ADVOCATE.
O HI T1 T Q HP I A "
Kj 11 It 1 O 1 llll
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY, A COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS FOR THE METHODIST EPI COPAL CHURCH, SOUTH. RUFUS T. HEFLTN, Editor.
r ale i ghV Thursday, o.,t ober g, is59.
$1.50 a year, in advance.
YOL.1Y--NO. 40.
ORIGINAL.
FortheN.C Christian Advocate
Calvinism vs. AmiinianisiH,"
IXeviewed. So. XXII.
Rev. R. T. IIeflis:
1 have nw Wine n:e No. XX, of P
T. P-'s communications: in the ' Ao th
C"roin Pre fyff ,,,'' of Sept. 3, 1S59 ing them meet by these means for 'eternal
In this X'. he still pursues the subject of j glory ;' and prevent their apostacy from
The Decree of Eh etion and Probation;' ! that faith, through the enormous teachings
by the consideration of the scripture testi- ' of false teachers, verse 18. P. T. P. next
nionv: and to this pm p.-"e. he presents. j presents,
1." 2 Tim. 1: I. 'Who hath saved us, 3. 'Acts 13: 48. 'As many as were
and cill 'd us w r!i :.n holy calling, not ac- ! ordained to eternal life, believed:' as es
corting to our wrks. but according to ITis ; tablishing the doetriue of election to etern
own purpose and grace, which was given j al life' through pre-ordination. He affirms
us in ri.ri-t Jesus, bef eethe world began.' j that 'to suit any of the Aiminian theories
And upon this he builds the following ar- ! the text would have to be altered to read
- . - i o i .i ... . t . l,i: -i 1..: 1
rumen t : ' Lo s not tins passage or ccrip i
tare taeh thedoetine that those whom
God save, He liad an rt u nal purpose to
save a purpose which was not baed upon
the condition of man's go.l works?' In : ordination to eternal life, is founded upon
reply to this view. I observe ! his fore-sight of faith and love; according
1. The subj ct of whi.-h the Apostle j to Piom. viii, 28-3S, Gal. iii, 7, 8; Eph.
speaks is not the personal el-ction of men ; i, 3-13; i, Pt. i, 2. Because.
to eternal lire as intended by the terms j 2. The word here translated ordained,
' calling' and 'purposes and craee:' but j is not used in the original for ordination ;
the actual 'calling' of -Gentiles' by the j but regards the disposition of the subjects
preaching of the gop.d to them, see verso ' that are refered to. P. T. P. himself
ii. This is v.ore fully shown to be the ! S3 ms to concede this for argument's sake,
subject to winch Paul directed the mind nd he argues lustily, to make it appear,
of Timothv. j that Arniinians wid not gain any advant-
2. Bv the fact, th: t it is to this 'hat the j a2re jf this is .-d'owed : because, he thinks
Appostle applies the term 'purpose' not j tiat tu,y Iliust admit that the disposition
only in this text : but especially the follow- j mu?,t be wholly wroagot in them by God,
ing: 'Whereby when ye read, ye may i .inj that consequently, the conclusion is
under and my knowledge in the mystery tho same in principle. Not so fast if you
of Christ; which in other ages was not j phase. If all this is to be understood as 1 e
made keown unto the sons of men, as j in, done in man ty the immediate impulse
it is now revea'ed unto the holy apostles I Gf God . so must the want of such a good
and propnets bv the Spirit ; that the gen- j disposition i" others be attributed to the
tiles should hi fellow-heirs, and ot t!ie
same body, and partakers of his promise
in Chrit by the go.-pel: whereof I was
made a minister, according to the gift of j
the grace of God riven unto me by the ef- j
fectual working of his power. To the in- j 0f the children of men.
tont that now unto the principalities and j The ues Ci ic affirm that the orignal,
powers in heaven !y phves might be known, , f.tfrni n4, is generally used in the sense
by the church, the manifold wisdom of ; Wc have given above ; but. never, or very
God. according to the eitrnnl purpos? j seldom in t'.e sene of ordination. Dis-whi-h
he .purposed in Christ Jesus our p0scj js the meaning given to this word
Lord : in whom we have boldness and ac- j ,y I,daridge, Whitby, Wolfins, Wall,
cess with confidence by the faith of him.' j Wetstein, Ijengel, Kosennsuller and others.
