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sju%rn Christian Rotate.
MACON, GEORGIA.FEBRUARY 26.1878
THAT “ ECUMENICAL GENERAL CON
FERENCE.”
One of the journals of the Northern Meth
odist Church, copies entire our brief article
on this subject, and says:
The above is a remarkable paper -more
surprising than the thirty one propositions
of “ Georgia.” The suggestion for an Ecu
m-nical Methodist Conference was first made
by the Methodist Protestant, of Baltimore.
The General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in 1876 favored the eng
gestion and appointed a committee. But
that was with a view of an un official gather
ing of members of all of the Methodist bodies
in the world without any legislative or dis
ciplinary power, merely for the purpose of
cultivating lraternal fellowship and Christian
co-operation. Some, in the M. E. Church,
South, have sought to lake advantage of the
n,ea-ure to promote sectionalism and the
dismemberment of the Methodist Episcopal
Church and its exclusion from the Southern
Sta’es. Such an ecumenical Conference as
is now proposed by Dr. Summers and oth
ers, with a design of adopting and enforcing
the fundamental ideas of the resolutions of
Dr. Capers in 1844 has never been dreamed
of by any one outside of the M. E. Church,
South, and will be opposed by the whole
mass of 400 000 members of the Methodist
Ep.scopal Church in the Southern States.
Is it not becoming clear that the underlying
purpose of these effor's is to put the Metho
dist Episcopal Church in a false light before
the people of the South? In the above it is
said that the article of “Georgia” has been
extensively published in the organs of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Will that pa
per please tell us when, or in what organs?
This ecumenical business, on the part oi the
M. E. Church, South, is, to say the least,
very extraordinary. Time will show what
it means.
What there was in our utterance to excite
the editor's wonder, we fail to discover
either in the article itself, or from his com
ments upon it.
Th 9 Ecumenical General Conference, a
plan for which was elaborated in “ Geor
gia’s ” article, was a wholly distinct and dif
ferent thing from the general love-feast ar.
rangement proposed by the Methodist Pro
testant, and was suggested years before that
as the nearest, possible approximation to the
“ organic union,” seemingly, so ardently
desired by our Northern brethren. Ignor
ance of this generally well known fact, may,
perhaps, account for the “remarkable”
character of our article, to this editor’s ap
prehension. We ore conscious of no sinis
ter motive. We seek no advantage of our
brethren, in the approval we give to any
scheme for a limited co ordinate jurisdiction
in a Council formed by the two great bodies
of Episcopal Methodism in the United States.
In common, as we believe, with ninety-nine
hundreths of the ministry and membership
of our Church, we are unalterably opposed
to organic union with the M. E. Church.
But, H3 there are antagonisms and wastages
growing out of the maintainance of both or
ganizations in the same territory, we would
regard lavorably some judicious arrange
ni nt b> which this state of things could be
terminated. This much, and no more.
As o the information for which we are
caiied upon, we have only to say that our
remark was based upon the general impres
sion received from giai cing lhrough our
Northern Methodist exchanges. Some of
them published the article altnr st entire, if
not complete ; others made liberal extracts,
embracing the features of the plan ; while
others still, commented upon it. aud thusin-
C'denialty gave the salient points ol the arti
cle. We made no note of the matter, but
among the journals m which we remember to
have se-n notices, more or less full, of
“ Georgia's ” article are, The Northern
Christian Advocate. The Central Christian
The Sew York Me'hodist, aud
Pl 'Son's Herald The first two of these are
official papers of the M. E. Church, and the
last two are among its most distinguished
representative journals, though not publish
ed by the Book Concern.
But our faith in the practicability of es
tablishing at an early day, an equitable
scheme of operations in the nature of the
proposed Ecumenical General Conference is
too feeble to entice us into an animated die
cussion of the matter. The temper and
tone of the above extract —at least so far as
the writer represents his people —abundantly
illustrates the propriety of our remark, that
“ there must be a wonderful subsidence of
suspicion, distrust, and rivalry, before any
such bond of co operative work as an Ecu
menical General Conference would afford,
can be established, and past history is not
inspiring to the hope that this will soon come
about."
THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.
This noblest of Christian enterprises, out
side of the Church itself is pressingly in need
of funds for carrying on its benevolent ope
rations upon the munificent scale which has
characterized it for many years past. The
fields for its benign operations are constantly
widening, and the appeals for its benefac
tions are correspondingly increasing; but un
fortunately, from one cause aud another, the
infiux of means for grasping these multiply
ing opportunities to disseminate the pure
word of God, seems to be growing feebler.
In the interest of this well managed and most
successful agency of evangelization, we ex
press the earnest hope tha; this state of
things may soon be changed, and that no
minor interest will be permitted to crowd the
claims of the Bible Society out of the sympa
thies, or rob them of the financial support,
of the evangelical denominations of the coun
try. The Society has done, and is still doing,
a glorious work in spreading the tight ot the
knowledge of the glory of God. Let us see
to it that it is not forced to contract its oper
ations for want of the funds indispensable to
carry them on. All the Conferences served
by this paper, if we remember aright, have
pledged themselves to promote the interests
of this venerable and efficient organization.
The time seems to have come, when there is
urgent need that these promises should
crystalize into practical relief. Let the
brethren redeem their pledges, by raising
aud sending forward all the help they cun.
We copy, of our own motion, on our first
page, an appeal in behalf of this great inter
est from the January number of the Bible
Society Record, which we commend to the
caretul peru-al of all our readers.
Heresy —We notice, from Zion a Herald,
that tbf Rev. Arthur P. Adams, a pastor in
the M. E. Church, has been formally suspen
ded fr m the exercise of his ministerial func
tions and Church privileges, until the next
session of the Conference of which he is a
member,for disseminating doctrines contrary
to the Articles of Religion of the M. E.
Church. Th Herald characterizes the par
ticular variety of heresy promulgated by the
erring bro her as ,l a peculiar compound of
Plymouth Brethrenism, Old Millerism, and
Restorationism—transferring the efficiency
of the redemption scheme almost wholly be
yond the second advent of Christ, because
Christ cannot be a completed Saviour until
after the resurrection. Bro. Adam3 holds
that the second advent is at hand—recently
saying in a sermon to his people that it would
occur “before the sun crosses the vernal
equinox.”
When preachers get their brains so obfus
cated .with the vagaries and speculations
in the realm of the unrevealed,
hold their tongues, they
■to hold a commission to teach
• _*d and maintain-
ed to defend and propagate the faith once
delivered to the saints. Exit Mr. Adams, to
join the army of martyrs (1) who have suffer
ed similar decapitation.
