Fair of
Moses, by Charles Dudley Warner ; a paper
on Pottery at the Centennial, by Charles
Wyllys Elliott; Mrs. Kemble’s Old Woman’s
Gossip; Mr. James’s serial story, The
American; and Poems by C. P. Cratich, T.
B. Aldrich, Kate Putnam Osgood,
Fawcett, and H. R. Hudson ; with Reviews
of Recent Literature and Music. Avery en
tertaining number.
The Ladies’ Repository, whose pages al
ready indicate its approaching metamorpho
sis from a distinctively ladies’ monthly into
a magazine of general literature, only dis"
tinctiveiy Christian, comes to us for Novem
ber with its brace of steel engravings, which
we shall sadly miss from its successor, and
with an admirable list of letter-press con
tents. The Repository, besides its literary
excellence, is a gem in its typographical f a
tures. The binder for once has perpetrated
a blunder, by transposing some of the pages
of the present number, a mistake however,
which only subjects the reader to momenta
ry inconvenience. The Repository is an ad
mirable publication, and our best wish for
the magazine that is to supersede it, is, that
with a largely increased subscription list, it
may fill its defined sphere as well as the Re
pository has the one that was marked out
for it.
Goi.dex Hours for November, provides
for its young readers a variety of intellectual
and moral pabulum in the following articles
that is as wholesome as it is palatable : What
May Heard and Saw ; The Cheer-up Club;
The Sweet Story of Old ; Bernie’s Begin-
ning; Centennial Sights; P-rsye Wynne; or i
Every Little Helps; Waif; Over the River; i
A Pretty Good Talk ; Owldom.
Lippincott’s Magazine for November
contains: The Century, its Fruits and its
Festival; Walks and Visits in Wordsworth’s
country; Acknowledgement, A Poem; The
Marquis of Lossie, Pa r t. I—by George Mac-j
donald; Higher Edecution ; Love in I le- |
ness, A S ory ; The Wagner Festival; The !
Pendulum of Fortune, A story ; To a
fly; Letters from South Africa; Curiosities j
of the Parisian Pos-■ ffice ; Our Monthly !
Gossip; Literature of the day.
The Eclectic Magazine, besides its usual
quantum ( f judicious editorial notes on Lit
erature. Science and Art, and an elegant,
steel portrait of the Earl of Derby, contains
the following articles:
The T-rritOrial Expansion of Russia;
When the S.-a was Young; On Turki-h Way
and Turkish Women; The Wreck of the
Str.thmore; A Japanrse Fan; Sk tch of a
Journey across Aoica; Aquari i: Their
Present, Past aid Future; Morality on '-
Spanish Wharf; Ad im Smith as a Person .
The Wind-Harp: A Bazaar and a Pinic i
Africa, by Lady Barker; The British As.o
ciation on Spiiitualism ; An editorial sketch
of the Earl of D rby.
The Catholic World, issued from the
Catholic Publishing House, No. 9 Warrei
street, New York, is a 1 andsotne magazine,
containing in its November number the fol
lowing articles: Thought-on Mystical The
ology ; Av ia; St. Teresa; Six Sunny Months;
Text-books in Catholic Colleges ;
B >b ; The Potifieal Vestments of Egypt a-w-e
Is-ael; Letters of a Young Irishwoman to
her Sister; How Rome Stands To-Day ; A
Glimpse of the Adironducks; Sir Thomas
More; New Publications.
Southern Historical Society Papers,
for October, contains : Gen. R. E. Rodes
Report of the Battle ot Chancellorsville ; Ap
pendix to Gen. Ro/les’ Report of the Battle
of Gettysburg; Diary of Capt. Robert E.
Park, Twtlfth Alabama Regiment; Recol
lections of the Elkborn Campaign ; Defense
of Chari ston from July Ist to July 10th,
1804; Editorial Paragraphs; Book Notices;
Col. C. C. Jones' Confederate Roster.
Home and School, published at Loui? ;
ville, Ky., which claims to be considered
the best educational magazine of the West,
if not of the entire country, has an inviting
table of contents for October. The leading
article is entitled “ Japan and the Japanese.”
