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Southern Christian Rotate.
MACON,GEORGIA.SEPTEMBEK 11,1877
HELP YOUR MISSIONARY.
In the interest of the great work which he
represents, and to which he iB heroically de
voting his life, we took the liberty last week
of publishing a private letter from Dr. Y oung
•f. Allen, written to us in connection with
one written to him by Dr. Williamson, ofthe
London Missionary Society, in testimony of
the vast importance and value of the work to
which he is mainly addressing his time and
energies. We intended to appeal to our
readers then to aid this work, but the demand
upon our space compelled delay until this
issue. We return to the subject now, and
beg our readers, moßt especially our readers
in Georgia—within whose borders brother
Allen was born and educated, and from
which he went forth to proclaim salvation to
the heathen—to hearken to his call for help,
and furnish him with the needed means for
prosecuting a work which promises glorious
results in the grand enterprize of evangelizing
China. The establishment of a periodical
Christian literature for the Chinese, is the
special work to which brother Allen is ad
dressing himself, and for which he is pecu
liarly endowed. If, without giving the sub
ject such consideration as it was entitled to,
any of our readers have failed hitherto to
rightly estimate its importance, surely none
could read the letter of Dr. Williamson,
published last week, without being convinced
that the periodical press, under evangelical
direction, is an available auxiliary for spread
ing the Gospel £jd scattering the dense dark
ness of Chinese heathenism, which the
Church at home is religiously bound to foster
and promote. Brother Allen is doing much
in this matter, but he is sadly in need of pe
cuniary aid. Last year he prosecuted the
work at considerable loss to himself. Is not
this a reproach which ought to mantle our
cheeks with the blush of shame? If our be
loved brother sacrifices the comforts of home
and the society of his countrymen to serve
the besotted heathen, is it not a crying shame
thatwe should leave him to equip himself for
what he regards the greatest efficiency,
out of his own private means? We feel so,
and we believe our readers will entertain the
same opinion, if they will only give the sub
ject a moment's thought. This public allu
sion to loss incurred by brother Allen, is
made of our own motion and not by suggestion
from him. Though with perfect propriety he
might emphasize his appeal to the Church
for help in prosecuting his great work, by
stating the fact of his losses, he has not done
so ; yet we feel no hesitation in stating it, and
urging our readers to make such liberal con
tributions as will spare our beloved mission
ary the necessity of further sacrifices in this
direction, and furnish him amply with the
means of improving his facilities for supply
ing the Chinese with an evangelical periodi
cal literature. As stated in brother Allen’s
letter in the Advocatk, his most urgent need
is, money with which to procure illustrations
forthe periodicals he is publishing. We con
fidently appeal to our readers to meet this
want promptly and fully. We believe they
will do it. Georgians will feel special obli
gations in the premises; but South Carolina,
Florida, and Alabama, we feel sure, will
cheerfully participate in so worthy a work.
Come, brethren and friends, let us send
brother Allen, at once, the aid for which he
calls, and to which he is eminently entitled.
Any amount sent to us will be safely for
warded by brother Burke, without delay.
COLORED SCHOOLS.
While there is no expectation of any bene
fit to those who fired the Northern heart
against General Hamilton and Sqfith Caroli
na, regardless ot conscience, and solely for
political ends, it may be hoped that those
who honestly believed that the overthrow of
the Republican party in that State would be
followed by the speedy deprivation of the
colored people of all educational privileges,
and the destruction of their school houses
and Churches, will have their eyes opened
and their groundless apprehensions dissipat
ed by the following testimony from Dr.
Cook, himself a Republican and a teacher
of colored pupils. A reporter of the Spring
field (Mass.) Republican, after an interview
with Dr. Cook, who has been connected with
the Claflin Unsversity at Orangeburg, S. C.,
for several years, reports:
“He, (Dr. C.) is quite enthusiastic in
speaking of Governor Wade Hampton’s po
sition toward the colored people, particular
ly as shown in his favorable attitude toward
their education. The school with which Dr.
Cook is conuected was established for the
benefit of the colored people by private gen
erosity, and the colored Legislature supple
mented this by devoting to it the national
appropriation for agricultural education.
They also admitted colored students to the
State University at Columbia, thereby prac
ticallv ruling out all white students, and the
action of the Hampton Government was
awaited with interest to see whether it would
go so far in the other extreme and exclude
colored youth from educational privileges.
Its course, however, inspired by Governor
Hampton, has been most judicious. The
State Uuiversity has been temporarily closed
for lack of an appropriation, but will be re
opened as soon as the State finances admit,
as a white college, and the Clallin Universi
ty is granted an appropriation of $7,500, as
much as could be expected in the present
condition of affairs.
“Governor Hampton fully appreciates the
necessity of educating the colored people,
and is rapidly gaining their favor, while re
taining the almost unanimous support of the
whites. Dr. Cook is very emphatic in de
nouncing the course of the firery Mallalieu
and his supporters last spring; and says that
it barely escaped driving Hampton and his
party from their temperate policy. Claflin
University at present ranks with our New
England academies, but will speedily be
raised to College grade. It has 160 pupils
of both sexes, many of whom are self-sup
porting, and a large farm is run by student
labor. It is situated on an old plantation,
and the old regime neighbors, who were at
first opposed to the enterprise, now regard it
with kindness, and extend many courtesies
to it and its presiding officer.” 4
Death op a Lovely Christian Woman.—
A\ e are deeply pained to learn from our ex
changes of the death of Mrs. Julia L. Keyes,
of lola, West Florida. It being known to
her triends that consumption was steadily
and surely accomplishing its fell work, the
sad event which we here record was not un
looked for; though, those not present to
mark the rapid decline, hardly feared that
the end would come so soon. Mrs. Keyes
was a daughter of the authoress, Caroline
Lee Hentz, and the only surviving sister of
our accomplished correspondent, and dear
personal friend, Mrs. James O. Branch.
Though Mrs. Keyes did not write volumin
ously, several exquisite poems from her pen
had a very wide circulation, and attested
her possibilities for high rank in the walks
of literature, had she chosen to pursue them.
The lyre she struck at times with such be
witching Bkill on earth, is now attuned to the
loftier, sweeter strains, which befit her Fath
er’s house above. Withteuder sympathy for
the stricken household, we drop responsive
tears to the great sorrow of the bereaved one
whose distant home is darkened by this sad
event.