VERY GOOD SUGGESTION’S.
A clerical friend in Florida sends us a let
ter, which, from some internal evidences, e
judge to be private, and therefore, do not
publish it in full, and also omit the name.
But, as the publica'ion of a liberal portion of
it, may prove profitable to correspondents as
well as editor, we give the letter, with some
abridgement, to our readers, in this place:
Dear Brother Kennedy, I do not wish to
advise, but to suggest-, and I do so in_ the
hope of increasing the interest in the Advo
cate, and popularizing it in the Florida Con
ference. Ido not mean that it is not, in a
degree, popular now; but, by adopting the
measure which I herein propose, I think it
would be more sought after and prized, in
this section, at least. The suggestion is thiß:
Have a column, or so much as may be neces
sary, devoted to each ot the patronizinsr Con
ferences, under appropriate headings. Under
the captian Florida, let all items of interest
relating to our Church and her work in this
Conference, in crisp, sententious form, be
placed; and so of the other Conferences. 1
do not mean advertisements—let these be
published as heretofore. Solicit imformation
from all sections, cull from what comes to
hand, and put in, in terse form, that which
is suitable. Under this arrangement, the
preachers in the respective Conferences
would see to it that all items of interest were
furnished you at the earliest practicable mo
ment.
I know it would add to your editorial
labors, but I think it would be labor profit
ably expended. If it should crowd out the
diffuse and detailed letters of small travellers,
filled with minuti® of no earthly interest to
anybody save the persons named, and, if not
offensive to their delicacy of feeling, minis
tering to a petty vanity that had better be
repressed than fostered—l say, if this were
all crowded out, or boiled down to a simple
paragraph announcement, no harm would be
done, and the interest of the paper to the
mass of subscribers would be proportionality
increased. Personal writing is growing into
a vice. News—news of the Church, her
work, her defects and triumphs, her methods
of labor, etc., etc.—is always of interest and
profit to the reader.
We receive a great deal of advice, hut sel
dom an instalment that falls in so fully as
the above with the convictions of our own
judgment. So far as it is practicable we
shall be glad to adopt the suggestions of our
friend. The additional laborit might involve,
would be the least formidable and most
cheerfully assumed consequence of a rigid
adherence to such a course. But the trouble
is, the constituency of this, as of every other
religious newspaper, compasses a vast variety
of taßtes as well as orders ol talent, and the
occupant of the tripod, must strive to min'
ister, in some part of his paper, to the de
mands of every class. If the reader finds
something not adapted to his taste, or even
repugnant to it, let him generously solace
himself with the thought that it will suit
somebody, and pass to something else. The
editor must carefully and conscientiously
exercise his judgment as to what he admits
nto his paper and what he excludes from it;
but he ought to be guarded lest he applv too
r gidly the requirements of his own tas'e
From various considerations which seem to us
controlling, we disallow a great deal of ‘copy’’
which is kindly furnished us; but at the same
time, for equally cogent reasons, we publish
not a little, which we hand to the printer with
as much reluctance, as a penurious Church
member does his assessment loan urgent stew
ard. There are insuperable obstacles to the
realization of one’s ideal of a religious news
paper, which no one, save the editor him
self, can accurately apprecia'e and know.
We fall far short of making such a paper as
we would like to have; still, the failure is not
without honest and canstant effort to con
sider the wants of all subscribers, and so to
divide the matter that esch may receive his
portion in every issue. We shall be thank
tul for such assistance from our brethren o*
the several Conferences as our correspondent
pledges; and, if they will send us the “items"’
we will cheerfully perform whatever labor
may be requisite for presenting them “in
terse and sententious form. ”
THE WORK OF THE DESTROYER.
Our exchanges come to us freighted with
intelligence of heavy losses to the Church,
from the ranks of its ministry and educators.
The Associated Press dispatches of the past
week announce the death on February 10th,
of Rev. Dabney Ball, D. D., a leading and
most influential member of the Baltimore
Conference, who, at the time of bis death
was the presiding elder of the East Baltimore
District of that Conference.
The Nashville Advocate announces the
death from pneumonia, February 14, of Rev.
B. B. Ross, a prominent member of the Al
abama Conference, and at the time of his
death holding by appoin'ment of the Bishop,
a professorship in the Alabama Agricultural
and Mechanical College.
The same paper contains intelligence of the
death, Febrnary 11th, of the Rev. Dr Wills,
President of Central College, Mo., and for
many years one of the foremost men of the
Church in that region. The vacancy in the
College created by his death, has been filled
by the election of Rev. F. X. Foster, origi
nally from South Carolina, and for some
time a professor in the Wesleyan Female
College of Macon, Georgia.
From the New Orleans Advocate we re
ceive information ot the death from pnen
monia, on the 29th of January, of Rev. John
C- Miller, President of Soule University.
Texas, of whom Dr. Parker says, “Bro. Mil
ler was a good preacher, an experienced
educator, and a man of untiring energy. His
death will be a heavy blow to the University,
and a great loss to the Church.”
Truly, the great Reaper has been busy of
late among those who were successfully pros
ecuting the educational work of the Church !
May the successors of these fallen standard
bearers in the march of sanctificed culture,
prove worthy of the responsible positions to
which they are called through these afflictive
providences.
SHORT LESSONS ON COMMON WORDS.
PRACTICAL.
I may as well confess to a prejudice
against the word practical, as used by some
speakers and writers. It is not a pleasant
announcement, “ I will make a few practi
cal remarks.” The few, if honestly carried
out, will do very well indeed. But theprac
tical, is often a refuge for the idle or incom
petent. It is by no means so easy to be
practical. “I do not flatter myself that 1
can give anything edifying or instructive, but
of course I can be practical. Everybody,
however idle, or barren, has an indefinite
amount of the practical to draw from, at a
moment’s notice 1" Let the young speaker
beware of promising anything practical, as
he avoids promising a few eloquent, instruct
ive, or edifying remarks. We fear, over
many a dead prayer meeting may be in
scribed, “ Killed by practical remarks .”
The young preacher may let his hours for
thoughtful preparation run by unimproved,
and vainly hope by a show of the practical
to cover, or excuse, his want of definite, in
dividual, fairly gained material. To mould or
change the practice of a single human being
is an achievement for good or ill. Vague,
undiluted, unmitigated commonplace, is not,
and cannot be, practical.
If you still persist in using this word has
tily, or lazily, it will be a melancholy proof
that this short article was written in vain.
To you, at least, it has not been practical.
