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154
jSonttem Christian Jbfotak
M ACON, GEORGIA,SEPTEM BER 25,1877
UNBROTHERLY SNEERS.
[We had clipped the tollowing paragraph
from Zion's Ihrald with the purpose of
making it the text for an editorial on the
line pursued by our Editorial Correspon
dent. His article coming to hand in time
tor this issue, and meeting the case so fully,
supersedes the necessity for ours, and we
therefore very cheerfully substitute it for our
own. — Editor.]
This is Dr. Peirce’s “unbrotherly sneer”:
“Bishop Marvin, of the Church South, in
his late epeech before the British Confer
ence, gave an appreciative and glowing ac
count of Southern Methodism, especially of
its mission work. He spoke hopefaily and
beautifully of the efforts of his Church for
the salvation of the heathen found among
the Indians, the Mexicans, the Germans,
the Brazilians, and the Chinese. But in a
speech otherwise so excellent, there is one
notable omisiion. While telling of a zeal
urging them to the world’s end to rescue the
souls of barbarians, he made no mention of
their missions among the five millions of
colored men in the South itself, of whom even
General Toombs made such eloquent men
tion in the Georgia Constitutional Conven
tion. How happened the Bishop to forget
this important section of the work? Was it
because he had been bo long out of the
country? or did he not happen to have the
statistics at hand? We would humbly sug
gest that someone of the Southern editors
iirnish the statistics of this interesting part
of their mission field for publication in con
nection with the Bishop’s speech. Every
body should be glad to see that side, of the
picture filled out.”
At the close of 1860 there were 207,766
negroes in the communion of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South. They were served
by hundreds of our best men, and at an ex
pense, to the white people, of thousands
upon thousands of dollars. We take 1860
as our starting-point, because there were no
complete Minutes of our Church during the
war. The point to make on these facts is
this: While the Church, South, had oppor
tunity to furnish the negroes of the South
with the Gospel, she did it. Moreover, we
venture to say, with no small opportunity
for reaching a conclusion, the negroes had a
purer Gospel at the hands of these Southern
Methodist preachers than they have ever had
since.
During the past few weeks there has been,
in certain quarters, anew out break of
sneers and criticism directed at the Church,
South, in the matter of its relation to the
evangelization of the Southern negroes.
Even the gentlemanly, and generally just
Editor of Zion's Herald, the Rev. Dr.
Peirce, forgets his manners and his charity
in a recent issue. Commenting on Bishop
Marvin’s address to the British Conference,
Dr. Peirce twits the Bishop and the Church
he represents, in expressing mock regrets
that the Bishop, while detailing to the Con
ference the Foreign Mission work of South
ern Methodism, omitted to tell our Wesleyan
brethren of the great work we are doing for
the negroes at our doors. We wish to say
to Dr. Peirce that this is not simply bad
manners, but bad morals. It is slander, in
that it suppresses the truth of past history,
aud fails to even intimate the truth as to
current aud recent events. If the world de
pended on the utterances of the Herald ed
itor for information on the subject in hand,
the glorious and blessed work of our Church
for the salvation of the negroes would be
unknown. And Dr. Peirce is not so ignor
ant of the Church, South, as to be unin
formed on this subject.
If he shall excuse himself by saying his
irony is directed only at the present state of
things, we have to answer, that common
justice and honor required him either to
keep silence, or else to tell his readers why
the SouthernAMethodist Church is nots, at
this time, engaged directly/in the work of
home missions among ihtr 1
knows the fwts he Iras, nrver so fftr as we
have seen, thought fit to state them. If he
does not know them he should confine his
editorials to subjects that he understands.
The Independent, which has a remarkable
gift for pronouneiug oracularly on subjects
it has not investigated, has quite recently set
itself up as a critic of the Chuich, South.
Commenting on Dr. Hargrove’s late article
in the New York Methodist, reviewing the
last Annual Report of the Freedmen’s Aid
Society, the Independent says:
The Church, South, was therefore doing a
good work among the colored people before
the war. But what are they doing for them
now ? Five or six years ago those of the
200.000 colored members who still remained
in the Church, South, were pushed off with
a separate organization; and if anything is
being done for them, or for the millions of
negroes who are living in ignorance and deg
radation, it has escaped our notice.
We quote such utterances not with the
hope of opening the eyes of the wilfully
blind. There i3 perhaps no hope. Such
papers as the Independent are past hope.
They never miss a chance to send an arrow
at the South. And the Methodist Church,
South, receives their special attention when
anything unmannerly is to be said. And it
has grown into a habit with them. Light
only intensifies the blindness of prejudice.
But our people should know what these
people think, and what these people say. It
is not in the interests of true peace and fra
ternity to sit silent forever under their mis
representations. Silence under slander may
help to patch up a peace; it does not foster
genuine fraternity. We, for our part, are
truly and earnestly in favor of fraternity
with our Northern brethren, but we love
them too well to keep silent when the knowl
edge of the truth might do them good. If
it is not knowledge that such papers and
people need, it is grace. And if we cannot
instruct, we can at least exhort them.
The Independent says, “ pushed off into
another organization.” This is the Inde
pendent's account of the organization of
“ The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church
in America”—an account, utterly and abso
lutely false. Possibly the Independent knows
no better. The ignorance of the Independ
ent and of the papers of its class is mar
vellous and past finding out. But there is
another point upon which the Herald, the
Independent, and other such oracles, need
inform ,tiou. For we must believe—charity
compelling us —they do not know. Why did
the surrender of the Southern armies and
the collapse of the Confederate cause estop,
to a large extent, the work of the Church,
South, among the negroes? We answer—
with a full understanding of the matter —for
our residence and ministerial work was in
the very midst of these reviled and slandered
people—the Church, South, was pushed
aside and pushed out of its work among the
negroes by carpet-bag politicians and North
ern Methodist missionaries. How was it
done? By appealing to the prejudice, the
ignorance, and the fears of the newly-eman
cipated negroes. The Church, South, was
denounced to these negroes as a pro slavery
Church. The negroes were told that the
Church, South, would attempt to re enslave
them. We are not guessing in these state
ments. Thousands in the Southern States
can confirm every word we have said. If it
were not impolite—in these days of ‘‘formal
fraternity”—we could give names—many
names —of white men in the pay and employ
ment of the Missionary Society of the M.
E. Church, who said, time and again, all
these and worse things to the negroes. We
affirm most positively that these white men,
working with the Republican party and
many of them n the employment of the
Mission Board of the M. E. Church, made
every possible appeal to the ignorance and
prejudice of the negroes ; incited every pas
sion of hate or revenge calculated to alien
ate them from their old masters, to get them
out of the Church, South, and to keep them
from the Democrats.