The paper on Natural History is about the
hippopotamus. Another paper describes a
rare fern, the Triehomanes Radicans, found
in Rockcastle county, Ky., and called in
Great Britain the Lilian.ey fern, because I-*
has been supposed to be indigenous only to
the neighborhood of Lake Killarney, Ire
land. An essay on ‘-Art and Nature,” a
letter from England on educational move
ments in that country; a sprightly colloquy
on the importance of visits by patronsto the
schools which their children attend, a story
of New Orleans one hundred years ago, a
poem by Henry Stanton; with the usual edi
torial comments on topics of the times, make
a number interesting and instructive alike
to the teacher and the general reader.
Ditson & Cos. have in press, and will soon
issue, the following musical works: Bio
graphical Sketches of Eminent Musical Com
posers, arranged in Cnronological order, by
Mad. L. R. Urbino, including sketches of
Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Mozart, Handel,
Bach, Haydn, and all other musical celebri
t es—p ice, $2. World of Song, a book of
248 p ges. Sheet Music Size, comprising a
line selection of nearly 100 popular gongs,
ballads and duets in a cheap form, that would
cost thirty to forty dollars if bought as
arate pieces; the price will be $2 50 in
boards, $3 cloth, and $4 full gilt.
CAMPAIGX FURY AND FALSITY.
Tne people of the United States are about
to choose a chief magistrate for four years.
The canvass has been heated and bitter.
Vast interests are at stake and nearly one
hundred thousand offices are to be filled
Only think of the intense interest felt in this
election by something like one hundred thou
sand “Ins” who wish to hold on and per
haps five hundred thousand “Outs” who
hope to get in. B / “Outs” we do not mean
Democrats only, but the myriads of Repub
licans, who are not in office, but hope that
their turn will come with the new admiuis
tration. We really believe that at the very
least six hundred thousand men and several
thousand women feel a deep personal interest
in the approaching election —an interest in
tenser than party loyalty and more profound
than national patriotism. At least six hun
dred thousand men hope to “get some
thing”—from a place in the Cabinet tjo a
place in some cross road s post office —as the
reward of iheir political labors and sacrifices
during the summer and autumn of 1876. We
can in no wise persuade ourself to believe
that simple pa'rioti-m has kindled the fur
nace heat of this political campaign. Nor
yet is it so lofty a passion as devotion to Re
publican or Democratic principles, policies,
or platforms. No; a far more ignoble thing
than devotion to party principles—devotion
to the loaves and fishes. The men who rave
and bluster over elections love their party
just as Demetrius the silversmith loved
Diana and her worship—their living is in it.
And those raving, blustering partisans are
some of them big men - so-called. They are
not seeking cross-road’s post office appoint
ments; they are playing foi large stakes. But
it is, at bottom, the same intense self seek
ing. It is this that explains the bitterness
and unscrupulous mendacity of our great
political campaigns. It explains the mud
throwing; Nast’s cartoons and the intermin
able lying. And, for our part, we are very
much afraid there has been lying on both
sides. The day after Gov. Hayes was nomi
nated hundreds of Democratic papers spoke
in most respectful terms of bis character and
ability. But it is very different now. Be
fore Gov. Tilden’s nomination hundreds of
Republican papers declared him to be —
albeit he was a Democrat —an honest man
and a great reformer, and ring smasher.
Now many of these same papers declare that
he is a confederate of thieves, a ring master
instead of a ring-smasher, a defrauder of the
revenue, and a general humbug. We can't
swallow all these contradictory deliverances
at once; the dose is enough to nauseate the
ostrich-like stomach of even the American
public. These wonderful papers have not
grown so wise in a few short weeks. They
spoke false—first or last. No wonder the
people are losing confidence in the politics]
press. The people are not fools.
No doubt there are some very corrupt Re
publicans; some very corrupt Democrats; but
the great mass of the people are, we do firmly
believe, true and honest.
We have our own convictions; we expect
to vote on those convictions; we will be re
joiced if our candidate is elected. But if he
is not? We will go our way, attend to our
business, obey the laws, trust in God, and
pray his blessing on the whole country. We
would not be mistaken; there is no indiffer
entism in our political opinions and sym
pathies. But let us all remember—“salva
tion is of God.” It will not come by Demo
cratic or Republican triumphs. It will come
by God’s grace and blessing when the people
turn to God. And not elsewise or sooner.
When Israel —in the last year of Eli’s rule—
fled before the Puilistines, their apostate
priests brought the dishonored ark of the
covenant into the camp, and shouted over
it “till the earth rang again.” |
But they were worse whipped than before,
and deservedly. If they had only wept over
their sins and cried to God for mercy the
result had been different.