C.
A Provoking Blunder. —In reading over
D; Carlisle’s article, after the ontside of the
paper the press, we dis-
SOUTHERN CII 111 rf T I V N ADVOCATE
covered the omission of aline, which so seri
ously obscures the sense that we make the
correction here, hoping that readers of the
article will note it. After the words “If
we,” which close the nineteenth line from
the end of the ariicle, supply “ can. with un
questioning confidence, infer anything,”
Bishop Pierce, as we learn from onr
Northern M-jtnodist exchanges, has been on
a visit to Newark, New Jersey, and partici
pated prominently in the anniversary jubi
lee of the dedication of St. Paul’s Method
ist Church of that city, whose dedication ser
mon he delivered twenty five years ago. The
Bishop, we learn who was to have addressed
the New York Preachers’ Meeting on the
18th instant., notified them by telegraph of
his inability to fill the engagement in conse
quence of illness We have had no definite
information, hut sincerely hope that his in
disposition was temporary, and that he will
return to us, invigorated rather than dam
aged by his visit.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
Reflections of a Recluse. By Rev. R.
W. Memminger, A M. Philadelphia:
Claxton, liemson & Baffelfiuger. Cloth,
186 pages.
This is an exceedingly interesting series of
essays, written by the author during a sum
mer vacation, and under the stimulating in
spiration of the magnificent mountain scene
ry of Western North Carolina. Very natural
ly, a mind like Mr. Memminger’s amid such
surroundings of the grand in nature, revels
in thoughts of “greatness,” and this furnishes
the dominant theme of his book. His defi
nition of greatness is “the infinite in process
of realization;” and in his analysis of great
ness, he indicates the several qualities which
he regards as indespensable to its attain
ment by the individual. The essays on
“Self Culture” and “The Art of Thinking”
are judicious and well worthy of careful con
sideration. Mr. Memminger worthily takes
rank as an accurate and critical thinker of
high order, while his style of writing is grace
ful and attractive. In this work, which will
materially enlarge his reputation in the lit
erary world, he presents his essays in the
form of discourses, reproduced from the
lips of an imaginary recluse, whom the au
thor is to be presumed to have accidentally
discovered among the solitudes of this moun
tain region.
At Eventide. By Nehemiah Adams. D. D..
Senior Pastor of Union Church, Boston,
Mass Boston; 1) Lotbrop & Cos., Frank
lin street, corner of Hawley. Cloth. 278
pages. Price, $1.25.
This is a handsome volume, containing
tif een edifying and interesting discourses,
prepared and delivered by the venerable au
thor, near the close of an active and fruitful
ministry of nearly fifty years. Embodying
th matured thought and ripe religious ex
perience of one who has stood so long, with
unblemished character and unfl igging zeal,
upon the walls of Z ; on, these discourses are
eminenily well fitted to awaken, instruct en
courage, and comfort; and we earnestly hope
that the signal u-i-fulness of the learned and
devoted preacher may be perp-tnated by
means of this publication long after he has en
tered upon the rewards of his consecrated and
laborious life Tne sermons owe their appear
ance in this form, we are told in ihe preface
to the request of ten pastors of Churches in
Charleston, S. C., from whose pa 1 pits most
of the sermons were delivered, while the au
ihor was on a visit to his son, in 1873.
The Combination Almanac-Calendar —
Ephemeris Edition.
Of the almost innumerable styles of calen
dars flooding the country in these latter
times, we regard theonenamedabove,i-i every
respect, incomparably the handsomest, full
est, and best. Its typography illustrates the
perfection of the art; its arrangement can
not be improved upon for simplicity and
clearness; while the condensation of astro
uomical, meteoralogicai, and general infor
mation, in the space it occupies, is some
thing wonderful. The business man will find
it invaluable iu his counting room or office,
and it will prove most convenient and ser
viceable in the family. Send 24 cents in
stamps to Garret Bergen, Fulton, corner
Front street, Brooklyn, N. Y., and get a
copy.
Vital Magnetism. New York: Adams,
Victor & Cos., 98 William Street.
The design of this work is to show the po
tency of this agent in the control of disease,
and to give a clear statement of such facts
as have been developed by those who have
employed it under the various names of An
imal Magnetism, Mesmerism, Hypnotism,
etc., from the earliest times down to the
present. As stated in the announcement of
the book, '’The volume is stuffed with facts,
giving to theory and speculation upon the
nature of the principle and its phenomena,
but one chapter—the object being to present
the subject of Vital Magnetism iu its prac
tical, efficient, and determinant aspect.” It
is well worth the attention of the medioal
profession.
Lippincott’s Magazine. The March num
ber, handsomely illustrated, contains the
following interesting matter:
With the Russians in Bulgaria ; Glimpses
of Sweden; “For Percival ” —A Novel;
The Ironsides at Fort Fisher; MissTwillo’s
Coronations—A Story ; The Withered Chap
let; The Strange Story of Paul Scarron ;
Jack and Mrs. Brown—A Story ; Europe’s
New Coal Field ; “Without Inscription”;
Winter Night; Small Farce and Comedy ;
Our Monthly Gossip ; Literature of the Day.
The serial story, “ For Percival,” having
been commenced in October, the numbers
for Oclober, November, and December will
be furnished gratuitously to subscribers for
1878, thus giving the value of $5 for $4.
The Westminster Review, Republished by
the Leonard Scott Publishing Company,
41 Barclay St., New York contains the
following articles for January :
Democracy in Europe; Charlotte Bronte ;
The Education of Girls: Their Admissibili
ty to Universities; Lessing: His Life and
Writings; The Indian Famine: How Dealt
With in Western Tndia; Charles Sumner;
The Telephone; India and Our Colonial
Empire; Contemporary Literature The
ology, Philosophy, Politics. Sociology, Voy
ages and Travels, History and Biography,
Belles Lettres, Miscellanea.
MR.JOSEPH COOK'S “LECTURESHIP.”
Since they began to publish Mr Joseph
Cook’s Boston lectures, we have been read
ing them—not all, but most of them. Some
ol them we have read with delight; some of
them with interest; some of them with pro
fit ; seme of them with sorrow. Mr. Cook
is unquestionably a man of great gifts and
large and varied resources. He is also a
man of power, else he could not gather,
week after week, such crowds as fill his lec
ture room in Boston, Nor would leading
papers copy right his lectures. Nor would
so many thousands read them. Some of his
lectures could hardly be matched—for range
ol thought, subtility of analysis, and power
of expression. He has made some masterly
arguments in defense of religion, andhasde
livered some heavy blows upon the arrogant
brow of atheistic science. He has repeatedly
thrown the enemy upon the defensive. Oc
casionally he has stormed his very citadel.
