Newspaper Page Text
162
§ott%rn Christian Rotate.
MACUN, GEORGIA, OCTOBER 9, 1877.
OUR SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.
No thoughtful person cau escape the con
viction that, while the wonderfully increased
activity which has characterized Sunday
school operations in recent years is cause for
graiulatioii, the Chutch has fallen far short
of realizing anything like euch results as
ought to Pave been reaped from this revival.
And, as the disproportion between apparent
outlay of effort and manifest, calculable
fruit, does not disappear or even diminish,
but remains from year to year as obvious as
ever, it surely becomes us to give attention
to the subject, to ascertain, if possible, the
causes of this comparative failure, and to
seek to remove them. We do not propose
to do more in this brief article, than indi
cate what we believe to be the radical defi
ciency that underlies the Sunday-Bchool
movement, limits its fruitfulness, and dooms
it to such meager results compared with its
possibilities for good.
This, in plain terms, is an utter want, on
the part of the great body of the Church, of
any just appreciation of the dignity, respon
sibility, and vital necessity of this depart
ment of Christian effort. Fortunately, there
are in all the denominations, and perhaps in
every congregation, some who estimate this
great work at its real importance ; and to
this meager minority mainly belongs the
credit of the measure of real success that at
tends it. But the great mass of Church
members, while they regard the Sunday
school as a very good thing not to be op
posed, as in some sort auxiliary to Church
progress, and perhaps as furnishing a very
laudable field for any to labor in, who may
feel so disposed ; they do not recognize it as
integral in the organization of the Church,
indispensable to its healthful growth, and as
imperiously claiming their active co-opera
tion, either in personal service in the school
room, or liberal contributions of money for
efficiently prosecuting the work. If the
Church, throughout the mass of its member
ship, realized that the Sunday Bchool is
something more than a reputable Sabbath
rendezvous for their children, where they
may learn a little Scripture, and beguile the
remainder of the hour pleasantly with songs,
more or less sacred ; it the body of our peo
pie were convinced, as they ought to be, that
the Sunday school is not an accident of
Church life, but a divinely instituted feature
of its organism—furnishing, when properly
conducted, the best means of bringing the
children to Christ, and the only means of
repairing, with trained recruits, the breaches
constantly being made by vleath in the ranks
of the sacramental host; if they realized the
tremendous responsibility involved in this
work as it relates to the destiny of souls as
well as the visible prosperity and progress of
the Church ; then, Buch vitality and effective
nesss would be imparted to Sunday-school
work as would soon obliterate the manifest
difference between its ostensible and real
utility. But that such convictions do not
predominate in the Church, and that the
body of the membership hold erroneous and
unworthy views of the true status of the
Sunday-school and the claims it has upon
them —is obvious from the listless attitude
they maintain towards it. They do notpar
ticipate in its work, or countenance it with
their presence; and hence in almost every
Bchool, the religious training of many of the
children and their indoctrination in saving
truth, is entrusted, unavoidably, to young,
inexperienced, and unstable teachers, who
need themselves to be taught more perfectly
the way of life; and even their efforts are
ed interest on the part of the Church at large.
They do not give of their money to aid the
work. Even when the obligation to support
the ministry and enterprizes of the Church
is not ignored, and these claims are liberally
met, the Sunday-school is allowed to lan
guish, and lead a crippled, and comparative
ly perfunctory existence, for lack of the
means to equip it for thorough and satis
factory work. Rooms adapted to the work
are not provided where they might be; libra
ries are scant and seldom replenished ; and
it is rare for a school even to be adequately
supplied with the current literature which the
Publishing House provides at small cost.
These strictures may not apply universally,
indeed, we know that they do not; but per
sotial observation assures us painfully that
they have a very wide application.
Now, what is the remedy? We believe
that the most hopeful means of bringing about
reform in these matters, and securing from
the Sabbath school the real benefits it is de
signed and fitted to produce, lies with the
ministry. They must all, as many of them
now do, cultivate right views of the relation
of the Sabbath school to the Church, of the
responsibility and value of the work it is in
stituted to accomplish, and of the duty of
every member of the Church to foster its
operations, as the pastor may deem best,
either by teaching in the school, or contrib
uting of money for its support. Then let
them urge their views upon the congrega
tions they ferve, in specific sermons on the
subject, and in personal appeals to individu
als. Thus a public opinion will be created
on the subject, which ere long will lift the
Sunday school out of the incidental and com
paratively unimportant relation to Church
life in which mistaken views have placed it,
award to it its true position in the machinery
of Church operations, and secure from it the
permanent and invaluable fruits which it
ought to yield. Not until the Church rises
to a proper recognition of the real importance
of the Sunday-school and liberally equips it
for its work, will its actual usefulness cor
respond with the seeming extent of its ope
rations.
A WISE SUGGESTION.
? Dr. Benuett of the Jiickmond Christian Ad
vocate, makes suggestions in the brief article
we copy below, which have doubtless occurred
to many as feasible and desirable, though we
do not remember ever to have seen them ad
vocated in print. Besides the benefit to the
presiding elders and congregations, resulting
from the presence of the former in the reli
gious meetings of the occasion, such an ante
dating of the regular session of the Confer
ence by these counsellors of the Bishop would
greatly simplify, expedite, and lighten the
labors of the cabinet, without at-all inlring
ing or threatening the prerogatives of the
Bishop. Such au experiment, we think with
our contemporary, is well worthy of a trial.
We are not so clear as to the wisdom of the
suggestion contained in the second paragraph
of the article; though it may be that it as
wise as the other. Dr. Bennett says:
“If the presiding elders could meet a week
before Conference and spend the days in the
interchange of views, and make a rough, and
as far as possible, a perfect draft of the ap
pointments, it seems to us there would be
gain. The evenings of these brethren could
be put to good use in nightly services in the
Churches. These preliminary sessions would
put the neeas of the works and ability of the
men at the finger’s end of the elders. In
good truth, much mortising and fitting of
timber could be done. In the meantime, the
week of preaching would begin a work of
grace in tae community, which the Confer
ence could take up and carry on. In addi
ticn, the elders cannot attend the religious
cervices alter the Conference gathers. They
need all the grace they can get in their
tangled and testing work. Unfortunately,
as the custom now is, the men whose religion
is under the greatest friction have the least
of oiling the gearings.