Finally, we exhort our fellow citizens: vote
on your conscience, for the best men and the
best measures ; keep cool and be both truth
ful and just as to your atitagnonists; ‘ put
not your trust in princes” but in the Lord
God—the just, the wise, the good, the
mighty—who “changeth the times and the
seasons,” “who ruleth in the armies of hea
ven an I among the inhabitants of the earth.”
Oxford. H.
Contsponbnifc.
LOCAL PREACHERS.
Mr. Editor: Sickness in the household,
and pressing duties, have prevented me from
replying earlier to the request of Bro. Dun
lap. of Atlanta. He calls upon me for an
explanation of certain words used in a re
cent communication about local preachers.
I will try.
Asa preface, I want to say, that to no
class of preachers am I more indebted for
the limited success which has attended my
ministry than to local preachers. No one
man assisted more by his encouragement
and direction in my early ministry th in that
eminently pious local preacher, Uncle Tum
my Hoyle, who died a few years ago, in
Dawson, Ga. And to no one am 1 indebted
more tor tavors and assistance this year than
to a local preacher, Rev. H. J. Harvey, of
Macon, Ga. This will certainly convince the
brethren that I intended no injustice to the
brotherhood. On the contrary, I hold them
in high esteem. It is true, there are some
who are “ sometimes the wrong man in the
right place; ’ but that is true also of travel
ing preachers.
As to what particular sentence needs ex
planation, I am unable to determine, unless
it is the following:
“ There is one point that might be smooth
ed, at least. The provision in the discipline 'or
the election ol del. gates to the Annual Cos i
ference, undoubtedly discriminates agains
local preachers.”
Now, if there is any injustice done the
brethren in this, it is the fault of the law, and
not of the writer. This is th--point that might
he remedied, not “smoothed over,” as Bro.
Dunlap has it. If our local preachers are
laymen, then they are entitled to all the
privileges of lay men, and should not be de
barred from positions of honor because they
are local preachers. The law says : “Four
delegates are to be elected, oneot whom may
be a local preacher.” There is no necessity
of electing even this one, as some District
Conferences have interpeted it, and elected
the whole delegation without a local preach
er in the number. Now, suppose you re
verse the process—elect four local preach
ers as the delegation, what would he the re
sult ? I should like to see that -‘ canonist,”
of whom Dr. Summers speaks as exploding
the St. Louis troubles, turn bis artillery up
on it. Yet these men are laymen, and among
our best and most intelligent laymen. I
have been a member of a District Confer
ence where there were two or more excel
lent local brethren that the members de
sired to represent them in the Annual Con
ference, but only one could be elected. I
hope this explanation of the sentence will be
satisfactory. The law could be changed—
the point smoothed down , not over —by stri
king out the clause, “ one of whom may be a
local preacher.”
Another sentence: “They come neither
under the head of preachers nor of laymen.
In some senses they are the one, and in other
cases they are the other.” I have already
spoken of them as laymen. As preachers
they are called by the same Spirit, and as
sume the same ordination vows in the
offices of Deacon and Elder as itinerant
preachers. There are some things in
the ordination service that always trou
bled me when I wa3 a local preach
er. Among them is this —to which I con.
sented : “ That you have clearly determined,
by God’s grace, to give yourself wholly to
this office, whereunto it bath pleased God to
call you, so that as much as licth in you you
will apply yourself tv holly to this one thing,"
And, from recent developments, I find I am
not alone in this view, as some leading Coil
ferences in the M. E. Church are moving to
do away with the ordination of lay preachers.
This is a question, however, between the
brethren who assume the vows and their God.
The worst trial of a local preacher is, that
he stands so much alone, or as 1 expressed
it in the communication under review, he is a
“ nondescript.” There is not that hearty
svmpahy extended to him that exists be
tween those who are bound together by a
common sacrifice and a common dependen
cy. In the very nature of things, it cannot
exist. Hence the argument presented hy
some of the ablest minds in the Church, that
the District Conference, being peculiar in its
character and composition, occupying half
way ground between a Quarterly and an An
nual Conference, ought to be made a Local
Preachers Conference. Before which they
snould be examined ; to which they should
apply for license ; to which they should re
port, and to which they should be amenable
for their conduct.
