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PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY A COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA CO> FERENCE, M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.—RUFUS T. HEFLIN, Editok.
VOL,
RALEIGH, FRin iV J/LVUARY 18
1856.
$150 A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
II t
cumulating history. AVccordingly, she not
only sang and prayed in public, but ex
horted also in the presence of all condi
tions of men. The rich and poor, the
proud and humble, alike sat at the board
A Poem by Fanny Forrester.
N. V. Willis sent the fullov.-ing surpassing-} where Sarah Hinton spread her feast of .
ly beautiful poem, hy Fanny Forrester, to the
IL'ine Journal ropcnfly, which he is not sure
has ever been published. Ho adds: “ The
widowed heart of the gifted one—with her
apostle husband just gone before her to hea
ven—thus exquisitely tells the story of their
earthly love, and its still lingering hold of
hands.”
I GAZED down life’s dim lahyrinth,
A wildering maze to see,'
Crossed o’er by many a tangled clue,
And wild as wild could bo :
And, as 1 gazed in doubt and dread,
An angel came to me.
I know liim tor a heavenly guide,
I knew him, oven then:
Though meekly as a child he stood
Among the sons of men—
Tly his (kep Bpi.-it-l(o/elir)ee°
I knew him even then.
And, as T leaned my weary head
CMon his prolfcred lireast.
And scanned the peril-haunted wild
From out my ydace of rest,
I wondered if the shining ones
Of Eden were more blest.
For there was light within mj’’ soul,
Light on my peaceful way.
And around the )>lue aliove
The clustering starliglit lay;
And easterly I saw upreared
The pearly gates oi day.
So hand in hand we trod the wiLl,
My angcl-lovc and I—
II is lifted wing all quivering
With tokens from the sky.
Strange my dull thought could not divine
’Twas lifted but to fly!
Again, doAvn life’s dim lahyrinth,
I grope my way alone,
While wildly through themidnlghtsky
Black, hurrying clouds are Vdown,
And thickly in my tangled path
The sharp, bare thorns are sown.
Yet firm my foot, for well I know
The goal cannot be far ;
And ever through the rifted clouds
Shines out one steady star—
For when my guide went up, he left
The yearly gales ajar.
Sick and in Prison.
Wildly falls the night around mo,
Chains I cannot break have hound me,
Spirits unrebukod, undriven
From before mo, darken heaven ;
Creeds bewilder, and the saying
Unfelt prayers, makes need of praying.
In this bitter anguish lying,
Only Tliou wilt hear my crying,
Thou, whose hands wash white the erring
As the wool is at the shearing:
Not with dulcimer or psalter.
But with fears, 1 seek Thy altar.
Yeeo that troa tno \nonm so weary.
Eyes that pitying looked on Mary,
Ilandsthat broughtthe Father’s blessing,
Heads of little children presvsing,
Voice that said, “ Behold thy brother,”
Lo, I seek ye, and none other.
Look, oh gentlest eyes of pity,
Out of Zion, glorious city;
Speak, oh voice of mercy, sweetly;
Hide me, hands of love completely;
Sick, in prison, lying lonely,
Ye can lift me up, Ye only.
In my hot brow soothe the aching,
In my sad heart stay the breaking.
On my lip.s the murmur trembling
Change to praises undissembling ;
iMake me wise as the evangels,
Clothe me with the wings of angels.
Power that made the feiv loaves many,
Power that blessed the wine of Cana,
Power that said to Lazarus, “ Waken!”
Leave, oh leave me not forsaken !
Sick and hungry, and in prison,
Oi-lVt)- lltO, x./iVUVl»kd \vud ivlsioti i
CmiummirntiiiUH.
For the N. C. Cbvistian Advocate.
Information from an Old Record;
OR, METHODISM IN WASHINGTON, N. C,
Me cannot pass on without alluding in
a more particular and complimentary man
ner to the invaluable services of Sarah
Hinton. This woman seems to have been
the chief corner-stone of the Society
through every stage of its ear.l^ progves.s.