And while writing of this advisory board
we would suggest a change in the appoint
ment of anew elder. He should be the first
preacher “put down,” and at once sent for
and admitted into the Council. He ought to
man his own district. Anew elder now is
ordered to the command of a department and
of men without ever having had the smallest
share in their selection yet is held to account
for the success of the work.”
DEATH OF DR. DUNCAN.
Our notice of this afflictive event which
appeared last week, was written before we
nad received any intelligence beyond the
simple announcement that such a blow had
fallen upon the Church. Since then we
have learned that an abscess having formed
after the extraction of a tooth, erysipelas
supervened, which in a very short time ter
minated in death. Dr. Bennett, of the
Richmond Christian Advocate, for many
years the comrade and co laborer of Dr.
Duncan in the ministry, in commenting on
the startliug dispensation which closed his
career so unexpectedly says:
We have often been with him at camp
meetings, and the last at which we met was
that on the Eastern Shore only a little over
a month since. Ha was in fine spirits, and
apparently in full health. His preaching on
hat occasion will never be forgotten by the
thousands of silent hearers. The last dis
course was, we are informed, one of unsur
passed power and spirituality. It was on the
text, “If our gospel be bid, it is hid to them
that are lost,” etc. At its close, mourners
rushed in crowds to the altar, while the
deepest awe rested on the hearts of the vast
multitude that covered the ground
It was remarkable in the case of Dr. Dun
can, that as a preacher after he became
President of the College, he never fell into
the lecture style of preaching. In the chair
he was the lucid lecturer, iu the pulpit he
was the preacher, clear, strong, eloquent,
reaching the conscience and the heart and
lif ing bis hearers with him into the high
and pure regions of truth.
The estimation in which Dr. Duncan was
held outside his own communion, and in the
city of Richmond, where much of his min
isterial life was spent, comes out very hand
somely in the following appreciative and ad
mirable sketch taken from the Richmond
Daily Whig:
Dr. Duncan was the son of Professor
David Duncan, of W T offord Collpge, Sooth
Carolina, formerly of Randolph Macon Col
lege, of Virginia. The venerable genle
man, now in his 84'h year, was a m’d-ship
man in the British navy and carried dis
patches to Moscow in the Napoleon war on
Russia. He settled in Norfolk. Va . where
Dr. Duncan was born in 1830. Professor
Duncan was elected to a chair in Randolph
Mscon College, then at Boydton, Va Here
the young Duncan was reared, educa ed,
and became a member of the Church.. He
began his ministry at 19. He told at times,
in bis inimitable way, how he broke down at
soma country meeting house in his first ef
fort to preach. He rose steadily as a pul
pit orator till his fame touched the confines
of the continent.
He was a man of books and study, using
the pen much, but never notes, manuscript,
or memoriter sermons, in the pulpit. His
mind was charged and spaiks flew from any
point. His flowers had the dew on them.
His sentences were not slow fuses, but fric
tion primers, firing the thought at the mo
ment. There was no hesitancy in utterance.
The richest language, poured from a peren
nial fountain—not pumped up. His voice
was a marvel of sweet sounds, clear, reso
nant, of wide compass, soft as a flute in the
lower keys, and stirrii g as martial music
when lifted loud. His matures were strong
without rnggeduess, and chiseled into a
sculptured beauty. He had but little action
of arm or hand in his addresses. His chang
ing face gestured without the use cf limbs.
In the midst of great earnestness and mov
ing thought there was something that sug
gested reserved power. —The stream run
ning rapidly as it may never seemed to
shallow.
In private life he won all that ever met
him. There was a subtle charm in his voice
and manner that facinated first and bound
fast., as a friend, ever after. In every circle
he was welcome and sought after. Beyond
his Church, in other communions, and among
men of no bad a host of admirers.
great powers aiMOFJch praised, he “kept
his body under.” There was no swollen
dignity nor patronizing airs.—The flaws, if
there wese any, were out of sight of even
daily companions.
At thirty nine but few votes were between
him and the bishopric. These were given
by his best friends and from this Sta'e. They
wished to retain him as President of their
College, and so kept him out of the supreme
honor of his Church. Such an awkward
service never soured his great soul. He
worked on with all his might for the institu
tion that had weighted him down in the race
for the great, prize. Rich Churches offered
him five times the salary the College gave
him ; still he toiled for it- though if had
tripped him as he grasped the goal. So in
private affairs. Of all his income, he put
one-teDth in the Church treasury. He rig
idly tithed even his marriage fees. In fact
he, like his Master, became poor to make
many rich.
He had gained every dignity of his Church
save the highest—the offies of Bishop. He
was pastor for a number of years here tn
Richmond All remember the crowds that
attended on his ministry at Broad Street
Methodist Church. The Confederate Mag
nates on Sunday evenings were seen in those
pews. Mr. Jefferson DavU was his personal
friend and admirer. His name was first as a
representative of the Virginia Churches in
the Quadrennial Convention of Southern
Methodism. He had been editor of the
Church organ—th e Richmond Advocate. He
was a College President. And had been
selected from the whole body of the South
ern clergy of his Church as the chief em
bassador to the Northern Methodist Church.
His great address before the senators of that
Church won him a national reputation. It
was conceded that in a few mouths the rep
resentation of the General Synod of Method
ists would by acclamation proclaim him a
Prince of the Church—a Bishop over nearly
a million communicants.
He was only lorty seven when death smote
him to the ground. And many a year will go
before the envious foe will find a victim of
rarer genius, or a knightlier Christian gen
tleman. The “goodly company of apostles,
martyrs, and confessors,” welcomed him as
worthy of their august and glorious society.
The Church and the State mourn him. He
“served his own generation by the will of
God,” and his “works do follow him.”
Minutes Charlotte District Confer
ence.—We are indebted to our young friend.
Mr. W. C. Wolfe, of Monroe, N. C., the
publisher, for a copy of this well gotten np
pamphlet, which, so far as we have any
knowledge, constitutes anew departure in
the line of Church publications. Embracing
the journal of the session, the reports on va
rious subjects, and the statement of the con
dition of his charge by each pastor, it fur
nishes an instructive and interesting exhib
it of the status of the district. This pam
phlet, we learn from the preface, is gotten
out at the risk of the publisher, who assumes
all pecuniary liability, and relies upon its
sale for his security against loss. The work
is well done, and the preachers should see to
it that such enterprize is rewarded wi'h a re
munerative circulation of the pamphlet.