Death op Brigham Young. —The most
noteworthy event of recent occurrence on
this continent is the death of the notorious,
and in some respects really remarkable man,
whose name appears at the head of this arti
cle. While it may reasonably be hoped that
that monstrous and obscene imposture called
The Church of the Latter Day Saints,” is
destined to a transient existence, and will
soon cease to outrage the instincts of civil
ized society; still, the name of the man who
by native talent, indomitable will, and the
courageous exercise of a remorseless despot
ism, contributed so largely to its consolida
tion and growth, is destined to Burvive the
monument of his corrupt wickedness. Hoping
that a few yearß may find Mormonisra num
bered among “the things that were,” we
may well leave the name of its dead prophet
and law-giver to the immortality of infamy
upon which it has already entered.
A QUESTION.
Can a local preacher receive an applicant
for Church-membership into the Church, at
a regular appointment of the preacher in
charge, without his consent, knowledge, or
co-operation ?
The above question is sent to us by a
preacher-in-charge, and we are requested to
answer through the Advocate ; which we
proceed to do, reminding all parties that we
are not an authorized expounder of the law,
and that our opinion is worth no more by
virtue of our official position than that of any
other man. Almost every question of ad
ministration upon which the opinion of
Church editors is invoked grows out of some
particular case, and the answer is desired
that it may be quoted as sustaining or con
demning the act or course of action which
has prompted the enquiry. As, however, in
very many, if not in most instances, the facts
and circumstances environing the case are
such as very materially to modify the action,
and are not comprehended as qualifying the
question; and, as the opinion is given in total
ignorance of these and consequently with
no reference to them, it must be influential,
if at all, only as a trustworthy interpreta
tion of law for subsequent guidance, and not
as giving weight to one side or the other of
a pending controversy. It would be well to
bear this in mind with reference to all “opin
ions” other than such as are officially deliv
ered by those whose office it is to interpret
and apply the law of the Church.
The esteemed brother who sends us the
above question, accompanies it with no inti
mation of the circumstances suggesting it,
and therefore we answer the naked question
as though it were purely hypothetical, and
propounded simply upon the possibility of
conflict of jurisdiction at this point. So re
garding the question as it comes to us, we
answer, No. The Discipline, in enumera
ting the duties of a preacher in-charge, says,
to “ receive, try, and expel members;” and
in the directions for the reception of mem
bers : “Let the preacher in charge enquire,"
etc. Local preachers are to be assistants—
and very valuable ones, too, many of them
are —to the preacher-in-charge, who is re
sponsible for the character of those who are
admitted into the Church, and who is re
quired to satisfy himself of their fitness for
membership before they are admitted. The
local preachers, therefore, —and for that
matter, traveling preachers also, who are
not in charge—have no legal right to receive
members into the Church, except as they
are authorized to do so by the preacher in
charge. In defining the duties of local
preachers the Discipline says : “ They shall
be applied to by the preacher in charge, aB
Boon as he enters on his work, to state what
amount of service they are able and willing
to perform ; he may then draw up a plan by
which their labors shall be regulated; and
they shall be authorized to form new con
gregations, to take a list of the names of all
candidates for Church-membership, and, if
expedient, receive them Mo the Church .”
The authority to do any of these things, it is
plain, must be derived from the preacher-in"
charge, who, of course, must decide as to the
expediency of members being received on
his work, by any preacher other than him
self. Commenting on this paragraph of the
GiHcijllino, Rlshop M4ftyeirH, in Ihin Manual
says : “It would breed confusion, and worse,
if this prerogative of receiving members
should be used by local preachers not under
the direction of the pastor, and operating in
dependently of him. Therefore, the Disci
pline requires, and makes it a condition of
this authority from the pastor, that the re
sults be promptly reported back to him, and
placed under his care.” It seems conclu
sive then to us that the prerogative of re
ceiving members into the Church belongs
solely to the preacher-in charge, and may
be legally exercised only by him and such
others as from considerations of expediency
he may entrust with it.
LaGrange Distriet Sunday-school Con
vention. —The next annual meeting of this
body will begin Thursday night, May 2d,
1878.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
The North American Review. Boston:
James R. Osgood & Cos. $5 a year, single
numbers SI.OO.
This splendid publication, which admira
bly illustrates the highest order of American
periodical literature, and competes credit
ably with the transatlantic Quarterlies, has
an exceptionally attractive table of contents
for the September-October number. While
all the articles will richly repay perusal,
several of them are upon subjects which just
now are peculiarly attractive to the public
mind of this country. The first—in order
and length, perhaps we ought to say, lest we
be understood as assigning it a preeminence
which its merits do not warrant —is a review
of Judge Black’s article on the “ Electoral
Conspiracy,” which, while it has all the
faults of style and spirit that so conspicu
ously characterized the production to which
it is a reply, is without a tithe of its ability.
With no end of assumption, it is compar
atively bare of cogent argument. Mr.
Stougton, though known now to compara
tively few of his countrymen, and perhaps
wholly unknown abroad, is destined to noto
riety of not to fame, when Judge Black’s
rejoinder appears—as appear it doubtless
will, if he regards the game as worth the can
dle. The letter of “A Striker” on Fair
Wageß, and that of the eminent Rail Road
President, Thomas A. Scott, on The Recent
Strikes discuss live subjects and will be
read with interest. The other “articles of
this exceedingly interesting number are :
The Decline of the Drama ; The War in
the East, (with maps)—Part II; Perpetual
Forces; How Shall the Nation Regain Pros
perity—Part II; New American Novels ;
Reformed Judaism —conclusion ; Progress
in Astronomical Discovery ; Contemporary
Literature.
Quarterly Conference Journal. St. Louis:
Advocate Publishing Company. Price,
$2.50. Sent by mail $2.80.
The publishers have done a good work
in bringing out this book, and we sincerely
hope it may come into universal use through
out the Church. The loose way in which
Quarterly Conference records are kept in
many places amounts to little more than a
ridiculous farce, and without some such
book as the one before us, the reproach is
hardly avoidable. The arrangement of the
printed questions, is such as to furnish all
needed help to the most inexpert secretary,
and with such a book there can be no ex
cuse for not preserving a permanent record
of the proceedings of the Quarterly Confer
ence. The Journal is arranged for record
ing the proceedings of thirty-two sessions—
eight years—while following each form there
is abundant blank space for recording any
thing unusual that needs to be preserved. It
is very convenient for handling or transpor
tation, and if committed to the keeping of
the preacher in charge, would always be on
hand, and the proceedings of each session
SOUTHERN CHRfISTIAN ADTOCATE,
would have the signature of the presiding
elder. We like the book, and very cordially
commend it to the Church.
Vick’s Floral Guide: Rochester; New
York.