Moreover, we affirm that hundreds of
churches built and paid for by white South
ern Methodists ere used, whenever they
were wanted, for several years after the war
for Union League Meetings, in which hatred
of the whites was kindled into a blaze that,
but for the conservative power of the pure
Gospel the Southern Churches gave them
before the war, would have flamed into a
conflagration.
In this state of things the Church, South,
was powerless—a state of things those pa
pers that employ themselves in ill timed
sneers would do well to study.
We conclude this article with an incident
that may “point a moral,” if it does not
“adorn a tale.” We tell it for the especial en
lightenment of Zion's Herald , Dr. Fowler,
Dr. Rust, and the Board of Missions of the
M. E. Church: Last November, when it
was believed that Mr. Tilden was elected
President of the United States, there was
very natural rejoicing among the Democrats.
There was, we must confess, some pleasure
manifested by the Democrats in the little
College town where we live. Our old col
ored nurse, noticing the gladness of the
Democrats, said to one of our family, that
she believed if Mr. Tilden was elected the
negroes would be “ put back into slavery.”
What was the origin of this fear ? The per
sistent declarations that followed! the war,
and that have not, to this day, altogether
ceased. The special point iu this connection
we invite the parties above named to con
sider is, that in the Church in this village
occupied by the Methodist Episcopal Church
built by the Freedmen’s Aid Society of
that Church —served by a preacher appoint
ed and sustained by that Church, there was
held a political night-meeting, harangued by
a county politician—a white Republican—
who appealed to the prejudices and fears of
the negroes, just as the same class of men
did the first year after the war.
Now we ask, does Dr. Rust’s society col
lect money to build churches that may be
used for political harangues, religious meet
ings, and day schools, with equal facility ?
Does the M. E. Church contribute missiona
ry money with these mixed and miscellane
ous ends in view? It may be said, this in
cident and these questions are irrelevant.
They are relevant, because the incident illus
trates the method and influences that es
topped the Church, South, from her work
among the negroes. The questions—possi
bly impertinent—are both relevant and im
portant, for they suggest an inquiry the M.
E. Church must, by-and by, consider and
answer—Whether, after all the noise that is
made about it, she is using quite judiciously
her missionary money that is being expend
ed here in the South —where there are more
communicants, in proportion to the popula
tion, than in any other section of the United
States ? To be sure it is their missionary
money—unless it be the Lord's —but we
could wish it were better used. H.
SUPER-SENSITIVE.
A correspondent of one of our Northern
Methodist exchanges is moved with indigna
tion, or some stronger emotion, because Bish
op Marvin in his address to the British Confer
ence, for the evident purpose of easily discrim
inating to his hearers the two great branches
of American Episcopal Methodism, suffixed
“North” to M. E. Church. Surely this irate
brother must be as morbidly sensitive as he is
meanly suspicious in construing the use of a
word whose motive waß so patent, into an in
tentional sluror wanton insult. Had the Bish
op indulged any disparaging sentiment with
regard to the M. E. Church, there would be
some color of reason for such *u out-gush of
pioiiPresentment. But as his address shows
no such blemish, we can oily pity the poor
brother’s impotent rage, as we conclude that
it must have been born of a galling dissatis
faction that Southern Methodism, for once,
through a representitive officer, had the ear
of the Wesleyan Conference. Bishop Mar
vin is too cultivated and Christian to indulge
a covert insult, as he is too manly and sensi
ble to defer to a puerile affectation when his
aim is to be intelligible. It may be just as
well to say in this connection that Southern
Methodists often find it convenient to use
“North” just as Bishop Marvin used it when
addressing the British Conference, and while
there is no purpose of either insult or irrita
tion to our brethren of that section, we ex
pect to continue consulting in this way our
convenience and the claims of unambiguous
speech.
FERNANDIXA.
Most of our readers, doubtless, have
learned from the sscular press of the pres
ence of Yellow Fever in this beautiful island
city. For a time it was hoped—especially
as this place has hitherto escaped this scourge
and there was no Yellow Fever in places
usually visited by it —that the prevailing
sickness was some other and less dreaded
disease. Later developments, however, have
confirmed the fears of the people, and dem
onstrated the fact that veritable Yellow Fe
ver is there, and that it is epidemic. There
have been quite a number of deaths from the
disease, and a large part of the population
are prostrated with it. The following note
from the Rev. U. S. Bird, our pastor there,
dated September 18, conveys the latest pri
vate intelligence we have received. We
sincerely hope that our brother may escape,
and that the scourge may be of short dura
tion :
The sickness prevails in every part of
town, but the doctors think it is putting on a
milder type. It shows a tendency to assume
the paroxysmal form. Among those whose
condition is critical are Dr. Palmer, Mr
Denham, and brother Brounson. There
were four death yesterday by yellow fever.
Money and provisions coming in. We have
three doctors from Savannah and six skilled
nurses. I keep going.
Mortuary. —The Western Methodist an
nounces tha death, on the 28th of August, of
Rev. H. H. Burns, of the Memphis Confer
ence, who has long been in feeble health,
and for several years has sustained the rela
tion to the Conference of a superannuate.
‘‘ln the days of his strength he was a most
effective and useful traveling preacher, and
to the last wielded a commanding influence
among men. A man of noble spirit, of deep
piety, and gifted as a preacher, after life’s
labors and sufferings, he now enjoys a rich
and glorious inheritance.”
The same paper informs us of the death at
Camden, Arkansas, on the same date, of Rev.
Robert B. Allston, of the Little Rock Con
ference. This intelligence will be received
with deep sorrow by very many in South
Carolina, where Bro. Allston was born,
where he labored zealously and efficiently for
several years, and where he left a fragrant
memory when, hoping to recover his failing
health, he transferred to a western Confer
ence. A devout Christian, a faithful and
fearless ambassador of his Lord, ‘‘passing
away in great peace” he has doubtless en
tered upon a rich reward.
Complimentary. —We are under obliga
tions to the Phi Gamma Society of Emory
College for an invitation to attend the anni
versary exercises of the Society, held on the
22nd instant. The address was to be deliv
ered by Mr. Walter J. Harris, of Griffin,
whom we would have enjoyed hearing had
it been practicable.
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
MORE LIGHT WANTED.
Bro Kennedy: In the Advocate of Sep
tember 11th, I notice a “question” in ref
erence to reception of members by local
preachers “ without the knowledge consent,
or cooperation of the preacher in charge.”