Williamston Female College. —We are
indebted to some friend for the annual Cata
logue of this institution for 1876-7, from
which learn that the whole number of pupils
in 1876 was 122, and thus far in 1877, 124;
an exhibit which clearly attests its growing
prosperity. The Catalogue sets forth clearly
and forcibly the advantages of the College,
and explains several features which, it is
thought, discriminate it favorably from educa
tional institutions of like grade. These may
be ascertained by sending for a copy of the
very neat pamphlet which lies before us, to
Rev. Sam’l Lander, Williamston, S. C.
Brunswick District. —Rev. W. M. Hayes
says in a private note of September 27: The
preachers are in place and working hard.
While there are no exciting revivals any
where, at almost every point in the district
additions are being made, the Church is be
ing strengthened, and good is being done.
The financial outlook is brightening some.
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
Wide Awake. As Illustrated Magazine
for Young People. Boston: D. Lothron
& Cos., 30 and 32 Franklin Street. $2 00
a year.
This admirable publication, though late in
arriving, comes beautifully illustrated, and
richly laden with mo3t excellent and whole
some reading matter for the young. The
quality of Wide Awake renders it a most de
sirable educational help for the young, and
the very low price, in view of its merits, at
which it is furnished, places it in easy resell
of all who are at all able to provide such ad
van'ages and p'easures for their sons and
daughters. A tolerably critical observation
of the contents of this Magazine, makes ns
feel perfectly safe in recommending it to our
readers.
Dick’s Recitations and Readings N-w
York: Dick & Fitzgeiald, 18 Ann Sireet.
A neat little volume of 180 pages, in paper
covers, containing a carefully compiled selec
tion of humorous, pathetic, eloquent, patri
otic, and sentimental pieces, in poetry and
prose, exclusively designed for recitation or
reading. The Publishers announce that the
volume sent us is the fifth of a Series uniform
in size and s'vie, which is design- and to embrace
everything that is fresh and popular, without
excluding the older gems of the English lan
guage that are always in demand. The
“Series,” if placed in the libraries of High
Schools and Colleges would be in great de
mand, and a wonderful relief to those who
are called upon to “select a piece” for the
young readers or speakers.
We are indebted to the Religious News
paper Agency, 21 Barclay street, New York,
for copies of the three books named below:
Lectures. By Joseph Cook. 90 pages,
octavo, paper binding." Price, 40 cents.
Mr. Cook has for some time been creating
quite a furor in Boston, and other places, by
the novelty and incisiveness wiih which he
sets up his banner and conducts his cam
paign against the pretentiousness and infi
delity of modern scientists. Spurgeon, no
mean judge, declares the lectures of Cook
the ablest defense of Christianity in modern
times. Avery clear idea of Mr. Cook’s
style may be formed from the five lectures
which constitute this pamphlet: Certainties
in Religion; The Atonement; God in Natu
ral Law; New England Skepticism; Tri
unity and Tritheism.
The Homilist, by David Thomas, D. D..
Vol. 12. Editor's series, (complete in it
self ) 3GB pages, 12mo. Au exact reprint
of the English volume. Price $1 60.
This work, iu successive numbers, has been
before the public for many years, and has won
a very wide popularity and the highest en
comiums. Especially has the English press,
both secular and religious, been unstinted in
its praises. The volume before us is the last
of the “editor’s series,” but so extensive is
the popularity of the work, and so great the
demand for it, that another “series” is de
manded, which the publishers announce will
be forthcoming—and “will contain a greater
variety of matter, and have an additional
editor and many new contributors.” We do
not incline favorably to such “pulpit helps”
as are furnished by books of this class; but
to those who will use them, we commend the
Homilist as by far the most suggestive, and,
if judiciously used, the most helpful of any
that we know of.
The Metropolitan Pulpit. Volume 1.,
heavily bound in cloth, royal octavo, 206
pages of fine print, double column, contains
in condensed form, nearly two hundred
of the leading sermons preached in New
York and Brooklyn daring the past year. A
large portion of these condensations, the
publishers assure us, have been prepared es
pecially for this publication by the preachers
themselves. It gives a very fair idea of
metropolitan preaching.
FANATICISM RUN MAD.
The telegraph, a week ago, gave us this
item;
A Philadelphia grand jury concluded its
presentments a few days ago in this manner :
“ The grand jury feel it also to be their
duty to testify against the desecration of the
holy Sabbath by tbe sale of intoxicating
drinks, and especially in the handing around
of wine in our churches to arouse up the
dormant devil in the reformed drunkard by
his sip of wice on communion day.”
This precious grand jury could have gone
only one step further: they might have
“ presented” the American and other Bible
Societies for publishing New Testaments
containing the account of the miracle at Cana
in Galilee, and of the institution of the Lord's
Supper.
We suspect that a lurking and cowardly
spirit of infidelity, that wanted to make a
thrust at the Christian Church, far more
than zeal for the temperance cause, inspired
the foolish deliverance of this Philadelphia
grand jury.
This sort of intolerant advocacy of tem
perance is getting to be a nuisance. Real
temperance men should abate it. Such
things do incalculable harm. They disgust
and outrage sensible men. But it would be
gross injustice to hold the “ Templars,”
“ Sons,” “ Knights,” and other temperance
organizations, responsible for this abomi
nable folly. But these organizations will do
themselves a great wrong if they countenance,
in any degree, fanatics or knaves whose de
liverances would unchurch the Redeemer
and His apostles. H.
Oxford.
HISTORY OF METHODISM IN GEOR
GIA AND FLORIDA.
The author of the book whose title heads
this article, the Rev. George G. Smith, of the
North Georgia Conference, has brought
thousands of Methodists under no ordinary
obligations. It is a well printed duodecimo
of 530 pages, crammed full of invaluable in
formation. We shall never understand the
art by which brother Smith gathers so many
facts. We doubt if any other man in Geor
gia could gather as many without mining in
this book. The task was difficult. There
were facts enough, but how to get at them.
We have some knowledge of the meagerness
of the old Minutes. There were threads
here, there, everywhere, but tangled almost
inextricably. Only one living man —the
venerable Dr. Pierce—could go back within
a generation to the beginning of Georgia
Methodism. And there were really no his
tories worth the name. Hardly a sketch.
The meagerness of the old records is won
derful. The fathers were making history,
not writing it. No doubt much of it has
been lost beyond the possibility of recovery.
But our author has “ done what he could,"
and done what perhaps no other ever tried to
do, or can do.