The present issue of this beautiful and in
teresting periodical closes its career as a
Quarterly, and hereafter the patrons of Mr.
Vick—who maintains his foremost place
among American Seedsmen and Florists—
are to have the advantages of monthly in
structions in the art of flower and vegetable
gardening. The first number of the new
Monthly will be issued by the laßt of Novem
ber, subscriptions for which may be for
warded now. We advise all, especially our
fair lady readers who are interested in gar
dening,, whether for pleasure or profit, to
order at once this invaluable help to success.
It will be furnished for $1 25 to single sub
scribers, or to clubs of five at SI 00 each.
You can Dot do better than buy your seeds
from Vick, but whether you do or not, the
Monthly will be worth far more to you than
its cost.
The International Review: New York: A.
S. Barnes & Cos., 111, 113 William Street,
S6 a year.
The publishers of this periodical, who are
nobly redeeming their pledge to give the pul*
lie a Review, which should rival the best
publications of its class, and prove an honor
to American literature, presents the following
admirable and opportune table of contents
in the September-October number: The
Communist and the Railway; To Charles
Tennyson Turner; The Letters of Junius;
Modern Armies and Modes of Warfare; The
Administration of American Cities; Thomas
DeQuincy; Judicial Partisanship, I—Queen
Caroline’s Case; The Late World’s Fair;
Part III; The President’s Southern Policy;
Recent American and European Books; Art
Letter—No II; Contemporary Events.
A Handsome Engraving. — We are in
debted to the Advocate Publishing Compa
ny of St. Louis, Mo., for a copy of the very
elegant and admirable steel engraving of the
Bishops of the M. E. Church, South, which
their enterprize has had executed. Asa
work of art it strikes us as perfect, while
the likenesses are remarkably faithful. Bish
ops Keener, Marvin, and Doggett, look here
a little more weather-beaten than when we
saw them la3t, but each of them has done
a vast amount of work since then, which
doubtless has registered itself upon their
features. It is a beautiful picture, and so
cheap—S2.oo—that every Methodist family
might have one to embellish the sitting room.
We hope the publishers will be rewarded by
very large sales for getting out so handsome
aud correct a representation of these great
and good men. Send $2 00 to the Advocate
Publishing Company, 415 North Sixth
street, St. Louis, Mo., and they will send
you by mail, guaranteed against damage,
a copy of this very desirable decoration for
every Southern Methodist’s house.
REST IN SEEDING AND IN HARVEST
TIME.
Many people esteem themselves broad
minded in proportion to the looseness of
their views. This is especially the case with
those who wish to detach their morals Irom
religion. In certain quarters independence
of old Bible doctrines is getting to be a sign,
test, and measure, of what they call “cul
ture.” The “ Continental Sunday” is fairly
introduced. The “ permanent exhibition”
in the old Quaker city of Philadelphia has
been, the papers say, opened to Sunday visi
tors. A certain Southern city, with “pro
gressive ideas,” mourns the temporary ab
sence of the Sunday evening military parades
at the United States barracks. The troops
had to be sent away to fight the Indians —if
they can find them—and to hold the rioters
that followed in the wake of the strikers in
ordejt The German beer garden has be
come a Sunday institution in some American
cities. More and more we approximate the
Continental Sunday, that is, the Sunday of
infidels, atheists, and godless people. And
a great part of the press sanctions, advertises,
encourages this retrogression into barbarism.
Now and then they rap the knuckles of old
fogieß who lift a warning voice. They call
them fanatics, quote Connecticut blue laws,
remind them of witch-burners, and deride
them generally.
Nevertheless we believe that a nation that
keeps no Sabbath, or what is the same thing
or worse, makes a godless or sensual holi
day of it, is on the broad, descending road, to
the devil. It is well to lift the warning
voice. The watchman who, seeing the sword
coming, keeps silent, must account for the
blood of the people.
Many plead necessity when they violate
God’s law of the holy Sabbath. As for in
stance, judges and lawyers, who uniformly
start for a distant court-house on God’s day.
Guardians of society, indeed 1 Violators of
the law of God they are, and no exemplars to
the people. Merchants save time (I) by trav
eling on Sunday to and from market. Mul
titudes of them arrange to leave home for
market or to leave the market for home so
as to be on the journey during the Sabbath.
Does it not save a day ? No, it loses a day
and all the blessings God designed it to bring
to a weary and sinful world. And it is a loss
that cannot be estimated in dollars. There
is no place in human ledgers to enter this
loss. But there is a place up yonder where
the books are truly and faithfully kept. And
the settlement comes by and by. The “sen
tence” may not be —thanks to God’s long
suffering—“ executed speedily.” But God
does not forget and God is not mocked. The
evil as well as the good will “ reap in due
season.”
Most of our readers belong to the freest,
happiest class of men, in the world. They
are the most independent. If they do their
work they can live. Hard times disturb
them less than other men. Bread riots they
do not know, except by the hearing of the
ear. Strikes and riots do not starve them.
They ought to be the best people on the earth.
They have two seasons, as one has expressed
it, “of supreme anxiety,” “seeding and
earing time.”
The seeding time, for most crops, has
passed or not yet come. We approach the
“ harvest time.” The crops are now to be
gathered. The farmer has his emergencies
and his exigencies. He has his temptations
to use holy days for secular work. As be
tween the pleasure-seeker and the worker
we cannot doubt which is the more guilty in
the violation of the divine law of the Sabbath.
Between getting hay, fodder, corn, and cotton
out of the reach of a gathering storm by Sun
day work,and idling, guzzling, tattling, about
beer-gardens or military parades and such
like, we would not hesitate. Honest work
on Sunday is better than godless pleasure on
Sunday. But the good man will choose
neither course of conduct. Between two
evils he may choose the less ; between two
wrongs, neither.
Our Bible reading to-day brings us to an
old text on this subject. It is better than
modern notions. It is not as latitudinarian
as many people desire. It ties us down to a
fixed order of things. It does not give much
rope to those who choose the law of conve*
nience rather than the law of God. And it
is better not to have much rope; we would
hang ourselves. See Exodus xxxiv.: 21.
“ Six days shalt thou work, but on the sev
enth day thou shalt rest: in earing time and
in harvest thou shalt rest.” Murphy’s ren
dering doubtless gives the true sense : “ In
ploughing and reaping time thou shalt rest."
Not while the corn is in the ear, but when
the seed is sown.
Asa writer in the Family Treasurhanys :
“By the most ordinary readers tfjF word
‘ eariDg-time’ is probably suppose! to’ be
when the corn is in the ear. This interpre
tation would, however, destroy the force of
the verse, as the time ofthe ear is noYoneof
the farmer’s busy times. Except in tound,
there is no connection between the * ears’
and the ‘earing time.’ The Hebrejflword
thus translated denotes ploughing time.
