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i I -2, XXXII. NO 20 THE ORGAN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, s6UTH. ESTABLISHED 1855 l'diss and ltalIilier. RALEIGH, N. C, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 18S7i S2.00 1E15 AilJI ( IayalIe in Advance Our i;Y Hi For the Advocate. rgiiiia Correspondence. JOHN K. EDWAKDS, D. D. sua ti- v t:u' - h (f l every 1 :i:'u-r .::v:o-: :l:o -.i the v No r.:. rort 0: at i-:vaxc.el,ist,ii. vv. iskown Ul.Mormost topic, in Danville, one which seems tor the nonce ,v every mind is that "which re V: evangelist. II. W. Brown, r:t now conducting a meeting .i...a Street Methodist Church, -r. the pastor, who has worked v. and preached earnestly, prior v.ing ot the evangelist, takes .;;::ate position. Mr. Brown is h r. He conducts Bible readings i temoon of every day; preach h may be called preaching uht, after which he conducts an luorting," usually lasting till 11 The church is crowded at each Hundreds are turned away for k of room. Hundreds stand in t Untie and around the church, t service passes without the re a large number of converts, v m -0 to 40 souls . Las t Suu v'ouverts were reported as hav place during the day. The have now been in progress for . (I'two weeks, and the score :.t CuO !!! Before Mr. Brown I vinville I was wonderfully 1111- with the reports that reached Charlottesville, and from Clay !;:!. odist Church in Richmond, onversious in a single da ! It like a second Pentecost. The amazed, and surprised me. Btir. eo I have heard the teaching, .v:tt: -ol the methods, and seen how the t t.t is made, I am no longer sur- : the startling numbers. The -ittt : :-e with me now is that the num- "'er or' converts, at a single service, is rt I'.tSv in excess of anything that en reported. Perhaps the num limited by the lack of non-profes- 1 the congregation. Mil 1 . C 14" -eer.H' !ta- bers who never go to Sunday-school, and who are sl?.ek-t isted. at" best, jis christians, go wild over Mr. Brown. Some ot the soldiers of the cross (?) in all our churches, aiv forward and conspicuous on a field day, and in a ' holiday parade, who are laggards, " camp-followers" simply " no ac count" in the long campaign, and on the day of battle." But, having given my views in previous letters, concern ing " evangelists," and their methods, etc., I will say no more on that subject .iust now, further than toieiteralc what I have before written, and to state that what I have recently seen and heard only confirms me in the views hereto fore expressed. ONCE FOR ALL,. I hereby return my thanks to the brethren and sisters who have written to me, expressing their hearty concur rence in the ground taken by me on the subject in question. It is a pleasure to know that I do not stand alone. My thanks are due especially to Brother C, of the X. C. Conference, for his friend ly letter ; and for the manly and sensi ble views contained in the letter touch ing the subject in hand. It is a plea sure to know that the men and women preachers and laity of experience and influence, coincide with me in the views I have expressed on the general subject of the work of irresponsible evangelists. My remarks do not apply to such labor ers as Sam Jones, and Mr. Small, who, like myself, are accountable to a regu larly constituted church tribunal for their doctrines, teachings, and morals. Mr. Brown has not only said that the day of miracles is not past, but has himself, according to his own statement, performed miracles of heating, lie is a pre-millenial adventist, withal ; and is the most boastful braggart I ever heard in the pulpit. It is due to the Metho dists that these things should be known before they invite him to hold meetings lor them. in HOW IS IT ? understand the process ot conver- voti it may be stated as follows ; anil I would not intentionally misrepresent it. Nothing is said about repentance, I!? a previous condition to conversion .1'.; u-j on die subiect is scouted, at:u " tlung to the dogs." Possibly the evangelist takes it for granted that all that hear him have repented. Be that :i it may. he says that feeling has tiothhiii to do with conversion. lie .'( further, and saj-s that he would ratht.-v that the christian workeis would ay nothing at all to the seekers of re ligion, than to say a word to them on tlio sub i oct of fccliiitj. What then? Well : as I understand the process, vhlch is not Pauline, in the 7th of Ro mans, nor Wesleyan, in an- of the book-, experience, or teachings of the M't!.. lists the process, as a writer in :he hr-.ioud Christian Advocate states ir.is neat. simple and complete." Here it is in brief : " Stand up, if you accept as your Savior." That simple oglo point is pressed. " If you Chrh .icee 1 - f. v.