No doubt mistakes can be pointed out. It
would be a miracle were it otherwise. No
doubt some will think that certain impor
taut passages of our Methodist history in
Georgia and Florida should have received
more fullness of statement. But even
brother Smith could not “ evolve facts out
of his consciousness." He could not create
records. In most cases they were never
made. Brother Smith has had to put things
together in some cases as Cuvier “restored"
long dead mastodons, or Agassiz “restored"
a great fish from a fin, a scale, or a bone.
Our friend has made remarkable use of the
bones. Let us not complain that some of
them are dry—that we do not see the full,
rounded muscles. The great beasts —a mon
strous turtle, the megatherium, and his
gigantic kindred—we saw in the Vanderbilt
Museum, done up in plaster, were only
skeletons. But this history is more than a
museum of bones and articulated skeletons.
Many of the men of the past—gnd “ (here
were giants in those days”—almost ljve and
move again. We hear them—we see them —
as they go to and fro founding the Church
and planting civilization.
We do not propose to name them yr their
works in this short notice. But of, eighty
eventful years—from 1785 to 1865 —tjia book
gives us the history. It is not perfecjjjtmd a
dozen men with brother Smith’s skill and
laboriousness could not have made it per
fect. This much is clear: this well-written
history contains more of ih efacts offteorgia
Methodism for these eighty
tbe pamphlets, sketches,
moirs in existence can show. W6™o not
3ee how brother Smith could have “Brought
more of Methodist facts together unless he
had given himself for tweniy this
one thing. But his materials have been
gathered and his book written in the midst
of the labors of an active and useful ministry
For our part, we are sure that this history
will make those who read it wiser and better.
We shall be surprised if thousands of'copies
are not sold and read. Those who wish to
know the history of Methodism in (Jgorgia
and Florida, will get this book. They can
not do without it. It can be ordered-direct
ly from the publishers, J. W. Burke A Cos.,
Macon. Ga., or through “the trade.”. Price
$2 00. H.
Oxford 1
Comspteita.
COMPARISON OF THE CONDITION OF
THE PUBLISHING HOUSE NOW, WITH ITS
CONDITION WHEN DR. REDFORD BECAME
AGENT.
Mr. Editor: To this comparisons*flUjfre
invited by the Agent and the Book Commi
ttee. The Agent says: “By reference to
our Exhibit made to the Church in 1866,
immediately after we took charge pf the
Publishing House, it will be seen that there
was a balance in favor of the House of
SB7 195,70. At the present [June 7,1877 J
the balance is $330,619.26. After deduct
ing from this balance the amount of balance
shown in the Exhibit of 1866, it’leaves
$243,423.56 Of this amount there wps con
tributed—
For building tbe present House
[Edifice] $40,102 01
For relict [ot Publishing House] 27 793 14
From estates and individual dona „
lions 9,750 00
Total $74,645 16
If the amount of $74 645 15 be deducted
from $243 423.56 it leaves a balance of clear
profit to the Publishing House from its legit
imate business of $168.778.41.” (Italics
the writer’s.) That is, Dr. Redford hag
made at and by the Publishing Houge/in the
eleven years of his agency "a clear pMfIT"
of $168,778.41. But we will examine this
statement. The B >ok Committee say : “It
will be seen, however, that after deducting
$189,066.84 from the original assets [ i . e.,
after reducing the Agent’s estimate to their
estimate of the value of the Publishing
House assets,] and reducing the assets this
much from the original cost, the house has
left, over and above all its liabilities $141,-
552.42, showing a net increase of capital
under tha management of the present 1 Agent
since he was placed in charge of the House,
of $54,386.72.” (Italics ours.) As to what
the Committee mean by capital isfshown
thus: They say, “The inquiry will' natu
rally suggest itself: Why is it that a House
that has a surplus of sl4l 552.42 over and
above its liabilities, should be so constantly
and severely pressed as is the Publishing
House ? By reference to the assets it will
be seen that its capital consists largely in
such property as is necessary to conduct the
business, but cannot be used as cash ip pay
ment or uemo.
Now, let us consider these statements. The
Agent received the House in 1866, claiming
to have a capital clear of all debts of $87,-
195 70. He has rece'ved in contributions
since $74 645. Total $161,840.70. That is
the capital operated upon by him. He claims
that he lost $20,000 of it by the fire, which
leaves $141,840.70 in his hands. Now let
us see how he has operated—what has re
sulted. The Committee give us the follow
ing figures as the result: “ Balance in favor
of Publishing House over and above all lia
bilities, $141,652 45.” Deduct from this
what he received from the former Agent and
wha’ the Church has furnished him—given
him—5141,840.70, and it will be seen that
when he is carried back to where he began as
Agent in 1866, and is made to restore what he
received, that he has nothing to show —indeed
to be very precise, he would owe the Church
S2BB 26. The Committee claim that he
would have $54,386 72; but they have de
ducted ouly the $87,195 70 (they have it
$87,165.70) which he received from for
mer Agent, and have forgotten to deduct the
amounts received by him from the Church,
which, less the $20,000 to pay fire losses, is
$54,645, showing where their error of S3O
is corrected —the same result, namely, the
Agent is in debt to the Church $288.25 upon
his 11 years work.
But these figures do not present the real
facts, that is, not the real condition Of the
Publishing House now, as compared to what
it was when Dr. Redford became Agent.
What are these facts as nearly as they can be
obtained by the Exhibit Bnd the Statement 7
A building estimated at $130,000 00
Two lots in Nashville “ 500 00
Total $130,600 00
Contra,
Bonds $104,500 00
Notes - 100,000 00
$204 500 00
Agent short on real estate..: $74 000 00
Short by foregoing statement S2BB 25
Total $74,288.25
So that, if the New Orleans store, and
the engines, types, fixtures, stereotype plateß
and foundry, stock in store, and everything
inside the building at Nashville ; everything
but the building could be made to square off
the remaining debts of the Publishing House,
amounting to —
Book accounts $33,333 98
Bills payable 23,366 83
Interest (not known.)
Total $56,700 81
amounting to say $60,000, principal and
interest, yet the Agent would leave the
Church a debt of near $75,000 to pay. “Com
parisons" ended, such a state of facts “are
odious.”