What the statute forbids is Sabbath labor
during seed-time and harvest.”
Dr. Clarke has the following usefui.obser
vations on the text which all who ne
cessity for violating God’s law of ~th
may take to heart :
“Many break the Sabbath on thJjpfctense
of absolute necess-ty, because, if in harvest
time the weather happens to be called bad,
and the Sabbath day be fair and fine, they
indge it perfectly lawful to employ tht day
in endeavoring to save the fruits of ths field,
and think that the goodness of the day be
yond the preceding is an indication from
Providence that it should be thus eqpployed.
I have known this law often broken on this
pretense, and have never been able to dis
cover a single instance whsre the persons
who acted thus were one whit better than
their more conscientious neighbors who
availed themselves of no such favorable cir
cumstances, being determined to kegh God’s
law, even to the prejudice of tbeiraecular
interests, but no man ever yet ultimately
suffered loss by a conscientious attachment
to his duty to God.”
Too fast in that last word, as we
suppose. Thousands have suffered the loss
of all earthly good for their “conscientious
attachment to their duty to God.” -- It has
made rich men poor ; it has kept poor men
poor. But, what of that? It is nst mere
money loss that we should considen man
can afford to lose his crop to God's
law ; he cannot afford to-save his crop if he
must violate God’s law to it. Such saving is
losing indeed. Whenever the devil whis
pers “gain” as an inducement to break God’s
law, let us remember the words of our bless
ed Lord : ‘i He that findeth his life shall lose
it; and he that loseth his life for my sake
shall find it.” H.
Oxford. -*
Correspibtttu. t
LETTER FROM THE NORTH,
Beggars in New York—A Compagnon du
Voyage —A Long Tunnel—Emory Grove
Gamp meeting—-Rev. Dr. Naylor—A Good
Dinner —Little Preachers —An Eloquent
Sermon—A Great Revivalist Women
Helpers.
Mr. Editor : Going to New York on
Monday and returning on Friday gave me
but little opportunity to see or hear any
thing of interest to the readers of Religious
paper. The beggars have evidently felt the
hard times in this city, as you now meet but
few of that professional class, who have
lived on the money of people whose con
sciences bade them give to all who seemed
to be in need. The truth is, it becomes a
question whether good people are not re
sponsible for this pest in most of our large
cities. Much that is thus given goes to pam
per insolence and vice, and not a liWb of it
is spent at the low bar-rooms and beer sa
loons of the city. Asa general rule, worthy
objects of charity are provided for in our
cities, at alms-houses and by benevolent so
cieties, and street beggars, as a class, are
not worthy objects of charity. There are
no doubt exceptions, and people must give
according to judgment and conscience.
Spending the next Sabbath in Baltimore,
I determined to attend service at TEmory
Grove Camp-meeting, which had now been
in progress some two weeks. These occa
sions are pleasant to city people as they af
ford to a large class of pent up, overworked
denizens, an opportunity to enjoy good foun
tain frost, countlig aky ftgj* g^od
preaching and singing. All of these were
to be found at Emory Grove. We left
about 10 o’clock, on the Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad, at Union Depot, and
soon entered a tunnel which runs under
ground about three miles, with but few in
termissions. This great work was done be
cause the right of way would have cost more
(as it passes under the city) than the sub
terranean excavations. As it is, it cost very
heavily, and damages had to be paid in sev
eral instances, where houses tumbled in be
fore the arches could be securely construct
ed.
A fine looking old gentleman sat opposite
me in the cars, and soon we became good
friends, although he announced himself from
Massachusetts, and I from the ofher ex
treme, Georgia. We met several trains with
empty cars, and when told that they were go
ing to the city after more people, he said very
earnestly, “ Well, I hope they may all be
converted,” to which I responded a hearty
“Amen.” From this time forward we felt
easy in each other’s company —no longer
strangers and aliens, but brethren of the
household of faith. (
Taking the Western Maryland Railroad
some eight or ten miles from the city, we
passed Ricustertown a short distance, and
came to Emory Grove, twenty miles from
the city. The encampment is situated in a
cODsiderablo forest of native growth, which
to me is always beautiful as it reminds me
of my boyhood days. The tents were of
cloth (numbering between three ttnd four
hundred), with plank floors, and very nice
furniture in most instances. They were
built in regular streets like a town, number
ing Ist avenue, 2d avenue, and so on. The
permanent place of worship was in a thick
grove near the centre, the covered arbor,
hardly large enough to hold 1,000 persons ;
but a great number of sittings were fur
nished outside. 1,500 people were said to
be present on the Sabbath. Asa class they
were genteel and well behaved. I saw no
rudeness of any kind. I observed several
city policemen, who seemed to have a com
mittee of lay members to aid them. There
are several tabernacles made of clojth, with
appropriate names, where prayer-ijieetitigs
and special revival meetings are hel4 during
intermissions.
Dr. Naylor preached the noon-day sermon.
It was plain, spiritual, and instructive. His
theme war the faith of assurance. He is
stationed at Fayette Street Church, and I
should judge from this effort that he would
wear well on any station, his preaching be
ing of that character which would please
Sabbath after Sabbath, without winning (for
him the claim of being a splendid pulpit ora
tor. He is not at all sensational, and seems
to preach to do good rather than to make a
dieplay of oratory.
After this service we repaired to a restau
rant, where an aDxious crowd stood outside
ready to be admitted. When the door was
opened they entered, women and men, pell
mell. I soon found, however, that I had
not the passport requisite for admission, as
every one goes to a tent opposite and buys
a ticket with a number corresponding to the
seat. So, being rejected like the foolish vir
gins, I turned, not very sorrowfully, away,
aB I had several other chances quite good,
if not better. I went up the street till I
came to a much larger establishment yclept
Thompson’s Hotel, where I got a good din
ner without buying a ticket, although it was
the rule here also.
After dinner, in passing a large cloth tent,
I saw “Wesley” inscribed upon it and found
a company ga'hering for service. A young
man got up and requested the grown people
to give the seats to the children, as this ser
vice was for them. He then named the
hymn to be sung and a young lady led the
music with a melodeon. An old man was
called on to pray. He arose and asked the
children to kneel and repeat after him the
Lord’s prayer, which they did very reverent
ly. After singing again the young man said
he wanted to make all the children preach
ers, as there was a large crowd looking on.
He called upon them to repeat some text.