- Many hers ': but a; io mo h.teso csus jurist as your savior, ana on him, stand up." All that e and stand, in response to this pro ition. are counted as converts. of them may be church mem i number may be backsliders; are counted as converts. If I state it fairlv,it is not for want of en to do so. That some, who :.ave be-fof nny !' i. .f, en earnest seekers of leligion a longer or shorter time, are converted b this new process, I t - - V L V 1 1 ' t L- UUUUL -1- ti-lJJ. UUL -'la t believe that some are truly con- ! born again pass from death unto i; thing, tural if-l.se. ail the again pass to. J hit, that even as a general they are converted in the Scrip --nse, and in our Methodistic I dare not believe. I rejoice in -''.d that is done, and deprecate i that, to my mind, is inevitable. 'HAT WILL MU.UHOWNSAY TO THIS? It leiori Ken : i'ig. 1: vo;'k 1-atie,. ililll 1 a matter of but little concern to hat Mr. Brown may say of this i his proceedings. Xo one has f ro disappointed in his preach- h)ils, and the results of his h;au myself. He is sharp, ini .lictatiorial, dogmatic, egotistic, v no means resneotful or nolite wai'i!.-; tiiose who differ from him ; or, vi.o :;Hvf; qxIWqIzq is methods, doc- er management. He is brusque ! -h iu his manner. As such it i:ot surprise me to hear that he coarse and offensive things me, as he said in reference to a nuti .-,,! !y editor in Danville, who td hh 1 (1 inncs iu, r. 'voulh aid -Uitl( 'Csaeior!. in n "nod srnrit. and f emiicr. 10 H;.g.; to Mr. Brown that a little (hiicution of his manner and langu fj v:' -aid give less offense to good peo-1-e, aiwf enable him to do more good. x- a spirit of resentment he charged LViVJ. oais. iiiul livnvinnr nn him : rail- paper a " dirty sheet," and said Mil! !:(! k Ciir.-. n hnttnn fnv ilir PfhtOT. 0l"vvhat he wrote." He ordered the hf'0i,lc out of the church who did not re 111, fur the after meeting," either christian workers or as sinners de- to be converted. If they did not kit vnn jukI g0 out IIe further stated that, ;en 1 started down South, he left his flings at home with his wife. Now, ''Ul1 all that I have stated, and a Tftfi 1-1 ' . . UGH mnvo in iUt co m o Imp IS t n 4 1 1 . J 1 i 5 iiuoras me measure to sav inat Jhovn reaches a class of persons. trilv rcrH'.hfid bv nnr reo-nlar Sf'Ti j in t CeS That he does some good ad 1S1 f ,110 reasonable doubt ; that evils l'u to'dow his teachings and methods '5 tr. 11 D 'iuany certain. Some church mem- -j cuiiveiLCU. 11 mey uiu iiu out as he ordered them, he said ; "i -u wtre ladies and gentlemen yoi OTHER MATTERS. The meeting in Lynchburg, at the Memorial Church, under Dr. Ilannou, assisted, as he has been, by Brother Stanley of Beidsville, X. C, and by Dr. A. C. Bledsoe of North Danville, has been attended by wonderful results. At last accounts about 400 persons had professed conversion, in the old Metho dist stjle. Deep connvictions, thorough repentance, conscious conversion divine ly attested, resulting m joy and rejoicing, have 'marked the progress of fhis wonderful meeting. Bev. P. A. Peterson is still at the Hot Springs in Arkansas ; but, at last accounts was without any decided im provement. Mrs. Ann M. Saunders, of Lynchburg, died as she lived, two weeks ago, at the age of 82 years. A more beautiful and consistent christian character never adorned the annals of Methodism in Lynchburg, or anywhere else, than Sister Saunders. She was known to every preacher in the Va. Conference. No member of the Con ference attended the annual sessions of the body with more uniformity than Sister Saunders. She was rarely ever absent at roll call, from day to day. On one occasion, when one of our Bishops was preaching at a Conference in Kich mond, she got happy ; and finding she could not restrain her joyful feelings, she said, aloud ; " I know it is unfash ionable to shout, but glory be to God I am happy and I will praise him." I attended her funeral at Court Street Church, where she held her member ship, on Sunday afternoon, April 24th. Xo funeral occasion, in the history of Lynchburg, was ever more largely at tended. She formed about the last link in the chain connecting the Methodism of the present, with the Methodism of ths early decades of the 19th century. Danville, Ya., May 7th, 18S7. Fcr the Advocate. 