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I I xW A y. A A II It K AW A. A A. A A A A ill 1 AN yssf h w v tut ft ft a o Mro a ivo a lJ W WW WWW J: JJ VOL XXVIII. NO. 44- THE ORGAN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH. - ESTABLISHED 1855. RALEIGH, N. C, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14, 1883. TRKM- Ier Annum, S'-i.OO. For the Advocate. SUhDAY-SCHOOLSHAT RACKS IN CHURCHES. In discussing the Sunday-school in terests at the Warrenton District Con ference held at Wilson in July last, I think the position was taken by some of the brethren, (if wrong, I hope to be corrected) that the pastor was not ,xnecied to attend the schools within the bounds of his charge that it un tlc, him tor the duties of the pulpit, e;c. I nn sorry we had to pass from question so hurriedly, for I can conceive of.no department of Church that is, or which demands more ..four attention, than this one subject cf Sunday-schools; and there were era! present who wished to give expression to heir views thereon. I juoi undertake to say that the pas tor should take charge and conduct he schools, but I do say that he is ex- necteu to wsu uiciu as uueii as prac- ticabie ana nrcsence and 1 en courage them by his words and manifested interest. I his mucn ana more, is re quired of him by Ans. 4 Par. 104 of the Discipline. The question was asked me by my pastor : "How is a pastor to know the needs of a school if he does not attend its sessions?'' In addition to this I would ask how is he to report under Ans. 15 Par. 63, and the Answer above referred to as to the ''state of the Sunday-schools" if he does not visit them ? He cannot term the proper estimate for the basis of a report of their spiritual state, nor can he properly enter into sympathy with them unless he attends their sessions and sees and feels for himself. Of course I have had no experience, but if I can jud:ie of such matters from observa tion I am satisfied that the pastor who spends an hour with the school and, through love for the work, enters into its exercises with all his heart, is bet ter prepared when he enters the pulpit to cuscnarge tne amies 01 mat posi- tion, ana 1 am sausnea mat tne pastor who enters heartily into the sympa thies of the schools and shows his in- terest and love by his presence and j woras ot admonition ana encourage- ment is the one who rejoices in the greatest spiritual results to himself and his people. I did not commence this article as an argument, but simply for the purpose of relating my obser vation of the work of the pastor at this place during these two years, hoping that it ni av result in some srood for the schools and pastors generally. When oar pastor came he at once showed a decided interest in the school attend ing the sessions promptly whenever in town, and entered heartilv into the exercises leading in prayer, teaching a class m the absence of any teacher, i exouuiuiig uie uiaciv uoaru, uuKingu, and advisinsr and svniDathizir.sr witl the officers and teachers, both in and out of school, and taking the young people by the hand and talking with them kindly and pleasantly about the lessons, and occasionally preaching a sermon on them. He soon found his way to the hearts of the children where he now sits in triumph; and through them he found admission more readily into the hearts of their parents. I have seen him come down from the pulpit after preaching and, taking his seat near by, in a few seconds he could scarcely be seen, so large would be the crowd of children around him, and on his knees. At a protracted meet ing held in this small congregation last year there were twenty-two souls con verted, of which fourteen were Sunday school scholars, leaving only two or three who had reached the years of accountability. These results I attri bute largely to the work of the pastor in the school. He has told me that instead of unfitting him for preaching he usually preached with more ease when he went from the school to the pulpit. As I have said, he still holds to the hearts of the children, and, in fact, all the congregation. He has done us good work.- We have learn ed to love him, and unless Conference can send us an angel from heaven to take his place, we want him back. 1 went into the meeting alluded to with a class of thirteen girls and boys ranging from about eleven to nineteen years of age, only one of whom was a professing Christian, but it does me good to state that when the meeting cl sed not one of them was left out of the Church. Let God's name be I praised. One of your correspondents suggests that shelves be made under the seats in our Churches to be used as hat racks, but I think if he had had the experience with sextons that some of us have had, such an idea would be f reign to him, for there would always be such an accumulation of dust on the shelves that the hats deposited on them would be unfit for use until they hid received a brushing. But some thing ought to be done for the abomi able, disgusting, filthy habit that some people have of sitting in Church and chewing their cud like a goat (when they ought to be sheep) and spitting the juice 0:1 the church floor,as though they imagined themselves in a horse stable, makes it rather sicken ing to one who does not use tobacco, when he thinks of depositing his Sun day hat on the floor under the seat in front of him. The suggestion remind ed me of a rack a Roman Catholic told