Around her individual exertions—and
they were neither few or easy—clustered
its most flattering hopes, its most prosper
ous experience. We are not at a lo.ss to
understand the measure of success which
attended her, when we examine the nne-
quivooiil position she assumed and occu
pied, and the unflinching courage and
hnntinir zeal which marhed the faithful
discharge of the weighty obligations it
imposed upon her. The light shining
out from every act of her Christian life,
from every aspect of her godly deport
ment, was the light that sliineth from the
hill-top, unqueuched to the last. She did
did not dribble away her purse (whatever
might have been its size) in the bestotv-
inent of uuapprcciable charities : hcr’s
was the liberality of the Bible, which has
in it nothing of sounding brass or tinkling
cymbal. In her view, the impenitent
heart, to be made to subserve the glorious
purposes of a genuine Methodism, must
be split by a full blow from the Divine
arm; else its gushing waters remain for
ever shut up—a rock with its refreshing
treasure, in the midst of a lonely, wilder
ness, undiscovered and undisturbed :—so
she became, without fear or favor, a free
will offering, an aecejitable agent in behalf
of the f.iith .she cherished. It was an
opinion, with her demonstrated in prac-
trace, that a world which centained such
abundance of sin, indulged in by every
clas.s, of both sexes, should likewise be
ploughed up by vigorous Gospel laborers
from both sexes, and that it was neither
jeasoii or holiness re.straining the energy,
discouraging the spirit intent upon be
coming an earnest workman. She believ
ed that without taking upon herself the
more masculine responsibilities of the
ehureh, she could, nevertheless, perform a
useful part and a successiul one in its ao-
spiritual luxuiics.
We are most forcibly reminded, in lin
gering with the memory of this woman,
of the impressive example of other fe
males in the same sphere of religious ac
tion—women who,«e crowns of honor and
palms of victory have been won in tbe
stubborn by-paths, who have not feared to
proclaim the whole counsel of God. We
iare ' ssured that such characters lived in
Mr. Wesley’s day, and received the high
est encouragement. Indeed, the singular
ity of their call, the .strangeness of the
profession they had taken up, wore more
than counter-balanced, in most oases, by
the success of their ministrations. We
have no evidence of Sarah Hinton becom
ing a preacher, though she unquestionably
had some of the best gifts of one. She
contented herself with being a little lower
than a preacher, so that she might but
win souls to Christ. The societies which
had been formed by IBr. A.sbury were vis
ited by her at stated times, and especially
the one in this place was kept constantly
alive by her influence.
In the year 1787 were married the first
Methodist couple in this section, and four
years thereafter occurred the first death.
Let us pause here a moment. The first
marriage, the first death !—what is there
wonderful about such a scrap of informa
tion '! It is not unusual for people to
marry, certainly, nor for people to' die.
We grow up into the fresh, buoyant,
blooming summer-time, and, like the beau
tiful birds, we must be mated. We pass
on to the cloudy, cheerless winter, the
time of gray hairs and solemn memories,
and we must die. It is a privilege and a
necessity to wliieh we are accustomed, and
to which, we suspect, our ancestors were
also. But somehow wo experience an un-
definable satisfaction in knowing vthat
they did, which our ow'u chequered life
cannot furnish. invest with an imagi
nary interest every way-side in their pil
grimage as glorious and enchanting as a
dream. We love to create some such pic
ture as this—a calm, sunshiny day, away
hack in the shadowy past, a snug village
church with its plain pews and unpainted
pulpit, a small but respectful congregation
of people, all clothed with the simple, mo
dest habits of the olden time; the minis
ter with his placid, dignified countenance,
piously expressive of the ceremony in
which he is about to engage, and the
youthful couple taking upon their young
bosoms the sacred tie w'hioh death alone
can sever. And then, by way of con
trast, the similitude of a funeral pageant:
the mournful, measured toll of the bell,
the procos.sion of sad faces, sobbing kins-
liien, the grave. ’ Borne such scenes, we
dare say, were enacted in the early history
of our Methodist forefathers. And now,
at this late period, we dwell with absorb
ing interest upon a marriage and a death,
the first in which they were called to par
ticipate. We seem to have the same class
of thoughts, the same flight of emotions.
We appear to enter into their hopeful
plans, to share the burden of their fears.
The life of sunbeams and of shadows
which they lived, vfe live also, and we
seem to look at the beautiful bow which
Heaven gave as a token of good over their
spiritual journey, as still gleaming in the
mid-sky. Persons may say what they
please about the folly of rubbing up old
remembrances : there is more of wisdom
in returning to them than folly. At least,
give me the warm, healthy admiration of
what is ancient and valuable, in prefer
ence to a stoical rejection of what is old
and unfashionable.
We uow come to briefly consider the
most important and interesting event of
which the chronicle informs us—-the first
revival of religion in Washington. This
took place in 1791. We are not made to
understand its full extent, though enough
is left to justify the opinion that it was
what may be aptly termed a ffreat revival.