'Tlic fRtc Mr. KcccSacr. true Mr. not ordius BY HON. W. M. KOBBIXS. That part of your Xew York Corres pondent Tayor's letter this week which speaks of Beecher and of the recent critique upon him by your Georgia Cor respondent Smith, moves me to say a few word55. Mr. Taylor was too easily consoled by Brother Pell's kind-hearted remarks on the subject ; for he was probably correct in his first impression that Smith's opinion was likewise the opinion of most of the Advocate's readers, as to Beecher's life and teach ings being detrimental rather than helpful to the cause of evangelical Christianity. But he is mistaken in supposing this opinion to be based on feeling and not judgment, and particu larly feeling arising from Beecher's re latibn'to "a certain question,' meaning (as I gather from subsequent allusions in the letter) his relation to the former sectional controversy which rent our country. I am sorry our Xew York friend should have suspected for a mo ment that any of your readers were nar row enough, either in mind or heart, to feel or think less kindly of any man, and especially of one so lovable and ad mirable in many respects as Henry Ward Beecher, simply because he was opposed to them in that strenuous fra ternal conflict now happily ended. Our repeated efforts to confer the highest honors upon those who stood (as Beech er never did in our eyes) among the most conspicuous of our adversaries, both in ideas and in arms, upon the arena of that great strife, ought to shield us from slich suspicions. That Beecher possessed a WQudrcus intellect, great warmth and tenderness of heart and geniality of temper, sur passing eloquence of tongue and nnn. masteiful power to move and sway the minds of men, everything, in short, Which goes to constitute aeniim n ono of the highest and most imposing types, no one will question. Xor need it be denied that he Was a man nf smppro though perhaps not very stable and set tled Convictions. He was a nmn nf deep sensibility and deep thought : so uuil ins ieenngs as weft as his thinking entered into and gave shape and color to his beliefs and his doctrines. With the natural daring ambition of a Titanic intellect, conscious of its almost erod- like powers, he fretted under tbo vp. strain ts which Revelation imposes upon Reason. Ignoring the fact that in the field of revealed truth, the appropriate task of the human soul is not so much to make new discoveries accordant with our own preferences, as to accept with child-like humility the plain and sometimes stern declarations of Him who speaks to us from heaven, address ing our faith and not our finite under standings, Beecher sifted the divine ut terances of Holy Writ through the sieve of his human judgment and taste, accepting and rejecting as suited his feelings and fancy; and so his sj-stem of divinity was drawn partly from the Bible and partly from his reason as swayed by his sensibilities. For in stance, as no human reason, but onlv the All-Holy, whom it offends, can un derstand the full enormity of sin and its adequate penalty, Beecher rejected the doctrine of eternal punishment because he could not comprehend its justice,and it shocked his feelings. He did not like the doctrine of the atonement of Christ, as set forth in the Scriptures ; the ex pression as to the sinner being1 'washed and cleansed in the blood" of the Re deemer offended his taste. And so I might go on and make other specifica tions of Ins heterodoxy, his loose no tions about natural human depravity, his vagaries about human perfectibility, nis intimations concerning a new and broader theology to be formulated by growing human wisdom to supersede not merely the hide-bound creeds ot narrow and bigoted sectarians, but the plain fundamental truths of Christianity as substantially embodied 111 the creeds ot ai: evangelical christians. There is an aesthetic as well as a spiritual side to Christianity, and Beecher was a devotee of the former. He admired Jesus Christ as a grand ( and perfect character, worthy of all honor, reverence, worship, and imita tion ; the God-man well fitted to be our leader and exemplar ; but if he preach ed Christ as our sacrifice, the victim ' through whose stripes we are healed," "the Lamb of G d that taketh away the sin of the world," then I need ful ler informrtion on the drift of his teach ings. In like manner his lesthetic tastes were delighted with the grandeur of the Bible ; all the fibres of his finely attuned nature were thrilled by its sub lime treatment of trauscendantly noble themes, and he could discourse glorious ly of such of them as were iu unison with his