Such is an outline of the unspeakably important work designed to be performed by the Institute, as extracted from the Constitution, a copy of which will be forwarded to you for publication. The meetings of the body will be annual, on the third Monday of April, in the city of Nashville. All teachers, and persons who have been teachers, belonging to the M. E. Church, South, may become regular members by subscribing the constitution, and paying an initiation fee of one dollar; and any other Methodist, especially interested in education, may be elected to membership. Provision exists also for the election—which must be by a unanimous vote—of honorary members, who must be friends to the educational interests of our denomination. The Institute elected the following officers for the year:

Rev. Robert Paine, D.D., President; Rev. Geo. F. Pierce, D.D., Rev. M. M. Henkle, D.D., Prof. Jas. B. Dodd, Rev. C. D. Elliott, Rev. O. L. Smith, Vice-Presidents; Rev. A. L. Hamilton, D.D., Secretary; Prof. C. Callender, Treasurer.

On motion, two committees were appointed, one to select themes for lectures and essays, and the other to assign subjects for reports to be delivered and presented at the next annual session of the Institute.

Said committees reported as follows: The themes for these lectures, essays, etc., and the persons appointed to prepare them, are as follows: 1st. Opening lecture by the President, on the proper method of introducing the Bible as a text book in all our institutions.

2d. Lecture by the Rev. J. O. Church, D.D., on the importance of our itinerant system of educating the children of our travelling preachers free of expense for tuition and board.

3d. Lecture by Prof. John Darby, on the importance of Natural History as a branch of education.

4th. Essay by Rev. R. H. Rivers, D.D., on the importance of thorough English scholarship, and the means of attaining it.

5th. Essay by Rev. J. R. Thomas, on the best method of school government and discipline.

6th. Essay by Prof. O. F. Casey, on the best method of teaching Ancient Languages.

7th. Report on the proper course of study for Male Colleges and High Schools, to be prepared by Rev. W. M. Wightman, D.D., and Rev. W. J. Sasnett.

8th. Report on the proper course of study for Female Colleges and Academies, to be prepared by Rev. A. H. Mitchell, D.D., and Rev. O. L. Smith.

9th. Report on the expediency of providing, as far as possible, a system of Common School Education by benevolent effort or otherwise, to be prepared by Rev. J. M. Bonnell and Rev. W. H. Anderson, D.D.

10th. Report on the proper time and length of vacations, to be prepared by Prof. A. R. Holcombe and Prof. J. B. Dodd.

11th. Report on the expediency of establishing a scientific school journal under the patronage of this Institute, to be prepared by Rev. E. E. Wiley, D.D., and Pres. J. Darby.

12th. Report on the subject of the endowment of our higher institutions of learning, to be prepared by Rev. George F. Pierce, D.D., and Rev. W. A. Smith, D.D.

INTRODUCTORY SPEECH OF REV. C. K. MARSHALL,

On laying the Corner-Stone of the Centre Building of Centenary College, La., July, 1856.

Friends of Literature and Gentlemen of the Faculty and Board of Trustees:

This occasion is one of no ordinary import. Commencement day is the great Sabbath of college life. To many young gentlemen connected with this Institution, this is one of the most momentous days of their being. For years they have awaited its coming with mingled emotions of hope and fear; and from the distant future they will look back upon its joy-lit summit as one of the most memorable of all the days past. To the friends of home education it is a day fraught with hopes and hallowed with prayers which render it sacred to them.