Your “opinion” is that the local preacher
has no right to rece've them “except as au
thorized by the preacher in charge.” I wish
to ask a few questions, which, please answer
through the Advocate for the special benefit
of local preachers. I suppose that all preach
ers in out Church, properly authorized, have
the same commission from on high, and
from the Church. The object of preaching
is the conversion of sinners, and the “recep
tion of them into the Church.” If the local
has the same Divine call of the preacher in
charge and “Power from on high” attends
his ministry, and sinners are converted, and
wish to become members of the Church, then
and there,what pr w,>rin theCburch can forbid
it, afterhaving given him such credentials, as
he has, and told him in the Discipline of the
Church he shall “receive members into the
Church when expedient,'' send report to preach
er in charge to be placed under his pastoral
care?
Has not the local preacher the right to
have appointments, and if he be moved by
the Good Spirit, to continue the services for
a week or more when the people desire it.
and if the preacher in charge cannot attend
the meeting, or refuses to do so, is it not
“expedient" and ••legal” for the local
preacher to receive the members, and report
to him according to Discipline? When
members have been thus recieved, are they
not bona fide members of the Church, with
out further reception by the preacher in
charge ?
Wno is to judge as to whether it is “ ex
pedient” for a local preacher to receive the
persons converted at his meeting, if the
preacher iu charge cannot, or will not, be
there ?
Is it not presumable that local preachers
have intelligence and religion enough, with
the help of the membership of the Church,
to decide in reference to the worthiness of
candidates for reception ?
If the line of procedure indicated by the
above questions can be restrained without
conflict with the credentials of the local
preacher, and the operations of the Holy
Spirit, tell me how, and oblige
Yours truly, John D. Clark.
Cuthbert, Ga., Sept. 15, 1877.
Our “opinion,” referred to in the above
communication, covered pretty fully what we
understand to be the law of the Church on the
point inquired of, and we do not know that
we can meet the demand of our respected
correspondent for “more light.” Whatever
difficulties, actual or hypothetical, may beset
a strict adherence to the law as laid down in
the Discipline, would enter very pertinently
into a discussion of what the law should he ;
but they have no place in deciding what the
existing law is. The opinion of the Advo
cate, bo our correspondent will remember,
was invoked and given, upon the law as it
now stands in the Book of Discipline. It
may be, as brother Clark thinks, that the
local preachers ought to have the right
“to receive members into the Church, at a
regular appointment of the preacher in
charge, without his knowledge, consent,
or co-operation,” when in their judgment
it is “expedient” to do so. This is not
the question upon which we gave an opin
ion, nor do we propose to discuss it. But
unless we totally misapprehend the mean
ing of words, the law of the Church, so far
from investing the local ministry with the
right to receive members into the Church,
distinctly denies that this is a function of
their office, by specifying the conditions upon
which authority to do so, may be delegated
to them by the preacher in charge. The ar
rangement—a wise one we think—is in the
interest of Church order, and implies no im
peachment of either the intelligence or piety
of local preachers. The preacher in charge
has the same “commission from on high and
from the Church” that a Bishop has, but
there are certain prerogatives entrusted to
the latter which are withheld from the for
mer, without disparagement to his Christian
or ministerial standing; and it would be
just as seemly for preachars-in-charge to
pfeiyorm offices reserved id, the Bishops, as
local preacher--\jve into
the Church “ knowledge, con
sent, or co-operation of the preacher-in
charge.” There aie occasions, when the anx
iety of individuals would be gratified, and
perhaps the interests of the Church immedi
diately involved would be promoted by a
preacher in charge performing the office of
ordination; but it has been deemed wisest
an I best in our economy to restrict this work
to the Bishops, and any temporary or local
advantages resulting from overriding this
provision of the Discipline would poorly
compensate for the general disorder and
damage to which it would be likely to lead.
Whatever room for debate there may be as
to who is intended by the law to decide upon
the “expediency ” of a local preacher’s re
ceiving members into the Church in congre
gations he has built up outside of any pasto
toral charge; there is, there can be, none,
it seems to us, as to “ a regular appointment
of the preacher in-charge.” If he is indo
lently or contumaciously derelict in duty,
and the cause suffers from his course, there
is a court to which he is amenable and before
which he should be arraigned; but no short
comings or faults of the preacher-in-charge
can justify—however worthy the motive—
the usurpation by others of functions not
conferred by the Discipline. But the Advo
cate has no authority to settle these ques
tions. Wherever there is a difference of
opinion upon these points ripening into a
conflict of jurisdiction, if there be such any
where, the Quarterly Conference, with the
law officer of the Church presiding, is access
ible for an authoritative adjudication of the
controversy, and to such tribunal we respect
fully suggest its reference, as the shortest,
and only satisfactory method of settlement.
Columbia Female College. —We are in
receipt of the Catalogue of this institution,
for the session which closed with June 1877,
from which we infer that it is once more on
the high road to its pristine prosperity. Dur
ing the past session t here have been 99 pupils
in the Literary and Kindergarten Depart
ments, and 23 in the department of Physical
Culture who are not otherwise connected
with the College, making a total of 122 pupils
in attendance upon the institution. President
Jones, who has the cooperation of a full
Faculty, has introduced, and is conducting
successfully, several new features, not hith
erto prosecuted in Southern Female Colleges.
The Columbia Female College is admirably
located, well officered, and presents to South
Carolina Methodists the very best advantages
for their daughters. Its spacious and ele
gant building ought to be crowded with pu
pils. We commend it to our people, and
hope to hear that the Fall Session, beginning
on the 27th of September, has opened with a
large increase.
Dr. Hargrove’s Article. —We publish
on our first page this article, copied from the
New York Methodist, which is both instruc
tive and interesting. It is proper to state
in connection with the note which precedes
the article, that after the outside of this
paper had been printed, the New York Ad
vocate, the leading official Journal of the M.
E. Church, came to hand with the long-de
layed article. We are glad that it goes be
fore that Church, through its main official
channel, and do not apprehend that its force
will be seriously impaired either by the tar
diness of its appearance, or the editorial
comment of Dr. Fowler.
Personal. —We are gratified to learn that
our young friend Mr. James C. Hinton, son
of Rev. J. W. Hinton, has been ehosen as prin
cipal of the high school at Camilla, Ga., and
has entered upon the duties of the position.
Mr. H. graduated with marked distinction at
the University of Georgia during Rhe sum
mer just past, and is fortunate
thus promptly so eligible a
sessed as he is of intellectual, dncational,
and religiouß endowments, of 1 -, very high
order, we predict for him distinguuheu-uc
cess as a teacher and trainer of youthmd
breathe our very best wishes upon his Ifcnch
on the sea of life. \
Bereavement. —A note from i*v. I E.