me some years ago he was invent ing. It was to be constructed of wire and so attached to the backs of the seats as to slide the hat brim between them and the seat, just as one would close a box having a sliding lid, pro jecting the crown of the hat towards the owner on the next rear seat. I do not think this would be practicable, because in kneeling the hats would be in the way; but if these wires were ar ranged under the seats so to project just far enough behind to take hold and press them down to slide the brim in, letting the crown hang down under the seat, I think it would be an im provement on any suggestion I have heard. Fraternally yours, Geo. T. Simmons. Halifax, N. C, Nov. 7th, 1883. THE VALUE OF THE SABBATH. BY BTSHOP A. W. WILSON. How is a wandering, fallen and de praved world to be recalled to God, without that day which celebrates the works, and word, and grace of God that day which recognizes his authori ty over man that day which proclaims man's intellectual accountable nature, his future, his eternal hopes ? The Sabbath interposes a space between total irreligion and the conscience of man; it puts in the claims of God upon the human heart. Nor is the tempor al welfare of mankind less concerned than their spiritual in the observation of the Lord's dav. Man was created fQT sjx c3ys WOrk not for seven: his faculties cannot bear an unremitted strain. Children, and servants, and thf Inhnrino- Hnsses of mankind f.bv of mankind far the more numerous, and the most K, .n nnnrA;cPri rnir what this institution gives a day of repose, of refreshment, of religious recollec tion and peace. The whole world rests and is still, that God may speak the conscience may resume her sway that the exhausted body and mind may recruit their powers, and be fitted for a more vigorous effort. The utmost productive labor of man is in i the proportion of rest and exertion or- dained by his merciful Creator. The best prevention of disease, the pro- lonTo.tinn nf lnimnn life ilelf rienenns Qn Jhe Hke alternation of toii and re The springs of pleasure are thus aurmentea and purified. The satiety, the sameness, the weariness, the uniformitv of human life is brok- en; and a blessed, hallowed period for religion is interposed. The interval between these seasons is neither so distant as to be ineffectual to its end, nor so near as to injure the real inter ests of our worldly callings; but, like everything else in God's revelation, unites the prosperity of the soul with the highest welfare of the body and concerns of man. How great, then, is the importance of every one's fall ing in with the designs of this institu tion ! Can any one estimate adequate ly the soul, eternity, heaven and hell, God, Christ, salvation, pardon, hope, happiness, the whole intellectual, mor al and religious welfare of man as he was formed after his Creator's image had fallen from it by sin, and is called to the renovation of it by the blessings and duties of the Christian Sabbath ! Look at the evils of the contrary abuse. See man sunk from his real honors into the rank of the brute see him lost in appetite, vice, lust, pride, carelessness, with nothing to redeem, nothing to call him back, nothing to restore the Spirit of God departed from him a reprobate sense possess ing and weighing down the soul. The mnin difference between the heathen and the Christian nations is the re currence and due observation of the Sabbath. The violation of this day in Christian countries is a brand upon the forehead of nominal religion. See the Sabbath-breaker opening his shop, writing nis letters, prepaimg mi ac counts see him entering his office see him imposing upon his servants, his clerks, his dependents, the yoke of unpermitted and unholy labor. Ob serve him in languid carelessness, idl ing away the morning hours, and dis gracing ly excess and worldly com pany, the evening. Notice the effect upon his own mind and habits. He boasts of his liberty, his freedom from superstitous fears, his superiority to ordinary prejudices. But he is the slave of covetousness,. of pride, of ap petite. The violation of the Sabbath draws with it the neglect of all other religious duties prayer, family religi- fin ICiiUlIlil 111- ijv.m-j. j ' - . . r , 11 follows in the train In vain he blus- ters, and protests, and affects inde pendence; the moral judgments of the Almighty overtake him; the selfish, earthly creature, vegetating rather than living, is lost in shifting specula tion; diffuses mischief all around; neg lects and corrupts his children and servants; has no corrective to his jeal ous and irritated temper, no cordial to his drooping spirits, no prospects to enliven the future, no friend, no Savior to relieve him as to the past. The Sunday journal, the Sunday festival, the Sunday amusements fail to please. He sinks into lifeless despondency, or frets with infuriated malice all his no ble capacities perverted, because his God has been condemned, and the clay of religion abused. HOW TO HELP THE PASTOR. Mr. Editor : I can not think of any subject just now that is of more real importance to every true worker in the church. I have sometimes thought that the laity of the church did not sufficiently realize the extent of the need the pastor has of their help. ''How may we help our pastor ?" is a question that ought to interest every member of our church. That the pas tor needs help and encouragement is a fact that no candid