Eph iii. 4 12. j These authorities may be found in T. II.
3 This revelation of tli- gospel to the j Home's Introduction &c, vol. ii, pp,
Gentiles,' contemplated the exercise of j fjs;45
faith in Christ, as necessary to their 3 The difference of dispositions noticed,
personal 'lection : and hence. God did not is easily accounccd for, without making
only n-veal this gospel to the 'holy apostles God the actor in this case, in tho sense
and prophets,' but committed it to Paul j given by P T. P. The context shows, that
and others to preaeh it to the ' Gentiles' , the preaching of Paul as the instrumental
that they might be sav d : this is evident i ngent, and the truth which he preaches as
from Eph. iii. 9. compared with 11 Jim
i. 10. 11, and Eph. i, 3-13. It follows
therefore.
4. That the 'Armiuian' view of this sub
ject is the true one, which contemplates
the exercise of faith essentially necessary
to personal citation. This also follows, !
that P. T. P. has .-ham. -fury mirepreseut- j sequent result. See verse 4S. Tho dis
ed the 'Armiuian,' alias Methodist view, j po.-ition was the result, of the reception of
when he allirms that th ir notion would j the truth by these who afterwards be
requ're the p-xt to bo read : ' Who hath j peved ; being prepared for such faith by
saved us, &.;.. according to our works, and its influence on their miuds and hearts. It
not aceoriitir to His own purpose and! follows then fore,
grace which was given us in Chri-t Jesus, ; 4. That Arminianism is the gospel, in
before the world was b g m.' 'The ' pur-j-o-e
of God, Is to save ail who b lievc in
Chri.-t Jesus,' as he is made known by the
gosp.d. And this is the tree imtiort of ;
this text with the contexts. Melh'xlists
Tider in'ich, ever we t-nijht , that salva
tion is by works, cither in whole or in
part : nor is there anything in their doc
trinal views, f uind in any one of their
writers, which can be cons'rued into such
u meaning. P. T. P. produces.
2. ' II, Tim. ii:li, 'Therefore, I endure
all things for the elect's sake, that they
may a!-o oh:dn the salvation which is in
Christ Jesus with exceeding glory." 'This
salvation' P. T. P. ennt-nds ' consists in
a state of justilication, adoption and pro
gressive s inctiQ 'ation, before tho subjects
of it reach Heaven, for it is written, 'that
th'-y may obtain salvation with eternal
glory.' Therefore this i.s not an election
unto eternal glory beeatoe they have ob
tained justification by faith, and other bles
sings, but an election unti eternal glory
t-eeause tney nave onra.neu jusnncauon oy -
faith, r.nd other bb ssings, but an election
that they may obtain these blessings w.th J
eternal glory. The election preceded, and j
was the caiiic of all the other blessings
which were in Christ Jesus.' In reply, I j
obr," , v t 1 !
. jim. ... l 1 11. 1 . el i' i'ilu i ,i.it:
such as had exercised faith, and were
therefore in a ins'ifi d state. This is evi
dent from the context. S -e verses 10-18.
This ii fully proved by verse 18, in which
th 1 'faith af some' had been 'overthrown'
by th.; doctr ties brought into the church,
by false teach-TS.
2. That, the suT'iings of Paul, which i
he ' endured' manifestly, had the tendancy j
TO encourage 1 e men nc, .- ... u,e cnurcn, j
in their attachment to the church; and
their c nstaiiey in their christian life: this
is tiue as it respected Timothy himself, ii,
Tim. ii, 1 '.): and also of the other mem-b'-rs
of the church??; tbb i? clear from ii,
Cor. i, 1-11, and ii, Tim. ii, 11-14. It
follows therefore,
3. That the apostle in his instructions
to his son Timothy regarded the high in
terests of the church ; and wished him to
'understand' that the sufferings which he,
as an apostle, 'endured' would have the
tendency to con Snn the 'elect' in the faith
rn 1 practice of the gospel of Christ ; mak-
inus, -as ninny an "tuntu, ciu I'luan
to eteruul life,' This we deny altogether;
because,
1. We, Methodists, contend that God's
same cause . and then it will follow, that
as God works the go d disposition in the
elect ; so also, does he work the evil dis
poitions in the Rerrob fes ; and thus be-
Cnmes the author of all evil in the hearts
the means; had much to do in this matter.