In addition to the ordinary duties of this day, we have collected on this spot to lay the corner-stone of the splendid superstructure, the gradually rising walls of which arrest your attention and fill your breast with emotions of profound satisfaction. The spirit with which the enterprise goes on, and the imposing aspect which the work already presents, gives cheering earnest of the pleasure the benefactors and the builders who are carrying forward the plan, the professors and teachers who shall occupy its halls, and the pupils and patrons, will enjoy when, not the corner, but the cope-stone, shall come to its place with "shoutings of grace unto it." Every philanthropic spirit, every liberal and enlightened mind must rejoice, especially at this crisis in our national affairs, to witness such a day and service as this. It is a day of conquests; a day of the mighty rousing of the people for the establishment of their own schools, and shall be swiftly followed by many other days and doings of a similar kind. Men feel assured to-day in this assembly, that the cause of home education in the largest sense, is fixed among the inevitabilities of Providence. And come what may, with His blessing, the business of learning is deemed so first-rate in importance that its solemn work can never be ignored or slighted on this soil again. Never did this college see a brighter day than this. The day of small things has not been despised, consequently the day of noble things is now upon you. The future of your career must be upward and onward, and Centenary take rank with the best educational agencies of the land. While we gaze upon the older buildings with their laurels of those powers for usefulness which, virtuously employed, must result in their everlasting well-being. This new edifice is not only a fresh pledge to the cause of learning, but in a large and appropriate sense a temple reared to God, his service and worship. For all diligent study, all efforts to acquire knowledge, are but other forms of rendering homage and praise to heaven. Well may it cheer our hearts to see its fair proportions rise; well may it awaken pleasing emotions to contemplate its speedy completion, and the important facilities its ample plans will give to the work you have to do.

The services of this moment are peculiarly interesting. This day, this hour has been set apart for laying the corner-stone in conformity to a time-honored usage when buildings of great importance or public utility were to be constructed. Precisely when and with whom the cus

tom originated we are unable to tell. The corner-stones of Egyptian pyramids may possibly hold the secret in their unexplored repositories. The Masonic Fraternity holds some interesting reminiscences which have been saved from the waves of the elder time, under which lie, irrecoverably lost, so many valuable treasures, but nothing which can definitely settle this question. That Society is familiar with the laying of ordinary corner-stones, and the committee of arrangements at one time contemplated with much gratification their assistance and their ceremonies on laying this stone. But, with characteristic frankness, they acknowledged that they were not equal to the task. This is the only corner of this building deemed fit and proper to receive the symbolic stone, but we find the Masons bound to ignore all corners except the northeast. With them it must be there or nowhere; with us, unfortunately, like "point no point" to a traveller on our inland sea, the north-east angle of this structure is " corner no corner;" place no place; altogether nearer "nowhere" than any other possible spot where we could deposit this beautiful marble ark with the gems and treasures with which it will soon be stored. We all regret it. As a Mason I could but realize a great disappointment. Still Masonry has done, and can do noble things -chide her not if she can not do every thing. Their declinature is most trying to me because it imposes a large amount of labor on me, and takes me altogether by surprise.

That labor, however, is relieved by the pleasure I enjoy on being able to command the resources and assistance, in the present services, of a society far more ancient, more venerable, distinguished, and immutable than that of the Masonic fraternity. I refer to the Abrahami filiorum antiqua fraternitas. This venerable fraternity was founded by the patriarch Abraham, the father of the faithful, and the "friend of God." With so illustrious a founder, the Washington of his age, it is not to be wondered at that a long line of the most distinguished worthies should have perpetuated its existence, maintained its ritual, and gloried in the "faith" which cements and binds the brotherhood to this day, wherever its doctrines have been embraced. Abraham was a builder. On one occasion he reared an altar on Mount Moriah. The precise form of the structure we can not certainly declare. But as an humble member of the fraternity I will take leave to presume that it was circular, because the annulus or ring was in that day used as a symbol of the Deity, and the altar was erected as an act of homage to the true God. If circleshaped, it had no Masonic corner. Consequently the officers and members of our fraternity are bound to respect alike all points of the compass. That altar was built on a mountain summit. We have selected

this beautiful elevation for ours, and we place the corner-stone higher up on the superstructure than is the custom of our younger kinsman.* We have the authority of an imposing precedent, and we hope that all fair-minded Masons will congratulate us on the superior advantages and distinction we possess and enjoy; for we would not have them for a moment suppose we would honor their fraternity less, but, as in duty bound, the Abrahami filiorum antiqua fraternitas more. And while we so honor our higher fraternity, we rejoice to know that thousands

*The first story of the building was up, and the next one going forward rapidly, but no suitable time till this offered for these services.

of the highest Masons have been initiated into its more sublime and more enlightening mysteries.

