Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-05-09


fective. Discussing
EDUCATION,
the address says: I'VE do not hesitate
to avow that we regard the education
of the young as one of the leading
functions of the Church, and that she
cannot abdicate in favor of State with
out infdelity to her trust and irrepar-
able damage to the society The rela-
tions of the children to the Church
are all intensified by the antagonisms
of modern science, and outcasting of
all religious element from all schools,
a system fostered by State legislation.
1t is not ours to dispute jurisdiction
with Caesar; but, fully persuaded that
the salt of religious truth can alone
preserve education from abuse and
results, we feel that the
responsibilities of the Church grow
with the progress of society and the
demands of the age. In the same con-
nection the address continues We
anticipate in the near future a con
plete system of universities, colleges,
district school academies, sustained by
our people and manned by our own
graduates, all thoroughly equipped,
rounded plan reaching from the lowest
to the highest, safeguards of Chris
tan education to all the rising genera
ton committed to our charge As to
the tendency of worldliness in the
young, the address says the silence of
the discipline in terms is plea with
some. Expunging the paragraph in
which
was specified as among things forbid
den, has been construed by others
into arelaxatiOn of the law equivalent
to license. We think the rule is plain,
and we know the last general confer
ence expressed itself strongly in con-
demnation of this evil. Nevertheless
the pleas are made so that the Church
is enfeebled in her remonstrance, and
the preacher paralyzed in his pastoral
government. Both parties look to you
for relief. We hope you will be able
to furnish it. You cannot make new
law, but you can enforce an old one.
Appeal is made for more earnest OBJ
servance OF
FAMILY RELIGION.
On Church conferences the address
says: We regret to say the
CHURCH CONFERENCE q
is comparative failure. In stations
generally they have done well, are
very useful; in circuits, as a rule, they
have been inefficient. The fault is
commonly with the preacher, who does
not like them and does not know how
to hold them.
1t seems to be necessity, both to
wise pastoral oversight and a distribu-
ton of service among members, and
an effective use and application of re-
sources of the church. 1t might be
well to give the preacher in charge
larger discretion as to the manner of
holding thea. So that in the absence
of all pressing business they might be
made strictly devotional. The ad-
dress closes with tribute to the two
departed
BISHOPS, ANDREW AND EARLY.
A communication from Mayor Jack
son was read, presenting the freedom
of the city to the members of the Con-
ference. The remainder of the session
was occupied by reading of petitions
from various Conferences.
d. Co.
AT the General Conference at Louis
vile, Bishop Paine readan address con-
tanning greetings from Great Britain, Of
which the following is an extract:
The address is quite lengthy. send
ing fraternal greetings, and reviewing
the fact that the abolition of slavery
removes the cause which has prevent
ed the English church from before
seeking inter-communion with the NJ.
E. Church, South. 1t continues: Itist to
us cause of thankfulness that nothing
exists to prevent official intercourse
between your General Conference and
our own, and we pray that both
churches and both countries may be
firmly united within themselves by con-
cord and to one another, by amity
We believe that you, with us, firmly
hold the great Christian truths which
we have both received in common, and
that you are striving to spread living
religion among your own people. For
ourselves we trust that we have not
ceased to hold fast the form of sound
words which has been handed down to
us in the presence ofsubtle skepticism
on the one hand, and increasing
~ audacious sacred atheism on the
other. 1t is our duty, and we trust it
is our endeavor, to earnestly contend
for the faith once delivered to the
saints. Our country is being blessed
at this time with unwonted visitations
of the Divine Spirit. Slumbering
churches have been aroused, apathy has
been rebuked and we live in the ex-
pectation of yet better days.
The report gives the figures as to the
increase of Methodism in Great
Britain, and closes with prayer for the
churches of this country.
THE TAX ON LAwYERs.-We sup
pose that the following. from the Mem
phis Appeal, is based upon good au-
thority:
" A question much discussed and
pending for some years past in the SUI
preme court of this State, has at last
been decided. Whether the decision
has yet, been formally announced from
the bench We are not advised. If the
opinion has not already been delivered
it will be in few days Several years
ago the legislature of the State, in or
der to strengthen the revenue budget,
imposed on lawyers specific or priyil
ege tax. The question against the
wildly of this tax was first made, or
rather came under discussion before
the court at Nashville, in this State.
:
After mature deliberation the question
has at last been decided in favor of