The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-07-27

will avail herself Of the facilities which
the present formative condition .oi
society affords, to renew her efforts In
this remuncrative field. =
eve Aight educate our children out
side the church, aud commit to uu.
sauctiied hands this delicate and i'm.
portaut interest, but tho risk Is fearful.
It 10 like arming and equipipg . giant
With bow, spear and bsttle.axe, and
challenging him to meet as in single
combat. The odds will be against us.
Mol let the whole process of education be
so conducted that the truths Of science,
all illustrated, sanc.ified aud made
radient BY the holier truths Of the re-.
ligion of tho Gospel shall, while they
impress tho mind sauotify the heart. Let
the truths of literature, science and art,
intertwiped, interlarded and ornameuted
by the blossoms and fruits OF sound
riety, shed holy perfume all around,
exciting taste, appetite and habit to
that which is pure, holy and of good
report. With education, separated from
Christianity, We hold no fellowship:
"unto their assembly, mine honor, be
not thou united" Let others talk OF
Pierian Springs and Castillsn Groves,
be it ours my countrymeu, to draw over
our children the shield of Omnipoteuoe,
and protect their interests with the
thick darkness in which Jehovah dwells.
LIE us teach them that their only secu-
rity is in God, and that tho richest
flowers and most luscious fruits arc
those Of faith, hope and love, which
hang in inviting clusters from tho
cross"
The report speaks hopefully of tho
prospect for the re.opening Of Columbis
Female College at an early day, and
alludes with pleasure to the Frightening
prospects Of Spartanburg Female Col.
lego.
Report No. Of the same Committee
refers mainly to the interests and im>
portancs to the church of Wofford
College-than which no institution in
the South Is more deserving of patronage
or better oulpable Of returning its pupils
"thoroughly furnished unto every good
work" or high position.
CHURCH FINANCE.
The sentiments and principles enun-
dated in this report are of such in.
terest to the general church of Christ,
that, If you can find room, other than
Methodists will no doubt be edited by
its perusal.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE.
Your Committee feel to commend the
Conference, and the Church throus hout
its bounds, to most devout than ksgiving
to Almighty God for the blessings ex.
perienced during another year-for tho
Divine outpourings-the rich dews of
Heavenly grace. that have descended
upon many Of the fields of labor, Drown
ing the faithful efforts of jealous and
devoted Ministry with rich rewards
and for the temporal blessings, in in
creased measure, which have been
vouchsafed. Our loved soil, under the
benignant hand of our merciful God,
has given to US more freely of its fruits,
sending more vigorous currents of action
throughout the industrial interests of
the country, and affording more ample
means from which to draw for the sup
port of the Church. We feel, too, that
the Ministry aud the Church, should
give thanks and take fresh courage and
determination, in view of the increasing
interest and attention which is being
manifested in behalf Of more adequate
maintenance of the Ahurch, and for
the marked improvement in this respect,
in many sections, as indicated by the
increase of conference oonllections aud
the more favorable reports in connexion
with ministerial support. The intro.
duotion of the laity into the represeu-
tation--our district Conferences, bring
ing together intelligent members from
the several parts of tho body of the
Church, for consultation and action,
whose spirits are quickened and hearts
more throughly enlisted in this great
and good work, is doing much, we bo-
lieve, to rouse up latent energies, to
inform the uninformed, and creatsa more
adequate sense Of duty in this connexion,
to encourage the heart Of the ministry,
and to devise and develop new means
for advancing, in this connexion, the
interests of the Kingdom Of our blessed
Redeemer.
But, casting our eyes over the field
before us, we find that there is much
to be done aud we would here exhort
our burthen Of the laity-.the official
membership, throughout the bounds Of
the Conference.-The enter with increased
zeal upon the work before them. Upon
them the burthen Of the responsibility
for tho adequate support of the Church
rests. What is probably most needed,
is more efficient stewardship. Systems,
as perfect as human wisdom can devise,
may be wrought out, and yet they must
prove inefficient, if there be not the
proper power Of action brought to bear
npou them-if there be not the jealous
and efficient worker to put them into
operation, and carry them forward to
success. The machinery Of the Metho.
dist Church is more comprehensive and
powerful, in it's construction, than that
Of any other branch; and were this