A few names are given of individuals who,
ns its fruits, connected themselves with
the church. They are names of the oldest
settlers of this region, propiuetors of the
soil, whether by patent or purchase, for
many preceding generations. Having the
command of whatever could confer, in a
social sense, position or influence, it is
reasonable to suppose that the Society
reaped considerable temporal benefits from
their conversion. At any rate, their con
nection with it must have given a moral
power and impulse sufficient to shake from
its throne any premeditated opposition
founded upon bigotry or prejudice.
But it is chiefly in a spiritual sense that
we are to examine the character of this
revival, that we are to determine the ag
gregate good of its results. It is unneces
sary to state that all revivals, except in
most extraordinary instances, start forward
under the nourishing and compelling in
fluences of a thorough godly experience
and a settled Chri.«tian principle. Neither
is it doubtful that, by the steady efforts
put forth by the eager membership here,
the Society was eminently prepared for an
especial baptism of the Spirit. Assem
bled together as one man, and anxiously
awaiting Divine assistance to their feeble
strength, the Pentecostal shower was in
evitable. Accordingly, the flood-gates were
lifted, and the shower grew into a torrent.
Standing here, at this day, we see how in
comparable to a high religious character is
the might of riches or worldly distinction
^ for the works of the Bible. Even a house
I of worship is unsafe upon its fouudation,
while it leans merely upon a credit which
I the world can give. But where love and
ijoy in the Holy Ghost is abundant, the
j mountains are not more firmly planted
i than the success of that church establish-
! ed w'hich rests upon such a hope. The
j Society gathered within its arms a number
j who commenced thp race fairly, ran it suc-
jcessfully, and won the goal with a shout
iof triumph. Not only did they shine
forth a brilliant Chri.stian example in their
own individird eases, but they laid up for
the future of the church a store of wealth
in the proper religious education of their | faculty The wild boy could not reason,
families. They foresaw that most for-! hut does that prove thaUinan is not en-
tunatc de.sideratum in the later policy of Mowed with intellect Ho could not talk.
Methodism, careful discipline of youth in
the implanting of a high regard for the
faith of their fathers, and a love for the
altars whore they worship, and learned
their children to reverence God and ad
here to Methodistic doctrine. Satisfied,
but does that prove he h id no organs oi
articulation, or that languige is not natu
ral to man ? But would wo take the taste
of the wild boy, or the opi.iions of the un
cultivated savage, as our standard of Im
man attaiimicnt, and laegsure of humar
themselves, of its saving power, they fear-1 capao'jty, in art, .science, poetry, music
ed not to trust their offspring. Among ! govern’tent, law and philosophy ? No in
tho.ee ivho gave thetrtKelves to God and the j telligent writer would think of advocating
church during this revival, we find promi- such a doctrine. Why, then, we ask,
nently mentioned the name of Thomas j adopt their views, feeling.s, opinions ant
Smaw. A^erily, this good man must have ; principles, as the standar.l of possible at
been a soldier of the noblest stamp. Our | tainruont and the nieasuto of human ca
manuscript declares that ho was the “ ad- pacityjn morals and religion ?
miration of all thinking men, for the uni
fortuity and brilliancy of his Christian
4. It is argued against the posse,ssion O'
conscience, that many individuals, unde
course. ' A more splendid tribute could i pretence of being conscientious, have com
not be paid, nor a more accurate descrip-1 mittod most grievous sins. We would ask,
tlon be given of a whole-souled, genuine | in reply, has not intellect and genius beer
Methodist. Thomas Smaw’s children live | cxeiTed. for evil? Bn. docs that prov
to venorefe liis memory, to prizo more
than the empty “pomp and circumstance”
of worldly show the distinguished Chris
tian name which he left behind him, and
more than all, to follow in his footsteps:
they are Methodists. Truly there is a
sweet-smelling savor which followeth after
righteousness.
There was no lack of spirit in the man
ner in which the young converts volun
teered themselves for the service. Be
lieving that the Society could abundantly
th: ia-i’'.ct -'Widi'y
that He had better be wltf out them ? Haf
not language been made the vehicle o
falsehood, profanity, blasjihemy and slan
der ? But does that prove it is not an
endowment of the human family, or that
its po.sscssion is a curse Has not gov
ernment been made the fruitful source oi
tyranny, despotism and oppression, and
law prostituted to the service of the dis
honest, unjust and unprincipled? But
should we therefore discard all govorn-
itual kingdom, but numerically strength
ened the church. Her wings may, there- creature of education; that men derive
by, have been said to be fairly and proudly all their ideas of virtue and vice, right
adjusted for the heavenly journey,
he to God for the revival of 1791.
Glory
Washington, N. C.