L. Timmons, of Cave Spring, JBHftted
Sept. 19th bears to us the
that his venerated father, Rev
mons, die! at 2 a. m., of
instant. Brother Timmons was dpi* nearly
seventy-nine years, and for forty yiffe had
been a faithful local preacher,
away in holy triumph,” and resting om his
labors now reaps the reward of Is well
spent life. May the sorrowing S' vivors,
when called away, be ready to joi him in
the better home on high. We are romised
a suitable obituary for the ADVOCiE in due
time.
“Wild Lands.” —Special attentiiP- direct
ed to the advertisement of Rev. EL -lAdams,
Treasurer of the North Georgia C*kference,
which appears in the column oqChurch
notices for that Conference. The-uroceeds
of sale of these lands would be vfy helpful
just now; and all interested woultfio well to
consult the parties named in the mtice as
agents for selling them.
OUR OCTOBER MONTHS IS.
The Atlantic Monthly, Boston H. O.
Houghton & Cos. $4 per year.
The Qaeeu of Sheba,
Procession of Flowers Iu .CM :
Memoriam; A Night in St. Pewu 1 ; Crude
and Curious Inventions at the Cerjfunial Ex
position, VI. ; Ten Years In Ea| English;
Some Rambling Notes of An Me Excur
sion, I; A Willow Tree ; A Coun|rfeit Pre
sentment; Old-Fashioned Ghoe Stories;
Crickets; Echoes from an old Isrsonage ;
My Love ; Song ; The Contributes Club ;
Recent Literature.
Lippincott's Magazine. Phila-glphta: J.
B. Lippincott & Cos. $4 a yea.
Chester and the Dee; For AnotHf- Among
the Kabyles; “For Percival," I—11; Abbeys
and Castles; Little Lizay; The l*ss of the
Potomac; The Chysalis of a Boaworm; A
Law Unto Herself, X-XIII; Alfrd De Mus
set; The Bee; “Our Jook;” Comnunism In
The United States; Our Monthy Gossip;
Literature Of The Day.
The Galaxy for October is a lumber of
unusual interest, and contains seeral note
worthy articles, among which men
tioned “ The Tariff and the Hard Times,”
by Horace White ; “Forrest, frot. an Ac
tor’s Point of View,” by Lawrencjnrrett;
a chapter on “ President Lincol#Krd min
istration, giving Mr. Lincoln’s of col
onization as an accompaniment to emanci
patiou,” by Hon. Gideon Welles,*6te Secre
tary of the Navy ; “The Planet jars,” by
Captain Raymond of the Unitfd States
Corps of Engineers, who was oie of the
transit of Venus expedition ; an Article by
Captain E. Simpson, United Stttes navy,
“On Modern Naval Warfare;” A striking
story by Tourgeneff. The abovi articles,
with the departments, make up a very bril
liant number.
HORSE RACING AT THE (EORGIA
FAIlt.
The Georgia Agricultural Socioi* holds its
Annual Fair in Atlanta, in Octo%r next.
It should be a grand occasion. GSorgia is
a great State with large and diversified re
sources. The products of her fields,
and manufacturers, should be bpught to
gether for the encouragement andJAspection
of the whole people. The manalment has
offered attractive premiums to(B courage
exhibitors.
But if we Jre to judge
the Atlanta Constitution Land
manipulators of the Fair do nr®frn t it in
Georgia productions for the chief merest of
the exhibition, but in imported raA horses.
We have been told by the Consttution—
speaking, doubtless, for the man%ement —
thot without the races the Fair would be a
failure —“or words to that effect.”
We have been assured that a citizen’s
purse of $2,500” would bring the “turf and
stable men,” and thereby insure the huge
success of the occasion. The necessity of
raising this “citizen’s purse,” ias been
urged upon the citizens of Atlan_a, for at
least a month. The President of thp-Asso
ciation, has been represented as lenling the
whole weight of his name and intuence to
the Constitutions exhortations. We are
now informed —with much felicitation of all
concerned —that the “ citizen’s purse of
$2,500,” has been raised. We are not sur
prised at this result. We are, however,
rather disappointed that the work itas been
so difficult. Really, we had suppoied that
there were enough public spirited gamblers
and bar-keepers in Atlanta to hate raised
this small amount of $2,500 in twenty-four
hours. We do not understand thl delay.
Ptrhaps the gamblers, knowing tlijir own
business best, did not regard this rocing at
the Fair as a good thing for them. We do
not venture an opinion aB the subject is out
of our range.
The present status is about this, the suc
cess of the October Fair is assured, , because
there will be racing.
What do the managers mean by success.
A big crowd? If this constitutes success,
they have managed badly. If they had de
voted all their premiums to horse-racing and
had prepared a decent track instead of the
little circular drive in Oglethorpe Park, then
they might bring such a crowd of turf men,
stable men, sporting men, gamblers, pick
pockets, et id omne, as Atlanta never saw
gathered in one place. As to miners, farm
ers, manufacturers, and other useful tttizens,
we suppose that for the most part th|y would
have “ no part or lot in this matter!’
They call this kind ofthing “ entewiijse !”
When Georgia is just beginning A'f'try to
make corn enough for home consumption ;
when Georgia does not even try to iriake her
own bacon ; when Georgia still keeps her
corn cribs and smoke-houses in thet West ;
we must have horse-racing to insure a sue
cessful fair 1 No doubt horse-racing is en
tertaining and “ draws.” But is the gather
ing of a crowd the chief end sought' by the
Georgia Agricultural Association ? Then let
them change their name. They shet'fd call
themselves “ The Georgia Crowd Collec
tors,” “The Georgia Blood Horse Associa
tion,” or something of that sort. What has
horse-racing, what have race horses to do
with agriculture, manufacturing, the real
development of Georgia ? But we will not
argue such a question. No aoubt, it ie easy
to say to us : “It is none of your business.”
But it is our business and the business of
every citizen of Georgia who is really ,j“ j
cerned for the best interests of our grand
Empire State. Some may say, “ The people
who raised this purse for the racers, have a
right to their opinion.” Certainly. And as we
also have a right to our opinion, we the
liberty to say that we think the management
of the Georgia Agricultural Association have
made a very great and harmful mistake in
introducing horse-racing as a feature of their
Annual Exhibition. Moreover, we Relieve
that this horse-racing at the fair will do
Georgia more harm than the whole fyir will
do good.
We regret, in common with hundreds of
its true friends, that the new administration
has thought it necessary to inaugurate * itself
in this way. j H.
Oxford. I
Corrtsptee.
WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF OUR
PUBLISHING HOUSE!
agent's exhibit and book committee’s
STATEMENT.