We believe Mr. Cook has “ a mission”—
and we think he has done good service for
the common cause—the canse of humanity,
for the Christian religion is the last hope of
the world.
But there are some things that even Mr.
Cook cannot understand, much less explain.
It is not to his discredit. Were he ten times
the man he is, he could not understand or
explain them. Were he an archangel, ami
could understand them, he could not explain
them to ordinary mortals Npf K> extraor- 1
dinsry mortals.
Mr. Cook’s lecture, delivered Monday,*
January 7, on “ Darwin on ihe Origin o f the
Conscience.” is a splendid specimen of his
work. It is a Darwin-crusher. It leaves
not an inch of ground for the great naturalist 1
tostandupon. But January 21 he undertook!
a very different task. The general theme was j
“Marriage and Hereditary Descent;” th&J
special theme, what me may call “The or's-i*
gin of souls,” for he asks, When and howJ
do souls originate? and undertakes to anj
swer. The lecture contains many striking”
thoughts nobly expressed, but, we venture
to say, it is, nevertheless a sad failure. He
does not explain the mystery. His illustra
tions do not illustrate. They need illnstra
tion also. Although he uses “Beale’s Facts
in Biology” and “Lotze’s Philosophy,” hei
does not give us light. He spikes the guns ■
of the naturalists effectively enough. To do j
that is one thing ; to tell the “when” and
the “how” of the origin of human souls is
another matter. Even Mr. Cook has not]
solved the wise Solomon’s riddle. His defi- j
nitions, and categories, and marshalled pro {
positions and “illustrations,” do not define
the undefinable, explain the inexplicable,
simplify the mysterious. The lecture is sat-j
urated with learning as it is misty withnebu-1
loub metaphysics. It seems to the eye to be
profound. No doubt his hearers thought it J
abysmal in its depth; it is certainly so in itsl
darkness. It is Christopher North whoFaysJ
in one place, that the water in a mud-hole
may seem to the eye as fathomless as a moun
tain tarn. Mr. Cook’s lecture ou the ori
gin of sonls reminds ns of Christopher’s
illustration. ,
We do not propose to prove the correct
ness of our estimate by citations. There
is not room for the whole lecture and Mr.
Cook complains with justice that mere ex-,
tracts misrepresent him. We are satisfied
that those who have read the lecture
see our point without citations.
What is our purpose in this article ? To say
that we are afraid Mr. Cook does more harm,
than good when he undertakes to explain
the profoundest spiritual truths by meta ,
physico-scientific definitions and illustra
tions. Such lectures as this lecture on the
origin of souls, will not, we fear, confirm]!
the believer or convince the doubter. We
are afraid that Mr. Cook will presently*
attack with metaphysics-science the doc->
trine of the Trinity ; that he will undertake
to illustrate the divine hypostases.
We have profound respect for Mr. CookW|
gifts, learning and character —so far as wN?
know his character. The Church has a com -
mon interest in him and his work. Wehop
he will live long and do valiant service foTr
our Lord and Master. But let us not dam
age our cause by rushing to the conclusion
that, these Monday lectures are about to sup
plant all preceding Christian apologetics.—
Or that Mr. Cook is an oracie; or that he is
about to give the Church any new doctrines.
There is one harassing fear —that imitators
will rise here and there to ravage the Churtbr'
with crude speculations ou subjects they do
not understand. If Mr. Cook is truly called
ou to explain by science indefinable thingf.
we conclude that nobody tdse is called. It
he can’t, common met need not, try; if he
can, common men may leave the glory of thq
achievement to him.
One other thing has given us anxiety. W-4
•ear that Mr. Cook is becoming dizzy. If it
increase it wiil be vertigo, and we shall hav?
a fall. We have a learned friend who calif
it “subjectivity.” There are other name:
for it, but one cannot invent a name so
phonious as to redeem it from disagreeables
ness. And this is so djMl
gerous. Sometimes it estops clear and strong
thinking.
Mr. Cook is recognized as a power. H
has many eyes and ears at his command.
May his power be wisely used. H.
Oxford.
SEEMAN’S MYTHOLOGY.
We have been for some time looking for a
book like this. It is small, cheap, well-done.
It is a 16mo. of 311 pages, and will be sen!
to any addresss, post paid, for 70 cents, by
the publishers, Harper A Brothers, New
York. We give the full title page :
“ The Mythology of Greece and Rome,
with special reference to its use in art. fronj
the German of 0. Seeman. Edited by G.
H. Biancbe, B. A., Late Scholar of St. Pe
ter's College. Cambridge, Brotherton San
skrit Pregiman, 1875.”
The work contains 64 illustrations, mostly
engravings from antique sculpture, begin
ning with “ Head of Niobe,” Florence, as
frontispiece. Nearly all the gods, goddesses
demi gods,and the heroes are here, in letteri
press and engraving.
The arrangement is good. Thus : Part ii
Cosmogony and Theogony. Part 11. ThJ
Gods. 1. Gods of Olympus, Superior anq.
Secondary. 2. Gods of the Seas and Wa
ters. 3. Gods of the earth and lower world,
4. Roman deities of the house and family.
Part 111. The Heroes. There is a full al
phabetical, pronouncing index.
The following paragraph from the preface
to the Harpers’ edition states the case:
“ There has long been a want of a book
which should, in a moderate compass, give
clear and readable account of these legends:
for Dictionaries of Mythology do not give a
view of the subject as a whole ; and the
price of most other works on the Greek anff
Roman myths would prevent their being
used as class-books.”
Most teachers have realized both these
difficulties: the Classical Lexicons cost too
much for the students and they are unfit for
text-books. Even as books of reference
they are often unsatisfactory even to teach
ers —much more eo to students. As to the
uses of each books and studies the preface
justly:
The works of art in our galleries ano
museums require a certain amount of knowl
edge of the mythology of the Greeks and
Romans for the full appreciation of their
subjects. There is hardly any literature in
Europe which has not been more or less col
ored by these legends; and in our own day
their power to inspire the poet has by no
means closed. Nay, they have incorporated
themselves into our very language.”
One of the moat important reasons, the
translator does not mention: We never know
what Christianity has done for us till we
know what delusious filled the mind3 of the
cultivated nations of antiquity. No man
can fully appreciate the Christian Church,
till he knows whut a heathen temple signi
fied. One of the good points in Seeman's
book is, he tells us what the legenas of my-,
thology signified to those who believed them.