For the N. C. Christian Advocate.
Conscience.
and decides upon their moral quality.
Consciousness is the faculty of mind which
makes us acquainted with our emotions,
feeling.s, desires, thoughts, joys and sor
rows, pleasures and pains. There are
many individuals who object to the doc
trine that conscience is a distinct faculty
of the mind, and boldly assume that man
has no moral faculty. It is argued that if
men were endowed with a moral faculty,
it would be universal; but this, it is said,
is contrary to fact, for there are many men
who appear to have no sense of moral rec
titude. In reply to this objection, we
would remark that the existince of idiots
who are destitute, to a groat extent, of
the attributes of mind, does not prove
that man is not an intellectual being; nor
does the existence of individuals, with ap
parently no sense of moral rectitude, prove
that man is not a moral being and endow-
eu with a moral faculty, ahe apparent
indication of a feeling of irresponsibility
upon the part of vicious individuals, may
arise from an imperfectly developed moral
sense, or from its being blunted, seared
and stupefied by long transgression. The
voice of conscience is often unheard, or,
if heard, unheeded, amid the storms of
passion; and, as we look only at the ex
ternal acts of the individual, there is great
ptobability of our being deceived; and the
very acts which wo regard as strong indi
cations of the entire want of the moral
faculty in men, may be but the expedieuts
resorted to to drown its voice amidst the
uproar of the passions, and quench the
fires of remorse by the pleasures of dissi
pation .
2. It is argued that if men were en
dowed with a moral faculty, it would be
uniform in its decisions; but this is ac
knowledged to bo contrary to the facts of
human history. It is said that conscience
approve.s in one man what it condemns in
another; teaches one thing to be right in
one nation, and the .same to be wrong in
another. To this we would reply, that if
this want of uniformity in man’s moral
decisions is satisfactory evidence that man
has no conscience, a like want of uniform
ity in man’s intellectual decisions and
judgments would be equally as good evi
dence that man has no intellect. For it
is an unquestionable fact, that man’s intel
lectual decisions are as diversified and con
flicting as his moral sentiments. But the
objectiou admits that all men perceive a
moral quality in actious, though their
views as regards the precise character of
moral actions are diversified and conflict
ing. This moral quality in actions could
not be seen without a moral faculty. Con
science is always uniform in its decisions,
under precisely the same eireumstances,
with the same degree of intellectual cul
ture, the same extent of moral attain
ments, and the same amount of knowledge
of the subject under adjudication. The
want of uniformity in the decisions of
conscience does not grow out of a want of
uniformity and harmony in the moral
principles under which it acts, but out of
the varied oireumstauees, diversified knowl
edge and conflicting opinions by the aid of
which its decisions are made.
3. The case of Peter, the wild boy, who
had no knowledge of right or wrong, vir
tue or vice, is introduced as being conclu
sive against the possession of a moral
sun IS necffesary to'cI^Mctne eye to dis
tinguish colors and objects; the light of
science is necessary to oaable the reason
to distiugui.sh between truth and error.
So the light of revclatio.i is necessary to
enable eonseienee to dif ting' ish between
virtue and vice, right 8,;sJ vaoiig. Light
would be useless without the eye, science
would be worthless without reason, and
revelation would be of no service to man
without conscience. Light is adapted to
the eye, science to the intellect, and reve
lation to the moral facult So far is the
possession of conscieneoYrora rendering
revelation useless -or unnecessary, that it
is its possession tiiat renders a revelation
necessary and gives to it all its value,
morally speaking.
7. It is said, after all, that- conscience
is not a distinct faculty of the mind, but
only the exercise of its other faculties on
moral and religious subjects. “ It has
been pronounced to be jfn jUioratiijn of the
judgment, floiiipairngAi'Th wKug~Vvitu' Inl>- '
ther, our actions -with the standard of
dutj’, and pronouncing Ihcir agreement or
disagraemont.”
But, in the language _)f another, we
ask, “ Why this excessive simplification ?”
Why not go a step farther, and deny that
the soul has any distinct faculties, and as
sume at once that what wc call faculties
are only the different modes of the mind’s
operation. But if such b.o the true the
ory of the nature and operations of mind,
how shall we account for partial derange
ment, or a derangement of what appears
to be one faculty, when the other faculties
appear unimpaired ? How shall we ac
count for what all m'i.st have remarked:
the manifest difference in the strength of
what we call the different faculties of mind;
for a strong judgment, defective memory,
confused moral perceptions. If we say
that “ the soul has understanding, because
it is capable of knowledge, that it has
judgmBnt'b'ecauseTt“cbuipifR5, ThW it has
will because it chooses and refuses,” that
it has memory because it retains past iin-
pre.ssions and remembers past events, why
should we not say it has odnscience be
cause it distinguishes between moral ac
tions, pronouncing some to bo right and
others wrong. , PAUL.