The truth reject. id was the ground work
of the leprobation of the Jews: see verses
45 4G. The truth received by the 'Gen
tiles' was the ground-work of their dispo
sition and their faith ; and shows clearly
their cooperations with that truth and con-
asmuch, as it teaches in accordance with
the Scriptures, that the salvation of man is
to be attiibuted to the concurrence of man's
free-will with God s free graca : and so
using the latter, as to become conformed
to the image of his Son in all things.
Calvinism attributes all to God entirely
and man, accordingly must be wholly pas
sive, while the decree of ordination ac
complishes every thing for him. P. T. P.
proceeds,
5. And produces 'Horn viii, 29, 30,
'For whom He did fore-know, He also did
predestinate to he conformed to the image
of His Son, that He did predestimite the
first born among many brethren. More
over, whom II 3 did predestinate, them He
also called ; and whom He called, them
He also justified ; and whom He justified,
them He alsoglorfied.' ' P. T. P. affirms
that ' The text teaches at least this much
most clearly, that men are conformed to
the image tf the Son of God, because God
j has so predestinated. ' He did prestinate
Tq cnnformec to thc ;,na?e ,uh
g(W AnJ ho aJ Js . Messrs Wesley,
Wation aml olllers WoulJ sav that by
f.,ith at)l sactification becoming conformed
to tae in)ag0 Gf God, therefore God pre-
destinated them.' I deny, however, that
Wesley, Wats.n and' any 'others' ever
id perpetrate such non-sense as P. T. T.
has done in their name. In reply, bow
ever, to bi3 views, and in full vindication
of Arminianism, and to show what Meth-
odism is ;
l observe.
1. Had P. T. P. looked at, or taken into
the account the 28 verse, he would have
seen the character of those whom tho
nn()Rti- ,ffir.s W:ls nrode-tinatcd X- Th
predestinated were such, of whom it could
be said: 1 We knm that all things work'
together for good to them that love God,
to the.n who aro called according to hi
purpose.' God's ' purpose' is clearly seen
in the original Covenant which he made
with Abraham. Gen. xvii. In this cove
nant, not only the Jews, Abraham's de
scendents are embraced ; but fdso ' all na
tions :' these he ' purposed to call into fel
lowship with the church, and 'make twain
one new man ;' and thus constitute them
the elect of God. This is proved by Gal.
iii, 7, 8. Eph. i, ii, iii, entire, and fully
demonstrated in this Epistle to the Romans.
And the text in question, stands connected
with this great subject; as does the great
er part of thc Epistl itself: see particularly
chapters iv, ix, xi, compared with the
above reference.
2. Pi ed sfiiinfioii itself is based upon
fore-Knon ledge. This is not only affirm
ed in this text, but is confirmed by the
apostle Peter, thus: 'Elect according to
the fore-knowledge of God the Father,
through sanc-tification of the Spirit, unto
obedience and sprinkling of the blood of
Jesus Christ.' I, Pet. i, 2. This is de
niont rated by Faul, thus : 'Know ye there
fore, that they which are of the faith, the
same are the children of Abraham. And
the Scripture fore-seeing that God would
justify the heathen faith, preached before
the Gospel to Abraham,' (see Gen. xvii.)
saying, ' In thee shall all nations be bless
ed.' Gal. iii, 7, 8, and more particularly
in Ephesians i, 3 13, where this predes
tination is effectuated in their election
'after' they 'believed.' Very Calvinistic
this, is it '? !!!
3. This predestination being based upon
fore-knowledge, is a predestination unto
holiness as the (pialification for eternal life
they are to be 'conformed to the image of
his Son,' this is what they are predestinat
unto. And that they may be thus 'con
formed to the image of his Son, God has.