The first child that got the floor announced
in distinct tones, “ Little children, keep
yourselves from idols.” The leader imme
diately explained it, and preached them a
short sermon of some two or three minutes.
Another and another rose, and quoted a text,
all of them appropriate, and each of them
explained by the young man in a most ef
fective way, often touching the feelings of
the audience even to tears. The plan was
new to me, but in this case was certainly
very appropriate, and I have no doubt re
sulted in great good.
At 2:30 o’clock the bell struck three times
as a signal for public worship. Rev. Dr.
Carpenter, from Exeter Street Church —
whose fame had preceded him, as he is put
down here as one of the big guns—preached
a most eloquent and effective discourse from
Isaiah xxviii: 16 —the true foundation. His
enunciation is very rapid, and his manner
somewhat vehement, although his voice
seemed rather weak. His rhetoric is very
fine and his flowers beautiful, but not so re
dundant as to offend the most delicate taste ;
while there breathed through his whole dis
course, both in sentiment and style, a sym
pathy for the good of others which marks
him as a son of consolation. I was well
paid for my visit to Emory Grove in hearing
a sermon which struck so many chords re
sponsive to my own yearning nature.
After the sermon a young man rose and
requested the choir to sing a certain revival
hymn. He then exhorted, which appeared
commonplace after the sermon, and bis
manner was so theatrical as to be repulsive.
I thought the meeting would be damaged by
putting up this youth. At the close of a
short exhortation he addressed himself to
one particular section of the congregation,
and said if any one in this space wishes to
be prayed for, raise your right hand. He
counted them and then took another section,
and thus went over the congregation. He
announced that ten had held up their hands
and then called for them to come to the altar.
He kept this proposition open for at least
one hour, during which time singing and
praying was going on, this young man al.
ways designating the hymn and the person
to pray. When a mourner seemed in deep
agony he would call for some suitable hymn,
as “ Oa, pass me not my Saviour.” When
someone professed conversion he would
call out with a countenance beaming with
joy, let us praise God by singing such a
hymn, and which would be “ Hallelujah,
Amen,” or the old doxology, “ Praise God
from whom all blessings flow,” or some
thing similar. Thus for two hours this
young man conducted these services, until
about one hundred penitents had knelt and
twenty professed conversion. My mind had
gradually undergone a change in reference to
him, until I had come to the conclusion that
he was at least an earnest worker in the
vineyard of the Lord.
“ What young man is that,” said I to a
good sister who had offered me a vacant
chair. “That young man ?” said she ; “why
that is Mr. Harrison, the evangelist, under
whose ministrations 1,400 persons have been
converted within a comparatively short pe
riod.” “What,” said I, “is that the man
who conducted the great revival at Union
Square, in Baltimore?" “The very same,”
she said, “He is not married, and is only
twenty-four years of age. He is completely
absorbed in this work —seems to think of
nothing else and care for nothing else.” I
ceased to wonder why the elders in Israel
gavo w&y to this stripling to conduct all the
revival exercises.
I found that one secret of this young
man’s success was in having a number of
helpers, male and female —especially the
latter —who were as busy as bees, passing all
through the congregation, exhorting and en
treating any one who seemed inclined to
yield to go to the altar. Mr. Harrison him
sell was among them, passing rapidly from
one point to another, cheering up his lieu
tenants with words of comfort and songs of
exultation. One of these good women with
a saintly face came to my Massachusetts
friend, who stood by me, and said with a
sweet, beseeching voice: “Do you enjoy
religion?” His face brightened up, and he
said with great emoiion as he bent forward
to where she stood: “Yes, madam; bless
God, I do enjoy religion.” After this I
thought surely my friend must be a Metho
dist, but he told me afterwards that he was
a Congregationalist in name, though about
two-thirds of a Methodist.
At 5:30 o’clock Mr. Harrison announced
that the exercises were closed for one-half
hour, when the mourners were invited to a
special service for them at 0 o’clock at Wes
ley tent. I got my coffee and left for the
city rather regretfully, as I had spent a most
delightful day in the grand old woods of
Emory Grove. E. M. P.
Angtist 27, 1877.
LETTER FROM MARION, S. C.
Mr. Editor : Marion, the head-quarters
of Methodism for the eastern portion of
South Carolina, is situated between the two
Pee Dee rivers, on the Wilmington, Colum
bia, and Augusta railroad. Four members
of the South Carolina Conference reside
here: H. A. C. Walker, Presiding Elder of
Marion District; W. C. Power, Presiding
Elder of Florence District; A. J. Stokes,
station preacher, and myself, on the Marion
Circuit. Besides, we are favored frequently
with the presence of other ministers.
The religious prospect in this section is
encouraging. Rev. H. A. C. Walker, whom
the Conference has always delighted to hon
or, has so far been equal to the arduous du
ties of his office. I know but little of broth
er Power’s work, but I know the man, and
I will venture to say he is not behind.
Brother Auld, of Little Rock, and broth
ers Hill and Lee of Buckswamp Circuits,
are moving in the right direction. I have
five local preachers, and two exhorterß on
my circuit —Baker, Gasque, Sweet, Legette,
Bird, Shackelford, and Cronen, all of whom
are good workers. Brother Baker is em
ployed with me on the circuit.
Three of my protracted meetings, and the
results, have been reported already, and I
leave to-morrow for the fourth, not to re
turn for about twelve days.
This is brother Stokes’ fourth year on the
Marion Station. He is planning for a good
t ime on his work. He is a hard worker, a
good preacher, a faithful pastor, and has a
nice church and a clever congregation. I
do not know which his people love most,
his wife or himself. It will be a sad parting
at the end of the year. One evidence of the
cleverness of his people is found in the fact,
that a few evenings ago they came up in
crowds and gave him a severe "pounding,"
gifts, “ substantial and full." It was a joy
ous occasion to the people, and of course to
the preacher and his family.
Rev. John R. Coburn, one of the venera
ble superannuated preachers of the Confer
ence, and his wife, are on a visit to our
town. He has been quite ill for several days,
but under the blessing of heaven, and the
skill of Dr. Mullins, he is now rapidly im
proving. The crop prospect is fine. The
religious, political, and material skye is clear.
May it ever be so. John W. Moßoy.
August 29, 1877,
COMING DOWN LOOKOUT POINT.