As neither the Agent nor the Committee
inform us what proportion of bills payable
amounting to $123,366 83 is due for the
Nashville building, and what for the “legiti
mate business” of.the Publishing House,
nor what interest is due upon open accounts,
and what upon notes, the above is not pre
cisely accurate —but, whether SIOO,OOO of
these notes were given to meet building aq
count or not, the general result is the’fflnev
That is, if $75,000 of the notes and $104,-
500 of the bonds is for building account, it
leaves the Agent short $49,288.25 on that
account, and makes his “legitimate busi
ness" debt $25,000 greater, but does not
change the condition of his agency, nor of
the Publishing House.
The Book Committee say: “By reference
to the Exhibit of the Agent, it will be seeij
that the House owes:
On book account $33 33!^^
Bills Payable 123,3fji*
Making a total of Jtibl^oMß
Bills Payable
One hundred thousand dollars of the
bonded debt is drawing ten per cent, interest,
but can now be superseded at any time by
eight per cent, bonds, as soon as we can
sell them. The item of $123,366 83 is the
debt that now pressos so heavily. It is past
due, and portions of it are called for every
day. The Agent has been able thus far to
renew the paper of the House, so as to pre
vent being sued, but ha3 had to do so on
short time, and by payment of heavy inter
est. How long he shall be able to protect
the paper of the house in this manner we
Are mo prepared tb state; but.,if the credit
ors should foreclose the mortgage, our ass n ts
will be necessarily sacrificed, leaving a large
balance against the House unpaid; hence
the importance of providing at once for this
indebtedness.” (Italics ours.)
Further comment is unnecessary.
It gives the writer pleasure to add, that,
al'hough the finance# of the Publishing
House are not a success under the adminis
tration of Dr. Redford, no mean work tor
the Church is done by the Publishing House.
The Agent gives these figures and facts in
his report, appended to his Exhibit.
Printed at the House :
Christian Advocates [weekly] 9.200
S. S. Magazines [monthly] 14,600
Lesson Papers [sheets] 114,700
Our Little People [weekly] 68 000
Visitors, monthly, semi monthly, and
weekly 29,000
He further says : During the past twelve
months we have printed:
Books 63.990
Catechisms 58 300
Pamphlets 29.250
The work is well done. Our Sunday-
School periodicals—paper, press work, illus
tfjhtions, master—are unexcelled, and the
Adv&cate is the peer in every respect, of the
religious newspapers North and South. It
is matter for regret that our embarrassments
hinder an enlargement of our book printing,
that so many Southern religious books are
sent North for publication because the Pub
lishing House (so rumor has it) cannot afford
to print and publish at Northern rates.
It is hoped that the Church will come to
the assistance of the Agent, and not permit
a valuable property to be lost. Let us pay
the debts, and then the next General Con
ference can remove the House to the North,
or to some more available point South —or
sell it, and hire the printing of periodicals
and books. A North Georgian.
FLORIDA CONFERENCE.
PLACE AND TIME OF HOLDING NEXT SESSION.
Mr. Editor: Being a member of this
Conference, and knowing the minds of many
others, I venture a suggestion with referent®
to the place and time of holding onr ap
proaching session. As it is known, it was
appointed to be held at Tampa, South Flor
ida. As things now stand, we can’t get. there;
and doubtless these hindering circumstances
will continue beyond the appointed time for
the session. The trains are not allowed to
go through to Cedar Keys, and if they were,
it is doubtful if the steamer, through appre
hension of yellow fever, v ould receive us
on board. Gainesville and Talahassee have
both a-ked for the Conference ; and either,
doubtless, would gladly receive us if the
change were made.
If the place for holding the Conference
is changed, I think it would be well also, to
change the time. For, if we are forced to
hold our session in November, as now ap
pointed, it will be disastrous to all our col
lections. They will fall off fifty per cent.;
ani the preachers' salaries will be curtailed
at least one third. I have lived in this
country long enough to know that our Con
ference collections are paid in. mainly in the
months of November and December, and
that it is the same way with the preachers’
annnnrt A Piabjiu
[We regret that the above communication
did not reach us in time for onr last issue.
The time is short; and if the changes sug
gested are determined on, the decision will
have to be made quickly, in order that ade
quate notice may be given. But, —while
we have not the slightest possible inter
est in the matter, expecting to attend the
session whenever and wherever held, —we
venture to enquire whether there are ad
vantages in these changes sufficient to
compensate for the damage almost enev
itable, from their being made so late. As
to the place, we cannot see that the pre
valence of fever at Fernandina would mili
tate against a successful session at Tampa
any more than at any other point in the
State. The unfortunate city is not on the
line of travel for the preachers to Confer
ence, and the heroic brother who is standing
to his post there, in the midst of the pesti
lence, is the only member of whom we can
think that would be kept away. Cedar
Keys hardly places all Florida under quar
antine ; and every other place, as positively
prohibits ingress from Fernandina.
As to the change of time, it must be re
membered in connection with so grave a
proposition, as making it at this late date,
that opinion as to the best period for holding
the session is very much divided among the
members of the Conference. The matter
was very freely discussed last winter at Mon
tecello, and upon a test vote, the Conference
by a decided majority, resolved to request
the Bishops to hold the session in November.
In deliberative bodies, a motion to reconsid
er must come from someone who voted in
the majority. It would strengthen the sug
ges‘ions of “A Florida Preacher” if it were
known that they are offered in accordance
with this wise rule of order. Did he vote
for Tampa, and in favor of holding the ses
sion in November? It might be well for
the presiding eldere to correspond, and if a
majority of them think a change of place
important, to so notify the Bishop, whose con
sent would still be necessary, according to
the Discipline, to effect it. If anything is
done, it must be done promptly.]
TO DR. JESSE BORING.
Dear Sir- I have read with interest, your
Bhort article in the Advocate (October 2,)
on ‘-Fraternal Relations.” It may be well,
if all who write on any of the points you sug
gest, will imitate your general spirit. With
regard to your suggestion, that each Church
shall withdraw all its forces now beyond a
given geographical line, three important
questions occur:
1. Under all existing circumstances, is it
to be reasonably expected, that the Northern
Methodist Church will do this?
2. Should they instantly and entirely with
draw, have we the means and the men, to
cover the vacant field, with appropriate mis
sionary effort ?
3. if we have the means and men, are the
colored people prepared, at an early day to
receive our men with confidence, as their re
ligious teachers ?
Frankly confessing, that I see grave diffi
culties in the way, when I u-ould answer any
one of these queßti-ins, with a confident
“Fas,” 1 respectfully ask for your views
upon them. An Interested Reader.