feelings. It was a wonderful Book to him. for its poetry, eloquence, mor ality, benevolence, its humanizing, civilizing, elevated spirit and senti ments. But if he received it and taught others to receive it as the simple inspir ed Word of God, the only and infallible beacon light to guide us saiely over life's uncertain sea to a happy haven, the faithful Mentor whose every hint is to be heeded with trusting faith, such as a child reposes in its mother's words, then again I need to be better inform ed. Herein rests one of the great errors of Beecher, as looked at (I venture to say) by the readers of the Advocate. In this age when self-sufficient human intellect, "proud of its achievements in exploring and utilizing the truths of natural science, is rebelling against and seeking to overthrow the simple, but sublime, unexplained and unexplaina ble truths of divine Revelation, too high and glorious for human reason to com pass; Beecher, in the character of a con spicuous christian oracle, if he was not a leader in that rebellion, gave aid and comfort to the enemy by his dubious utterances on many of the very fundamentals of christian faith and doc trine. He was a great preacher, but the gospel he preached was the power of Beecher and not " the power of God d the wisdom of God." The old but by enlarging its heart. "We can partly sympathize with our friend's un favorable hints about creeds: with this important reservation, however, that all the various evangelical creeds con tain an abundant kernel of precious gospel truth amply sufficient to save the honest soul that accepts and lives by it, and which kernel is substantially the same in them all, though it is gener ally enclosed in a husk of mere human inferences ; and we cannot see why a an of Beecher's genius, if he relished the kernel, could not have managed to separate and distinguish it from the husk in most of them, instead of spurn ing all for one of his own with a thicker husk of human inferences and guess work than any. Too big for any creed, indeed ! "When a man becomes so un comfortably great as that, it is a pity he don't fall back on even some scraps 01 pure Uible like the sermon on the Mount, the speech to Xicodemus, and the Lpistle to the Romans ; even Beecher's or Emerson's great intellects might find room enough in these with out incurring suspicious of skepticism for the breadth of their faith. We, read ers of the ADVOCATE,must demur alto gether to our friend Taylor's innuendoes against the different christian denomi nations, their dignity and importance, and his eulogy of human genius at their expense. We thirk of them as the mightiest agencies for good on the face of the earth ; as glorious regiments 111 the hosts of theLord going, forth to bat tle against the armies of the aliens ; an we have observed that the free lances, too grand and independent to drill with the regular battalions, gener ally do little execution on the enemy, straggle badly, and often desert. We, too, like Mr. Taylor, revere Genius and glory in its wonderful achievements, but we do not idolize it, for we know there is something grander still. ''Among them that are born of woman there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist ; yet he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." We admire Goethe, but would have been glad to hear of his being immers ed : he needed it badly. We adore Shakespere, but would think no less of him if the record told us that, besides poaching deer and writing immortal dramas he had sobered off and became a rfirzz bi'i'uuv au or snouting iMetn- odist, as he might have done had he lived a century or two later. It would not have cramped his genius. A little genuine religion, even of the rigid Puri tanical sort, did not quench the inspira tion of John Milton, or mar the glory cf Oliver Cromwell: it gave to one a seer's vision, and to the other a lion's heart. And so it has always been and will be ; the man who would say, with Paul, "I have fought a- good fight," must be able to add, " I have kept the faith." And thus at much greater length than I had meant to do, I have set down my own opinions of Henry Ward Beecher and what I imagine are the opinions of most of the readers of the Advocate ; and I have done so "with malice towards none and charity for all." I sincerely trust that I may have misjudged him. If so, I will take it as a favor to be set right by such as knew him more intimately than I did. Let them do this not by laudations of his extraordinary greatness, for this is admitted to the fullest