For tlie N. C. Christian Advocate.
Infidelity—Its ITuits.
In looking over some of my old papers,
not long since, I met with the following
extract, which I copied some years ago
from “Watson’s Institutes.” If the ad
vocates of infidelity are to be believed,
tlieir system is making rapid strides in
this enlightened age; and if this ai'ticle
should attract the a'ttention of any who
are disposed to worship the god of reason,
it is to be hoped that they will take a good
look at the “image and superscription”
which this coin bears, before they receive
it as “good and lawful cu?.fency.” Go-
liah of Gath boasted of his great power,
aud defied the armies of Israel, but a few
smooth stones from the sling of the shep-
berd-boy laid the monster low. Infidelity
may appear very formidable in the dis
tance, and speak “great swelling words'’
against the religion of the Bible, but a few
smooth stones from the brook of truth are
quite sufficient to overcome all the preten
sions of this “vain philosophy,” and drive
it to the dark and dismal abode whence it
came.
aid, in seasons of trial, the giving ofimeut and law-, as unnatural and oppres-
steadiness to their faith, the preservation j sivc ? If not, why call ]u question the
of their “first raptures,” they meekly | existence aud deny the advantage.s of a
and enthusiastically submitted to the yoke. I moral faculty, because it has been used as
The consequence was, that the first revival | the cloak of wickedness and urged in jus-
not only added to the size of Christ’s spir- tification of eriino ?
5. ’The moral faculty is said to be the
and wrong, morality and religion, from
the instruction and example of their fel
low-men. To this we wv.ikl reply, that
man could not reeeiv'^'SiiTFal editflafloh
without a moral faculty, any more than ho
could- be taught to reason without intellect,
to think without mind, to memorize with
out memory, to speak without the organs
of articulation, or to see without the or-
Bduoatioii is the devel-
The nature of man is complex in its
character. He has a physical nature that gans of vision,
connects him with the physical world of! opment, under proper ip-s;,''uotion aud eul-
sense around him. He is endowed with '' ture, of a faculty previously existing. It
an intellectual nature, that connects him | can improve, strengthen, develope, per-
with the world of intellect, and which ! feet, but it canuct crauM' It is just as
qualifies him to investigate the claims of I absurd to .speak of man’s moral nature’s
the varied sciences. He is also cndow'cd ; being the creature of education, a.s to speak
with a moral natnre, which connects him I of uiaii’s intellect as the-.c.reature of edu-
with the moral world, makes him a, proper cation.. Man must have im intellect be-
subject of moral government, and brings ; fore he can be educated in science, and he
him in responsible relation to the great j must have a moral faculty before he can
Lawgiver of the universe. Conscience, j be educated in morals,
the laws and action of which it is our; 0. It is urged, that if man is endowed
purpose to discuss in the.se articles, is the i with conscience, the Bible is a useless rov-
active and supreme faculty of the moral; elation. Conscience is to , ho moral nature
uature. )Ve would here define the difi'er- j what the eye is to the bonw, and the rca-
enoe between comscionee aud conseious-J son is to the intellect, liRit of the
'ness. Cohscie'nce is‘ our nlora'l 'laeulty “
which takes cognizance of our actions,
It is a law of nature, as well as of reve
lation, that the “ tree is known by its
fruit.'’ Every system which debases man,
or sinks him deeper in the pit of moral
degradation, cannot be of God, because
whatever proceeds from Him leads to
Him, and it must, therefore, have a ten
dency to elevate, ennoble, and purify, ra
ther than strip man of his glory, and make
him a brute in human shape. I have often
applied this rule to a certain system which
prevails more or less over this State, and
I have found it to work most admirably
well in showing the errors of—you know
what.
But I am wandering off. It was my
purpose to give an extract hearing upon
infidelity, and I will no longer detain the
reader from its perusal. Here it is :
“It is but just to say, that the malig
nant absurdity and wickedness of charging
the Scriptures with an immoral tendency,
have not been incurred by all who have
even zeajously endeavored to gindermine
their Divine authority. Many of them
make important concessions on this point.