4 Revealed to the Gentiles (see Eph.
iii, 7 14.) the ' mystery which was not
made known unto the sons of men in other
ages;' so that by this they might be
brought into ' fellowship of the mystery ;'
and being thus ' called' they might be
'justified;' and living in 'conformity to
the image of his Son' until death ; they
might be 'glorified together.' See the
context. Rom viii, 15 17. It follows
therefore,
o. That this Predestination, in itself,
is, not unto eternal life ; but unto a ' con
formity to the image of his Son' as will
constitute the proper uieetness for heaven
ly glory. Holiness is here evidently con
templated in this subject. ' IVithout holi
ness no man shall see God,' is tho true
principle here inculcated. Hence, that
thaf. the-' may be holy, they must be 'jus
tifed' and Peter would add ' sanctified by
the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ;'
and being thus justified and sanctified, they
must ' wal l also as Christ walked' which
is the true conformity to the image of his
Son.' From all this it follows clearly,
G. That tho final glorification of the
predestinated does not depend either upon
fore-knowledge and Predestination ; or, on
justificaiion : but upon the .ikeness to 'the
image of his Son.' It is this, that con
stitutes the qualification of tho elect for
for the heavenly glory; and not the fore
knowledge operating through predestina
tion. Predestination regards the law re
quiring such qualification, and does not
accomplish this, and can only operate as
God's decree does respecting salvation :
' He that beiieveth and is baptized, shall be
saved ; but he that believeth not shall be
damned.' Mark xvi, 1G- We learn there
fore, 7. Finally, that the whole scheme here
brought to view by St Paul, is suspended,
as far as its final issues are involved, upon
the free-nioral-agcncy of man, and the
conditiouality of the covenant of salvation.
' Faith, hope, charity' together with all
tho friends of the Spirit, which are 'love,
joy, peace, long--suffering. gentleness,
goodness,' faith, meekness, temperance'
constitute the true spiritual and moral
qualilicrtion fer heaven. These are things
contemplated in the scheme of the apostle
iu this text, and the predestination regards
the necessity of conformity in these par
ticulars as preparatory to, and qualificati6n
for the "glory' here contemplated.
Yours affectionately,
PETER DOUB.
Pittsboro' N. C. Sept. 7, 1859.
For the N. C. Christian Advocate.
Sunday Schools.
" These institutions commend themselves
to our favorable regard, as well from the
objects which their establishment contem
plates as from thc happy results which
they have been directly instrumental in
producing. We have only to ask, what
does common sense teach and what does
every day's observation prove in order to
be satisfied that the Sunday School is
a great moral enjine admirably adapted to
accomplish purposes than which none are
dearer to the parent, the patriot and the
Christian."
So said a living divine who holds the
highest oflioj in his church. Daniel Web
ster said of the Sunday School "as a school
of religious instruction it is ot inestima
ble value. As a civil institution it is
priceless." Here are two men of vat
learning one a civilian, the other a di
vine concurring as to the political and re
ligious importance of the Sun. Schools.
Other names might be added but the
value of the institution can not 1 ques
tioned at this enlightened day. A few
facts may be stated as to the achieve
ment of the Sunday School w;;?,u. faith
fully conducted. Certain ministers in the
great revival in New York reckoned the
number of the converts who traced their
impressions to the Sunday School and
found them (I think) to be about f)ur-fifth3
of the aggregate. The Students of divini
ty in a certain theo. Seminary give about
the same eloejuent testimony to thc same
blessed agency about four-fifths dating
their impressions at the Fabbath School.
A BaltimoreBn says the way they build
churches in destitute porions of the city is
first to establish a Sundaj School it grows
into a chujeh.
The report of a cerfcin denomination
respecting sixteen churcles showed that
ten of them had sprung tp from the bosom
of Sunday Schools estiblished in waste
places The report of tie Methodist S.