mind will call in question. Now, Mr. Editor, with ycur permission, I wish to answer the above question in part, at least, in as few words as possible. The first thing we shall mention is, to receive him kindly when he comes among you, especially if it be his first year with you. Re member, that in coming to you he has left those with whom he has been in timately acquainted, perhaps, for years, and comes- among entire strangers; therefore, receive him kindly and heartily. After the sermon go up to him and introduce yourself by name. Invite him to dinner or to stay over night with you, as the case may be. How chilling it is to the minister who, after dismissing his congregation, sees them all turn away and leave the house, as though they had no interest in him at all. Some, perhaps, may do this unthoughtedly, but, thoughtowe unthoughtedly, it, nevertheless, will cause the pastor to wonder if he is welcome among the people. Never say to the new pastor, "I would have been glad if we could have had Bro. A.," or, "When it suits you, come and see us." This will do to say when you have invited him to go now. Don't tell him of all the poor mem bers on the work, or what a poor pas tor you had the preceding year, and how hard it was to get the pastor's pay and much more on the same line. Make him feel that he has, indeed, a friend and a helper in you, and that in you he has found a true man or wo man of God. Secondly. Attend preaching when he preaches, if at all practicable. It takes no longer to preach to a full house than to but few. I believe I have never met with a minister who could preach as well to empty seats as to a house well filled. After your pas tor has become acquainted with you he will miss you very much when you are absent, and can't help but wonder why it is so. You should be found in your seat, as your presence there will inspire and help your pastor very much. Undoubtedly he has some thing for your help which you will miss if not there, and thus render his efforts, so far as you are concerned, a failure. Again, your staying away sets a very bad example, and has a bad influence on others. Remember, you are re sponsible for the example you set and the influence you exert over others. Perhaps the salvation of your own dear children mav be involved in vour faithfulness. Third. Be an interested hearer of the word. You mfght as well stay at home, so far as helping your pastor is concerned, as to be a listless ' hearer. So many people must look around to see all who come in, where they are seated, and to note all the particular features of their dress and costume in general. Nothing will help your pas tor more than to let him have your eye and attention when he is preaching. Fourth. Rehearse or repreach his sermons. Though this may be some what difficult at first, yet by practice you will soon succeed to your own as tonishment. This you will find very beneficial to vourself, as well as to others. By fixing a few senten zes of the ser mon in your mind so as to be able to tell them to others and then do it, you will find the task much easier the next time, and it will also fix the sermon in your mind so that you can easily ap propriate it yourself, as you could not otherwise do. By this you will, no doubt, give others the benefit of your pastor's sermons, and in many cases excite such an interest in him and a desire to hear him for them selves, that, if followed up, will take them tothe church, and, possibly, be the mdirect means of their salvation. ; In conclusion, let me say, do all in your power to help your pastor, and thus , make his labors among you a success. J. i Kestcr, in Methodist Recorder. For the Advocate. y MR. GUD3ER S STATEMENT. -Reports and statements having been published detrimental to Mr. Gudger and with a view to injure the cause of Prohibition, we publish the following letter addressed to one of the Editors. Mjr. Gudger, we learn, has left the Warm Springs and is practicing law at Marshal in Madison county, N. C. Here is what he says : Dear Mr. Reid : You call my at tention to the statement in certain pa pers to, the effect that I had been ar rested for. allowing liquor sold to minors and also for its sale on Sunday. Tljis I appreciate, and it may be wdl to state that the entire business heie has been done in the name of the "Warm Springs Co.," of which I am a member, and that I for the Company managed its business. It was agreed expressly (before I consented to be come a member of the firm) that the ban room was not to be considered a part of the business for which I was responsible, and in which I had an interest. I never have and never will receive a dollar from that source. The statement that I have been arrested on that charge is absolutely false. There exists, and has existed, no cause for -r r . 1 1 1 l such arrest. 