Ocmulsee Circuit, North Georgia Con
ference#.-Rev. M. E. McKisick writes: As
(look, noble old patriarchs who have long
Ahored in the Lord’s vineyard, and brother
IRMichael, of the Clinton circuit, I com
a meeting at Hillsboro, Jasper coun-
night, September 14th, which
the the meet-
Saßirao:i&eriuotis
S' -nu-.v
interest in the preaching of the gospel now
attend and are interested listeners. Old and
young came forward and asked to be remem
bered in the prayers of God's people. Be
fore the meeting closed, we had nine acces
sions, and could see that many others were
“almost persuaded.” The Spirit is still
striving, and we hope they will yet come to
Christ. There is a general spirit of improve
ment among the people, and they are ex
hibiting more enterprize than at any time
since the war. We have a chnrch and
lodge in process of erection, and
hope to have them completed by the middle
of November.
AN APPEAL.
To the Pastors and Members of the South
Georgia Conference.
Dear Brethren : At the session of the
Columbus District Confe-ence just closed,
the following preamble and resolution were
adopted with a hearty unanimity—
“ Whereas, we recognize progress a the
law, both of spiritual life and of Church obli
gation, therefore
Resolved, by the representatives of the
Columbus District, in District C nference
assembled, that we cann -t consent to close
this year without tnaruing an advance on the
past year in all the contributions required of
us by the Annual Conference."
There was no second resolution inviting
pastors and churches in other districts to
unite with ns in this proper sentiment, but
the deep personal concern 1 feel in the
growth of the Confirence. and the increase
of collec'ions, prompts me to pub ish the res
olution, and urge cooperation.
The a.sesnmcut plan, hitner.to followed by
us, with its mauy advantages, has this fatal
defect— rtkat it does not steadily airp at an in
crease of liberality. If the amount assessed
should grow larger year by year, then it pro
motes growth, but if not, i r does not.
Surely we need no argument to prove that
we ought, to “grow in grace ;” yea, in every
grace.
Tiie object of this appeal then, is to urge
every pastor to take from the Minutes the
amounts contributed by his charge to each
cause 1 st year, and resolve that the con
tribu'ions of ihio year shall go beyond them,
even though they may exceed the assess
ment.
At the same time we beg our brethren, on
whom we are dependent for success, to sus
tain us in this pious and praise-worthy ef
fort. Joseph S. Ivey.
Columbus,Ga., Oct. 2, 1877.
SOUTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE.
Marion Sta. Marion Cc. Buck Swamp
Ct.—Rev. H. A. C. Walker —International
Suuday school Series.
The incumbent of Marion station South
Carolina Conference is closing his fourth
year in this charge.
About five years ago there was a most
sweeping revival of religion in this Church
when children, young men and maidens,
old men and matrons, flocked iuto the Church.
With this flood tide of revival there was a
concurrent excitement which swept over the
community as a mighty wind, hence the tide
ran so high as to reach many a little craft tar
removed from the current of spiritual life,
and floated them out without ballast, sail, or
rudder. The incumbent appeared upon the
scene when the refluent tide was reducing
the current to its regular channel, and leav
ing some of these little crafts h’gh and dry.
He and his faithful helpers had constant
work in shoving and towing them into the
current again. Through the grace of God,
some of them have krpt afloat, but others
are strati ed, to be lost, unless some higb
tide shall reach, and float them again
Though eighty three have been added to the
Chnrch roll sniie then; yet the roll shows a
large deer ase in the membership. This
ia rwing tn roniaion nf the roll, upon
which were found several names of those
who had removed without certificate and of
those lost sight of —the cancelling of the
names of those removed wiih certificates and
by death, and of those dismissed from the
communion of the Church. The roll does
not even now exhibit the real strength of
the Church.
The congregation have done well. They
have repaired, repainted, refurnished, and
enclosed, the Church building and premises.
The ladies have pa <1 an old debt, upon the
parsonage, repaired and refurnished it, and
they hope soon to be in funds to repaint it.
Years ago the Methodist Sunday-school was
tbe only one in the town, but since then,
this little hive has swarmed three times,
when a Presbyterian and a Baptist Sunday
school were formed, and recently it contri
buted to the formation of a Protestant Epis
copal Sunday-school. This mother of schools
in this community, though diminished by
these drafts upon it, still holds the first rank.
There are signs of a slowly rising tide in
the spiritual life of the Church, and some
have found peace by faith in Christ.
Marion Circuit has greatly prospered
under the ministry of J. W. McR. He is a
good general, he knows, not only how to
plan a campaign, but also how to respire and
utilize the local forces under him. His peo
pie this week gave a substantial evidence of
their appreciation of him and his family by
bringing and sending from their distant
homes a most highly appreciated “pounding.”
(His parsonage is in town, not within the
bounds of the circuit.)
Buck Swamp Circuit, under the pastorate
of S. J H. and A. B L., aided by as good a
corps of workers as we have ever known,
has been greatly blessed. This corps of
workers were well trained by the pastor
last year, J. C. S., and most wisely and effi
ciently have the pastors of this year used
them in conjunction with their own fruitful
labors. Brother S. J. H. is not in robust
health.
I have been requested to make special
mention of the work at Mullins. The audi
torium (a neat room underneath the Ma
sonic Lodge,) of the chnrch in this place was
procured by the indefatigable efforts of Mrs
W W. Jones, the wife of a former pastor,
who organized the church. The community
has been trained by one of the best, if not
(all things considered,) the best Sunday
schools in the South Carolina Conference.
It is composed of all the white children and
all the adults —the old as well as the young —
in the town and vicinity. All who are not
teachers are members of classes. James
Norton, the leading spirit in this school, is a
prince ameng Sunday school workers. It
was no wonder that a community thus trained
was ready to manifest the largest fruits of a
revival meeting. During a revival meeting
held there last month the whole town and vi
cinity bowed to the sceptre of our Lord, with
but/o exceptions. The numbers converted
and added to the church were large. The
deadly feud of a year ago was succeeded by
a friendly shaking of hands, and old ene
mies dined with oue another in token of per
fect restoration of friendship.
Our venerable and venerated presiding el
dery Rev. H. A. C. Walker, is well into his
last quarterly round, and the prospect is fair
that he will (God willing,) end his work with
more physical strength than he appeared to
have when he began it last January. Not
withstanding all the cold, rain, high water,
bad swamps, heat, and long rides, he had to
encounter, he has not in a single instance
failed to reach his appointments. Though
sixty seven winters have left their frost upon
his head —and never robust—yet he has done
a work this year that once fatigued the giant
of the Conference. Is the Conference so
rich in such material as to be warranted in
taking such a risk 7 But as the demand was
made upon him, w#are profoundly tbOTWnl
to God that he has been able to meet it with
no apparent damage to hsmself. The prayer
that he may be spared for years to the coun
cils of the Church goes np from many hearts.
