Ix South Carolina. 465 



the " trial of affliction" and "the deep poverty" of the Southern 

 Methodist Church be the opportunity in which the highest com- 

 mendation for liberality may be secured for us and our children ? 

 In reviewing the efforts of the year, who feels that he has done his 

 duty fully? Has the flock of Christ been faithfully taught to fol- 

 low his example of love to man ? or have we allowed the financial 

 depression of the country to seal our lips and cool our ardor for 

 souls? Let a faithful answer be given, and if delinquency be noted 

 by conscience, let honest repentance stand up with its confession, 

 and say, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" 



While the list of missions in our Conference is small, there is an 

 increasing demand for effort in this department of our work. Two 

 new missions have been recommended by the Board, while we fear 

 there will not be means at our own command to establish either one 

 or the other. Here in the territory of the South Carolina Conference 

 are fields now white to the harvest. Shall we pray the Lord of the 

 harvest to send forth more laborers into the harvest, and not prepare 

 to sustain them in toil ? Let every member of the Conference take 

 these facts to the people of his charge; repeat this from the mount- 

 ain to the sea-board; teach its meaning to the children at home and 

 in the Sunday-school ; let it swell above the din of the work-shop 

 and noise of the mill ; shout it to the plowman in the field and 

 student in the library; sound it along the highway of trade, until 

 child, and artisan, and plowman, and student, and merchant, shall 

 make their later profits and hoarded treasures yield a full supply 

 for holy work. Can the Church pause in this work any longer? 

 Will the fields be let alone by licentiousness and infidelity? Will 

 not the storms waste the harvest if not early gathered? The corn 

 is breast-high, and waits the reaper's sickle. A crown is at stake, 

 and the victor only shall wear it. 



In the Christian's field of battle, 



In the bivouac of life, 

 Be not like dumb, driven cattle; 



Be a hero in the strife. 

 Then be ready, up and doing, 



With a heart for any fate, 

 Still achieving, still pursuing, 



Learn to labor and to wait. 



The Conference the same year adopted the follow- 

 ing resolutions on the religious interests of the col- 

 ored people: 

 30 