They show, in their own characters, the
effect of their unbelief, and probably the
chief cause of it. Blount committed sui
cide because he was prevented from an in
cestuous marriage; Tyn dal was notoriously
infamous ; Hobbes changed his principles
with his interests; Morgan continued to
profess Christianity, while he wrote against
it; the moral character of Voltaire was
mean and detestable ; Bolingbx’oke was a
rake and a flagitious politician; Collins
and Shaftsbury qualified themselves for
civil offices by receiving the sacrament,
while they were endeavoring to prove the
religion of which it is a .solemn expression
of belief, a mere imposition; Hume wa,s
revengeful, disgustingly vain, and an ad
vocate of adultery and self-murder; Paine
was the slave of low and degrading habits;
and Rousseau an abandoned sensualist, and
guilty of tho basest actions, which he
■scruples not to state and palliate. Yet
even some of those have admitted tho su
perior purity of the morals of the Chris
tian revelation.”
Here wo see the practical workings of
that system which rejects the teachings of
God, as revealed in His word. Infidelity
is a mere negation, after all the show-and
noise which it makes in the world. It
seeks to destroy Christianity, but what
does it propose as a substitute ? If wo
throw off tho restraints imposed upon u.s
by Christianity, what rule shall we adopt
for tho government of our lives, or for the
protection of society ? What has infidel
ity ever done for tho good of our race ?
The eloquent culogium of Eoussoau on
the Gospel aud its author, shows that it is
often the state of the heart, and not tho
judgment, which leads to tho rejection of
the testimony of God. “ I will confess
to you,” says Rousseau, “that the majesty
of the b'eriptures strikes me with admira-
lio'h, as me puriiy' oi tue iiosjici nas its
influonoo on my heai-t Peruse the works
of our philosophers, with all their pomp
of diction ; how mean, how contemptible
arc they, compared with tho Scriptures.
Is it possible that a book at once so simple
and so sublime should bo merely the work
of man ? Is it possible that the sacred
personage whoso history it contains should
be himself a mere man ? Do we find that
be assumed the tone of an enthusiast or I
ambitious sectary ? What sweetness, what
purity in his manners ! What an affecting
gracefulness in his delivery ! IVhat sub
limity in 'his maxims ! '\Vhat profound
wisdom in his discourses ! 4Vhat presence
of mind in Ids replies ! How great the
command over bis passions! Where is
the man, where is the philosopher, who
could so live and so die, without weakness,
or without ostentation ? When Plato de
scribed his imaginary good man, with all
the shame of guilt, yet meriting the high
est rewards of virtue; he described exactly
the character of Jesus Christ. Tho re
semblance was so striking that all the
Christian fathers perceived it.
What prepossession, what blindness,
must it be, to compare tbe son of Sophro-
nicus (Socrates) with the son of Mary !
What an infinite disproportion is there be
tween them ! Socrates, dying 'without pain
or ignominy, easily supported his character
to the last; and if his death, however easy,
had not crowned his life, it might have
been doubted whether Socrates, with all his
wisdom, was anything more than a vain
sophist. He imvented, it is said, the the
ory of morals. Others, however, had be
fore put them in practice; he had only to
say, therefore, what they had done, and to
reduce their examples to precept. But
where could Jesus learn among his com
petitors, that pure and sublime morality, of
which he only has given us precept and
example ? The de,att’^pf Socrates, peacea
bly‘philosophizing wilahiis friends, appears
the most agreeable that could be wished
for; that of Jesus, expiring in the midst of
agonizing pains, abused, insulted, and ac
cursed by a whole nation, is the most hor
rible that could be feared. Socrates in re
ceiving tbe cup of poison blessed the weep
ing executioner who administered it; but
Jesus, in the midst of excruciating tortures,
prayed for his merciless tormentors. Yes !
if the life and death of Socrates were
those of a sage, the life and death of Jesus
were those of a God! Shall we suppose
the evasigelic history a mere fiction ? In •
deed, my friend, it bears not tho marks of
fiction; on the contrary, the history of
Socrates, which nobody presumes to doubt,
is not so well attested as that of Jesus
Christ. Such a supposition, in fact, only
shifts the difficulty, without obviating it;
it is more inconceivable, that a number of
persons should agree to write such a histo
ry, than that one only should furnish the
subject of it. The Jewish authors were
incapable of the diction, and strangers to
the morality contained in the Gospel, the
marks of whose truth are so striking and
inimitable, that the inventor would fee a
more astonishing man than the Hero.”
Thus wrote one who rejected both the
Gospel and its author.
L. W. MARTIN.
Hyde co., N. C.
Geo. Copway.—This indian orator, the
same that was in Raleigh in Dec. 1854, is
lecturing in Chatawooga county, N. Y.
From the Coloniz.otiou Herald.
