Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-10-24
Dnmber s.
cow MUNIGATl0NS.
For tho Spirit Of the Age.

resolution on tLst subject, seems To have nrodroad
consioeranie sensation IN some quarters. DIR. Lee
accompanies its publication in the " Richmond q
Advocate" with an editorial depIorinq the act. INIT
asserting, that the time for him TO giue ddvice had
gone By. Mr.. Myers, editor Of the " Southern G.
Advocate, Is not satisfied with a Jeremiado, but
takes higher ground. This gentleman, " to save
them (the N. G.. Confcrence)i f possible from taking
what we 1.-THE EDITOR believe to be an Unnecessary
II not an unwise step" enters his solemn protest
against such a measure. These gentlemen, of
course, are not actuated by selfish motives, but the
good OF the church, and as in duty bound TO take
care Of the INTEREST," OF N. c..
As no member Of the Publishing Committee up
TO the present time, has deemed II necessary to re-
ply to the structures Of the as. G. Advocate on
their Prospectus, We beg leave, as a member of the
Conference authorizing the act, to submit a few
thoughts ON the subject, through the medium of
your paper.
/. The right Of an Annual Conference to estab-
fish a Religious Newspaper within its boundaries
and under its control, has not, we presume, at any
time been eontroyerted. On the contrary, to en-
courage the measure, the Gen. Conference held at
ST. Louis, 1850, passed a resolution, requesting the
Bishops Of the church, whenever one or more
Annual Conferences deem il expedient to establish
a religious Newspaper within their boundaries, to
appoint an editor to supcrintend it," We thought
We were n Conference and acted under this resolu-
ton, Heretofore an enterprising spirit has been
deemod praise-worthy. j. tho N. g. Conference
alone TO be an exception? Isshe not Conference?
is she not capable Of forming q correct opinion of
her own wants or is she dependent upon the edi-
tors Of tho Richmond and Southern Christian Adj
vocatcs to think for her" We had supposed that
she greto Of sufficient size at st. Louis, 1850, to
begin 10 think for herself If we we're mistaken,
will Mr.. Myers tell US, when he thinks she will be
capable Of attending to her own business in her
own way Does no think she will gro,o large
enough At the Gen. Conference Of 1858 ? if not,
when win her minority cease?
But admitting that the n. G. Conference has not
transccnded her rights, in attempting to establish
n paper of her own, without consulting certain lis
tinguished brethren Of other Conferences. Mr..
Myers objects to "the purposes to which the paper
IL 10 be devoted" especially the " interests of N.
c.; and expresses great fears it may supercede
the religious papers Of the church in some parts of
the State, which he seems to think are under the
especial guardianship Of himself and DIR. Lee. The
editor is especially horror-stricken Mt the idea Of
some secular matter, connected with :" the position"
Of NJ. Q. being introduced into its columns, and il
too called m Advocate" Yet the reader will
find in the S. @. Advocate Of the same date in
which vent is given to these pious feelings, the
Charleston. Markets published for the benefit of s.
O.. and Western n. Q. readers, whilst those of Char
lotte, N. @. are overlooked, and no more allusion
made 10 the markets Of Wilmington, than if such q
seaport were not in existence.
And indeed, il it has required 20 years for the S
G. Advocate, boastingly called by. It's editor a Gen
Con. paper, to obtain a circulation of 200 copies
within the boundaries Of the N. G. Conference, W,
think il high time to present our people a diferen
specimen of n Methodist religious Newspaper
They will then, Mt least, have the advantage Of ma
king a selection.
But does Mr.. Myers seriously think, the mem
bers OF the N. G.. Conference have an interest in tn,
S.. G. Advocate Does he not knop that at the las
Gen. Conference, the delegates of S. Carolina, Geor
gin, Alabama, and Florida, were invited into eau
Gus, TO select an editor OF the S. G. Advocate, an,
those Of N. C.were not included We do not men
ton this fact by way Of complaint. We wish sim
ply to show the course Of the s. c. Advocate in thi
matter.