For there was vastly more in them than the 1
romance of the story. They expressed the
beliefs of the greatest nations of the ancient'
world and largely shaped their character. l
For the religious is the most controllings
among the influences that make nations asm
races what they are.
Seeman’s Mythology is just the thing for
our students—in its size, price, arrangement,
and style. Teachers will find it useful.!
Preachers who wish to know something on, 1
these subjects would do well to procure this)
book.
One other point: there is less in its lan-!
guage to offend modesty than moßt books wej,
have seen on these subjects. Indeed,
may say this book is clean.
In this connection we mention “ Harper’s
Half-Hour Series,” a little ■
150 pages, paper backs, costing 25 cents,
i We have three of the series, and find them
crammed full of information. Here are,
.Primer of (xreek Literature.” “A
F Primer of Latin Literature. ” and “ Univer
hsity Life in Ancient Athens.” There is
ftaore scholarly information in these pages
._'han can be found in many much larger and
buostlier publications. They would serve ad
mi-ably for a short course oflessons. They
be very useful to those who have
j time nor money for larger books.
_ H.
1 LETTER FROM MRS. BRANCH.
\ Dear Doctor: May 1 hope that you will
the inclination which urges me to
write more about our new home, and that
you will forgive me if my mind runs out of
(the old ruts ? Other and abler pens have
the handsome buildings and beau
"ties of this truly charming city ; I cannot
niope to improve upon these notes, but per
hhaps the thoughts which are awakened by
| what I see all about me in these novel sur
■roundings, may prove of some interest to
Ithose who read what I write. Let me begin
at home.
k From our eyrie I look down across the
street, over a long low row of conservatory
buildings. That is the way our house fronts,
.anditisthe “sunny side.” How glad lam
W*at there is not opposite us a high row of dark
buildings to shat out the light. As it
Ythe sun peeps at us through the leaves of
the many beautiful tree s which adorn our
street, and he smiles back at us as his morn
ing beams kiss the hundreds of window panes
which are upturned to the sky. The pretty
geraniums and shrubs we cau see through
the glasses, almost delude me inlo thinking
-that we are out in the country. It looks so
inviting over there that it will be well to go
“down and look inside. Before we desceud,
let me state, that, while there are some ob
jections to living so near the stars, there
are also some advantages to be gained from the
elevation. The “fourth,” as we have dubbed
that portion of the house which is highest,
proved a very useful institution on one occa
sion. Lee has a great, ambition to drum, as
the soldiers do in the barracks, which are
very near to us, and Frank has offered to
leach him. The dining room, where they
began the lessons on one cold morning
lately (bringing into use Lee’s little Christ
mas drum), was not a suitable place, so l
bani-hed them to the backyard, away down
below; blue hands and noses soon sent them
running in again. This time I conceived a
happy thought, and cried out, “ Oh, go up
to ihe fourth.” They ascended with speed;
and while the delightfully mellowed sounds
came to onr ears, I realized with gratitude
that we had an eyrie.
There is still an other and better use for that
portion of the house. The pastor’s study,
which has been a roving institution for years,
has at. last found anchorage, and a safe one.
People that never look at the clock, and want
to know the >ime all through the day, cannot
call out to him so easily now, nor reach him
when three flights of steps rise between.
But, let us away oat into the sunshine
We have only to take a few steps when we
are overshadowed hy tall, luxuriantly leaved
forest trees. Very many of them ke-'p their
rich-tinted leaves all through the winter
Hre is a young magnolia just at the donrs
of Noble's Gardens When it blossoms we
can enjoy the fragrance and beauty of the
blooms from our own windows; and here are
’ the rare plants all about us as we enter. One
can scarcely miss a flower garden with such
(surroundings. Hare are gold fish in globes,
and stuffed animals, and birds, and on an -
other side are pretty varieties of fern grow
ing. How they remind me of my rambles
over the hills of California! But what is it
I see among these stuffed birds —a Califor
nia quail 1 Ah! rate bird, I have seen you
before. You have a pensive look even in
death—perhaps it is owing to your romantic
hist'ry. This bird was one of six, which were
our ieilow-travelers, all the way from beyond
the Rocky Mountains. They were memen
toes given us at parting, and were once roam
ing the hills and valleys near Santa R isa.
The boys always seemed to regard these pets
with a mist ire of pleasure and of pain, for
they are all of the wild woods that they can
cheri hnow. Charlie had them under his
special wing. They attracted a great deal of
attention all along our route. Upon one oc
casion, a lady asked many questions of him,
and finally brought a flaming color to his
face by asking, “ Did you run away and go
to California?" His appealing look toward
me caused me to explain. One of the moun
tain quail (we had only a pairof them) made
his escape through the bars of the cage, and
A found him perched on the back of my seat
in the cars. At my exclamat'ou Mr. Branch
caught him, but one of his wings received a
bruise which made it droop a little. A few
weeks since it was taken with lockjaw and
died. Mr. Noble has preserved it, and there
it will stand when we, perhaps, are far away
on our itinerant career. If any of onr friends
visit this place and go into Noble’s Gardens,
let them look kindly on onr lost pet. The
other five are there also, and rejoice in a large
wire cage, about eight feet square. They
have plenty of room to whir about, and I
imagine, by their happy looks, they scarcely
mis3 their native air.
Bat, let us away ont into the square, which
is just in front of us. What a blessing these
many squares are to this city I I do not
know what the poor babies would do if it
were not for the sun-baths they take in them
while their nurses are together discussing the
latest style 1
We pas3 on through the square into Bull
street. The children say this is the most
fashionable promenade. I noticed that the
stream of pedestrians seethed to be all on
one side. “ Why is this ?” I asked. “Oh,”
said one of the children, “ they say over
there is the ten cents sidewalk —this is the
two dollar walk.”
In my amazement I looked at both sides
and saw that the elegantly dressed- ladies and
gentlemen were all going together; then
there were Irish women and cooks, auu some
few innocent looking strangers, opposite It
was time for reflec’.on. Just then an elegant
vehicle swept past, A stately couple sat
upon the satin cushions of the phaeton, and
the driver looked to me like an animated
mummy, with his limbs swaddled in the car
riage blanket. He was dressed in livery, so
was the chimney-sweep, who came rollicking
down the ten-cent walk with his long black
cap streaming in the breeze. He showed us
his white teeth when he saw us laughing at
him. How merry he looked I Ido not
know who was the most delighted last week,
the boys who swept our chimney or th° boys
who first beheld the wonderful exploit. It
was a memorable occasion at the parsonage.