The past, the present, the future, all belong to us. From remote and dusty centuries, through all their eventful fortunes, amidst the conflict of nations, the rise and fall of empires, the growth and decay of cities, the building and consecration of sacred temples, this fraternity has been present, by its representatives, to take a part and exert a benign, humanizing, and religious influence, and record its history and deeds with letters composed of the noblest structures of science, philanthropy, and Divine worship. This day witnesses similar offices, and future generations shall never want for faithful members to execute the high behests of the venerable orders.

Nor shall its worthy members fail of honorable promotion and a just reward. They shall have full and ennobling labor for their hands, peace for their conscience, and exhaustless supplies of food for the growing demands of the ever-expanding mind. The faithful student will meet with histories and biographies fraught with curious phenomena of friendship, love, and heroism; of virtuous deeds and philanthropic labors, under circumstances and of a character the most remarkable ever known since time began. Their employments will be adapted to the peculiarities of an industrious and dignified fellowship, than which none are better calculated to unfold the character, impress upon it the image of true greatness, strengthen moral obligation, and open the way for a useful and honorable life. At a future day we shall " open the door," for the reception of worthy applicants from all the inferior "fraternities" who are in pursuit of "more light." May the spirit of this Abrahamic fraternity ever preside over this institution, reign through its halls, cheer its dormitories and bless the young hearts that shall throb within these apartments when ours are pulseless and cold in the silent grave.

NOTE.-The Board of Trustees, faculty, and several societies connected with the College, having made arrangements to deposit certain memorials in the corner-stone, now proceeded in their respective orders, to present them to Rev. Mr. Marshall as the orator of the occasion.

HUNTSVILLE FEMALE COLLEGE, HUNTSVILLE, ALA.

The sessions begin with February and September.

FACULTY.

REV. GEORGE M. EVERHART, A.M., President.
Rev. A. R. ERWIN, D.D., Natural Sciences.

Miss MINERVA J. BANNER,

THE BUILDING (seen in the engraving) cost thirty-five thousand dollars, twenty-two thousand of which were paid by Daniel B. Turner, Thos. S. McCalley, Wm. H. Moore, and Wm. J. McCalley, of Huntsville-an act of distinguished liberality on the part of these gentlemen. The establishment, in its various departments, is perhaps as elegantly and comfortably provided as any other of the kind in the whole country.

THE APPARATUs, chemical and philosophical, cost $1000.

GOLD MEDAL.-$300 have been invested by D. B. Turner, Esq., the annual income of which is to provide a medal for the highest proficiency in music.

STATISTICS.-The College has been in operation five sessions, and the number of pupils in regular attendance has been respectively as follows: 76, 90, 108, 120, and 142

LITERARY INSTITUTIONS OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH.

For an official catalogue of the schools and colleges under the patronage of each of our conferences, see "Annals of Southern Methodism for 1855," p. 188.

CHAPTER VI.

SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

FOR the organization of the "Sunday-School Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South," its Constitution, List of Officers, Tabular Statements, etc., see "Annals of Southern Methodism" for 1855, p.

190.

No reports of the Society's proceedings have reached us. The following gleanings may be found interesting for present reading and useful for future reference.

SUNDAY-SCHOOL SOCIETY.

The first anniversary of the Sunday-School Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was held in the M'Kendree Church, Nashville, Monday evening, April 21, 1856; Bishop Early presiding.

The exercises were opened with prayer, after which some remarks were made by the Corresponding Secretary of the Society.

Bishop Andrew then addressed the audience in a brief but pertinent "eech, in which he forcibly set forth the paramount importance of the lay-school enterprise. He wished to be understood as indorsing suitable ents which had been uttered in favor of the Society. It was im