extent, bui by showing from his writings, and other wise his real attitude towards the sacr red cause of true Evangelism. Until this is done he must continue to be re garded by some of us as a large-hearted, giant-minded, golden-tongued.nomi-nally-christian rationalist. Statesville, May. 77, 1887. announcing the number of the hymn, then repeating it ; sometimes both the number and the page of the lvymn are gien; tne Hymn is read ; three, hve or seven stanzas ;. the number and metre are again giveil, and the first two lines repeated. Tlrfs makes it complete by the consumption of several minutes of time that might be more usefully employed. Itj may be well enough to read the first hymn, if there has been no voluntary, but to pursue this course with the three hymns is hardly to be commended. Xo where in our rubric is the custom of reading the bmns set forth or enjoined. Little more can be said in favor qf it, except that it is the custom. In some countrj congrega tions, where hymn books are scarce, it might be tolerated. Tiios. S. Campbell. ai simple story of Christ crucified, the only hope ot fost sinners, nas oecome iooi ishness to the Greeks" of Plymouth Church under his training ; and so now they are scouring two continents to find a substitute forBeecher, whoshall be able to speak to them as he did " with the enticing words of man's wisdom;" their ears itching for eloquence in the messenger more than their hearts burn for the message whose sublimity is able' to glorify its humblest prophet. Mr. Taylor will pardon me for sug gesting that, perhaps, the glamor ot Beecher's genius and imposing person ality may have rendered those who dwelt in the immediate presence and under the overpowering influence of the great luminary as unfit to judge of him impartially as we are who viewed him from a greater distance. His ex cessive brilliancy blinded them. We can see other objects. Those who speak to us from out of that glare (even our Xew York friend himself, if he will pardon me for saying so,) seem infected with a strange spirit and speak in a tongue unknown to us old-fashioned readers of the Advocate. We can join heartily in reprobation of mere narrow sectarianism, and rejoice that the christian world is outgrowing it ; not, however, by changing its beliefs. For the Advocate. it 11 r ISymsBS ISencliEsgr. Your Correspondent, Rev. E. L Perkins, in the Advocate of April j27th, has set forth some very judicious re marks on the subject of Hymn reading, which deserve the serious thought of both preachers and their congregations. This is a matter of great interest to me; one to which I have given very earnest attention. During my whole ministry I have been impressed with the impor tance of rightly reading the hymns in public worship, and prayer meeting, ret I confess that though I have generally not only selected my hymns before hand, but studied them, I have, not even to this day, attained my ideal in the act of Hj'mn Reading. Dr. Perkins remarks truly, " There are but few good hjrnn readers in the world even among educated men." The great Dr. Summers, the maincompiler of our Hymn Book, himself a composer of hymns, was by no means a first class hymn reader. But while few compara tively excel in this act, I am persuad ed that all may attain some degree of excellence ; and very many so as to engage attention and inspire devotion ; putting the sentiments of the hymn in to the minds and hearts of the people. Just here allow me to remark that the custom of reading the hymns would be better in the breach than the obser vance ; particularly as there are so few persons who can read a hymn well. Dr. Young,in one of his letters fromEurope, says that he has never seen but one man that could read a hymn as it ought to berread. That man lives in Florida. The difficulty or deficiency in this re gard may account for the fact he states, that neither in England, nor on the Continent, are the hymns ever read in church worship. They are simply an nounced by number ; then all join in the singing. Much time is lost in the custom that prevails very generally of Pastoral Visitation. Pastoral visitation is a dutj" which no minister can neglect and hope to rea lize the largest possible results from his labors. A minister must show his in terest in his people not only in the pul pit but by visiting them in their homes. In this way, if he acts judiciously, he will acquire an influence over them that he can not acquire in any other way. IMS is important, tor 11 lie se cures their good-will and afiection, they will take pleasure