Mr. Editor : The writer belieyes that the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, should
own a Publishing House, and that it should
be located within its territorial limits—by
which he means south of Mason and Dixon’s
line—if it be possible to conduct a publish
ing house profitably or even safely at the
South. That problem has been, or is about
to be, solved so far as Nashville is concerned.
The matter of interest to us is, can a denom
inational, a Methodist publishing house, live
at the South through prosperous and adverse
times through panics and through hard
times? That is a settled question, a solved
problem, so far as the North is concerned.
The Northern Methodist Book Concern is a
living, an established institution.
The writer has awaited with great interest
the publication of these exhibits of the con
dition of the Publishing House. They are
to be found in the Kashville Advocate of the
Bth inst.
The Agent's Exhibit i3 more full than
usual—yet, it is cause for regret that it is not
ten-fjld more so. The whole Church is ap
pealed to to give money, thousands of dol
lars, to the Agent to assist him in the con
duct of the business of the Publishing
House, and ten columns of figures—news
paper columns are meant —would have been
much more satisfactory than the three fourths
of a column of figures presented by him.
people cannot go to Nashville, and with
the Agent and the Book Cootmittee, go
through cash-book, day-book, and ledger;
through bills receivable and bills payable;
through bond account, and discount, and
interest accounts; nor can they see with them
the condition of th presses, types, fixtures,
stereotype plates, nor the condition and qual
ity of the stock in trade; but much could
be learned that should be known, by greater
explicitness and a full, fiir, pluin, unvar
nished statement of the facts.
For instance, of the “Assets” the Agent’s
Exhibit says: “ Merchandise, $40,408.78,”
without a word of explanation as to whether
this is the invoiced value of the goods when
bought, and the estimated value of the goods
when manufactured ; or whether old stock
has been counted at old stock value, and un
saleable and injured stock has been charged
to profit and loss. Nor does the more elab
orate "Statement” of the Book Committee
throw any light upon this important item.
They repeat the Agent’s figures without
change or redaction so far as this item is
concerned.
Again: The Agent then adds to this item,
“Stereotyped plate account, $76,650.20."
That is, this heavy sum is stereotype-plate
account, i, e., what the plates cost to make
them. What we wish to know is, what is
their present value. The Committee give us
no light here, except, that they “ are regu
larly used ” [all of them?] and are valued
below what if, would cost to reproduce them.
So an old press may be regularly used, and
may be valued below what it would cost to
buy anew one —but all that is very indefi
nite. Seventy-six thousand dollars is a
large item to leave as assets, with no certain
value.
The total assets is said by the Agent to be
$591,820.07. These assets are reduced by
the Committeee to $402,753.26, or nearly
$l9O 000.00. One of these reduced items is
the New Orleans Expository, valued in the
Agent’s Exhibit $85,300.49, and by the
Committee at $40,000.00. This may be all
right. The New Orleans Depository may
not be worth more than $40,000. It may
not be worth that much. But is the Nash
ville ‘House worth the Committee’s
mate ? T.ot boo , l
Exhibit of Assets $591,8#J OT
Less Real Estate 8233,550 12
“ New Orl’nf Depository 85,300 49
“ Nashville Lota 1,600 00
" Cash Account 3,226 57—8323,142 89
Which leaves as Agent’s rated value of
the Publishing House proper, $268,142.89.
By which is meant Agent's estimate of the
value of merchandise, accounts due, engine,
presses, stereotype-plates,types, paper, wood
cute, etc., etc. Now, what reduction is
made by the Committee upon these items?
Agent’s Exhibit. Com. Est.
Merchandise £40,408 78 $40,408 78
Book account 72,546 17 55,305 18
Stereotype plates 76,650 20 76,650 00
“ Foundry 6,400 20 6,400 00
Type accouat and fixtures 11,390 48 11,390 48
Engines, presses and fixtures.. 45,432 72 30,000 00
Paper, sheet-stock, ink, etc.... 3,973 50 3,895 85
Mailing, folding machines, etc 1,425 00 1,000 00
Wood cuts, electrotypes, etc... 4,609 40 4,609 40
N. 0. Depository D. [debt?].... 3,164 44
Furniture in office and safe.... 775 00 500 00
Copyrights 1,367 00 1.367 00
8268,142 89 $231,526 69
A reduction of $36,616.20 from a total
original costof, or face value of, $268,142 89.
New Orleans Depository, $85,300.49. Es
timate, $40,000, or areduction of $45,300.49.
That is a reduction of fifty two per cent, of
the rated value of the New Orleans De
pository, and of but thirteen and one-half
per cent, of the rated value of the book-store,
book-store accounts, and the printing and
book-making outfit of the Publishing House.
Is it probable, is it possible, that the Com
mittee’s estimate can be relied upon by the
Church, and by the next General Confer
ence? Now let us view their estimate in the
light of the value they put upon the other
items of the exhibit’s assets :
Agent’s Exhibit. Com. Est.
Real Estate $233,,550 12 $130,000 00
Nashville Lots 1,600 00 50jl 00
Cash account 3,226 5, 726 5;
$238,376 69 $131,226 57
Here we have a deduction of 44 percent.;
in the New Orleans Depository item of 52
per cent.; but in the Publishing House pro
per, of only 13J per cent, in value. Of the
whole reduction made by the Committee for
“shrinkage ,” amounting to $189,066.84.
$104,650 12 is in real estate, and $45,300.49
in New Orleans Depository ; $2,500.00 in
cash account: or $152,450.61, leaving $36,-
616.20 only for the Publishing and Book
store departments. How much better for
all parties to put the knife to this tree and
prune it, leaving only what bas life in it; or
—to drop figure—is it not best at the time to
give the real valae of the Publishing House,
and all our interests there, even if to do so
it is necessary to use experts in the various
departments ? It would cost a few hundreds
of dollars, but would it not be well expen
ded?
In the next, the writer will review the ex
hibit of profits, and the comparison of the
condition of the Publishing House now, with
its condition when the Agent took charge oi
it. A North Georgian.
Pee Dee Circuit, South Carolina Con
ference. —Rev. I. J. Newberry writes Sept.
15: For the last eight weeks I have been in
revival meetings. At eight of my churches,
great success has attended the preaching of
the word. At each of these meetings souls
have been converted and many added to the
Church. Up to this time 155 have been re
ceived into the Church, a very large propor
tion of whom have professed raligion. We
have three new churches now building which
will be large and comfortable when comple
ted. lam laying plans to have two other
new churches built, and if I can succeed in
this, we will then have comfortable houses
of worship at each appointment. I do not
see the reason why this circuit will not yet
be a very inviting field of labor; it is cer
tainly one of the healthiest parts of the State
I have ever lived in. We have been won
derfully blessed at the parsonage —none of
us have been sick. I never enjoyed better
health in my life —though weeks for height
past I have been working night and day, j
not averaging one rest day in a week. I
start in a few hours to Zoar for a week’s
campaign. Brother L. Wood was with me
at two of my meetings, and preached and
worked like a hero. God blessed his labors
and his soul.