S. Society, calls them an integral and in
dispensable part of on- economy the
plant-bed to the garden the nursery to
the orchard. Multiply these facts and
thoughts by thousands ihd acid the other
innumerable blessings that the Sunday
School confers and tell .ue if wo all ought
not to be deeply interested in, its prcsperi- ;
Our excellent secretary, Dr Taylor, is
m doubt.doinga vast amomt of labor, but it
is impossible for him to meet the necessities
of the caus. Some ofihe preachers do
well so far as they know or can but I fear
that even some stations ?re not as wel!
treated as they shoullbein this regard.
jftentimes, I know, the pastor hasn't time
to devote much atteniion.
On the large circuits, (and some of the
small ones) almost notliiag is d.,ne by the
minister or any other one. Country
Churches in some sections rarely have a
Sunday School f at-y kind. The children
of official members grew up without in
struction in the merest TuJinient of our
faith. The rich and poor ire alike neg
lected. Furthermore, thevi.are poor dis
tricts of our State that are low and have
always been without an' appreciable
church advantages. Perhaps every preach
er in Conference knows ofstuh sections.
These communities are in inorance and
darkness the children are sulking after
their parents and give no pnBiise of any
improvement without special aid. These
places are not (and many carnct be)visited
by preache in charge of regulil- work, In
view of all this what ought tj be done ?
First, all of us ought to devte fresh and
hearty attention to tho Sunltiy Schools
among the people of our cha se. Every
community ougb. to supply itsalf with our
S. S. Visitor. Is there not in eery neigh
borhood, at least, one gentlentn or lady
who will take a subscription and get up a
club? Will not the reader oil this head
the list with his or her faint? and start
right out ? Oh, yes. Well, lure are the
terms : Single copy 30c ; 5 copies or more
2fic. each ; over 25 copies, 20c. each.
Se-nd the money and names to Dr. J. B.
McFerrin, Nashville. Thejlubs, I think,
have to be sent all to the sane office. Let
those who are able take copbs for the poor j
children. Don't forget that. "Remem
ber the poor !" Go out, sonn as you can,
and get up the club. The vinter is com
ing on when some schools will have to
stop ; ancUthis doubles the importance of
taking the Visitor. Meantime do all you
can to build up a school in your neighbor
borhood. The ranks of our church are
thinning they must be supplied. There
are many places solitary, that ought to be
made glad.
In the second place, I would humbly sug
gest the propriety of a Conference S. S.
Agent, being appointed at our next session.
A regular, traveling, discreet, hard work
ing, praying, preaching agent in our
bounds would be the most enviable, because
the most useful member of the Conference.
It would favor every sacred interest of the
church. It would be worth more than any
of our agencies though all be commenda
bli. It would peculiarly favor those re
sults which christians pray for humanity
needs and heaven recjuires.
A. W. M.
The Camel and Needle's Eye.
In the strange old book entitled Ilexa
meron, the sequence to the Specdum
Mundi, by Swan, printed in 1642 3, 13
the following comment on the camel and
the needle s eye. Its peculiarity may ren -der
it worth insertion :
" As for the hunch on the camel's back,
the Scripture doth thereby express the
swelling pride and confidence of rich, world
men, who as hardly enter into the kingdom
of God as the camel with his hunch d back
can go through the eye of a needle. Notes
and Queries.
Irom the N O. Ch. Advacate.
Foot-Prints Across the Continent.
ISo. VIII.
Approaching the Rio Grande Wild Hay
Eagle Spring Murdered Emigrants
The Rio Grande Fort Quitman A
Home-sick Traveler A Wolf after a
Mule-Rabbit Human Habitations
Mexican Villages El Paso Valley of
the Rio Grande Grape-Culture and
V ine-Makinjr VY heat Irrigation-
Ploughing Cathedral Plaza Mista
ken IHplomaek Judge Hart Approx
imation of the Pacific and Rio Grande
Conferences A Call for tLe "Old
Guard."