The complex relation they sustain to the
Church is a source of perplexity to those
without. They do not understand how a
man can be a preacher and a layman at tbe
same time.
Of one thing I am most clearly convinced,
that lay work needs to be increased rather
than diminished in the Church. That form
which is capable of being most efficient is
what is wanting. If we will use wisely and
well this part of Wesleyan inheritance, the
lay preacher will not be less, but more, use
ful than heretofore. A good local preacher
is a blessing to any community.
I hope I will not be misunderstood in these
declarations. Thus far I have only spoken
of one clas3 of local preachers—the laymen.
There is a privileged class of local preachers
that are not laymen. They are to be found
in all our Conferences. I mean that class of
preachers whose appointments are always
determined by localinterests. “The world”
is not “ their parish,” but a circumscribed
limit, in which they must move, or they must
give up the work. To all intents they are
purely local preachers. Another class are
those who seek other employment for a live
lihood, making this ministerial work a sec
ondary matter. They are of necessity local
in their labors, and are nothing more nor less
than local preachers, and have no more right
to Conference relations than those who are
classed as laymen. The Bishop is under
no more obligation to appoint a man to
teach rhetoric, or run a newspaper, out- B
side of the Church Colleges and organs, than
he is to appoint-another to sell dry goods
or to run a peg factory. All are worthy
and honest employments, but neither one is
preaching. But I must not trespass longer
upon your columns. S. S. Sweet.
Macon, Oct. 24, 1876.
Little River Circuit, Florida Confer
ence.—Rev. T. J. Phillips writes, Oct. 12 :
“ I have just closed a meeting at Salem,
which lasted eight days. The Church was
greatly revived, and there were five acces
sions. Bro. DePass came at the beginning
of the meeting, remained several days, and
preached most effectively. Bro. Dowman
also came out for a few days, and rendered
efficient aid, with his earnest and able ser
mons. At every cad the altar was crowded
with penitents. On Saturday, our P. E.,
Bro. S. Woodbery, attended the Quarterly
meeting. We had a good sermon from him.
and the meeting was well attended. We
had to close the meeting on Saturday night,
or rather the rain came and brought it to a
close sooner than we had wished or intend
ed. The meeting was blessed to the good of
the Church, and I hope to many souls he
side. I have held two other meetings with
in the last three months resulting altogether
in fourteen accessions to the churches, and
the whole circuit seems revived.”
TO THE COLUMBUS DISTRICT.
Dear Brethren : The close of each Con
ference year is a leaf turning—op°ning a
new seal —in ministerial and Church life.
Sometimes it is done in silence; at others
we hear, as it were, the noise of thunder.
These annual upheavals put one to “slate
nick ng.” beget anxious thought, suggest
tbe inquiry, “where will I fall?” “Who
wiil be our preacher?”
Ido not censure. This care may be of
Christ. It it originates in a proper motive
and is kept to a sanctified channel it becomes
to the Lord’s vineyard a well spring of life.
A minister should be anxious, tearfully so,
to go where he can be most useful—and a
Church should desire a Shepherd that is wise,
working, and willing if need he, to be sac
rificed for the flock. Methodism, far from
bting arbitrary and aver-e to silencing sober
preference and godly judgment, seeks to
elicit and enthrone them. The annual ex
amination of character, reports from Church
es, the prajerful sittings and siftings of the
Cabinet, perform the part of a pair of balan
ces. No wish or work passes unnoticedand
unweighed. Bating the friction and failing
incident to all human balances —though long
tried —ministers and Churches pass at their
par value. The former usually go where
they are wanted (if anybody wants us): and
the latte- g'-nerally receive a pastor after
their own heart.
You will pardon me for saying, itinerancy
is the glory and success of our system. Other
communions are equal to us in age, ed .ca
tion, wealth, C lurch edifi -es, music, etc.
They own or borruw our doctrines. If they
are not equally successful in winning souls
and extending Christ’s kingdom, it is largely
attributable to the want of this feature—and
its necessary accompaniment our general
superintendency. With great ease we give
every preacher a pulpit and audience adapt
ed to taste and talent —and with like ease
every Ciureli and corner of the country has
a minister adapted to ability to appreciate
and rusta'.n. Whatever the opposers of cur
system may have said of “the black lioise,”
“pale horse,” “eai thquakes and lightning, ’
God has always blessed it with a Superin
tendency judicious and spiritual. Our Bish
ops stand in the midst of ministry and
Churches. Under their godly supervision
all interests have been conserved. Preach
ers and people can approach them. “See,
say they, that you hurt not the oil and the
wine." Noblemen! worthy of our prayers
and support. Their lives illustrating what
they have promised with their lips no wonder
God has so signally preserved their strength
—and so wonderfully enlarged ourZ'on.