LETTER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
Mr. Editor: I have attended two caotp
meetings lately, one in Lancaster, at Bro.
Chrietzberg’s request, the other in Marlboro,
at the request of Bro. Mitchell and other
friends.
At Salem, Hanging Rock circuit, I met
Bros. Kirton, Murray, Rogers, Stokes, W.
H. Ariail, and Bro. Munnerlyn, irom this
District—a former pastor there.
There were 12 or 14 tents occupied, sever
al families represented in some of them.
You are remembered by many of the good
folks in that section. There is a fire church
building and a large new arbor well built.
The tents are not new or large, I ut I think
there will be an improvement next year.
Congregations were good, and, in most res
pects, well disposed. Tne Suipber Spring,
near by, was the occasion of more disorder
than any other one cause. That might be
regulated and the young folks not hurt. A
word to the wise is sufficient. The preach
ing all through seemed to me to be singular
ly effective, and lam sure much good was
done. Christian experience was deepened,
and widened and made brighter, and there
were some clear, sound, happy conversions.
I left the place with a strong conviction that
it was our duty to establish and maintain
camp meetings in all our borders. I was
unexpectedly induced to revisit our mutual
friends in good old Marlboro. Bro. Porter
and I urged the people there to begin a
camp meeting iu 1871, and there was no! a
spontaneous movement as to the locality—
Pine Grove —nor as to the uulicy of return
ing to camp meetings. We ye. succeeded
in getting about a dozen touts, and by 1873
we had a respectable arbor, and several
very successful meetings have been held.
I went by Charlotte and Laurinburg North
Carolina, and reached the camp ground in
time for the second service, mid was there
four days. The veteran presiding elder of
our Conference was on hand and still knows
how to order the battle. With him were L.
Scarboro, J. M. Carlisle, Thos. Mitchell,
G.fcT. Harmon, J. L. Stokes. ,T. C. Davis
and Thos. Gilbert, itinerants, and Sweet,
the two Breedens, and Bro. Smith of the
local ranks. Two or three tents were un
occupied ; though several were very full. Con
gregationa were large, and attention, for the
greater part of the time, very good. Water
was scarce—only two wells —and too much
watering of stock ; though a mill-pond, on a
running stream, was only a quarter of a mile
away. This, it is to be hoped, will be cor
rected and regulated in the near future. The
preaching was in a great measure “in de
monstration of the Spirit and in power.”
We also had some good exhorting, and not a
little of good singing. There was much
Christian enjoyment, and many penitents,
and some unmistakable conversions. There
had been a gracious revival at, a place not
far from the camp ground, and the good in
fluences were seen in the spirit of the ser
vices from the begining. There was much
enjoyment among the preachers in their very
comfortable quarters, and day and night the
peaches and mellons failed not. O, sir,
Marlboro is a goodly land for earthly things.
One of the great benefits of camp meeting
is to be found in ministerial fellowship. We
hear each other preach, and, mind and heart
alike become magnetized, and we are
friends, like David and Jonathan, forever
thereafter ; and so with the people, they get
acquainted, they sit together, walk and talk
together at their leisure, and do this under
tk- ——- — l- ! - : ;Bnninßtanc6B, and thus
from the whole circuit and surrounGing re
giona, tho Ajellog is aroused)
intensified, and moved to enterprize, and
confidence, and hope. And sir, there is
scarcely any more danger to the stuff at home
than there was before the war. If we will
make sacrifices for the cause of God, we can
not lose by it unless all the promises fail.
Centenary, and Buck Swamp, in Marion,
and The Gully, in Darlington, and Mt. Beth
el, in Laurens, all are in proof of what I say.
There should be three or four in every Dis
trict; let them be well located, let them be
well regulated, incorporated, and keep the
people from trying to entertain everybody at
their tents, and require of all comers and
goers uniform observance of several simple,
but necessary rules of politeness and self
denial, and there is no reason why these
feasts of tabernacles might not regain all
their old time power, as the right arm of
Methodistic Evangelical prowess and ag
gression on the unnutilized material in the
land—as well as for the improvement in the
spirit and style of our preaching, and har
mouizing, and improving our customs and
habits, as a denomination of Christians —
camp grounds need to be changed or moved
just as we need to move and rebuild our
church houses. lam sure these two meet
ings have largely benefitted the writer.
Yours trnly, J. W. K.
MARION DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA
CONFLUENCE.
Mr. Editor: What reason there is for
thankfulness throughout our bounds that
God has in His providence favored us with a
full summer harvest, and a fair autumn gath
ering already on hand. In view of this state
of things, I wish to address some words to
my brethren and friends, which I can not
utter from pulpit or floor opportunely, and
therefore seek to reach all through the press.
1. “Honor the Lord with thy substance,
and with the first fruits of all thine increase:
so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and
thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
(Prov. iii. 9, 10.) Dr. Clarke says: “This
u minchah, or gratitude offering to God,
commanded under the law [of Moses], is of
endless obligation.”—“With thy substance”
with all your investments, in farming or
otherwise, and with all their results, “honor
the Lord.” In bestowments, honor Him
“with th e first fruits of all their increase” —
selected, first and best.
2. ‘‘So shall thy barns be filled,” etc.—
Prosperity shall be yours. Did you ever
know a man who put God on the trial of His
truth on the condition which He here lays
down? Will you be bold to try the case libe
rally for a series of years?—honoring God in
this very action of trust.
Or, if you prefer New Testament teaching,
attend: “Upon the first day of the week
(Sunday) let every one of you lay by him in
store, as God hath prospered him, that there
be no gatherings when I come.”—“First day
of the week”—a religious duty: statedly—
weekly, monthly, quarterly; the more fre
quently, the more easily done, as a general
rule at least. “As Godhath prospered him”
here is the rule; referred to his own honor,
his own sense of justice and mercy as a Chris
tian.
See, again:— l make known unto you “the
grace of God bestowed on the churches of
Macedonia; how that in a great trial of af
fliction, the abundance of their joy and their
deep poverty abounded unto the riches of
their liberality. For to their power, I bear
record, yea and beyond their power, they
were willing of themselves* praying us with
much entreaty that we would receive the
gift,” etc. (2 Cor. viii. 1, 4) —Here, their
rule, voluntarily adopted, was their ability,
and they went even beyond this to meet an
emergency. Who now attains, or even as
pires to such kindness, charity, effort ? The
apostle continues (v. 7): “Therefore, as ye
[Corinthians] abound in all things, in faith,
and utterance, tetc.,) see that ye abound in
this grace also.” And he enforces the whole
by the example of our good and loving Ex"
emplar (v. 9): “For ye know the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was
rich, yet for your sakes He became poor,
that ye through His poverty might, be rich!”
