Southern Christian Advocate

SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. JANUARY 17, 1889.

W. D. KIRKLAND, EDITOR.
COLUMBIA, S. C., JAN. 17, 1889.

The Advocate for 1889

The Advocate enters hopefully upon the work of the New Year. The circulation of the paper, since its return from Georgia, was never so good at this season of the year as it is now. We enter upon the new year with a larger subscription list by several hundred than we have had at the beginning of any previous year. The kind words of preachers and people encourage us to hope that the subscription list will be largely increased during the present year. The paper was never more securely entrenched in the affections of the Methodists of the State. These facts encourage the editor and publisher to plan liberally in behalf of the paper for the year of grace 1889. The same high standard of mechanical excellence will be maintained. The best material will be used, and the most skillful service will be employed, so as to present to our readers a journal as beautiful typographically as it is possible to make it.

AN EVENTFUL YEAR.

The year 1889 will be an eventful one in Methodist circles. In May of next year the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, assembles in quadrennial session in the city of St. Louis. This is the only law-making body of our Church, and as the sessions are held but once in four years great interest is felt in its deliberations. As is usually the case, the leading preachers and laymen will soon begin to discuss in the Church press the important matters that are to be considered and decided by this great Church court. These questions are of great importance to the entire body of Methodists, and their discussion will prove of general interest to the reading public. The Advocate will doubtless be the arena for many a tilt between the wise men of our Israel during the present year, and the editor will take special pains to keep his readers informed of the more important discussions of matters of doctrine and Church polity in other connexional journals. No intelligent Methodist can afford to be without his Church journal at any time, least of all the present year.

ALL THE NEWS.

In matters of general religious intelligence, particularly that concerning our own and kindred branches of the Church, we propose to give our readers a condensed but intelligible review from time to time, if not from week to week. Many, perhaps most, readers of The Advocate see no other religious newspaper. They are dependent alone upon this paper for news from other Conferences and other Churches. As intelligent citizens and Christians, they wish to be informed of the great religious movements of the times in all the Churches. This we shall attempt to do in the manner indicated, so that no important event in the religious history of the times shall escape the attention of our readers.

TIDINGS FROM AFAR.

One of the most gratifying signs of the times is the increased and more general interest that is being taken in the missionary work of the Church and the Churches. This we hope to increase and intensify by giving the latest news from our mission fields, as well as the record of work in other fields by other workers. We have already arranged for special correspondence from each of our missions in foreign lands, in addition to the reports which we hope to publish from the office of the General Board at Nashville. The work of our godly women in this department will also receive attention. Their special departments, in charge of their own officers, will be continued, and we hope they will prove more interesting and profitable than ever.

THE CONFERENCE DEPARTMENT.

In the matter of home news from our own preachers and their charges The Advocate has long been noted for its full and general reports. This feature of the paper is specially prized, and no department has as many and as interested readers as our Conference Department. Our preachers and laymen will be encouraged to write even more frequently than ever, and, as heretofore, our State exchanges will be diligently examined each week for items of news concerning our preachers, people and churches in the bounds of this Conference.

A BRILLIANT ARRAY OF CONTRIBUTORS.

In the department of general contributions on our first and second pages, we hope to retain all of the present contributors, regular and occasional, whose articles have given such satisfaction in the past, and to add not a few new ones for the coming year. That our readers may have some idea of the "feast of fat" things in store for them, we present here a partial list of the writers whose articles have graced our pages during the past year, and from whom we expect continued favors during the year 1889: Bishops Keener and Duncan; Rev. A. G. Haygood, D. D.; Rev. G. G. Smith; Rev. W. P. Lovejoy; Rev. W. W. Wadsworth; Rev. J. H. Baxter, and Rev. McK. F. McCook, of Georgia; Hon. J. W. Tucker, of Florida; Rev. J. A. Thompson and Rev. R. B. Crawford, of Alabama; Rev. J. E. Edwards, D. D., and Rev. W. W. Royall, of Virginia; Rev. G. C. Rankin, D. D., and Rev. C. T. Carroll, of North Carolina; Rev. R. N. Price, D. D.; Rev. E. E. Hoss, D. D., and Prof. Charles F. Smith, of Tennessee; Rev. J. B. Cottrell, D. D., of Kentucky; "Gilderoy," and Rev. R. S. Ricketts, of Mississippi; Rev. J. W. Boswell, D. D., and Rev. W. R. Withers, D. D., of Arkansas; Rev. W. T. Bolling, D. D.; Rev. W. B. Palmore, and Rev. J. Spencer, of Missouri; "Gulliver," Prof. S. G. Sanders, and Rev. W. T. McCorkle, of Texas; Rev. T. B. Anderson, of California; Rev. George Needham, of New Mexico; with many others whose names do not occur to us at this writing. In addition to these, many of our home writers have made valuable and frequent contributions to these pages during the past year. Prominent among these we mention Rev. A. M. Chreitzberg; Rev. W. W. Mood; "Luther"; Dr. J. H. Carlisle; Rev. J. A. Mood; Rev. S. Leard; Rev. J. L. Stokes; Dr. H. Baer, and many others. What these brethren have done for us in the past is our strongest assurance of the good things that await our readers in the future.