For two days before we reached the Rio
Grande the same general features of coun
try prevailed. All is parched, dry, and
sad-looking. If I had no expeiience of
this region, and were dropped down there,
my first Impression would be that no ani
mal life could be sustained in it. This
however would be a mistake. Antelopes
lives here and keep fat. Ox-teams innu
merable pass thr)ugh and, if not over
driven, improve. The explanation is this.
whenever it lains, and this is at long in
tervals, the grass springs, and grows as
ong as the moisture lasts, and when the
drought comes on dies before it reaches
maturity. It is not therefore dead, decay
ing vege ation, but icdl-cwed hay, and
very nutritious. As no rains or dews fall
in this cour try, it keeps from month to
mouth. Stock of all kinds are very fond
of it. Vast herds may be seen in some
places, leaving the streams where there is
some verdure, and resorting to the plains
to feed on this dry grass. There had been
no rain, I was told, for two years, and of
course no decomposition. Nature provids
the hay, and the beasts of the field do their
ow mowing. No neetl of storehouse or
barn.
On the night of the 31st May we made
our last encampment, and the next day,
early in the forenoon, reached "Eagle
Spring ;" a name I had often noticed upon
the maps, little thinking I should ever see
the place. The spring is a mere hole in
the ground, half full of mily-looking water,
as unpalatable as it is ill-favored.
Eagle mountain, near-by, is awful in
its gi andeur and the place is one of in
terest, as the scene of some Indian murders
a year or two since. Three graves mark
the spot where the emigrants were slain.
It is a place in which 10 be sad ; and when
you look around and sec the hiding-places
from which tho treacherous savrge might
with his arrow or send his death-dealing
bullet, you feel a little nervous.
Nevertheless we rested here an hour,
and walked about in as much security as
edse where. Bear grass, and a sort of mon
grel palmetto, are the only products of
this arid region. With their long naked
stems and bushy tops, as 3-011 whirl by
them in the dark, they look like the out
posts of an army sentinels over their
sleeping comrads.
The road, after leaving the spring, lies
for miles mainly in the bed of what in wet
weather is a considerable stream. Rocks,
rocks! above, below, around.
Finally we emerge from the desolation,
and in the valley below we see the far
famed Rio Grande. Green trees line the
banks oh, how refreshing to the eye
weary of rocks, sand and vegetable death !
Under a wide-spreading cotton-wood the
driver halted, and for a season we luxuri
ate in shade. We go down to the river
what a disappointment to see a bold, hash
inT stream of clear cool water but, lo! a
narrow, muddy, sluggish one with scarce
a perceptible current. I stooped to drink,
and thought, as the river was swollen by
the melting snows, that I should once
more get a cooling draught; but no ! it
was warm as a Southern mill-pond in the
month of June. This was the first river
and the first impression. Our route lies
up the river for 8 miles or more, and, per
haps, we shall see it to more advantage.
Five miles more, and we reach Fort
Quitman. A few adobe houses and some
rude stick tents, deep sand and broad sun
shine, as hot as I ever felt, are among my
recollections of the place. When we stop
ped to deliver the mail, a gentleman came
up to inquire of a train behind. He seemed
to long for its arrival, that he might has
ten his escape from what he called " this
Godjohalctn country."
The river was rising and threatened to
overflow the place. The people were full
of fears, for their adobe houses were C3r
tain to cave in if the wat r reached them.
I hope they escaped tho dreaded calamity.
After dinner we started for El Paso,
with the assurance that the road was bad,
and that we mu4 travel all night. We
verified both declarations
The sand was deep, and occasionally
the rut was cut into holes of great depth,
and the mere shaking of the vehicle was
tortured to tired limbs.
Just before sunset we saw an exciting
chase a wolf and a mule-rabbit; terror
spurred one, appetite the other each was
doing his best ; which won the race I do
not know, for a turn in the road hid them
from oar view. I must skip till " mor-
Tunir Iifrhfc annpars " "DnrfcneKa and sloen
o o ir tr
both prevented me from seeing much.
Just before day the rising water com
pelled the driver to abandon the road, and
hunt a new route through the sand-hill9
on the edge of the river bottom and as,
with the rest, I had to walk, my impres
sions are not very favorable. The only
remarkable thing on the way is, here and
there a human habitation. We had not
seen one for Jive hundred miles.
In the morning we reached San Elezario,
an old Mexican village with a few Pue
blo Indians scattered around. Some Ameri
cans, too, have found their way out here.