We thank you for the introduction of ex
cellent notes upon the International Senday
sehool text into the Advocate of this week.
We hope you will continue them. We would
like to say much on this subject, but must
now close. A. J. Stokes.
Marion, S. C , Oct. 3, 1877.
BUCK SwiMP CIfeCUIT, SOUTH CAR
OLINA CONFLUENCE.
MACEDONIA CHURCH.
Dear Bro. Kennedy: This circuit is sit
uated in the eastern part of Marion county,
in tbe “Little Pee Dee” section, and has
eleven appointments. 4
Upon our arrival here. (Bro. Hill and
myself), we found tour Sabbath-schools that
had not gone into “winter quarters," but
were in active opt ration —the most flourish
ing of which was at this place. We have
been laboring for the promotion of this im
portant interest of the Church, and at pres
ent have ten schools in operation.
We regard our success in this meeting,
as being in a large measure the result of
seed sown in the Sabbath school; and to give
your readers an idea of this work I quote
from the report of the committee on Sunday
schools made to the last Chnrch Conference.
“The Sabbath school at this place was
organized in march 1875, with an aggregate
membership of fifty-eight officers and schol
ars. Although this was one year before the
o ganizatiou of this Church, the school has
iutermission for winter’s
Sold or/fHlhg. J heat, to the present time;
as and gradually increas
ing, numbers over one hun
dred and fifty, the average attendance being
about one hundred and twenty.”
We began our protracted meeting here on
the Bth inst., and it continued two weeks,
resulting in fifty-two accessions and about
the same number of conversions. x
Twen y four of the new members and
twenty three of the converts are members of
the Sabbath-school. The accessions and
conversions, with about a half dozen excep
tion- are all adults, and we feel sure that
the Lord has planted many new and strong
pillars in his Church.
We are indebted to one of the officers of
the Sabbath-school for tbe following statis
tics : Of the unconverted members of the
school about one out o! two were converted;
while of the congregation in attendance, not
connected with the school, about one out of
twenty. Showing the glorious remits of a
systematic study of the scriptures, to all,
and especially to the young and yet, how
often the Sabbath school is looked upon as
a little thing.
Tbis will give your readers an idea of the
work, which the good Lord has accomplish
ed here ; but only those cociuzant of the
hitherto existing circumstances, can realize
the magnitude of the work. There bad been,
for more than a year, grievous difficulties
between several of the prominent citizens of
the place, some of them not being even on
speaking termß with each other. These
and fficulties have all been healed, and now
they are all happy brethren in Christ.
Brothers Stokes and Scarborough, were
with us a part of the time, and did good
work in the cause of the Lord.
Yours in love, A. B. Lee.
Mullins, S. C., Sept. 27, 1877.
SPRING PLACE CIRCUIT, NORTH
GEORGIA CONFERENCE.
Mr. Editor: We have held a number of
protracted meetings on this circuit daring
the last few weeks. The first was at Sumner
aur's, and cstore than 30 conver
sions, and 07 acCoggions. The second was
Mt. Zion, where we had over 20 conversions,
and 18 accessions. The third was at Center
vall-y, where we had several conversions
and 7 accessions. Next came Murray Camp
meeting, where about 40 professed religion,
and 29 joined the Church. We have just
closed a meeting at Hassler’s, where 14 were
converted and 16 joined the Church. We
have had more than 100 conversions and ac
cessions in the last few weeks, and the
Church has been greatly revived. Our peo
ple are concerning themselves more about
all the interests of the Chnrch. At several
places where we have inferior houses of wor
ship steps are being taken to make them
neat and comfortable. It is likely we will
come np with most of our Conference col
lections. Among other good things we have
quite a number of new subscribers to the
Advocate. The people have fine crops, and
yet, strange as it may seem, were never more
inclined to be religious. Rev. John Oats,
local preacher; Rev. R A. Gidders, mem
her of the Holston Conference; and Rev. J.
T. Richardson, of the Nort i Georgia Con
ference, rendeied efficient service in these
meetings. Our very popular presiding elder,
Rev. A. M. Thigpen, and Dr. Felton, and
others, were at tbe camp meeting, and
preached “ with the Holy Ghost sent down
from heaven,” and made such impressions
as will not soon be forgotten.
A. J. Hughes.
Spring Place, October 1, 1877.
LEESVILLE CIRCUIT, SOUTH CARO
LINA CONFERENCE.
Dear Bro. Kennedy: On Saturday before
the second Sunday in September, I preach
ed, morning and night, at the school house
where we bad a gracious revival about a
month ago, Sunday I filled my appoint
ments at Batesbirg and Providence, and the
same evening preached again at the school
house. The revival fires were still burning
brightly, penitents crowded the altar at every
service,many were converted,and fifteen more
joined the Church—making in all, from first
to last, that have united with us.
The of grace in this commu
nity is rec*nized and acknowledged by all
acquainted with the facts. It would do you
good to see and preach to this congregation.
On Sunday night the room and the doors
and windows were crowded with eager and
serious hearers. Monday I returned to Prov
idence and have been preaching there day
and night, closing September 14, with a
number of penitents at the altar. We had a
few accessions and some conversions. This
church is only ab'jt three miles from the
school house appointment. The rainy weath
er interfered with us here, but the brethren
and sisters have been much blessed, and say
the fruits of these labors will be gathered
still more abundantly. Good Brother Her
long was with me, exhorting and praying.
The Lord reward him abundantly. To sum
up: We have had in all, up to this time, over
seventy accessions to the Church and more
than that number of conversions. To God
be all the praise. Thos. J. Clyde.
Batesburg, Sept. 1877.
Monticello Circuit, North Georgia
Conference. —Rev. A. Gray writes Sept. 20:
There are many deserving men and women,
in Jasper county, who love God and his
Church, and are laboring zealously from
year to year to promote its inte r ests. In
answer to the prayers of God’s people, the
Church to some extent has been revived.
Sinners have been awakened, and some haae
been converted within the last few weeks.