Another vehicle attracts onr attention as it
passes by. It is a small cart drawn by a fat
white donkey, and on the high seat are two
children—a boy and girl—both wearing sailor
hats, and both sacking pieces of molasses
candy.
It iB pleasant to look upon the merry chil
dren, for one’s eyes almost ache after watch
ing the ever passing stream of black-robed
females who appear upon the streets here.
It reminds me of a procession of friars I saw
pictured once. lam glad when Mr. Branch
leads me away, out into the park, which is
somewhat out of the bustling busy city.—
What a sweet feeling of rest comes OTer us
jas we walk about among these trees! The
! fonnta’n in the midst, and the japonicas and
well trimmed hedges, are all very comely
hu give me the grass and the trees that God
has made just so. 1 never weary of them.
We wander on outside, for we are attract
ed by a large monument, which looms up,
lonely and grand, out, there on the commons.
No tree or shrub is near. The outlines of
the monument are defined upon the sunset
clouds. The figure which stands upon the
summit, a hundred feet in the air, impresses
me strangely. We know nothing of its
meaning, yet my heart beats quicker, and a
melancholy steals over me. A hush has
come over our lips before we stand near and
read, “ Our Confederate Dead.’’ Onr eyeß
grow dim as we remember the old, old story.
Tread gently, for this is sacred ground. On
the side opposite we read, “ Come from the
four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these
slain that they may live.” Ah 1 there are here
and there over this Southern land, those who
remember young brothers mangled—ycung
husbands shot dead in their weariness and
hunger and dirt— only sons, and fathers,
dragged about to the death; none of us can
ever forget, but I am thankful that Savannah
beats alasting remembrance of our martyred
soldiers—thankful that I know that there is
a silent watchman standing there above the
restless city, ever pointing upward—ever
telling its eloquent story over and over, not
only to us and to our children, but to the
stranger that pauses and reads, and rever"
ences our grief. C. B.
Savannah, Feh. 20th, 1878.
“THE TRUE INWARDNESS” OF THE
PRESIDING ELDER MATTER.
Mr. Editor : I am not a presiding elder,
nor the son of a presiding elder, nor the
son-in law of a presiding elder, nor am I in
anywise akin to or related to a presiding el
der—nor am Ia candidate for the presiding
eldership—nor even for the office and work
of a bishop. Nevertheless, lam interested
in the Church, and because I am interested
in the Church, I am interested in that very
important feature of it which provides for
presiding elders.
What is “the true inwardness” of this
discussion of the presiding elder question ?
Why have so many of the “ law tinkers”
gone to work —why have they been at work
—upon the presiding eldership?
Well, I will give some very candid, honest
opinions, and you can print them;
1. The preachers are responsible for much
of the dissatisfaction that exists with the
office as it is.
A. desired a certain appointment—he
knew (?) he was the very man for the place.
He told the presiding elder that he was, and
that he wanted it. He was mistaken—the
presiding elder disagreed with him—silently
it may have been, or very delicately it may
have been—and, in the turning of the wheel,
he was borne one hundred miles away to
Gum Log Circuit, whilst Z. went to the cov
eted place—and A. has jolted the presiding
eldership under the fifth rib, from that day
until now.
B set his heart upon a station, thought he
had served missions and circuits long enongh.
To make the matter sure, sold his horse aud
buggy—told liis presiding elder of his plans
and expectations, and when the grist of the
bishop’s mill was ground, he was branded
"‘circuit ’ instead of “station”—and he was
displeased with himself, with the itinerancy,
with the bishop,and especially displeased with
the presiding elder, and has many pet theo
ries concerning the eldership that he unfolds
oy fireside, and in Church periodical.
C. is a four year’s man. He thinks it de
grades a preacher to remove him from a
first class circuit, or fancy station, or any
desirable charge, before the end of the full
constitutional term. Bnt, in the exigencies
of the Church, or in the natural fitness of
things, he is removed—and he, hts wife,
and his children, will never forgive the pre
siding eldership—the convenient scape-goat
that bears away all the sins of the itinerant
system.
D. has a turn for making all he can, and
saving all he can, if not for giving all he
can—and it is more than he can bear to see
S6O, SBO, or SIOO of his money, paid by his
people, for his services, given pro rata to
the presiding elder.
E. is careleps, negligent, if not lazy. He
dreads the visit of the presiding elder, the
complaints that reach his ears, the Quarter
ly Conference talks that his guilty conscience
applies to himself, and the private admo
nition ; and he is against the disturbing ele
ment, and writes the presiding eldership
down—a fifth wheel.
F. becomes nervous and shaky—would
like to have peace, please everybody and
hold to the presiding eldership in the Church
—so he and G. and H. and I. tax their in
ventive powers to concoct something that
will satisfy the discontented and “save the
office.” Hence much of the crop of peri
odic “ law tinkers.”
These may appear small matters—too
small to notice —and they are small, very
small matters —but, sparks have originated
conflagrations that have consumed a city.
2. As intimated in my first communi
cation, a tendency to independency the
selfishness that magnifies the individnal
Church until the Church general, the Church
connectional, cannot be seen —lies at the
toundation of some of Ihe graver discon
tents concerning the office. Should this be
encouraged or discouraged, nurtured or de
stroyed, in the Methodist Church ? Wheth
er is better to cure this evil, or failing in
that to separate ourselves from such Church
es, or to experiment with and finally destroy
the presiding eldership ? A departure upon
the line of experiment may lead the Church
so far away, that return to the real duties
and dignities ot the office may not be possi
ble.
But the increase of Church expenses is
the friction that annoys and irritates many.
How men complain of two things—the pay
ment of taxes to governments, county, State,
municipal, national; and the payment of
money to meet the demands of the Church.
The one protects fife, liberty, and property ;
and the other brings, and nourishes, immor
tal hopes; and yet their demands are unwel
come, and are met with great reluctance by
most men. What, a singular creature is man
—how strong, and yet how weak ; how no
ble, and yet how mean ; how generous, and
yet how parsimonious; how lavish a3 to tri
fles. yet how penurious in the great matters
of life I
3. But I promised to write of the “ true
inwardness” of the presiding elder imbroglio.
All ihat I have said is true, and much more
that might be said —but there are really but,
two or three things required to satisfy all
that can be satisfied, to gratify all who should
be gratified, to quiet this discussion, and to
leave the work of the eldership intact.
1. The highest order of talent in the
Church (out of the College of Bishops)
should be placed in and kept in the office.
