The Board recommend that the following missions be discontinued, because of the disproportion between the expenses incurred and the want of success in the operations: Worth mission, Fair Haven, Morganton, and Jefferson colored mission.

They advise the establishment of the following new mission-fields : Macon City mission; Elijay to be divided, and a new mission, called Fort Hembree, made out of a portion of its territory. They advise that Columbus colored charge, and city mission be united; also a new mission to be called Etouah.

By a resolution of the Board, at the last session of our Conference, the writer of the Annual Report was restricted to the doings of our Missionary.Society, and with reference to our Conference missions.* The writer entirely accords with this resolution, and hence his apology for the absence of an essay on the general subject of missions is found in that advice. The Board are not to be understood as indifferent to Foreign Missions, and the great need of cultivating enlarged views in this direction; but they wish it to be well understood what they have done, are doing, and propose to do this being necessary to increasing the supplies of men and money, not only for the foreign work, but for home purposes.

Your Society is auxiliary to the General Missionary Society of the Church, and as such it is expected that something be done in its auxiliary relation. But the lamentable fact must be told that the Georgia Conference the largest, and probably richest, in the connectionhas not, for two years past, raised missionary money enough to supply its home missions with laborers. The missionary treasurer has had to pay a deficit of about $700 for the two past years to support our missionaries; and this reproachful fact is likely yet again to be seen, unless our Society awake to a sense of the shame which attaches to our Conference and people, and by a due estimate of their abundant means remove the imputations of illiberality and avarice, which are the only conceivable reasons of this repeated deficiency.

The Georgia Conference has never raised over $18,600; and on an average, only $16,116. For the year just past, $16,972 was used, and nearly an equal amount will likely be demanded for the ensuing year; while the collections of last year did not meet the sum expended by $70, and the collection for the present year is about $16,905, of which so

* A very sensible resolution.-Ed. Annals.

much has already been absorbed for past services, that only about $7500 is left for the ensuing year, making a real deficiency of perhaps $8000 or $10,000 for home work.

Now, shall this be so hereafter? Let the several preachers answer next Conference, from their various fields of labor. The Board know this state of humiliation can be removed, if diligence is used by every preacher in his charge. We need not advert to the incentives which urge us forward. The poverty and sin and ruin of the black race among us call for philanthropic and Christian benevolence-active and constant efforts in their behalf. Many of our missions, probably most, are to the blacks; these missions are usually supplied by young and often inexperienced men, and often altogether from the Treasury; while in nearly every case the owners of these slaves should meet the incurred expenses. They must be reached, or finally this department will be from necessity abandoned. Liberal views must be proposed and extended before the multitudes of semi-heathen in our State will have the needed Christian culture. They need preaching, catechizing, pastoral oversight, and special moral teaching, to insure their spiritual elovation. Let the Society remember the extent of this work; and while territorially it is constantly enlarging, observe that our means are decreasing, and from the last-mentioned fact (illiberality) they must see that while much and more is called for in supplies, less and still less will be yielded.

Many are willing to give liberally to support missions among the destitute white settlements and pagan lands, who feel no desire nor obligation to pay a missionary for services in a settlement or country where the wealth of State and Church abounds. Right or wrong, this is so; and must get worse, unless arrested.

It is submitted for your consideration whether it is fair to raise money by stirring appeals for the heathen, and from year to year expend the whole amount in our own bounds, and then put our claims into the general treasury, for balance to supply a deficiency, and that in reputedly the strongest and wealthiest Conference in our Church. We doubt the truth of the old adage, charity begins at home-we think it should certainly sometimes go abroad, if even this is not its more legitimate work.

The Board are glad that in every regard, except finances, our Society is doing much. Most of the Negro missions are said to be in a thriving state, spiritually. Members have been added, though not in great numbers. Children are catechized to a small extent, but still with considerable reference to this important department of moral culture. Let us improve in this matter, and also in plantation services-two things material to great success.

The missions to the whites are generally doing well; some of them are now self-sustaining charges, and as soon as any can be made so, the Board advise the course.

With these painful and pleasing reflections we commend the cause to God and the Society.

The Rev. Dr. Sehon gives the following incident as occurring during his attendance upon the Georgia Conference in 1855.

It was on Sabbath afternoon; the sun was about setting, when I visited the graveyard in La Grange. I stood at the grave of the Hon. H. Haralson by my side was his daughter Carrie, said to be much like her departed father. We said not a word as we looked in sadness, and yet joyous hope, on his and the graves of his dear children. With the tear trembling in her eye, she pointed, a short distance from where we stood, to the grave of a favorite servant of her father's. We looked upon this mark of affection and remembrance with deepest interest. It found a place in our memory and heart. Read the inscription:

STERLING:

A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF

HUGH A. HARALSON.