We halted for breakfast, and fared very
well. The host was an American and his
wife a Mexican. Here, too, are gardens
and orchards and fields. Thc sight was
revi ing. For production, the sole depen
dence is irrigation. The soil is fine a
rich alluvial. Soon we came to another
village, Socorro ; and then to Isleta - all cf
them old Catholic stations, where Mexicans
and Indians were taught alas, not Chris
tianity, but Romanism. On the Texian
side, tho valley of the Rio Grande is nar
row, and not of much.value.
We passed Fort Bliss in a cloud of dust,
and soon drove into El Paso. Alighted
at the only hotel in the place, glad 10 es
cape the scorching sun and to rest for a
season.
The stage from San Antinio runs no
further than El Paso, and we had to wait
two days for " the Overland," as it is cal1.
ed. Here my free tu ket expired, and new
arrangements had to be made. We had
traveled seven h mdred miles, and had thir
teen hundi-ed more to go, so that a little
rest was not out of order.
El Paso, in Texas, is a very small town ;
but El Paso, in Mexico, directly opposite,
is a considerable place. It is a very old
town, and like Mexican towns generally,
is very irregular in shape. It has an air
of antiquity about it that interests, and
signs of dilapidation aud abandonment
which tell of revolution and bad govern
ment. During Santa Anna's last reign,
windows were heavily taxed, and to evade
his oppression, io many houses the sash
was removed, and the opening- wallet r..
I saw several habitations without a win
dow, and with only a single door.
The present contest between the Liberals
and the Church party has driven many of
the best citizens into exile; some are im
prisoned and the business and prosperity
of the town aro much damaged.
This valley of the Rio Grande is one of
the richest and lovliest I ever saw. Here
are the largest pear trees 1 ever beheld.
Fruit trees in general are cultivated by
every householder. The vineyard are
large and carefully fended. Grape-culturo
and wine-making are thc chief dependence,
for money. It was too early for grapes,
but I tasted the w ine and found it excel
lent. Far superior, to my uncultivated
taste, to most of the European branls.
The vines are singularly managed. There
is no frame for them to run on no stake
touuhold them. They are pruned very
close every year, and the mainstem be
comes stout and strong, and looks like a
stump usually about two feet high. The
young vines shoot out from this old stock,
and are left to wave in the wind.
Wheat grows finely here. The fields
arc not enclosed. Irrigation is universal.
There is one large canal. ( we would term
it the Mexicans call it acequia pionoun
ced acokii, with little trenches running
in every direction, which from squares ;
in these, thc water is allowed to stand till
absorbed by the earth.
I was much interested in the sty'e and
instrument of ploughing. A long pole,
with a natural or artificial prong some
times faced with iron at one end ; a pair
of oxen, with the yoke lushed fust to the
horn one Mexican to hold the plough,
another to drive the team constitutes the
arrangement. It is a scratching opera
tion. Nebuchadnczze.r, at the end of his
grazing, could have done as well with his
finger-nails. Strange to say, however, I
was informetl that the American settlers
on the Rio Grande who ploughed deep,
after the Eastern fashion, had been con
strained to abandon their way and adopt
the stola of the country, as best adnpted to
production. I find the same theory of
culture in California. If I were writing
for an agricultural paper I would speculate
a little as it is, I forbear.
The Cathedral is a venerable building,
said to be one hundred and fifty years old.
It is an adobe structure, and looks like it
might last another century. It is the chief
building in the tow 1- -fronts the Plaza
and is conspicuous from many points of
observation.
By tho way, is not that word "plaza''
much prettier than our word" square?'
When Congress modified the Gadsden
treaty and left the valley of the Rio Grande
to Mexico, a great mistake was made.
Unless her silver mines should turn out to
be an off-set, the ichole 'of Arizona is not
as valuable. B it I 1. ust not anticipate.
At El Paso 1 founr1. several pleasant ac
quaintances. Among them Judge Hart,
whose kindness I can but commemorate.
He was once an officer in the U. S. A.,
but resigned, married, and settled near EI
Paso, on the banks of thc Rio Grande.
His location is as barren as can be found
in the Union, and yet he had the forecast
to see that a fabulous fortune could be
made just there. He built a mill for grin
ding wheat, and has a monopoly of the
Far-west in tho flour trade. Intelligent,
refiue I and liberal, he has made a character
as we'l as a fortune; and, in his n lobo
palace, he dispenses an elegant bospiul'ty.