As our prayer-meeting in “ The Shelving
Rock” on the peak closed, the rain became
a mist, and we hearkened to the rumble of
the cars down in the depths. Watching
thither we glimpsed the zig-zag traiu, leap
ing round the peak’s base, as it sprung into
spaces cleared in the white sea by air cur
rents. In a few minutes the winds folded
back the cloud from our path as though
phantom hands were deftly pushing aside
drooping masses of lace, and we went down
the rock’s face, clinging to its wrinkles, to
the sloping ground. In the farther descent
we rested on massy fragments of sandstone
which Time had crumbled off the crag. In
one such pause the Doctor said :
“Bishop Marvin, among the mountains of
the Holy Land, as elsewhere, bears in mind
the minister’s life-work—to demonstrate the
truth of the Bible. The test he applied to
the Bible statement about the Hill of Bless
ing and the Hill of Cursing, is one of those
jndicious thoughts which settle the conflicts
of doubt and certainty by the logic of facts.
In its light, belief of the truth changes into
knowledge of the truth, and even baffled
skepticism gives approval. His mission
tour of the world is a providence to humani
ty. The response of the Churches already
begins to be gold, and men and women to
thrust in the sickle and reap ti e tawny
fields whereof he has written. Bishop M.
is a prince in Israel —so are many of our
preachers. But,” he added with an cx
pression worthy a native Georgian, “ B:>hop
Pierce ranks all. What is it that gives him
such a command of hearts?”
“ A tenderness of soul,” was replied,
“ that feels others’ woes aud seeks to help
the great and small up out of them. He
would carry a D.gger Indian’s basket of half
roasted grasshoppers up a mountain for him
if the poor fellow were to weaken but a
little tugging up. He is either prizing a
church out of the mud of debt or helping a
sick, worn out preacher to get a home, or
building up a college, or running to and fro
to Conferences and protracted and ramp
meetings to help the preachers. And the
charm of the whole is he Appears never to
think that he has blessed anything er any
one.”
I know not which suggested the thought,
the mountains round about Jerusalem or
those round about us that lifted their heads
above the sea of mist, but so it was we paesed
on down the mouutain, thinking of men
whose God is the Lord, whose brows catch
and break and purify the clouds of threat
and ill till they pour refreshing showers up
ou the inhabitant of the valley instead of
floods of blight, and collecting light thickly
strew it in the depths to gladden the toilers
there.
We were soon below the cloud, dining at
Robert Craven’s. That old gentleman has
long lived up there, on a bench of the moun
tain, nearly a thousand feet above the river,
surrounded by trees, and great rocks, and
vines and fruits, and, thank God, some
fiowerß.
What is that in a flower that makes the
heart thrill with peaceful j''y and throb up
towards heaven? It, upon a buld, bleak
crag, aloug its tree clad sides, in the valley
that belts its base, amid arid wastes, in
gardens, in vases, hath made my heart tot
ter, glow, flow with joy, as though an angel
had whispered to it, “ peace, peace, peace
and love forever I” Is it Christ in it, by its
tender grace touching with 11 is gentleness
beholders till they, like Him, would live only
to lighten—never to darken —the paths of
others?
In the hush of the mountain’s lap old Bro.
Craven dwells, under the crag's crown, in
full view of Chattanooga, in whose history he
is a notable—and exponent of Methodist
light and life. Many Tennessee preachers
4ave rejoiced by reason of his liberal hand.
And the welcome within his gates when
guests behold his aging joy-eyed wife, is like
a glimpse of Eden ; for there is that about
her which makes them know “ here is divine
grace so crystalized with nature’s” that
everything within and about seems glad with
peace and good will. As we sat in the col
onnade overlooking the city, an hour’s ride
away, he said :
“ Do you Bee that stretch of valley along
the river bank reaching up among the found
ries? It will yield to the acre fifty to one
hundred bushels of corn. When son here
got through college, I gave that, some leas
than two hundred acres, to him. He farmed
on it one year and broke, and begged me to
take it back. I have received many thous
ands of dollars from it by selling lots off it,
and yet hold enough of it to make a sup
port even at the disadvantage of living up
here. But son gave it back to me rather
than starve, or do worse on it.”
There was the dryness of humor in his
voice that sometimes ripples the surface of
a loving old age when jeering the assurance
of lads who, in their way, can do more than
their fathers. “ Yes,” replied the Doctor,
“ I own up. The case is too plain. I let
go a fortune there. But I chilled down there
in the valley nine months that year, and
I'd rather have good health than thirty
fortunes.”
There was a merry glance in the old gen
tleman’s eyes as the Doctor gave his reason
for breaking, but I give in proof that he has
cleverly recovered from that early break, the
facts that he has given to the Ringgold cir
cuit an excellent parsonage and thinks of
moving to Oxford to educate his children.
Stepping to the back porch, we observed
upon the beetling crag several forms like
little children. Using the spy-glass, we dis
cerned that they were ladies and tall men ;
and at their feet, and all round the rim of
the crag’s crown on which they stood, a gold
and purple light was gleaming—it was sun
shine hanging there, a bright surprise party
from the sky, peeping over at the shadowy
bench whence we beheld its wild weird
pranks. It had come after the storm to
brighten its wake, and, like the cloud, pre
sently it dropped from the crag, turning som
ersaults down the mountain side, lighting up
jungle and city, and plain and depths, as
the heights, with cheerful splendors.
My day upon Lookout crag was over, It
was the very day for me. For some years
before, from peaks along its range south
ward, of clear days I had seen the blue dis
tant summits rising dreamily into the ether,
seemingly to lean against the skies, and the
valleys asleep between ; but that rain storm,
marshalling to the thunder’s roar ; that cloud
slipping otf the crag into the valley and
swimming there—a gossamer sea in which
no sound was heard save that strange one
of silence except then and now the boom ot
thunders; that white burial of city and river
and plain by the weeping heavens; that
soundless battle of the winds with the fleecy
clouds at the peak’s point; that gathering of
the sunshine on the tops of the mountains
after the rain, and its wild huzza-leap into
the shadowy valleys, was a mountain drama
that hitherto had never thrilled my eye, or
head, or heart.
At the mountain’s base, just above the
river’s brink, and cave sets in many hundred
feet. Out of its darkness, a son of R ibert
Craven brought to light, some years ago, an
oyster shell of rare shape and beauty, that I
wished to bring away for the cabinet of
minerals of Emory College. But it was the
only one that had been found, and of course,
I could not word the wish; but the courte
ous old Methodist said:
“ If more can be found in the mud of the
cavern, I will get one of these shells for you,
and let you know. Come again to the moun
tain, and be sure to call and see us—our
hearts up here warm up when one of our
preachers comes to see us.”
And, as I was ou the way to ascend the
peak, the scholarly, eloquent Irishman of the
South, Rev. A. J. Leet, said: “ I will collect
a box of specimen ores and rocks for Emory
College. I love it for the good it is doing
for Church and State.”