And, now, brethren and friends, in view
of all God's goodness to you in your mate
rial concerns, and in your spiritual interests,
(for in this latter respect in many places, if
not in all, great has been the goodness of
our Lord,) 1 beseech you, I implore yon, by
every earthly and heavenly consideration,
meet tbe claims on you in your Church rela
tions, as men, women, and children f-aring
G id, honoring Him in your whole being and
doing, trusting in H:s grace and prorideuce,
and preparing to “stand before His presence
with exceeding joy” at last.
To ail of you, “Grace, mercy, and peace,
from God our Father and Jesus Christ our
Lord.” H. A. C. Walker.
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
REV. OLIVER EAIIY.
Dear Bro. Kennedy: You have learned
before this of the death of our Presiding
Elder, Brother O. Eady. I simply write at
this time to give some account of his last
public service rendered the Church on earth.
Ours was his last quarterly meeting on his
third round, and was held at St,. John’s
Church, on the 25t,h and 26th of August. He
was promptly at his place on Saturday morn
ing and preached from the text: “ That men
ought always to pray, and not to faint,.—Luke
18:1. He seemad to be in excellent spirits
and preached, I thought,, with more than
ordinary eas-. His enjoyment, ot religion
was evidently great, as he, with others, had
received a fresh baptism of the Holy Ghost
upon Sunday night of our District Confer
ence. In our Quarterly Conference, we had
somewhat of a “stormy” time, but he, in
the spirit of his Master, tried to control and
direct everything by the power of love. At
night be preached upon the state of the
righteous dead when this tabernacle be die
solved. His remarks were founded upon a
few verses of 6t,h chapter 2d Corinthians.
But his last sermon on earth was upon Sun
day morning from the text: “ And we know
that all things work together for good to
them that love God.”—Rom. 9 : 28. Nat
ural science seemed to he his fort, and he
presented, with peculiar force, the design of
God in nature. How all things here worked
together for good, and as in His works which
are seen, so in His providencee He makes
all things work together for good to them
that love him. The only question we had to
settle, was our love to Him ; that being set
tled, all things else were destined for our
good. On Monday, when I asked him if
certain things should fall out to him could
he know the doctrine to be true? He re
plied “ Certainly : the word is true.”
The seed he sowed that day produced fruit
before the close of the week, for during the
protracted seryices following, several souls
sought to know Godin an experience oflove.
We parted on Monday ; he would reach
his home, near Adamsville, on Tuesday ; on
Wednesday he was taken sick, and died on
the following Wednesday, September sth.
I have no doubt his constant labor upon his
district hastened his death. He was travel
ing most of his time, and being much ex
posed to the excessively hot sun we have had
this summer, brought on common malarial
fever of this climate, from which he had
been suffering for some weeks, and this de
veloped into brain fever. I have not heard
a word of how he died, but I do know some
thing of his life. A purer and more exem
plary man, I have never been associated
with, He was devoted to his work, and was
..succeeding tmely the interests
Af --- uistrict to wmenne was assigned
last Conference.
/ He has done his work ; will never answ<*'
to “roll call” at anothor Conference on
earth. He has answered to the call in
heaven. He rests from his “ loved employ.”
Peace to his ashes ; heaven’s richest bless
ings upon his stricken family.
A. A. P. Neel.
Ocala, Fla,, Sept. 14, 1877.
LEXINGTON FORK CIRCUIT, SOUTH
CAROLINA CONFERENCE.
Dear Brother Kennedy : The revival at
Shady Grove will soon be forgotten by your
readers, but it will never drop out of the
memory of those who were soundly con
vested during its progress, nor of thetwe ve
who during that time of refreshing from the
presence of the Lord claimed their place in
the Church of God. Fifty years to come
some of these may be in a love feast which
like the one which characterized the Shady
Grove revival, shall be exceedingly precious,
and from that may point back to this meeting
as the time when God for Christ’s sake con
verted their "ouls. A solemn scene was the
altar when mourners were kneeling around
it; a joyous scene was the same altar when
some of the mourners were converted and
were giving praises to God. And through
out that congregation there were lively dis
plays of divine power as men mighty in
prayer were prevailing with God and shout
ings like the noise of many waters were roll
ing up to the throne of God. We closed the
meeting by administering the sacrament to
more than 100 communicants. It had lasted
eight days and seven nights. In the midst of it
we had the co operation of Brothers Hawkins
and Scheely, who both preached effective
sermons. The meeting never flagged in in
terest for a single hour. J. E. Watson.
Sept. 12, 1877.
SPRING HILL CIRCUIT, SOUTH GEOR
GIA CONFERENCE.
Dear Advocate: Good news from the
churches is always profitable in the way of
encouragement to those who are laboring
for the advancement of the Redeemer’s
kingdom. I send an item relative to the
work of grace in the Spring Hill Circuit—
Rev. L. C. Peek, preacher in charge. At
Bsthpage, in that circuit, a very gracious
revival of religion hasbeen recently enjoyed.
The meeting was inaugurated by the Third
Quarterly Conference occasion. The pre
siding elder, brother McGehee, being present
with the pastor, working as he always does
with great zeal and efficiency. On Tuesday
I left this place and went down to render
such help as I could, found the meeting
under full headway, congregations good,
the Church deeply interested and at work,
and many seeking religion. The Holy Spirit
was manifestly present, and the labor of
preaching, singing, and praying, was easy
and fruitful. It was a busy time with the
farmers—the cotton opening very rapidly—
but they had time to attend to the Lord’s
business and God honored the sacrifice and
blessed them abundantly. It was a time of
refreshing, such as they have not enjoyed in
many years. There were fifteen accessions,
among them several of the most prominent
and influential men in the community. Bro.
Peek is greatly beloved by his people, and
“the pleasure of the Lord is prospering in
his hands” —of course he is happy.
Fraternally, J- 0. A. Cook.
Thomasville, Ga., Sept. 17, 1877.
Cedar Spring Mission, South Georgia
Conference. —Rev. E. J. Holmes writes
September 13: Your correspondent is on
double duty this year—teaching five days in
the week, and serving the Mission on Satur
day and Sabbath. The Mission lies in the
county of Early, consists of six appointments,
VOLUME XL., NO. 89;
with a membership, numbering at the be
ginning of the year 117. I spent my six
weeks’ vacation in holding six meetings.