11 mere nab ueeu ga.mu- lingat theSprings it was in direct vio lation of the rules and regulations of the I Hotel. No room in the Hotel wasr rented except for a bed-room. Whft persons did in their rooms is a question for which I am not to answer. Tfle whole thing is intended to brir-4 the cause of Prohibition into ridi(ale, but if those who started it do noftvatch it will prove differently. I care Jittle for the reports individually, but -fcr. the benefit of freinds who seem tofdisturbed by them I make this stat5ient which you may use as you thirrSbest. Yours truly, Hv A. Gudger. For the Advocate. THE BLACK WALNUT. Editors Advocate : It has been my purpose to write a series of letters for your paper, on the growing scarcity of, and increasing demands for, the principal hard wood trees, as walnut (black,) ash (white,) cherry, and hick ory, i The demand upon my time is so great that I find it very difficult to write, but as the time is fast approach ing for the seeds of walnut trees to ripen, I will venture to write a short letter on the Black Walnut, hop ing it will induce some of your numer ous readers to profit by my suggestions. That walnut lumber is getting scarce and increasing in demand, is apparent to anv one who will for a moment con t sult the market prices, and those who have to purchase any article manufac turecUout of walnut, will find that prices are very much higher now than they were a few years back. Taking into account the ease with which it is prop agated, its rapid growth, the value of its timber, and the certainty that the demand can only cease with the sup ply, it would appear that hardly any other one can be named more likely to repayi the cost of planting and culture. The pemand for the manufacture of gun stocks, for cabinet work, and for inside.finish of houses, is very great, and increasing all the time, and the supply is being exhausted rapidly. If the walnut trees that have been wantonly destroyed in North Carolina, in thedast twenty-five years, were now standing, what a large sum of money they would bring. It does not require a very? large tree to make a sufficient amount of lumber to bring a hundred dollars in New York : To illustrate, look at the following prices in that city: - Good . ; to choice, $125 to 150 perm Selected & seasoned, 5X5 6x6 150 to 175 i so to 160 160 to 170 u 11 7x7 8x8 Counters 22 to 175 to 180 " " 180 to 190 " " 28 cents per run ning: foot. I do not know a better investment the land owners in North Carolina could make, than the planting of wal nut groves. Take one acre of land for instance, plant the nuts 8x12 would give about 500 tq the acre. It is necessary to plant them thick so that they will grow up straight and not have toq much top. At ten years cut out half of them, 250. These wifjhnake the best kind of posts for fencing and are worth $75.00. In eight years the trees wou!d aU be in bearing, and say they average, 100 bushels per year for 20 years, at $1. per bushel, the amount is $2,000. 250 trees at the end of 30 years, worth $5 each, $1,250.00, And they may double that. The acre of land at that time, with the timber cut off, would be worth twice as much as when the nuts were planted. The cost of planting is com paratively small. The land should be throughtly broken, "well pulverized, and well manured. Then check 8x12 feet and plant the nuts about the depth of corn. The planting should be done in the early part of Winter before the nuts get dry. Plant them just as they fall from the trees with the hull on them. The nuts will sprout and come up the next Spring. The land should be kept in cultivation for a few years with some crop so as to cultivate the young trees. Now some will say I will not live to reap any pecuniary benefit from the trees. Well, you may not, but your children may and the value of the land will be increasing rapidly. I will have more to say in another letter. Robert W. Best, Division of Forestry. For the Advocate. NEW DISTRICTS AGAIN. Through a private source, I have been requested to give the formation of the new Districts again, as publish ed in theADVocATE, earlier in the year, so, with your permission, I will re-state the plan. The first plan was to form a new Fayetteville District, composed of the following appointments : Fayetteville Station and Cumberland Circuit from the Fayetteville District. Cokesbury Circuit with McNatt's Church from Bladen Circuit, Coharrie Mission. The upper parts of Clinton and Duplin Circuits, from the Wil mington District. Buckhorn, Smith field and Clayton Circuits from the Raleigh District. Mt. Olive Circuit from the Newbern District. Goshen ykhurch on Clinton Circuit could be made a station and would pay six or seven hundred dollars. This District would pay $900 or fiqoo; andthe :; travel would le less than on : either Fayetteville or Wil mington Districts. The work could easily be developed to a first class District in every respect. The second proposed District is called "The Winston District." In this District I will make a little change. Take Winston, Forsyth, Stokes, Dan River Mission, Kernersville, from Greens boro District; Mt. Airy, Surry, Pilot Mt. Mission, Yadkinville, from States ville District, and Farmington from the Salisbury District. This District could soon be worked up to $i,oco, and be much less travel than the Pre siding Elders now have as the Dis tricts stand. It is nearly seventy-five miles from Statesville to Mt. Airy and rough traveling in the Winter, while from Winston to Mt. Airy it is only about forty miles. I would also sug gest that Burke Circuit, Hickory and Happy Home, McDowell, Morganton and Marion be taken from Shelby Dis trict and added to Statesville, then take Rock Spring and Newton from States ville District and place on Shelby. All, who are acquainted with the country, know this would be more convenient than the present arrange ment. By these arrangements the different charges could have the P. E. present on Sunday, which is very im portant, if we would develop the weak