Now, Mr, Editor, let me say, that the
purest, sublimest, most thrilling sights I saw
in the mountains were Methodist preachers.
They are busy— busy “seeding down” the
hill country with the words of the kingdom
of God, and were harvesting here and there
when I beheld them. Did you ever see a
preacher greeting a preacher in the moun
tains 1 “No!” Well, you have a picture
of God’s painting to see, so full of sunshine
that your hear; will say, when you behold it,
os Bro. Knight of late has bt en shouting at
our camp-meetings, “Hallelujah! glory,
glory! amen and amen ! Selah!”
R. W. Big ham.
LETTER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
Dear Bro. Kennedy: How thrilling the
pleasure one enjoys who, after a long ab
sence, revisits the home and friends of his
youth and the scenes of his boyhood days,
where he used to go to school and hunt and
fish and sport : and at the old family church,
with old friends and schoolmates, to renew
the sweet associations of the past, where to
gether we first went to Sunday-school and
listened to the word of life.
“ Old faces have a charm to me
Ajlte new can ne’er attain ;
OflßMaces, how 1 love to see
SBeir sombre looks again;” ‘
That pleasure was mine, the 4th and Bth
insts. inclusive, while assisting the faithful
and greatly beloved pastor of the Graham
circuit, South Carolina Conference, at old
Übion, where, long ago, I first heard the
Editor of the Auvocatk preach.
What changes time has wrought! The old
church has given place to a neat and com
modious building, ceiled and painted. But,
alas 1 how few of the older members of by
gooe days greeted me at this meeting. Many
once familiar fact s were absent. Many seats
were vacant. They come up no more with
us to the house of God. Uncles Jennings
and Inabinit, the venerable and efficient
class-leaders ot former times, Jno. S. Jen-
nings, J. T. Jennings, Daniel Krittrell, Ann
Fogle, Harriet Cleckly, etc., etc., where, oh
where are they 1 They have passed “over
the river and rest under the shade of the
trees.” A few of the old members still fin
ger at the margin, uwai ing the summons to
rejoin their kindred and friends ‘ over there.”
Yet, how gratifying to find nearly all the
people of the community identified with the
Church, and some of them earnest workers
in the Master’s vineyard. “ God buries his
workmen, but carries on his work ”
The meeting was one of great preciousness
and profit. The love feast., Sunday morn
ing, will not soon be forgotten. “ Did not
our hearts burn within us, while be talked
with us by the way,” The unanimous sen
timent was, “ Lord it is good to be here.”
Several who there confessed a personal,
spiritual decline, testified ere the meeting
closed, that God had healed their back
sliding and restored unto them “the joy of
his salvation.” Four persons were received
into the Church and eight into a saving rela
tionship with Christ. One of the most in
teresting features of the occasion was the
daily experience meetings, in which many
bore witness for Jesus. Among whom was
an elderly gentleman, who had been power
fully convicted and happily converted the
previous day. He stated that he had been
in the Church many years, but never enjoyed
religion until then; that had he liis time to
five over he would act very differently. Then
hffdressingthe young people!, hesaid: “Young
men, don’t follow my example and wait until
you are fifty seven years old before you seek
God ; but take an old man’s advice and seek
religion while you are young.” This may they
do to their present and eternal salvation.
I found the pastor “in labors more abun
dant,” having closed a very interesting and
profitable meeting at Graham. The Lord
mercifully sustain His servant in his recent
sad bereavement, give him large success in
winning souls, and keep him and the dear
people he serves unto the day of final redemp
tion in heaven. J. L. Sifly.
Jaclcsonboro, S. C.. August 23, 1877.
MONROE CIRCUIT, NORTH GEORGIA
CONFERENCE.
Mr. Editor : Since my last communica
tion I have held two other meetings, which
resulted in a gracious outpouring of the Holy
Spirit upon the membership and eleven ac
cessions to the Church. At two points on
the work we are tearing down the old houses
of worship and putting new and commodi
ous buildings in their place. At a third
place, where the Church was almost, dead
spiritually, we have been greatly blessed,
and now the house is being repaired so as
to be comfortable during all seasons of the
year.
We now have prayer meetings established
at every appointment. In these the young
men take an active part, and labor with great
Buccess. Methodism is rapidiy looking up
in the whole county. Not to us, but to God,
the giver of all good, be the glory.
Prof. R. M. Mclntosh, -who fills the chair
of Vocal Music at Oxford, Ga., is with us —
teaching classes at two appointments on the
work. The people are delighted with him.
We find him a complete master of his pro
fession. The happy art he possesses of im
parting his knowledge of music to others, is
astonishing to all, and he is creating a wide
spread interest in the study of the noble
science of music. There are several persons
in this county who speak of going to Oxford
next Fall to attend his lectures, so as to pre
pare themselves thoroughly for music teach
ers. We wish him and his department signal
success. D. F. C. Timmons.
August 27, 1877.
CAROLINA ORPHANS’ HOME.
Mr. Editor: I wish to say to those who
are indebted to the Carolina Orphans’ Home
that the amounts they owe will now be
thankfully received. Many persons are
pledged on our books to pay certain sums
annually. Will the brethren who subscribed
in 1872, at Georgetown and Florence (Dis
trict Conference occasions); also at Abbeville,
Mt. Bethel (in Laurens county), and other
placeß throughout the State, please send the
accumulated annual dues to the Home with
as little delay as possible. Perhaps some of
these do not read the Advocate, and there
fore those who do not respond to this no
tice, will receive a postal notification.
We entertain some idea of changing the
location of the Home to a plantation, and if
this is done, all the cash due will be needed.
Now, Mr. Editor, if you will add a line or
two by way of exhortation, the Home will
be much obliged. R. C. Oliver,
Supt. and Treas. Carolina Orphans’ Home.
Spartanburg, S. C., Sept. 3, 1877.
[lf we thought that words of exhortation
from us would strengthen the above appeal
we would surely append them ; but the claim
is so just, as well as touching, and the need
so urgent, that we feel warranted in hoping
that every debtor, who can, at any reasoDa
ble sacrifice, will respond without delay.
Editor.]
Fulton Circuit, North Georgia Con
ference. —Rev. J. M. Coley sayß in a busi
ness note of August 27th : “We have just
closed our camp-meeting at Sandy Spring,
VOLUME XL., NO. 37.