HUNTING FOR NEW STARS.

In addition to the above, many of whom are old favorites, and not a few of whom have national reputations as writers of ability, we have arranged and are arranging for contributions from other pens none the less able and distinguished. We are not prepared at this time to announce the writers or their subjects, but our readers may rest assured that a rich and varied feast shall be spread for all those who engage a seat at our table for the coming year.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

If we have desired one thing above another in our conduct of this journal, it has been to make it a religious paper—not of that namby-pamby sort which finds its highest expression in a sanctimonious whine—but of that kind that was illustrated in the holy character and self-sacrificing life of our Lord. Our calling is not to conduct a literary, scientific or political journal, but one which in every thought and purpose shall be held subservient to the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. All subjects are religious if treated religiously; and none are religious that are discussed in an unchristian spirit. The Advocate has therefore felt free to discuss in a Christian way any and every question affecting the interests of the people in their political, social, industrial and educational, as well as religious relations. At the same time, our chief aim and greatest desire has been to proclaim Jesus and Him crucified. We have, therefore, from the beginning of our connection with this paper, maintained a department specially devoted to Christian life and experience. Our readers will continue to find in the Sunday Afternoon department the most helpful and stimulating reading for all Christians, both young and old.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON STUDY.

Every reader of The Advocate will be gratified to know that Dr. Carlisle will continue to furnish his articles on the Sunday school lessons. This feature of the paper is alone worth many times the subscription price. We now have before us a communication from a prominent member of a sister communion, and a constant reader of The Advocate, urging us to issue the Doctor's articles of last year in pamphlet form. Wherever The Advocate goes and is read these articles are specially prized, as well they may be. In all the literature that comes to us on the current Sunday school lessons we know of nothing comparable to Dr. Carlisle's expositions, which The Advocate gives each week.

THE BRIGHT EYES AND THEIR MOTHERS.

While thinking and planning for the grown folks, we have by no means forgotten the young people and children. The best friends the editor has in the world are the Bright Eyes of The Advocate. They and the tired, anxious mothers about the Home Circle shall have their page as formerly, and we shall spare no pains to make it as bright and interesting as ever. Nor shall we forget the busy housewife and the industrious farmer. In the department of Home and Farm we shall continue to give each week items and suggestions for the home, the kitchen, the garden and the farm.

THE LITERARY DEPARTMENT.

The Literary department of The Advocate has received high praise. The Rev. John E. Edwards, D. D., of Virginia, who is no mean judge of such matters, says of it in a communication to another paper: "The Literary department of The Southern Christian Advocate is unsurpassed by anything in its line to be found in any of our Advocates." In a more recent communication to this paper he was pleased to say: "Some of the most discriminating and judicious book notices that meet my eye in any of our weeklies—and, for the matter of that, in any of the more exclusively literary periodicals of the day—I find in The Southern Christian Advocate." The Rev. Dr. J. B. Cottrell, of Kentucky, has also placed himself on record as highly appreciating this department, declaring that it "is most admirably conducted." Similar expressions of appreciation and even admiration have come to the editor from literary gentlemen throughout the South and in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. These encomiums are not to be wondered at when it is remembered that the literary articles, reviews and book notices in The Advocate during the past year were contributed for the most part by Dr. Charles Foster Smith, Dr. W. M. Baskervill, Dr. W. W. Martin, Dr. J. J. Tigert and Dr. J. H. Kirkland of the Vanderbilt Faculty; with occasional contributions to the same department by Dr. J. H. Carlisle, President Geo. W. Walker, Professor W. S. Morrison, Professor L. B. Haynes, Professor L. C. McSwain, Rev. W. W. Royall, Dr. H. Baer and others. This department will be continued, and effort will be made to preserve its high standard.

SWEET, BUT NOT ORIGINAL.

As our readers are aware, The Advocate does not publish original poetry. But the choicest poetic gems by American and European authors will continue to find a place in its columns.

THE EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.

As to the editorial department proper, we have but little to say. After reviewing the vast amount of editorial work in other departments that has been referred to but in part in the foregoing recital, it might be well to say that if we have any time left we will write a few editorials each week on such topics as will likely interest our readers. But editors are expected to have more time than other people, or to make double use of what they have. We shall therefore try and keep all the other departments of the paper up to a high standard, and do the best we can on the editorial page. This much at least we can say: As heretofore, the paper will be candid, honest and outspoken on all matters affecting the Church and her interests. In his editorials, the editor has never been so solicitous to please the taste or win the approval of his readers as he has been to ascertain and advocate the cause of truth. What he honestly believes he proposes to advocate, whether or not his view be the popular one. The same right which he claims for himself—the right of free thought and free speech—he cordially yields to others. So The Advocate will continue to be as untrammeled and as independent as ever before, while it will be the organ of no man or party of men in or outside of the Church.

A GREAT WORK.