I come now to apply these truths—to tell
the brethren where we will go and answer
inquiries touching “our pastor for 1877.”
In doing this in advance of Conference I as
sure the Bishop. Conference, and Cabinet
that I shall not despise their authority, in
terfere with their prerogatives, or. in any
way detract from iheir dignity. I do not
propose to lighten their labor: nor do I con
fess to any light beyond that in reach of all
the brethren.
In my younger days the Bishop always
broke my slate. My conjectures were wild.
A few Cabinet meetings were more terrible
than a certain Confederate cavalry—worse
than the tread of a cyclone. Why ? Partly
because they we r e guesses : chiefly because
I didn't guess right. My gue=ses wtre not
good became they were based on a super
ficial indue ion. I either looked to one
place, and said, who will fill that ? or to one
mini and asked, where will he go? So fool
ish was I and ignorant. No wonder dark
ness rested on me Other ministers and
Churches have sown to the same wind and
reaped—disappointments and broken slates.
Fortunately I was rescued. As soon as
I saw that a hundred men—with women
and children not a few —must be stationed,
and a hundred important places must be filled,
and all must fit and all go down at the same
time —then the day began to dawn. The
fuller light was reserved That came when
thought, more sober still, taught me that
ministerial fitness for any particular field
depended largely on the cultivation of form
er fields —on fidelity and fruit: and that
Churches appreciating the living ministry,
profiting by their word, esteeming them
highly in love fortheir work’s sake, and min
istering to their necessities, seldom fail to be
sati.-fied with the ones sent. With all this
was coupled an irresistible conviction that
no Church or man would be unknown or
overlooked. Improved railroad facilities,
Bishops running to and fro, printing presses,
statistical tables, lay-representation, all were
before me. With these in full p'ay, all the
year round will be present. Such scales
will not fail to give the avoirdupois o
Church and clergy. Such scrutiny will find
a pyramid though hid in vale, or see a pig
my as a pigmy still, though perched on
Alps.
But I have gone as far as my subordinate
sphere will allow —or our patient editor
permit. As the amiable Bishop might re
vise the appointments I withhold—but add,
there is, in my opinion, an open door to
good places and good preachers. That door
is duty, studied, felt, discharged—bravely,
prayerfully, perseveringly, in the fear of
God. More than that. With this spirit
pervading ministry and membership greater
ends will be realized. Not only will all
places be pleasant, all reports ready and full;
but better, far better —the personal piety of
the Church will deepen with each departing
day, its family religion will assume its need
ful force, its daily walk will send out saving
power, an.i God will add to it daily such as
shall be saved.
I am grateful to you, the South Georgia
Conference, and to God, that our financial
exhibit, since the war, is so lull ol self-deny
ing liberality. Now and then a solitary
steward has been unfaithful—or a lone
Church has partly repudiated the claims of
Bishop, pas'or,superannuate, and missionary
—but this has been the exception. Taken
as a whole, compared with ante bellum years
—the Church in South Georgia—in the fidel
ity of stewards and liberality of members
has never been surpassed. Honor to whom
honor — your district has ever been prompt
to meet these claims. Confident that a de
crease in the price of cotton is overbalanced
by increased production, supplemented by
improved grain crops ; in other words, that
the couutry, though commanding less cur
rency, is really in a better condition, I feel
assured that, nothing, not even the shadow
of an Eastern war, will drive you from the
support of these esteemed claiments.
The missionary cause— the cause of the
Church, I commend to your prayerful con
sideration. Have I done my duty ? should
be the inquiry of every minister and mem
ber. Respectfully and fraternally,
J. B. McGehee, P. E.
Talbotton, October 20th, 1876.
MILLEDLE VILLE .SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
SOME FACTS.