2. But n protest is entered against our adoptin
" the family name, Advocate" for our paper. Oh
this point, we Of N. G.. and Mr.. Myers are yer
nearly agreed. We were conscious that we woul
have in North Carolina a very strong prejudice t
contend against in that name. Several other name
were suggested, but it was aseertained they wer
already adopted by some paper in the State. TIL
Committee finally settled down upon the preser
name for their paper, maugre the strong objection
to il, because IN. @. Advocate" expresses its de
sign better than any other that could have been 81
lected. We rely upon an intelligent public. w
believe tho first ana second issues of our pape
will convince our brethren in the State, that the !
O. Advocate Is neither the ar. @. AdUocate" NJ
the s. O. Advocate"
3. Our Publishing Committee have dared asse
in their Prospectus, that We are driven to the n
cessity Of publishing a paper, becauNe of" the Ell
tire insuHiciency Of the existing Advocates to Il
necessities Of our position Mr., Myers, editor
one Of these papers, seems to think very. strange
this; and significantly asks, "What is the peculia
iy Of that position, thatit cannotbe reached by h
existing Advocates" Will the brethren say why
We rocollect we'll the time, when the S. Adv
cate was entirely antipodatt to our " interests" +
months. this paper teemed with articles highly
fensiyo 10 members Of our Conference. A reply
those communications could hardly have found
place In that paper. What has happened on
could take place again. The 5. Advocate of Au
9th, 1855, contains n deliberate attaak from t
pen Of its editor upon n ~favorite, fully digested al
matured measure of our Conference, TO which
arc now replying. This was published to the wor
in company with our Prospectus. What could
the object Of such an editorial, published at such
time, but 10 prejudice the minds Of brethren in
G. against the measure, and thus prevent the
from subscribing to our paper2 Mr.. Myers dc
not surely think, that his disapprovaL publicly p
m~ulgated, would change the minds of the N.
Confcrcucol
And TO meet this attack, we are compelled to
pend upon the secular press of our own state,
the publication Of this article, or to labor under
the disadvantages that n private correspondent
counters, in contending with an editor in the C
umna OF his own paper. If nothing else had
Cured, up TO this time, this simple fact is suficiC
proof 10 our minds Of the " necessity Of a paper
defend the Interests Of our position" What
S. Advocate has been, or Is NOR, with regard to
N. O.. Conference, the II. G. Advocate can at a
time become. The same arguments apply to b.
papers.
why could not the r. and S. C.. Advocates
we'll subserve the Interests Of N. q. as the 5. a
N. @. Advocates do those Of Alabama, or the
AuNOcnt0 uueA NnOEG VI NbOHkb W. " me
su rprizod that this question should be asked b
20 ntoman Of Mr.. Myers diseernment. Is not
present editor Of the s. G. Advocate a Georges
Did Il never occur to Mr.. Myers, that he ough
understand the interests of his own State,
therefore, be able to adapt his paper to her wal
Was not DR.. Summers Of Alabama, for years
sisiant editor Of this paper, for the express purp
Of adapting Il to the interest," of that State
Il not Rev. Mr.. McTyiero, an Albanian,
tho present time editor Of them. o. Advocate
And yet, Mr.. Myers propounds his interrogat
with MS much confidence as il he were entirely
norant Of these facts, or thought his readers $
4. Mr. Myers says, that last spring, he ser
copy Of his paper to every member OF the N
Conference. We are certainly obliged to him
that courtesy. 1t was never extended to us
thai ouarter before. Yet 1t did not prevent
prospectus from seeing the light. Mr.. Myer
certainly an able tactician. He first eajoles-i
scolds and threatens-turns prophet-predic
failure Of our scheme, and yet we obstinately
severe. Well, his efforts, at least, deserve snc'
There must be something wrong about the ma
He either started at the torong time, or we ar
incorrigible set.
Lastly. Mr.. Myers eagerly concludes, that
all, perhaps be was med ding in n question
which he had no business'-that as the matter
gotten up by Joint stock company, the matte
longed to the Stockholders. 1t is wonde
natural a suggestion did not present itself 500
He, however, comforts himself with the rehec
that they at least take all the risk and assnr
In advance, that If we apply to the Gen. Cor
aid in time Of pecuniary distress, which he IN
win soon come upon us, that it will certain
denied. Other Annual Conferences have aske
yors from the Gen. Con-. and obtained them
We Of the N. Q. Con. have heretofore askeC
noth;nO moro than sheer Justice. which we are