Results, Chureh much revived, several con
versions, and thirty-four accessions. At one
of the “waste places” a Church of nineteen
members has been constituted, aud we ex
pect to build a house of worship. Others
will unite with us at. this point. Many thanks
to the following brethren who labored with
me in the Gospel : brother J F. MeKimie
who assisted me twenty days; brothers Vv.
J. Morris, S. R. Weaver, J. W. Weston, B.
B. Thomas, and our beloved presiding el
der, brother E. H. McGehee. Brethren
pray for us.
THEFLORIDA ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
Mr. Editor : Through your paper, Bishop
Pierce has given notiee that the Florida An
nual Conference will commence its session,
Wednesday, 14th November, (changed to
Thursday, 15th.— Ed.) next. For the in
formation of those wishing to attend the
Conference, I desire to say that I have as
surances front Captain James McKay, owner
of the mail steamer Cochran, which carries
the mail between Cedar Keys, Manatee, and
Tampa, that ministers and lay members of
the Conference will be conveyed from Cedar
Keys to Tampa for half fare, both ways.
The steamer leaves Cedar Keys in the af
ternoon on Mondays and Fridays, and reaches
Tampa on Tuesdays and Saturdays, in the af
ternoon.
As the boat sometimes leaves Cedar Keys
before the cars arrive, the captain thinks it
would be well tor someone ot the ministers
to ask the conductor to dispatch to the Keys,
notice of their coming. He says, then the
boat will be sursto wait.
Presiding Elders will please give notice to
Brother J. J. Seally, at Tampa, of the names
of the local preachers and lay members from
their several districts who will be present,
that thpy nviv be the more conveniently pro
vided for. It would bo well also, for notice
to be given ol who will come by public and
who by private conveyance.
A. A. Robinson.
Manatee, Fla., Sept. 7th, 1877.
THE DUBLIN DISTRICT CONFERENCE.
Mr. Editor: The Dublin District Con
ference convened at Eastman, Ga., August
2‘2nd, 1877. The introductory sermon was
preached by Rev. C. A. Moore of the Swains
boro circuit. In addition to the usual num
ber of delegates, many visitors from the sur
rounding country filled the Conference room
from day to day. The Conference was favor
ed with the presence of Bishop Pierce, Dr.
Lovick Pierce, Rev. J. V. M. Morris, Rev.
L. B. Payne, and Dr. C. W. Smith. The
pastors of the Swainsboro and Dublin charges
reported glorious revivals in their works.
Others reported an increase in the circula
tion of Church periodicals, and more inter
est manifested in family religion than for
merly. The financial outlook was not en
couraging, but all are hoping for better times.
The preaching was pointed, practical and
edifying, having reference more to “a revival
of religion than a religious revival.” The
report of Bro. Jones represented the Dis
trict school at Spring Hill as in a flourishing
condition. Swainsboro was selected as the
place for convening the next District Con
ference. The following are tbe names of
Delegates elected to the annual Conference:
Rev. W. D. Bussey, Dr. P. W. Douglas, J
E. Hicks, and James Bishop. Alternates
Rev. L. B. Bouchelle, J. H. Hicks, J. S.
Lanier, and J. W. Myers.
C. C. Hines, Sec'y.
[A model report.—Ed.]
ORPHANS’ HOME NORTH GEORGIA
CONFERENCE. j
An appeal to the friends of the Orphanf
r*n.AiLi.\uB ; A fie experimem ussT>£BZ|j
made aad the piacrfcamilty Of COnductijuJ
and sustaining Orphans’ Homes by
Church, has be.4n d/monstrated. In 1870,
Georgia Conference inaugurated
the enterprise, sometime after which the
South Georgia Conference, the South Caro
lina Conference, and the Baptist Church of
Georgia, did likewise. These “ Homes,”
under varying and trying circumstances, have
continued to this day, and, in so far as I can
learn, will remain for all time to comw
They have already done a noble work, one,
the fruits of which eternity only can fully
illustrate. Many homedesg, uninstructed and
uncared for orphans have been fed and
clothed, educated and brought to God through
these institutions. When this work began
many doubted of its practicability. All
wished it well and many believed it would
succeed, but many doubted. It was new and
untried. But, as above stated, the trial has
been made aud success assured The fact is
put beyond doubt that an Orphans’ Home
wisely founded and prudently conducted, is
one of the greatest and noblest blessings to
both the Church and the world.
The object of these statements is to BBk the
pious and the humane of all classes, to help
us in paying for the Orphans’ Home proper
ty of the North Georgia Conference. We
were obliged to purchase a home aud lands
on time, and yet we have sustained all the
while, from twenty-five to forty orph ins ;
fed, clothed, and educated them, and al
though we could care well for that number
were we entirely free from debt, we cannot
do so and pay besides the purchase money
for the Home. Besides, it is exceedingly de
sirable to enlarge the capacities of the insti
tution. Hundreds of nncared for orphan
children are being ruined every year, in this
country, for the want of this very provision.
It has been my business all the ypar to travel
throughont the Conference territory, plead
ing for these helpless poor. I have worked
hard and constantly, but I cannot go every
where, nor can I see every person. The
year is rapidly closing and the Home is un
paid for.
Will not the people help? Shall this
purest, best of charities, go down for lack of
a little timely aid? Surely our people, Geor
gians will not stand by and permit such a
calamity I I propose, besides my personal
efforts, from this until Conference, that as
many as can will pledge one or more bales
of cotton, to be delivered a* the nearest rail
road depot, for the exclusive purpose of pay
ing for the Home, and that those who do not
cultivate cotton and can pay money, will
send me their names and the sums which
they will pay at the coming Conference to be
held in Gainesville. The cotton and money
thus contributed, will be applied exclusively
to the discharge of the debt due for the
Home. Come dear friends, do help. A lit
tle effort will relieve this best of institutions.
Address me at Gainesville, Georgia
Jesse Boring.
Thompson, North Georgia Conference.
—Rev. W. C. Dunlap writes, Sept. 17 : “The
Lord is with us in Thompson in mighty pow
er. Our meeting has been going on ten days,
and I can see no end as yet. We are beg
ging God to give us every man, woman, and
child, in Thompson. Thirty have joined up
to last night, and there have been over for
ty conversion. There were at least seventy
five men and women in the altar last night.
Pray for us.
Camilla and Newton Circuit, South
Georgia Conference. — Rev. E. J. Rentz
writes, Sept. 17 : “I am nearly worn out —
have had no rest since the third Sunday in
July. The Lord has blessed us wonderfully.
The good work still goes on. Six were re
ceived last night at Pelham. My next meet
ing is at Newton.