in attending his min istry, will jgladly listen to his gospel message, anil will cheerfully co-operate with him in the work of the church. But if he neglects them, shows no special interest in them, and acts toward them as a stianger, it is not likely that they will take much interest in him, or that they will attend with much regularity upon his ministry or co-operate with him in church work ; and without this he can not hope to succeed in building up the church. A minister must be more than a preacher ; he must be a pastor ; he must care for the flock, and, like the Master whom he serves, he must be in deep sympathy with his peo ple. A minister may be very eloquent and learned in the pulpit, but in ordi nary congregations how few can appre ciate his eloquence and learning ! To the great majority he might as well speak in an unknown tongue. But all, .vnanev trey can appreciate a learned sermon or not, can appreciate a hearty hand-shake a few words of pleasant greeting, kind inquiries after their welfare, and, as occasion oilers, a few words of Christian counsel, or a brief prayer, commending them to the divine favor. A minister can not spend all his time iu his study to advantage. Six or seven hours a da' is as much time as can profitably be employed in this way. If more is attempted the mind wearies and flags, and but little is really ac complished. A minister has more to study than his books. While he studies the word, he should also study the peo ple that he may learn their spiritual needs and be able to apply the truth to their several conditions. A physician who would spend all his time in study ing the properties of his medicines and the remedies which he emploj's, with out at the ptne time studying the symp toms of disease as presented in has pa tients, would not be likel3Tto succeed as a practitioner. He must understand the disease as developed in his patients as well as the proper remedy, in order to succeed. Sd must a minister mingle with his people in order to become ac quainted with their true character and condition, that he may be able properly to adapt the truth to their case. If a minister spends his forenoons in his studT, and his afternoons in visiting his people, he will be far more likely to succeed than if he gives all his time to his books. Xo rules can be laid down to guide a minister in every case in his pastoral visitations. It is presumed that he is somewhat familiar with the habits and circumstances of his people, and that he is a man of ordinary common sense, and can act with propriety in the cir cumstances in which he may be placed; and, also, that as a minister of the gos pel he will avoid everything inconsistent with his profession. A minister must exercise his common sense in his pas torial visitations the same as in all his other intercourse with men. While he avoids trifling on the one hand, he should not indulge in a solemn and for bidding sanctimoniousness on the oth er, lie should act as a sensible man among sensible people, and in a win ning wajT, and often mdirectljr, com mend the religion of Christ to those with whom he thus briefly associates. He should be cheerful without being frivolous, and serious without being cold and repellant. These visits should not be too fre quent nor too protracted, so as to be come burdensome to the people. There are extremes to be avoided in both these respects. A pastor should not forsake his home to board among his members. This would be carrying mat ters too far, and would be worse than no visitation at all. In such cases he may be treated politely, and his pres ence tolerated, but it is not desired. Indeed, his visits are likely to be at tributed to unworthy motives. It is not the love of pelf but the love of souls that should induce a minister to go from house to house, looking after the members of his flock, and endeavoring to bring them nearer to the Savior ; and in this work he should be careful to act with the greatest prudence. He needs to be wise as a serpent and harm less as a dove. He must not become a o-ossip, retailing the neighborhood news from house to house. He will perhaps often hear much that it would not be proper for him to repeat. This may serve for his own enlightenment and guidance, but it should not be repealed to others. A minister should, so far as possible, be impartial in his pastoral visitations. Xoneofhis members should be slight ed or overlooked. Especially should the poor and afflicted receive his atten tion, because they most need it, and will most highly appreciate it. A pas