Dear Brother Kennedy: It is a sure sign
of age or weakn< ss whtn one is a gossip or
an egotist. lam on i lie sunnyside of fifty,
and hence it can not in my case Ite attributed
to age. With ibis ii tr ductioe; pe mit some
more personal references. lam accustomed
to criticise what I believe to b-i wrong—to
oppose generally, what I do not approve —
and am given more to the di-agreeable habit
of fault finding than of be spattering with
praise—nevertheless, I must say what I know
to he true about our Milledgevilie S oiday
school if 1 speak o’ it at all; / must speak of
it —for our faithful Presiding Elder r. quest
ed me, in open Conference, to speak of it in
the Advocate: and you know tlie request of
kings and some other rulers, is law! Butin
very truth, I rej ticein theopportunity toootn
mend some things that are commendable in
our interes ing lb tie school. We havn't 500
pupils, nor even 200—only about 130 names
up n the roll—since we cut off some fifty
who had removed from time to time in the
past two years:
Our number upon the roll is.. 130
Teachers 17
Number of officers 4
Now let me give you some facts from the
carefully kept record:
Average attendance if officers 3j
Average attend nice of teachers.. 14tj
Average attendance of sc olars 78 8-10
Average attendance of all ...97 3-10
Average attendance on publ c worship
The average attendance up in the school
hy the pupils has not been such as to fill us
with pride, but there is this to be said: a con
siderable per ceut are the operatives in our
factory or the children of employes, and they
have been scattered abroad because the mill
has not run more than three months this
year—but we retained their names as they
had gone out to farms to 1 ibor, or were
temporarily at other factories. But there ate
two remarkable features of the school to
which attention should be directed: First, 1 he
uniformity of attendance. It may be equaled
or exceeded but not in many instances. Let
tne give your readers some figures:
Attendance in January 99
Attendance in February 87
Attendance in March 95
Attendance in April 107
Attendance in May 104
Attendance in June 110
Attendance in July 98
Attendance in August 90
Attendance in September 90
Attendance in October 89
Observe: The May picnic did not draw a
crowd to the school that dispersed in June,
as is ala-,! of too common occurrence. There
was a decline, very small, in August, Sep
tember, and to the middle of October, (all
these reckonings are from the third Sunday
in each month,) but this was caused hy an
epidemic of “sore eyes” which prevailed.
Second. The large per cent of attendance
upon public worship—63 per cent. Of course
1 speak of comparatively large—large for a
Sunday-school; I dare affirm large, as com
pared with the attendance of the membership
upon public worship. That per cent, of at
tendance by our membership would be 207,
out of 330. Now, when von consider that
many of the little toddlers who are left at
home to the tender mercies of hired servants
during public worship, because forsooth,
mama does not wish to be “worried” by them
at Church, are sent to Sunday-school, in
many instances, perhaps, just (o get rid of
the labor of nursing I Item whilst the servant
is at meeting; you will agree with me that the
per cent is latge. Let me remark that an
admirable feature of the school is to inquire
into and record Sabbath by Sabbath the at
tendance upon public worship. It shows the
children of careless parents that the Sunday
school Superintendent thinks that they ought
to go to preaching us well as to Sunday
school —and the constantly recurring ques
tion ‘how many of you attended preaching
this morning,” quickens the consciences of
some and enlightens the consciences of oth
ers. Having strved three districts, several
village and several city churches, and two
circuits, and been thrown more or less inti
mately into contact wiih scores of Sunday
schools and superintendents, I am constrain
'd to say, that, not a few ot them taught the
children —whether they des’gned it or not—
that the Sunday-school was for the children
the most important, perhaps the all impor
tant place; that those who attended Sunday
school discharged all of a child’s Sabbath
du’y so far as the house of God is concerned.
Not so does my brother C. P. Crawford
teach, even hy indirection, those committed
to his efficient, faithful care, in the Milledge
ville Sunday school.
Let Superintendents try the plan—it will
take but a few moments for the officers to
pass through the aisles and count those who
stand up to signify attendance upon public
worship. But I have said as much as your
patience will permit. Adding this only, these
facts result in my estimation from a regular
attendance of officers and teachers and the
administration of system.
We are collecting, in the Church, the
money to clothe our t wo boys at the Orphans’
Home, and will soon have them comfortably
clad for the winter. Your b other,
Oct. 29, 1876. H. J. Adams.
Rock Port Circuit, Little Rock Con
ference.—Rev. J. M. Cline, formerly of the
South Carolina Conference, and from whom
we are glad to hear, writes Oct. 3d :
I have just closed nine weeks’ bard work
on this circuit. During the nine weeks I
preached one hundred and eight sermons—
twelve per week. There were seventy con
versions; sixty-seven accessions ; many back
sliders were reclaimed, and the Church was
wonderfully revived. Refreshing seasons!
