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146 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."