His house is an oasis in a desert. His
polite attention and exceeding kindness to
me and mine will be long remembered.
He is a Catholic by education and prof 8
sion, but generously proposed to aid me in
building a Southern Methodist Church,
I and in supporting a preacher.
God willing, I expect to provide for
this placo when tho Confi rence meet at
Goliad in November. There aro several
points to which the attention of tho Church
ought to be turned in this Western wilder
ness There ought to be preaching at all
the miliary posts, and wherever there ia a
nucleaus of a settlement thc gospel should
be sent' It is my purpose o extend the
appointments in the Pacific Conference
Eadnard. and of the Rio Grande, III-
trard ; and I hope the policy will prevail
' till the lines are co-tcrminous.
I read in my boyhood, of The vale of
Avoca, whoro bright wat en meet," and
a' t mi red the poet's descriptive power. My
hopes paint a lovelier scene, not far in the
future, when two pioneer preacher Miall
shake hands at Tucson or Fort Yuma, nnd
mutually say : " J'om thanks be un' Cd
that alway civ.ch us to triumph -n Cl risft
1 nd m ikvlh manifest the stcor of Ins kno-vl.
edge by us in every place ''
To consummate this pl.i'i, the Church
needs men of thc type of those who signa
lized the h'roicdays of Methodism ; men
who can sleep without beds; live without
dainties; cat b-ins and bacon; enduro
thirst and want; be strong in the faith,
and keep happy in God ; work without
stint, andhold on to the end.
Where are they? Who will answer:
Here am u Oenu nice ileaven help
us to do our duty.
G. F. PIERCE.
The Wefclcys.
" In a dingy, 6lim, and spotted old En
glish volume, dated 1824." thc editor of
tho Nashville Advocate Cuds a poetical
celebration of the conference season. He
qtoes several columns. Wo cxtrrct the
following episode .
THE VENERABLE FOUNDER.
O righteous Wesley ! Bhall a musi csny
From thy bright track to catch a living ray ?
So wide, so swift, so useful they career,
Truth cannot paint without suspicion here.
But still his mind a wider circle drew,
For with his usefulness his ardor grew ;
The public good ho grasped with such a
zeal,
As prophets felt and dying martyrs fee 1 ;
'And like his own beloved, redeeming plan,
He sought the bliss of universal mm.
Yet cruel envy, base ingrafitudo,
His work aspersed, his spotless li e nursued:
lie. fixed as fate, and truth's immortal base,
Rose liko a pyramid amid disgrace ;
Serenely shone, and when he brightly set,
Left Europe and the moral world in debt.
THE SWEET SINGER Or ISRAAL.
Thou, too, art gone, sweet leader of the
choir ;
Thou soul of music with a seraph's lyre.
When royal David made hi final will,
Sweet fancy added this last codicil :
I give to Solomon my crown and throne;
This 6acrcd harp shall Watts and Wesley
own."
And thou hast touched thc strings with so
much skill,
Tho Hebrew Melodist enchints us still.
Thy peerless hymns, each nice distinction
trace,
Each shade of miud, each lineament of
grace,
From the first pious thought, or infant ray
Of moral light, to God's refulgent day.
Thy muse, from every rose on Rion's hill.
From e ery fountain and from every rill,
II is cu 1 d divinefct sweets of every kind.
t To charm the car, to purify the mind.
God Invisible.
Lord, we are blind, we mortals blind ;
We cau't behold thy bright alode ;
O 'tis beyond a creatine's mind.
To glaDco a thought half way to God.
Infinite league beyond tho sky,
Tho great eternal reigns alone,
Where neither wings nor souls can fly,
Nor angels cli.nb tho topless throne.
The Lord of Glory builds hii seat
Cf gems insufferably bright,
A' d lays beneath iiis nacred feet
Substantial beams of gloomy night.
Yet, glorious Lor 1. thy gracious eyes
Look thro' and cheer us from above ;
Beyond our praia j thy grandeur flies,
Yet we adore, and yet we love "