Africa and the Africans.
There are two great divisions of the
human family in Africa. The Arabs
j and Moors occupy tho northern and
I north-eastern portion of the country
1 and the Sahara ; and another race pos-
! sess the southern and western parts,
j Tliis race again may be divided into
[ two families. lYhat are called the
Mountains of the Moon, as every per
son acquainted with tho geography of
Africa knows, separate tho continent
into nearly two equal parts, by a lino
running parallel and within a few de
grees of tho equator.
' Two-thirds of the population north
of these mountains arc Mohammedans;
those at tho south are Pagans, but not
of a uniform character, differing from
each otlier in habits and customs—some
of which are of Egyptian origin—but
more especially in language ; yet not
withstanding these distinct character
istics, they both retain that of the ne
gro, and in those who have been
brought to the United States no differ
ence is perceptible. Various estimates
have been made as to the pojiulation of
Africa, the Arabs and Moors having
been put down at fifty millions, and the
others at one hundred—making in all
one hundred and fifty millions. Of
course, in forming this estimate, the
utmost accuracy cannot be expected ;
but we arc disposed to think the popu
lation cannot be less than has been sta
ted.
Our remarks at this time must be nec
essarily limited to the maritime range
of country, where the natural scenery is'
of great variety and beauty, particular
ly in the vicinity of Cape Palmas, and
also on tho Niger coast, and what are
called the table lands. On the Gold
coast there is to be found every variety
of hill and dale; in the south-we.stern
direction, also, the mountain scenery is
of great beauty and exceeding gran
deur ; while the character and condition
of the inhabitants is as variated as tho
natural scenery, including every grade,
from a savage to a civilized state. At
Cape Palmas and on the Grain coast,
the native houses—if such they may be
termed—are destitute of every comfort
of life ; on the Gold coast they arc two
and three stories high,with walls built of
cla.y. Hero the people live in a greater
degree of comfort, and, when compar
ed with those on the grain coast, seem
to be more civilized.
As to government in Africa, there is
nothing which merits the name : the
people live in insoiated villages, nomi
nally under the patriarchal, democratic,
and despotic forms. Under the patri
archal they enjoy some degree of com
parative security and happiness, while
nnder the democratic they are perfectly
disorganized and wretched. The state
of religion and morals is such as might
be expected, where polygamy, with its
train of evils, has overturned the foun
dation of society.
Society, however, has undergone a
material change for tho better within
the last thirty years, and is very differ
ent from what it was when tho slave
trade was in full vigor, and the entire
community was given up to predatory
warfare. This is plainly attributable to
the active operations of the naval squad
rons on the coast, the planting of mis
sions, and the e.stablishment of settle
ments.
We are aware that a diversity of opin
ion exists as to the capability of the
African for improvement, and that
many persons regard the efforts put
forth for their improvement as an utter
ly hopeless task ; but who need not be
informed, that as there is a diversity of
gifts in the same family, so there is a
diversity of gifts among the great fami
ly of man. The African may be in
ferior in enterprise, energy, and inven
tion, but he may nerertheless become
happy and prosperous. Here he can
not reach that point which ho is capable
of attaining, because ho is ovorsliadow-
ed by a more powerful race; but in
Africa he labors under no such disad
vantage. Eqperience has demonstra
ted that African children learn faster
than the white, owing to a remarkable
precocity, which, perhaps, may not be
retained. There are youths, however,
■ft’ho are making considerable proficien
cy in the study of tho Latin and Greek
languages, and a number of Africans
transact business to extent of ten thou
sand dollars a year, with great accura
cy, intelligence, and ability : and, al
though they have no written literature
yet they have certain traditions, aphor
isms, and fables, as a substitute.
As to the language of this people,
there are scholars in this country who
have been astonished at finding it one
of remarkable flexibility and philosoph
ical arrangement, with which no other
can compare, one verb sometimes hav
ing three hundred meanings, and which
a scholar in a few hours can trace to
its root. With reference to the capabil
ity of the Africans to receive religious
impressions, of this they are by no
means destitute ; and although immedi
ate extensive results have not followed
from the establishment of missions and
Christian settlements, yet they have
been as successful there as elsewhere.