tor who bestows his principal atten tions on the rich and neglects the poor. will soon lose his hold upon the general community, and will find his way thoroughly hedged up. One of the chief glories of our holy religion is, that the poor have the gospel preached unto them. That pastor who neglects the poor Avill soon find himself neglected by the rich. He is pastor of the whole church, and in his pastoral and ministe rial duties he must ignore class distinc tions and labor for the good of all alike. If jou are a pastor, and wish to se cure the largest fruits from your labors, you must visit your people form their acquaintance, enter into their sympa thies, become acquainted with their cir cumstances and spiritual needs, and gain their confidence, so that you may be able, as occasion requires, to counsel, admonish and reprove them, and exert the greatest possible influence over them for good. A pastor should be in the midst of his flock like a father in the midst of his family, familiar un knowing them all, and kindly caring for them all. Methodist Uex.ydi r. For the Advocate. TEie Unrniy 31i'iiilxr. again young gloves. BY BAC1IEL, DEAN. Well, here I am at home after a day's visiting," said a lady as she laid aside her hat and "How did 3-0U enjoy yoursell:-'"was the enquiry made by a member of the family. "I'm sorry to say not parti cularly well" was the dejected reply. " Why, what was the 'matter? Were you not feeling well?" Oh yes, as well as usual, but eveiybody talked too much, and although I left home with the intention of being discreet in my speech (knowing my failure.) the first thing I knew I was led into saying many fool ish, unnecessary tilings. It really provokes me to ihink about it now, and I have to look back upon an otherwise agreeable day with keen regret. I only hope that some of 1113- remarks 11133-not be repeated. If the- are, I'll be certain to lose the good will and friendship of several persons with whom I've ahva3'S been on the most friendly terms. "Then, besides, how can I ever face them again with the same frankness, when I've been talking so glibl' of their faults and mistakes behind their backs ? I don't care how common this practice is something tells 1113 that it is unjust. "I know it is not edifying : and I'm rather inclined to think it must be really wrong, for somehow I always feel strange1!- uncomfortable after in dulging in such free talk. Well, I shall be more careful hereafter, for I want my visits to friends and neighbors to be both pleasant and profitable." -- Opinions in ISiicf. good liishop W. W. J) int can : " I like benevolence it is thins ; but I like beneficence better. Benevolence is wishing well, but bene ficence is doing well." The Christian Guardian : "The great need of the Church to day is that the membership become in telligent in our history, polity and practice. The church paper will hell to this knowledge better than 3113- other means. The church that has the most readers of its denominational literature will be most prosperous in eveiy way." The Xaxhcille Advocate: " Talk of our missionary debt ! The unnoticed waste of a single day among the people called Methodists would pay every dollar of it, and leave enough be sides to put a score of new missionaries into the field." The Biblical Recorder : "If the people of Xorth Carolina would dispense with the use of whiskey, snuff and tobacco for one year, and make their home supplies in meat and flour on the farms, we would be clean of debt, independent and happy." The Texas Advocate : "The Tcras Advocate does not seek the subscription of any Methodist out side of its territory who does not take first, his conference organ : and, secondly, the general organ". It mat ters not upon what pretext the editors or publishers of other papers seek to in fringe upon territory not their own, the Texas Advocate will always refuse to in crease its subscription list by any questionable method. ruch " The Danville Ueyider : "There is one noticeable feature, however, in all the quarrels between Northern and Southern Methodists, which is, that they invariably take place in southern territory. This is signifi cant. From daily reports it would seem that no finer field could be found in the whole country for fighting the hosts of Satan than that thickly in habited portion of country situated north of Mason and Dixon's line."
North Carolina Christian Advocate (Greensboro, N.C.)
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May 18, 1887, edition 1
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