Editorial Notes

The Associate Editor is in charge of the Advocate for the present.

Rev. Landy Wood, Conwayboro' Station, as we are pained to infer through a private note from Brother Hamby, of Georgetown, has been very seriously ill from congestion of the brain. Later advices represent that though very low, he is improving. We hope soon to chronicle his entire recovery. We await further news from our dear brother with much interest and with earnest prayer that he may be spared to us.

Miss I. D. Martin advertises her select school for young ladies in our paper. She is in the line of succession, her distinguished mother having taught for years with marked success in Columbia. We acknowledge with glad appreciation what Miss Martin is doing in the very important work of the education of young ladies, and take great pleasure in heartily commending her valuable services to the public. Ability, tact, energy and success indicate the claims which she has upon the favor and patronage of our people.

Dr. A. H. Bedford, Louisville, Ky., has sent us the first number of the Southern Methodist, of which he is editor and publisher. The paper is certainly very beautifully gotten up, and the matter of the initial number is, in the main, very good. A good deal of space is necessarily taken in publishing matter incidental to the beginning of such an enterprise. The editor commences in the first number, as we supposed he would, the publication of a serial story, written by himself. He has unusual ability in this line. We heartily wish Dr. Bedford eminent success, and we doubt not he will both earn it and enjoy it.

Rev. James P. DePass, of the Florida Conference, writes us a private letter, which we have no right selfishly to appropriate. His many friends in South Carolina, where he commenced his ministry, will be glad to hear from him, and the friends of our Zion everywhere will hear with much gratitude and joy of the encouraging outlook for Methodism in the Land of Flowers. Here is a sample of Brother De Pass's most acceptable letter:

"The prospects of our Conference were never so flattering. Villages spring up as if by magic, and people are coming to Florida from everywhere. The demand for preaching is absolutely oppressive, because we have not the means of meeting it. We need preachers, young men full of the Holy Ghost, who are willing to work for the salvation of souls. We could use a dozen such at our next Conference. We could give them fields of comfort compared with what our fathers had when they commenced, and, considering the times, they would be well paid also. The field is a promising one, for no Conference has a grander future, if men would only enter it."

The Itinerancy, which, under God, in our judgment, has been the cause of our success, as the leading evangelistic force of the Church of the present century, falls under the censorious criticism of our acute Kentucky correspondent. While we would not repress the candid expression of opinion of our correspondents, on such subjects as in our judgment are suited to our paper, we reserve the right to show our opinion on any subject introduced by our leave, and especially so, when a failure to pronounce an opinion might be construed into acquiescence with views which we do not approve. We are a loyal Methodist. The doctrine and policy of our Church are nearer the New Testament ideal than anything we know of in existing church organizations. Our itinerant system has been modified and still may be modified to advantage, we have no doubt. When the proper time comes we have confidence that it will be done. The time has not come yet, to remove all restrictions from the pastoral term. In all likelihood it never will. This is simply our opinion and as such will inspire the course of the Advocate so far as we can control it. We respect the individuality of our able friend, Dr. Cottrell, and while differing with him toto coelo in his peculiar views on this subject, we welcome him most cordially to our columns.

An accomplished correspondent, writing us a private letter, alludes in a judicious, orthodox way to revival services which had just closed at the church of which she is a member. "Our pastor was assisted by —. But I don't attribute the success of the meeting to their efforts alone. It was the power of the Holy Ghost sent in answer to the prayers of the Church."

What can a pastor do without the co-operation of the Church, and what can they do without the gracious help of the good Lord? It has occurred to us that our preachers and people talk sometimes unadvisedly about protracting the services of our churches. We believe in protracted meetings. Especially do we believe in revivals. Methodism without them has lost its mission. By all means let us cherish the revival spirit and pray to the Lord of the harvest for seasons of refreshing. But instead of our protracting religious services, let these services protract themselves. How frequently is it that great congregations go to the annual camp meeting to realize barren results, while God's faithful few in some obscure nook at their stated appointment, and in the use of their usual means of grace, find their Lord preciously and abundantly present, blessing and saving the people. In the one case we look forward too much to an especial occasion. In the other case we realize the divine significance of now. (2 Cor. vi. 2.)

Yellow Fever still rages fearfully in the West. The details of suffering and distress are most heart-rending. The sad misfortune of our afflicted neighbors has taught us one lesson, and should teach us another. 1. How touchingly beautiful have been the references of the contemporary press to the sufferers of this great calamity, and how generous have been the offerings of charity to relieve these sufferers. A community of sorrow and suffering makes us akin. In the midst of a great grief, we adjourn our peculiar differences, and think most of what we hold in common. All sections of the country, and all divisions of the church, without regard to political opinion or religious belief, have honored themselves and are honoring themselves, by timely, generous contributions of money and help to their sadly afflicted neighbors. We have learned again, and touchingly, the answer to the question: Who is my neighbor? The other lesson we will not be so quick to learn. When God's judgments are so fearfully proclaimed, shall we remain indifferent to them? The question for us is not what does the Lord mean, as to these afflicted subjects of His government; but rather what does He mean, as addressing Himself to me? What am I to learn as to my own duty and responsibility? "There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Suppose ye that those Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."