No matter how reluctant preachers may be
to endure the toils, and to meet the respon
sibilities of the position, the b shops ahonld
select the best men —not the best available
men, but the men best qualified for the office
—place them in it, and keep them in it.
Every reason that can be given for placing
the strongest, wisest, foremost men of the
ministry, in the bishop’s office, is applicable
and should control in the presiding elder’s
office. The office is next to the bishop’s in
usefulness, opportunities, and responsibili
ties—and men should be put into it. Not
requested to serve in it, or consulted as to
convenience, etc.; bnt placed in it by the
bishops, just as the General Conference ele
vated them to their offices, without a ques
tion as to their convenience or inconven
ience. likes or dislikes, for the dignity, du
ties, and labors of the bishop’s office —but
only because they were thought to be the
best men the Church had for the work. This
will dignify and elevate the position before
our city congregations and intelligent peo
ple everiywhere, magnify it before our plain
■er and cure or cut off independency
and Congregationalism from among us,whilst
the office and the officer will become bo pop
ular that the clamor raised by the few penu
'rious preachers and avaricious people that
may oppose it, will be drowned in the plau
dits of the great mass of preachers and peo
ple.
Do this, and the office will be sustained
and the officer will be supported by self
sustaining cnarges—and money can be raised
to sustain him upon the mountain and poor
er districts if it cannot be gotten in them.
2. Let no man serve the same district (ex
cept in Mission Conferences) more than four
years in twelve. Shift them around—let
them itinerate from district to district, and
from the richer to the poorer districts—al
ways, of course, having regard to “ the eter
nal fitness of things." Let the Church de
termine that this shall be done. Let her
speak upon the policy indicated by me. Let
the General and Annual Conferences speak
out —and the time will soon come when the
presiding eldership will be esteemed a great
honor, and the visit of a presiding elder will
be hailed everywhere, next to the coming of
one of our honored bißhopß.
At least, so honestly thinks one who is
weak enough to share the common human
frailty of believing himself wiser than his
neighbor, and ia t here aud now,
Diogenes.
INFANT BAPTISM.
METHODIST PARENTS OUGHT TO HAVE THEIR
CHILDREN BAPTIZED,
I. Because—they have promised so to do.
Article of Religion xvi.— “ There are
two sacraments ordained ol Christ our Lord,”
etc. “That is to say Baptism,'' etc.
Article xvii.—“ The baptism of young
children is to be retained in the Church.”
General Rules, (6)— “lt is expected of
all who desire to continue in these societies,
that they should continue to evidence their
desire of salvation, Thirdly—By attending
upon all the ordinances of God.”—Book of
Discipline, page 330.
Reception of Members.— “ Question —Do
you promise to conform to the usages of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South? An
swer—l do, the uord being my helper.”
Duty of Preachers — Discipline, page
102. —“Let ,the minister diligently instruct
and exhort all persons to dedicate their chil
dren to the Lord in baptism as early as con
venient.” The vows of God are, therefore,
upon you.
11. Because —infant baptism was manifest
ly taught by Christ —
1. —The sign of initiation into the Jewish
Church was by the right of circumcision,
administered to infants.
2. —The Jewish Church was prophetic in
its design, and pointed to Christ as its basis
and foundation.
3. —The introduction of Christianity ful
filled the purpose of the Jewish economy,
and the establishment of the Christian
Church, superseded the Jewish Church.
4. Christ came, not to destroy, but to
fulfill, and, as the rites of the Jewish Church
were prophetic, so the ordinances of the
Christian Church are historic, and both refer
to Christ.
6.—As the rife of circumcision introduced
the subject to the privileges of the Jewish
Church, so the ordinance of baptism intro
duces the subject to the privileges of the
Christian Charch.
6.—Christ in his charge to the disciples*
clearly made baptism the sign of introduction
into the Christian Church.
7. —The term “Kingdom of Heaven,” used
so frequently by Christ, and so clearly ex
plained by Him, manifestly means, the
Church; it can admit of no other interpreta
tion: see Matthew xiii., and parallel pas
sages as recorded by the other evangelists.
8. Christ says of little children, “of such
is the Kingdom of Heaven,” (meaning the
Church;) again—“ Except ye be converted
and become as little children, ye shall not
enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” These
passages would lose their force if the lit
tle children referred to were not entitled to
the privileges of the initiatory ordinance of
baptism.
111. It is fairly inferred, though not clearly
stated, that the ordinance of infant baptism
was practiced by the Apostles.
1. —The Jews attached great importance to
the fact that their children were fully em
braced in the old covenant. The apostles
would not have ignored the relation of the
children of Christian parents to the provi
sions of the new covenant, without having to
answer a strong objection and being drawn
into a very warm discussion of the subject.
2. —Other usages of the Jews and of the
Hebrews, or Christian Jews, were very thor
oughly canvassed and discussed by the
Apostles. Is it not strange if so important
a matter as the rights and privileges of Chris
tian children were denied, that thetaeit sub
mission of the converts should have been so
universal ?
B.—Can it be shown that there were no
children in the families of Cornelius, or of
Lydia, or of Stephanas, or of the jailor at
Phillippi ? and the apostles baptized all these
families or “households.” In the first named,
that of Cornelius, not only was his family
present, but also the families of hi “ kins
men and near friends,” and they were all
baptized.—See Acts x : 2, 24, 48
IV. Because —Infant baptism v, as taught
and practiced in the early Church.
I.—lt was practised in the tim* of Justin
Martyn, A. D. 165. His writings were but
shortly subsequent to the death of the Apos
tle John.
2. It was the custom in the time of Irense
us —A. D. 184. Irenseus was a disciple of
Polycarp, and Polycarp was cotemporary
with the Apostle John. As Irenseus refers
to the practice of infant baptism in his da\,
it is fairly inferable, that the practice was
not introduced subsequently to, but was con
tinnoas in the early Church from the times
of the Apostles.
3. —lt was a custom in the Christian Church
in the time cf Origen, A. D. 230. As the
ancestors of this, one of the most learned of
the fathers, were Christians, it is not improb
able that they received baptism directly at
the bands of the Apostles themselves.
Origen declares that the Church was ex
pressly enjoined to give baptism to infants,
we quote (as translated by Dr. Summers):
“ For this cause the Church received from
Apostles an order to give baptism even
to infantß.”
4. —Ambrose lived in the fourth century.
He says: “ Infants who are baptized, are
reformed from wickedness to the primitive
state of their nature,” and Augustine speaks
also of the prevalence of tho custom of in
fant baptism in his day, which was at the
end of the fonrth century.
