Our Texas Letter

Mr Editor: Although no longer a citizen of South Carolina, I feel a deep interest in her welfare, and in the success of Methodism within her borders. As far back as I can recollect, I have been a reader of the Advocate, or a listener to it. When I was too young to appreciate anything else contained in the paper, I used to be delighted in hearing my father and mother read to us the beautiful stories in the children's department. When I was able to read for myself, besides reading these stories as they appeared, I used to take down the bound volumes and spend many pleasant hours reading that column. As I advanced in years, I still gave its weekly visits a hearty welcome. Since I have been West, and have been separated from relatives and friends, the Advocate has been dearer to me than ever.

You ask me to give you State or Church news. At this time I will confine myself principally to the latter. We are now in a season of gracious revivals in most parts of the State. Our Church, in particular, is carrying forward the standard of the cross. It has the largest membership of any denomination in the State. In 1860 there were 24,351 white members in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Texas: in 1877 that number had increased to 76,487.

Many Methodists among our German population are not included in the number just mentioned, as they belong to the German Mission Conference, which is composed of Circuits and Stations in Louisiana, as well as in Texas. The Methodist Episcopal Church has several white congregations in our State. Many of our negro population are attached to some branch of the Methodist Church. As you will observe, the people called Methodists are not few in number here.

Of the three Methodist preachers who were sent as missionaries to Texas in 1837, Rev. Robert Alexander, D. D., is the only survivor. He is still in the traveling connection, being at present Presiding Elder on the Chapel Hill District. He was a delegate to the late General Conference.

As some of your readers are aware, we Texans have five Annual Conferences. The North Texas is the largest; the Northwest Texas is developing most rapidly. The latter has circuits in settlements into which the hostile Indians sometimes come.

As we pay more than half the salary of a Bishop, (and I think we would pay more if they were with us oftener), and as we are more than a tenth of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, we think we are entitled to more episcopal service than we get. We love our Bishops, and wish to become better acquainted with them.

The Southwestern University, under the patronage of the five Annual Conferences, was located, five years ago, at Georgetown, twenty-five miles north of Austin. The session, which closed June 18th, was the most successful of this young institution. Young men were in attendance from thirty-two counties. The University has a landed endowment of thirteen thousand acres. Its regent, Rev. F. A. Mood, D. D., formerly a member, and for several years secretary of the South Carolina Conference, is, in my opinion, the most popular and useful minister in Texas. He has done more for higher education in Texas, since he was sent here by the Church, than any other man of whom we have heard. Were it not for his feeble health (which, however, is slowly improving), the University would be better endowed and more liberally patronized. He has more than once tendered his resignation as regent, but the board of curators, considering his services as almost indispensable, have requested him to discharge the duties of his office as long as possible.

Rev. W. G. Connor, D. D., who was pastor of the Washington Street Church, Columbia, S. C., when that city, including his church, was burned in 1865, is Presiding Elder on the Waco District, Northwest Texas Conference. Rev. W. F. Easterling, another South Carolinian, is stationed at Paris, North Texas Conference. These two gentlemen were delegates to the late General Conference.

Wofford College has several sons in this State: S. G. Sanders and P. C. Bryce, Professors in the University; Professor P. C. Johnston, Principal of the Pittsburg Institute; B. E. Chreitzberg and B. W. Foster, attorneys at law, and R. C. Nettles, a practicing physician. There are three or four others, but not knowing their occupation or location, I will not give merely their names. Palmetto.