Twenty-four persons have made a profession
of faith, and have been received into the
Church. I was assisted in our meeting by
brothers Pennington, Hume, Cook, and
Owen, from the local ranks, and brother
John W. Knight, of the Conference. May
God bleu these brethren.
PDLUME XL., NO. 41,
TO THE PREACHERS OF THE SOUTH
GEOBGIA CONFERENCE.
Dear Brethren: Allow me to call your
attention to the 16th item of the duty of
“Preachers in charge of circuits and sta
tions,” which requires that “a written report
of the condition of all the claimants on the
Conference Collection within his pastoral
charge be made, at each Annual Conference,
to the Joint Board of Finance.” Your at
tention to this dnty is of g(eat importance to
the Board of Finance in making a just distri
bution of tbe fnnd turned over to them. It
is often claimed by some brother that our
report is defective; and this defect grows out
of a want of correct information, which wa
now seek. Sometimes it happens that some
superanuated preacher, or a widow of some
deceased preacher, complains that full justice
has not been done. If this allegation is true,
it is because our information has been in
correct. We therefore request all claimants
on the Conference Collection, who may Hee
this notice, to give ns a report of their cir
cumstances and necessities that we may do
ample justice to all.
The above is part of the appeal of Rev.
C. W. Key, of the North Georgia Confer
ence. I address it to our own Conference,
and urge every one to take heed tothethings
therein contained. Press your collections
lor those aged servants of the Church, and
for the widows and orphans. Times are
hard, and therefore the greater the necessity
for an enlarged collection to meet their wants.
Let us make an earnest effort to secure their
claims. The Financial Board will need all
the money they can get, as well as the infor
mation sought. S. S. Sweet,
Treas. Joint Board Finance.
WHO ARE CLAIMANTS UPON THE
‘•CONFERENCE COLLECTIONS I”
Dear Bro. Kennedy: The pressing call
of the Chairman of our North Georgia Con
ference Joint Board of Finance to “the
preachers in charge of circuits and stations
for a written report of all the claimants on
the Conference collection within his pastor
al charge” to be presented to the Board at
the next session of the Conference —is but a
compliance with the law of the Church, and
it is hoped that,delicate as the discharge of the
duty is, an honest inquiry will be instituted
into “the pecuniary circumstances of the
usual claimants on the Conference funds”
—Disp. 162.
I might stop here, bat for a remark of the
Chairman’s having reference to a faot of
frequent occurrence when the report of the
Joint Board upon these claimants is made.
He sayß: ‘lt is often claimed by some broth
er that onr report is defective, and this de
fect grows out of a want of correct informa
tion, which we now seek.” No doubt the
Board is often perplexed by the failure of
those to inform them who have or might
command the needed information. One of
the reasons for this failure to supply infor
mation is that an impression has been made
that but little attention is paid to the rule of
the Discipline by the Hoard in the distribution
of the Conference fund. That an opinion
rules the action of the Board, namely: All
are claimants ; but that, if some must be set
aside in order to get the Conference to
adopt the report of the Board—such as are
acknowledged by the Couference to be clai
mants, are to draw from the Conference col
lections net alone, “according to their (the
Board’s) best judgment of their several ne
cessities,” but of their several necessitiea
viewed through the distorting medium of
the number of years that each claimant
was able actively to work in the itinerant
ministry. In other words, that bona, mus
cle, and power to endnre, must receive a
premium at the hands ot the Church,
whilst a life ever so consecrated, but in •
Brail tabernacle, must suffer a discount, what
ever may be its necessities. When it be
comes apparent that the Board is willing to
administer the law—not as it construes it,
but as the.Discipline‘(construed by a presid*
ing Bishop at Augusta in 1870,) directs, then
there will be more tolerance of mere delects
in the action of the Board —and “some
brother” at least, one brother will be reliev
ed from the discharge of a very unpleasant
duty, the discharge of which has been
extremely painful, because of the opposition
and sensitiveness of the Board, and the deli
cacies involved in discussing individual clai
mants in open Conference.
Justice to the Board requires, and it gives
me pleasure to say, that it has yielded some
what to Conference action and Episcopal
construction of law.
Whenever the day comes that every pas
tor can declare, without mental reservation
or publicly stated qualification, that none
but necessitous claimants draw from the Con
ference collections, that the collections are
divided among them in strict accordance
with “their several necessities,” a rapid ap
proximation will be made toward giving
these unfortunate, but noble men, and the
widows and orphans of our deceased breth
ren, all that the Board asks the Church for.
The Conference collections are made, not
to pay debts long due the preaohers, nor so
many years’ of service rendered the Church,
but to assist in the support of those wha
through failure of health,|or burden of years,
are no longer able to work for the Church, or
for themselves, and to save from want the
precious widows and orphans of .those who
have died.
I do not suppose that a preacher, or a wid
ow, or an orphan, must be a pauper in order
to draw from these funds, but I am sure,
from Episcopal decision, the action ot the
last Generaal Conference, and the letter of
the law, that those who have ample means
have no claims, and that no claim is based
upon length of active service, but solely upon
“the necessities" of the claimant.
I would be far from reflecting upon the
integrity of the honored brethren who com
pose our Joint Board of Finance, but the
trouble is that “one convinced against his
will, is of the same opinion still,” that the
last thing except life, that we surrender, is
our opinion^.
Your brother, H. J. Adams.
Sparta, Ga., Oct. 5, 1877.
Hampton, North Georgia Conference.
Rev. Thomas R. Kendall writes Sept. 26:
I have but recently closed the series of meet
ings begun on my work the first of July—
having had a meeting at each church from
one to three weeks' duration. God met
with us in great power at every place. The
entire circuit has been gloriously revived,
and our numbers considerably increased in
conversions and accessions.
Dublin Circuit, South Georgia Confer
ence.—Rev, E. M. Whiting writes Septem
ber 24: We have held four other meetings on
the circuit. The last, which promised most
gracious results, was interrupted by rain,
and discontinued. Sixty-six have united
with the Church, and wq are told of others
who will join on my n'ext round. Every
where the great majority of the converts were
from the membership. Our meetings have
been blessings to the whole country.
White Plains, North Georgia Confer
ence.—Rev. W. P. Lovejoy writes: I am
now holding my last protracted meeting for
this year. The Church all over the Circuit
has been much blessed. About thirty-five
souls have been converted, and thirty added
to the Church. The meeting at this place
(White Plains) has been in progress ten days.
Six have applied for membership; more have
been converted. We do not eee the end