6. There is no authentic record of any
considerable opposition to the doctrine of
infant baptism in the Christian Church for
over six hnndred years, i. e ■ from the time
of Augnstine to the beginning of the elev
enth century.
VOLUME XLI., NO. 8.
V. Because—l.—Their indifference to a
doctrine, clearly taught by the r Churth, is
a serious drawback to its success, and works
incalculable injury toil. For this inditfer
ence, they are responsible, as Methodists,
and God will certainly bring them into judg
ment for it.
2.—They have no right to assume that
their children have Christian names, unless
they are given to Christ in the ordinance
of baptism. They are then baptized “in
the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.” Until this is done,
their name is no more a Christian name
than the name of their dog or their horse
is a Christian name. R. M. L.
[The above article appeared in the Ad
vocate several years since, and is now re
published by request.— Ed.]
“GENERAL CONFERENCE—LAW TINK
ERS ’’—TINKERED.
Mr. Editor: In the Advocate of Febru
ary 19, your correspondent, “ Diogenes”—
cynic philosopher —introduces his subject by
a double simile: “Church Almanac” and
“green pastures.” He begins on a double
line, but comes to a close upon a triple line.
His subject seemed to enlarge while in pass
ing. The animus of the whole concern is to
kill off free thought and judicious sugges
tions. It is written of one who was high in
position and power, that he might have suc
ceeded far better had he but respected the
counsels of common sense It is also writ
ten of Jnliuß Caesar, that, on the very day of
his assassination, a note was handed him by
a servant whieh might have saved his life,
had he simply read it. But, no; he took the
presence of the great crowd as a compliment
to himself, and walked right ou into danger
and death.
In all candor, I ask, what harm can a full
and free discussion of important subjects do
the Church, and particularly one subject,
which your correspondent says is only about
sixty years old! Is the Church but sixty
years old l How did the Church get along
back of these sixty years ? Isa question, so
very modern in Church economy, lull grown
in the short period of sixty years? Is the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, grown?
Have not improvements in Church regula.
tions been made in the course of the last
twelve years? What of Lay Delegation?
Church Conferences?
And yet, forsooth, “ Diogenes ” is op
posed to free thought and free speech.
Napoleon Bonaparte muzzled the press.
Have we any Botiapartes ? I think not—
I hope not! Then why is Diogenes en
deavoring to tinker the tinkers ? Is he afraid
that the “ tinkers” do not love the Metho
dist Episcopal Chnrch, South ? Doubt
less every man who touches “ the delicate”
question loves the Church as much as Diog
enes, and has worked as hard and suffered
as much for her success and glory as he.
Touching the presiding eldership, all are
agreed. No one desires its abrogation. But
it is desirable to beep the presiding elder and
his preachers somewhat upon terms of Equal
ity 1 The presiding elder is certainly pri
mus inter pares. But it is a little remarka
ble how that a man increases in value eg
soon as he is made presiding elder; and
how he decreases in value as soon as he
ceases to be one. Some preachers can live
upon eight hundred dollars or less, while
doing the work of a faithful and laborious
pastor; but so soon as made presiding elder
go right up in value to fifteen hundred dol
lars or more. And when the same are re
lieved of the delicate burdens of the elder
ship, drop down in value to six or seven
hundred dollars. At this point, mainly,
comes the hurt. Is there no remedy? Is
there no power in the General Conference to
regulate the salaries presiding elders
and preachers in charge? "ft used to be
done. The salaries of the Bishops are set
tled by competent authority. They have no
voice in saying how much they must receive.
Then why may not the General Conference
settle and fix the salaries of presiding elders,
station preachers, and circuit preachers ?
This system would certainly help to main
tain the itinerancy in its original purity and
power. It would put away the tendency, in
all parts and departments of the Church, to
a settled pastorate, and Congregationalism.
It would greatly relieve the appointing pow
er of ihe Church. It would lessen the “ deli
cate ” burdens of the presiding eldership ;
and would save many humble, unfamed,
laborious circuit riders from “soreheads”
and “ sore toes ”; and the whole Church
would evince to the world, “ How these
Christians do love one another.” Why may
it not be done? Phone.
February 20, 1878.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL AGENCY.
Dear Bro. Kennedy ; I have held three
Sunday-school meetings, with marked suc
cess. The last at Montezuma, in connection
with Dr. Clark’s First Quarterly Meeting.
He and Bro. Twitty gave their hearty co
operation, aB all the preachers where I have
been have done. A brother at the last named
place gave. S6OO to buy tracts, etc., to help
Sunday schools ; this, I think, a good move
in the right direction—hope others will do
likewise. I send you a list of appointments,
which I ask you to publish for me. In the
circuits I ask the preachers to select some
central church and let us have a Sunday
school mass meeting for the circuit, as it will
be impossible for me to go to every church
in the Conference. I propose, with the di
vine blessing, to do all I can to promote the
prosperity of Sabbah schools in the bounds
of our Conference, and ask and hope to have
the hearty co operation of all preachers,
also of superintendents and teachers. I be
gin to see and feel that there was need of
someone to go through the work and stir up
seal and enthusiasm in the Church on this
subject. Oh how greatly do wo need to have
all our Sunday-schools more religions, spir
itual nurseries for the Church. Help me all
yon can in word and deed. I am yours in
love. S. Anthony.
Americus, Ga.,Feb. 21, 1878.
TO SC 111 80.
You place Oxford among the Churches
that are not entitled to honor in the matter
of baptizing infants. If the “Minutes” gave
the vital as well as the ecclesiastical statistics,
you would doubtless have given us the “bine
ribbon,” or the palm, or at least, the com
pliment of passing us by. Below you have a
basis for comparison :
Born in our Church community, 1877. 1 child.
Baptized “ “ “ 1 “
With regards, Ex Pastor.
Oxford, Ga., Feb. 18, 1878.
N B. One white male child was born to a
visiting family in 1877. They are gone, but
for “Scribo's” sake, the statement should
be made —that baby has been baptized eiuce
they left.
CORRECTION.
Mr. Editor : “That “power behind the
throne greater than the throne itself”—of
course, reference is had to the printer —made
me say in your last what I did not intend to
say, and what may give Scribo the reputation
of a wi le, if not wild, guesser in the grave
matter of Church Statistics. The printer
says: “More probably there are more than
12 000 families in which the father and moth
er bath are Methodists” — represented by
67,222 members of the Church in North
Georgia. I wrote “in which the father or
mother, or the father and mother both, are
Methodista.” £ Scribo^^