▲ TRIBUTE TO WORTH.

He had been the nurse of his master; and this beautiful monument, costing some $100 or more, was thus raised to his memory. Now mas

*769 probationers and 4 Sunday-schools.

ter and servant sleep alike in death. This is one among many instances of the kind estimation in which valued family servants are held.

ANOTHER.

[From the New-Orleans Advocate.]

I spent the second Sabbath of January in Jackson, Miss. Although the weather was very inclement, there was a pretty good turn out to the morning services. I presented the claims of the Book and Tract Society, and received a response in what will help us on in the good cause all things considered, a good collection.

At 8 o'clock, by invitation, I preached to the colored people—a large and attentive congregation. This is one of the most religious congregations in our bounds. They have Sunday-school at 9 o'clock Sabbath morning, class at 11, preaching at 3 P.M., and prayer-meeting at night. Class again Tuesday night, and prayer-meeting again Thursday night. It will do any one good who spends a Sabbath in Jackson to attend their

services.

After they were dismissed from the 3 o'clock service, I learned that some of them were disappointed a little that I did not call on them to help me in my work. Will any white congregation complain if I do not give them a chance to contribute? But I was with them at their prayer-meeting at night; and Bro. E., who has been their leader for a long time, told them they might contribute then, if they wished to do so. Up they walked to a table and laid down their dimes, quarters, and halves, seeming to be glad they had such a chance to do good. Do you ask how much they gave? More than some white congregations to whom I have appealed in days past. I shall send them books for it all to be used in their Sunday-school, too. AGENT.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF NEGROES.

On this theme, Rev. Bp. Andrew commenced a series of very pointed and able articles, in the New-Orleans Christian Advocate, of March 1. These articles have been copied extensively, and will undoubtedly do much good.

The Presbyterian Herald says, in quoting:

"Bishop Andrew is now publishing in the Southern Methodist papers an admirable series of letters to Southern masters, on their responsibilities and duties to their servants and especially their obligation to give them religious instruction. His style is easy and natural, and occasionally touchingly eloquent. The letters breathe the spirit of the Gospel, and can not fail to be highly useful."

CIRCULAR.

CHARLESTON, S. C., March, 1856. DEAR BROTHER: Intending to prepare a History of Missions to the Blacks, I earnestly solicit your aid. This you can render by giving me information on any or all of the different points suggested below; namely:

1. Origin and progress of any mission, or missions, giving dates and incidents-number of neighborhood churches: are these advantageous or otherwise?

2. Difficulties and obstacles in the way of beginning and prosecuting the work.

3. Estimation of the efficiency of the Gospel, and the genuineness of conversions; based on modes of expression on these subjects among the blacks themselves, and conduct consequent on profession made.

4. Anecdotes illustrative of the last item; whether among the negroes, or between them and owners, managers, or missionaries; deathscenes and expressions; accounts of love-feasts, or class-meetings; striking conversions or experiences; influence of example.

5. General estimate in which the work is held among owners and managers; and the reasons for such estimate, whether it be favorable or otherwise.

6. Support, or proportion of support contributed by those whose slaves are served—say, a statement each year from beginning.

7. What reflex influence has been produced on the missionary spirit and collections of the Church, or that part of the Church particularly concerned-say, the conference, presbytery, or the like. Has any indirect good been observable among white persons or families?

8. Names of those persons, children, or adults, and any incidents of interest in life or death connected with them, who have been most active and useful in originating or sustaining any particular mission or missions.

9. Best methods of imparting religious instruction, both to adults and to children.

10. Notices, or biographical sketches of faithful men or women. Or similar mention of white persons who may have been zealous and useful in the missionary cause.

11. Statistics: number of members and probationers in one item; number of catechumens; population within reach of your appointments; and average number attending at these appointments.

Any information not here suggested, which may occur to you, is most earnestly solicited, and will be gratefully received; as also any suggestion you might think proper. I beg you will regard this not as a merely formal circular, but as a direct and earnest personal application. Respectfully and fraternally, H. A. C. WALKER.

[From the S. C. Advocate.]

LETTER FROM BISHOP EARLY.

A Fortnight among the Missions to the Blacks.

BROTHER MYERS: On my way to South-Carolina I had the pleasure of travelling with Gov. Aiken, who informed me that there was a great change among the planters in favor of our colored missions on the rice plantations; and on learning that I was en route to visit the colored missions, he very kindly invited me to visit him at his plantation on Jehossee Island, the next week, when he would be there.

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