Bright manifestations of the great goodness
of God 1 We had a glorious love feast every
Sabbath m -ruing at 9 o’clock. At one of
the love-feasts a good old gray haired Rap
list deacon carried the bread around and a
Methodist steward followed with the water!
The house was full of people—all partook.
Many good Baptist brethren were there,
and all enjoyed it —it was good to be there.
Let all good people pray for me and my
work.
Upson Circuit, North Georgia Confer
ence. —Rev. John R Pate writes: “ I have
held protracted meetings at all the churches
on this circuit except one, with good results.
The membership has been greatly revived,
bat ksliders have been reclaimed, and many
who had lost the com'ort of religion, have
been restored to their first love. We have
also had quite a number of conversions and
many additions to the Church. I expect to
make a good report at Conference from the
Upson circuit.”
Ocmulgee Circuit, North Georgia Con
ference. —Rev I. G. Paiks wri es, Oct 12:
“On last Thursday night I closed a meeting
at Snapping Shoals of great interest. The
Church was greatly blessed, penitents were
made happy in accepting Christ, and there
w9Je 16 accessions to the Church. On Sun
day night, five more were received at Hills
boro. We |will build anew church at this
place. One hondred have applied for mem
bership in the Church through me this year.”
Van Wert Circuit, North Georgia Con
ference. —Rev. J. W. Lee wriies, Oct. 13:
"We have had a great revival at Van Wert,
though it was mainly confined to the Church.
There were thirteen accessions, which nakes
over one hundred received into the Church j
ibis year, on the Circuit. Sunday-schools i
are reorganizing for winter work.” I
VOLUME XXXIX., NO. 44.
ROME CIRCUIT, NORTH GEORGIA CON
FKKKXOE.
Mr. Editor: Tbe Rome Circuit has nine
appointments, including DeSoto Mission.
We began this year with three hundred mem
bers —the circuit very much “run down,” as
the brethren expressed it. and its history for
the past ten years, fully justifies the expres
sion. In the early part of the year I per
suaded every member of the Church to be
punctual in attendance upon worship ; and
every head of family to subscribe for the
Southern Christian Advocate. I succeeded
well in my first proposition, but received on
ly about twenty-five subscribers to tbe Ad
vocate, (several were already taking it.) I
wish more of the Griffin District would sub
scribe for the Advocate; if so, the itinerant’s
pay would not be so slim I never knew a
Methodist to take and read the Advocate
who did not pay his quarterage liberally. I
love for my people to read such letters as
Brother Geo. Yarbrough’s, in the Advo
cate of October 10th, 1876, and I do rejoice
that thirty or more copies of the Advocate
circulate through my work weekly, teaching,
encouraging, praising and condemning, my
brethren in the Lord. I encourage my breth
ren to work, labor in church, at home, in
the vineyard of the Lord everywhere. The
more I can get them to do, the lighter my
1 ibors are. Moody never told a “ bigger”
tru.h, than when he said the successful
preacher is he who can get the most work
out of his members.
We have had good Sunday-shools all the
year; prayer-meetings, class-meetings, etc.
The Ist of August we began our protracted
meetings, and for ten weeks we have had
glorious old fashioned revivals. Every Church
has been blessed, and our membership in
creased to near five hundred. The work
was genuine, and manifests itself in every
father praying in his family, (not ten heads
of families excepted on the whole work;)
reading the Scriptures, secret, prayer, build
ing new churches, ceiling, painting and put
ting stoves in old ones, etc.
We are deeply indebted to Bro. Pledger,
our efficient P. E., for his faithful labors
among us. Hisfiulpit efforts—clear, forcible
and full of Christ—will never be forgotten at
many appointments on the Rome Circuit. Bro.
R. T. Wilkerson, a faithful, zealous, useful,
local preacner, has worked successfully with
me at some appointments.
Our Missionary asses orients, Foreign and
Domestic, were paid hy the Ist of May, in
full. Our Conference collection, will exceed
the assessment. P. C. and P. E. will go to
Conference without any claims against Rome
Circuit. All seem lo be buoyant, hopeful,
and happy.