The Master was with ns in power—fifty
joined the Church, mauy backsliders were
reclaimed, and the whole Church was quick
ened into new life. The preaching was
above the average. Brothers Dodge,Thrower,
Smith, Jones, and Morgan our pastor, all
preached with power and in demonstration
of the Spirit.
RINGGOLD CIRCUIT, NORTH GEOR
GIA COM KltKXf K.
Mr. Editor : On the first Sunday in Au
gust our series of protracted meetings was
commenced at Albright’s Church, six miles
from Ringgold. The meeting at this church
continued seven days, resulting in the revi
val of the membership to a large extent, and
a deep seriousness upon very many in the
community. There were several earnest
penitents at this Church. We had no addi
tion, as the door of the Church was not open
ed for the reception of members. There
may be some at a future day, as an addi
tional good growing out of the meeting.
Next in order was Post Oak Church. Here
God was present, blessing many, and others
came forward for prayer. From this place
we went to Lee’s Chapel, holding five days.
It was a gracious meeting to a large per
centage of the membership, one accession,
four or five asking, “ what shall we do ?"
Last Sunday week, at Bethel, the Lord in
dicated His willingness to save the people ;
so we patiently waited upon Him, and sure
enough “ the fulness of the blessing of the
Gospel of Christ ” was ours. Many shout
ed, while others wept and cried out for mer
cy. At this church ten were received—eight
on profession of faith, two bv certificate,
and four children baptized. How shall we
be sufficiently thankful? “What shall we
render to the Lord for all His benefits ?” —
but to .“take the cup of salvation and call
upon the name of the Lord.”
Dr. J. R. Cravens, a local minister, did
good preaching, earnest, praying, all of which
was owned of God. Brother Baget, a lay
man, did good work. Brother 11. J. Evans
was with us one day and night, and did ear
nest work. Pray for the prosperity of /ion.
W. L. Wootten, Jr.
Ringgold, September 4, 1877.
A CONGREGATION MOVED TO TEARS.
Not by a sermon, Mr. Editor, but on this
wise : Just before the 10 o’clock sermon,
on Tuesday, at “Buck Creek” camp-meet
ing, Bro. Jno. W. Jordan, after making a
few remarks touching the great work being
done by our Orphans' Home, stepped from
the pulpit, and gathered up in his arms a
sweet little girl, an orphan from the “Home,”
and held her up before the congregation.
The effect was simply indescribable. If there
was a dry eye in that vast congregation I
failed to see it.
When the people hear how God has blesß
ed the enterprise, and are informed of the
great good being accomplished by the agent,
our dear brother Payne, they are anxious to
assist. Let the Orphan Homes’ be remem
bered and labored for by every preacher un
til Conference. T. T. Christian.
Wrigiitsvii.le Circuit, Sooth Georgia
Conference. —Rev. J. B. Purvis writes Sept.
Ist: This entire work is in a good spiritual
condition. I have held five protracted meet
ings ; at each great good was accomplished,
the entire membership being graciously re
vived. Many who had been in the Church
for years without religion were soundly con
verted ; twenty-seven have joined ; and old
gray haired fathers, who have never prayed
in their families, have erected the family
altar. Truly the good Lord is with us in
power. He has been good to us in every
way, both spiritually and temporarily. He
has blessed our fields with good crops of
corn. Suffer me to say, just here, that, lam
not surprised at such temporal blessings,
when brethren and friends are so kind to
their pastor—it is only fpr them
what he wants, and they will stop their plows,
shut their Btores or offices, and go to his re
lief. Wrightsville circuit is certainly a de
lightful work. Though there are eleven
churches, I have six protracted meetings yet
to hold. Pray for us. I have ns good co
laborers as I ever saw —the local brethren
are always ready.
Cusseta Circuit Camp Meeting. —Rev.
It. J. Walker writes, August 28, of this
meeting: It closed Sunday night the 2fith
instant. God came in convicting and con
verting power, and the membership were
greatly revived. Prayer and class-meetings
proved seasons of grace and power to many
hearts. Many who were lukewarm and
backslidden were reclaimed, and there were
several accessions. Many camped on the
ground, and the congregations increased
daily. Sunday afternoon it was decided by
a unanimous vote to establish the camp
meeting here permanently—the next meet
ing to embrace the third Sunday in August,
1878. God blessed the meeting, and we be
lieve that scores will tent next year. We
had no ministerial aid until Sunday at 11
o’clock, when brother Hare, a local preacher
from Buena Vista, came np and preached
for us. Such a harvest and so few laborers I
A revival influence pervades our entire cir
cuit. We are having good meetings, and
many valuable accessions. I go to Red
Bone camp meeting next week. Pray for
us.
Nokcross Circuit, North Georgia
Conference. —Brother L. H. Jones writes
September 3 : We have had a most glo
rious revival at Prospect Church which
was conducted by our worthy pastor, brother
Lampkin, assisted by brother Rogers, of the
Flowery Branch Circuit, aud brother Hol
brook, a local preacher of this vicinity. The
meeting commenced August 23, and contin
ued for nine days, during which lime the
membership were greatly blessed. There
were eighteen conversions, aud twenty-one
accessions to the Church. Several of them
were Sunday-school scholars. On Tuesday,
August 28, Rev. W. A, Dodge preached the
funeral sermon of our deceased brother, J.
B. Davidson, and also of his daughter. He
preached clearly and forcibly as he usually
does, held forth the great necessity of all
becoming Christians, and gave the life of
brother Davidson as an example of its bene
fits.
Gainesville Station, Florida Confer
ence.—Rev. S. B. Smitteel wriies, August
27th: We have ju-t closed an interesting
meeting of two weeks continuance, during
the progress of which sinners were awakened
and several professed conversion. Nine pro
mising young persons connected themselves
with our branch of the Church, and the mem
bership was revived and encouraged. Bro.
McKollson, a local elder from Clear
Fla., did most of the preaching. Bfb.
of Monticello station, preached some good
sermons; as did Bros. Dodd and Myers, local
brethren. We all felt that the Lord was with
us. Since Conference nineteen members
have been received, most of them on profes
sion of faith—a few by letter.
Micanopy, Florida.— Rev. R. H. Bar
nett writes: “My letter represented the
District Conference as held at Gainesville
instead of Micanopy. fam not sure whether
this was <ny mistake or not. The meeting
was at Micanopy. It continued some time
after my letter was written. • Twenty four
were added to the Church and nearly that
number happily converted. We have organ*
ized a Young Men’s Christian Association
which has commenced its work with encour
aging promise. This section of our country
certainly has a bright future, and I am grate*
ful to believe, that in view of this the Church
realizes its responsibility. May the Lord
keep and increase her in that faith that
works."