Africa in all its parts, save one bright
spot, is still a comparatively benighted
region. If it is to be civilized and Chris
tianized—if its population is to be rais
ed from the degradation in which they
are at present, this must be mainly
through influences resulting from effo.'is
put forth by its own sons and da“''h' '’'s,
'ivlio have themsclve.s been p,”opare'.' '
the work. Little, directly, can be -
complislied by those from other ian.'\
as most of those who Imvc attempted '' e
work have fallen early ni:'.’. ■'yrs to their
zeal. Liberia, with its republican gov
ernment, there can be no question, is
destined to exert a benign mlluenoe un-
011 the rest of the continent. By its
government and laws—it.s schools
and churches—its trade and commerce
—a pure commerce, carrying bless
ings and not curses in its track—-a
reflex influence will go forth from it,
which shall timd to raise Africa to
a higher position among the nations
than she has for ages enjoyed. The
impressions made by wise, civil, and re
ligious institutions, upon those who come
under their immediate effect, will not bo
confined to the territory itself;' in^tio
nature of things they cannot be kept lo
cal ; the work of progress and human
elevation will be extended fartlier and
farther into the interior, and that land,
so long a terra incognita will be made
fully known, its population raised from
barbarism, its riches made available to
the world.
From the Nashvillo Christian Advocate.
Circulation of Books.
Next to tho preaching of the gos
pel, the press exerts the greatest influ
ence upon the morals of society. Tho
press, indeed, is a tremendous power ;
and in a measure moulds the mind, and
controls the opinions, and gives tone to
the habits of tho civilized world. The
ecclesiastical as well as the polilicii^,
world looks with deep interest to th-.’-U
mighty agent, and .all cLnsses and par
ties are striving to wield its influence
for the promotion of their particular
views and favorite systems. Infidelity
itself, aware of tlie potency of the
press, is laboring to convert it to tho
unholy purposes of crime.
Much of the literature of the times
is poisoned by the leaven of skepticism
and tho fiction and romance which flood
the world promote licontiou»nos.s,i.and
are destructive of the principles of
virtue and sound morality. The ene
mies of truth are iiidustriou.sly employ
ed, and spare no labor nor expense in
their attempts to subvert the Christian
religion and to overthrow tho Church
of God. Agencies are at work, and
instrumentalities are emploj’ed to s.-. ,
in all the departments of society, the
l aves .of the evil O'/e.,,
conics tho friends of Christiahtr)
be on the alert, and, by all lauddv,
moans, to" counteract tho tide of : :u
as it sweeps over the laud. To de
this, the press must bo sanctifi.ed a, d
consecrated to God and tho cause of
virtue.
Tho Church has wisely determined
to employ this mighty instrument for
the advancement of tho Redeemer’s
kingdom, and for tho promotion and
ostablishincnt of the truth of God ;
and perhaps no church in its organizi’d
form is doing more at present than tho
Methodist Episcopal Church. It is
certain that none is more capable of
doing good in this department than the
Me'thodist Church. Her itinerant sys
tem, connected with her tract opera
tions and colportage sj'stem, enateles
her to scatter broadcast books, tracts,
porioJlca-H, iui J ueu-spapcii-s, and to'
reach all classes of her follow-citizens
with less difficulty and less cost than
any other church in the land.
To say nothing of Northern Metho
dists, the Church South is now enter
ing upon an enterprise that will ena
ble her to do a vast amount of good.
All those interested are laboring to the
utmost of their capacity to circulate a
pure literature. The Publishing House
is now in successful operation, and
works by scores and hundreds are con
stantly issuing from its presses, which,
if circulated and read, cannot fail to
accomplish much for the Churcli and
to exert a happy influence upon tho
public generally. We most earnestly
insist that every preacher and every
Christian man and woman lend a help
ing hand in this grand moral niovc-
ment. Lot tho publications of the
Church 1)0 distributed in every direc
tion. Wo wish to see our aged and iri -
fluential brethren of the ministry and
in the laity putting forth their ener
gies in aid of tho General Conferene'’,
in furnishing the public with a sound
and healthy literature. No man, how
ever important or dignified his position
should excuse himself from taking part
in this noble enterprise. Let all work
with energy and zeal.
Tho following is from the pen of lYal-
ter Savage Landor; “The damps of
autumn sink into the leaves, and pre
pare them for the necessity of the fall;
and thus insensibly are we, as years
close around ns, detached from our
tenacity to life by the gentle prcssi'”o
of recorded sorrows.”
A Misnomer..—During a great storm
on the Pacific ocean, a vessel was O’:'’’
wrecked, and a Quaker tossing to ; r, i
fro on a plank, exclaimed, over the cresi,
of a wave, to another who was drifting
by on a barrel, “Friend, dost thou call
this Pacific.”
Meeting of Bishops.—Tbe Bisbnps
of the Methodist Episcopal Church,North,
were to meet in Pittsburg on Wednesday of
last week to hold their annual cunaultation.