In conclusion, I will say much more good
might have been accomplished if we had had
fewer appointments. Niue churches for one
preacher, like forty acres for one mule and
man, will necessarily give the grass some
chance to grow.
May I live and die among a people who
love Jesus, then it will he well with me here.
And may God give us all a home in heaven,
where no ox is ever muzzled and where the
weary are at rest. S. P Jones, P. C.
Rome, Ga., October 19, 1876.
“GROWTH OF METHODISM AT MIL
LEWiEVILLK.” ALAIN.
Dear Bro. Kennedy: You and the print
er deserve praise for your success in decipher
ing my hieroglyphics at any time, and espe
cially whilst “carrying through the press”
the brief, but hurriedly written article head
ed as above. It was well I craved your clem
ency when it was sent. The burdensome
correspondence I carry as Conference Trea
surer, executor of two estates, and trustee of
two married ladies —to say nothing of the
pleasant interchange of letters with kindred
scattered far and near, and with brethren
lay and clerical- and, the occasional commu
nications which I send to the Advocate, are
accomplished between the upper and nether
millstones of severe bodily pain and heavy
ministerial duties ; and it is not to be won"
dered at, if the attempt at chirograph/, un
der the circumstances, is made amid many
slips and blots, and general shalciness of the
digits. But there is one error of yours or
mine, that I bpg leave to correct, as it is a
material one. I said of brother Scott: “He
left 165 white members at the two churches,”
(Milledgeville and Bethel.) “Among the
good things done was pruning the vine ;”
and did say, or should have said, “In 1858,
(not 1808,) and in 1859, (not 1869,) there
were respectively 200 and 190 white mem
bers.”
You see at once that the difference of a
decade of yeare, is a matter of consequence
in growth. Let me repeat some things said
in the former article, with the above correc
tion before your readers :
At the end of 1860, 110 members, and 64
probationers ; at the end of 1871, 164 mem
bers ; at the end of 1874, 246 members; at
the end of 1875, 300 members. The average
membership (white) from 1860, to end of
1870, was 136. Your brother,
Oct. 29, 1876. H. J. Adams.
Hall Circuit, North Georgia Confer
ence.—Rev. C. L. Pattillo writes October
16: In July we held a protracted meeting at
Hopewell that resulted in many conversions,
five accessions, and a gracious outpouring of
the Holy Ghost upon the Church. We went
from Hopewell to South Bend, protracted a
week, and realized a blessing to the Church
and eight accessions. We held protracted
meetings at the other churches with some
success until the Antioch camp-meeting,
which was a decided success, with eleven ac
cessions and many more conversions. But
our best meeting was at Neisler’s Chapel,
which commenced on the 7th of October, and
continued nine days. The results there were
a blessing to the Church, many conversions,
twenty-eight accessions on profession of faith,
and four by letter. There have been during
the year fifty-nine accessions on profession
of faith and nine by letter.
Cokesbury, South Carolina Confer
ence.—Rev. R. D. Smart writes October 17:
We have recently closed a protracted meet
ing in our Church in this place. It was the
evangelist, Dr. Peirce's meeting, and he held
services twice a day for two weeks. Be
tween thirty and forty approached the altar
seeking either the par ion of their sins or a
fresh evidence of the same, and nearly all
who came were satisfied. We have sixteen
applications for Church membership and
about as many conversions. Rev. Manning
Brown rendered efficient service in the meet
ing. We have abundant cause to remember
gratefully Dr. Peiice’s visit to our commu
nity, and his unwearied labors amongst us.
Cherokee Circuit, North Georgia Con
ference. —Rev. James N. Myers writes :
“During the summer and fall we have had
some good meetings. Believers have been
strengthened, backsliders reclaimed, luke
warm professors stirred up, sinners awaken
ed, and mourners converted. Up to this
time there have been forty five accessions
to the Church. We hope financially to
wind up the work for this year tolerably
well. Times are so hard I cannot do much
for the Advocate.
Summerville Circuit, North Georgia
Conference. —Rev. W. P. Lovejoy writes,
Oct. 13th: The Lord has graciously visited
us this year. W e have had about eighty-five
conversions and forty-five auditions to our
membership on this circuit up to date. Bros,
li. H. Jones and H. C. Christian, of the
Conference, and Bros. Lewis and Johnston,
from the local ranks, rendered valuable as
sistance. Methodism is growing in this up
country.