places. Watchman. . THE BISHOPS AND PAINE INSTITUTE. BISHOP PIERCE SPEAKS FOR THEM. The last General Conference out lined the plan of a school in aid of the Colored M. E. Church in America. Two objects were proposed the edu cation of teachers, and especially the preparation of, their preachers for the work of the ministry. It was the com mon conviction of the delegates all representative men that something ought to be done, in this direction, in the interest of the country and religion. The action of the Conference embod ied the sentiment of its members, and, as was supposed, provided for an ob vious necessity, recognized and felt by all the people. The Colored M. E. Church is com posed largely of our own members, people who adhered to us under very trying circumstances. The Negroes, generally, had gone into other Metho dist bodies, managed by themselves. Our people very naturally (it was the instinct of race) desired a separate and independent jurisdiction. Hence the Colored M. E. Church was organ ized. We did not intend to set them off, as though we had no interest in them, but aimed to promote their growth and prosperity. The scheme has worked well. We have nothing to complain of as to their spirit and conduct. They are poor, and need help. A more intelligent ministry is indispensable to their piety and pro gress. To these objects it would seen; there could be no reasonable objec tion. The question of the general ed ucation of the negro race is outside and independent, and otherwise pro vided for. The Conference proposes no alliance with the State, nor with any existing system of public instruc tion, but seeks to contribute her part to the right doing, the well-doing of what is going on feebly, and, in some respects, mischievously. The Church wishes to eliminate the weak, impru dent, the inadequate, and to forestall the very evils which so many dread, by right teaching and sound princi ples. This work seems to be wise, conservative, necessary. But the main object is to preserve the purity of the pulpit to furnish pi ous, intelligent men, able to teach the people Scriptural doctrine, Christian morals, and illustrate by example and character a pure and undefiled reli gion. This is a Christian duty. We partake of the sins that are going on, and must share in the calamities they entail, if we connive at them by neg lect, and do not seek to provide against them by proper safeguards. We have been surprised at the in difference, the opposition, of the Church and people. Believing the project wisely conceived, Christian in spirit and aim, and conservative of the best interests of all parties, we com mend it to the prayers and support of all our people. G. F. Pierce. In behalf of the College of Bishops. Nash ville A d voeate. WHAT THE BRETHREN TH NX. well pleased with it. Am well pleased with the appear ance of the Advocate; it is bright, gemmy, brilliant, and interesting. You may expect me to do full duty in re gard to the Raleigh Christian Advo cate. It is worthy, bold, fearless, and its Editors pious, devoted, work ing Christians. W. S. Chafi in. If 3 or 4 families . refused to enter-', tain me, 40 years ago, I should not speak disparagingly of their whole county. Many a noble son of noble parents might say to me: My parents lived in that county and entertained many strangers, without regard to their creed or Church relations. A. D. Beits. SUCCEEDING CO AH HAD. I must congratulate you on the im provement in the Advocate. I really love to look at it and read it, and talk about it. Its appearance makes me feel good. I shall take this week's number along, and show it to the peo ple. You are succeeding. Just go ahead. Affectionately, W. H. BolililTT. CORRECTIONS AND COMMENDATIONS. In my little note from Yanceyville Circuit last week, in speaking of those who joined the Church, you made me say: "May their vow? be true." It ought to have been: "May they be true to their vows." Your paper is getting better I think. You are giving some good words and needed ones,on baptism. That about the Negro to the Front, is firstrate I think. Yours on the "Five Collec tions," Oct. 24th, timely and good. There is, however, a misleading state ment in regard to the amount to be raised for Church Extension byjour Conference. You put it at $1,527. Whereas, $2,870, is the amount as sessed see Minutes, last session, page 25. (You are correct. Ens.) Yours, etc., V. A. Sharpk. AID FOR THE ORPHAN ASYLUM. We cheerfully comply with the re quest made of the religious and :-e :tlar press throughout the state to give no tice of the propo ition for a collection for the benefit of the Oxford Orphan Asylum wherever services are held on thanksgiving day, as there is no better way to manifest our appreciation of the blessings and mercies received during the past year. We would go still farth er and would suggest as this noble in stitution is in need of funds with which to carry on its charitable work that in case no services are held in the im mediate neighborhood that you for ward by cle:k, draft, money order, postal note of registered letter your voluntaiy contributions to the Super intendent, J. H. Mills, I-sq., Oxford, North Carolina. The way to gain a good reput2'.iort is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.
North Carolina Christian Advocate (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Nov. 14, 1883, edition 1
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