We enter upon the work of the New Year realizing as never before its magnitude. Almost any one department of the paper, properly conducted, is sufficient to consume all the time of one much better qualified for the work than this writer. How, then, may we hope to conduct satisfactorily more than a dozen different departments? However industrious and diligent we may be, it is not in the range of human possibility for us to please every one, most of all to satisfy ourself. But as far as in us lies, we have addressed ourself to the tasks lying before us with the determination to at least prove faithful. Fidelity may not always win success, but fidelity is better and more to be coveted than success.

MANY ARE ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.

More than ever do we appreciate the responsibilities of our position. As we pen these lines we see before us in imagination the vast congregation of men and women, young and old, to whom we are appointed to minister. They are numbered by the thousand, if not the ten thousand. Week in and week out during this year they must be addressed through The Advocate on the various matters which concern their temporal and spiritual interests. Time and again, as we have contemplated our opportunities and responsibilities, have we cried out with St. Paul: "Who is sufficient for these things?" And just as often has the reassuring answer come: "Our sufficiency is of God." And so to-day, on this bright New Year's day, we beseech Him to guide the pencil which once again we consecrate to His service.

THOSE RUSTY PENS.

More than ever do we realize our need of help. We need the help of other minds, of other pens. The Lord has many talents buried in a napkin. Many who read these lines, men and women, could greatly aid us in our work if they would pray, think and write. If the editor had a full treasury at his back he could set scores and hundreds of quiet pens to work. From nearly every parsonage the light of the midnight lamp would shine, and the busy pen would make music on the clean page as it recorded the strong and bright thoughts that were to be offered to The Advocate's readers. For the reward of gold, the lawyer would desert for the time his brief, the merchant his ledger, the school teacher and the physician their latest journal, in order to entertain and instruct our readers. And so there are many cultured housewives, and farmers, and artisans, and scholars, and gentlemen of leisure, who could be tempted by pecuniary reward to prepare valuable matter for some of the many departments of The Advocate. Oh yes, give us the money, and a plenty of it, and we could show you one of the brightest and best papers on the continent. And verily the laborer is worthy of his hire. But unfortunately The Advocate is poor. And so it must appeal to these preachers and laymen for help—not for itself, not for its own sake, but for the sake of the thousands whom it seeks to benefit.

A CAUSE FOR SHAME.

We need the help that comes in the enlargement of our resources, and in the widening of our field of usefulness. We ought to have 12,000 subscribers, and could have them in three months if every friend of the paper would so decree it. Is it not a shame that some 500 names were lost to our list just before and after our recent Conference, because patrons and preachers neglected to attend to renewals? It is true that many of these names are being restored, and the list is fast regaining its former size, but there should be constant increase. With nearly 70,000 members and nearly 200 preacher agents, a circulation of only 5,000 is a reflection on editor, publisher, preachers or people. We are willing to take our share of the blame, and the publisher is ready to take his, but we still insist that we ought to be ashamed that the paper has not twice the circulation. And it must increase if the present character of the paper is to be maintained. The Advocate is here to stay—this we all know. But it cannot live in the parlor on the wages of the kitchen. No paper in the connection, the Nashville Advocate alone excepted, gives to its readers more reading matter for the same money; none serve it in such beautiful and attractive dress. And yet some of these papers have a circulation of twice, three times, and even four times that of this paper. Can it be expected that The Southern Christian Advocate with only 5,000 subscribers shall continue as large and as full of interesting reading matter as one with 20,000 subscribers? Can the table be as beautiful and as bountifully supplied with an income of $5,000 as with one of $20,000? If the present size and character of the paper is to be maintained, the subscription list must be largely increased.

GIVE ME THY HEART.

We need the sympathy and love of our readers, and especially our brethren in the ministry. Of advice and criticism and merited and unmerited censure and abuse we have enough to last a lifetime, and there are doubtless large supplies in store for us in the near future. A kind word costs but little, but it is of infinite value. We toil in the dark, so to speak. Our congregation is hidden from our eyes. The field over which we sow the grains of truth is far from us. We cannot look our congregation in the face as our brother minister does, and know from the tearful eye and the quivering lip that the seed has fallen in good ground. We cannot feel as he often does the hearty hand-shake, nor hear the grateful acknowledgment for good received. Ours is ministry full of labor and toil, with few of the compensations belonging to that of others. 'Tis a silent ministry. We sow the seed from week to week, but we are like the blind sower—we neither know where it falls or how it fares. Oh, brothers, think it not weakness that these holden eyes sometimes long to look out to see whether barren fields or golden harvests have followed earnest and prayerful labor. Think it not strange that this heart, every pulse beat of which is consecrated to God and His Church, should sometimes feel lonely, shut up as we are within the four walls of this office. Brothers, what of the night? How goes the battle? Does the humble maker of cartridges in his darkened cell contribute aught to the certainty of the victory on the battle field? Ye that are crowned with the glory and honor of the foremost place in the fight may well afford to let us feel occasionally that we are not forgotten by you; that we have your sympathy and your love. There is inspiration in a touch! there is life and health in a word! But we have said far more than we intended when we took up our pen to begin this New Year's meditation—we have possibly said much more than we should have said. But what is written is written: and so we pass these sheets to the printer, to be delivered in due course to our readers. Beloved, in the name of our Lord we greet you; and with honest and earnest heart we pray God's blessings to rest upon you every one.