have received about $1040 in money, and some six hundred more in pledges. Among the most liberal places I have visited during the year, I will name the following: Georgetown, Columbia, Walterboro ct., Edgefield ct., Chester ct., Fairfield ct., St. James' Church, Charleston, Yorkville and Charlotte stations. If I have forgotten others, I hope they will excuse me. Camden, since I was there in Jan., has, through the Secretary and Treasurer, collected and paid $88.10; Charlotte ct., where I have never yet been, raised $39.38, and forwarded it to me. What a noble example! Now they have 30,000 or 40,000 pages of the best reading matter scattered among their people, to aid largely in the salvation of men, and supplant, if possible, the trifling literature of the age.

A goodly number of persons have become life members by giving ten dollars. I received a few days ago of a good sister in Union ct., ten dollars. Now, I have the pleasure of recording her name as a life member, and she has 7500 pages of tracts to read and distribute. Ten of these tracts are ten choice sermons by Mr. Wesley and cost only ten cents. For what a small amount we may be preaching the sermons of such men as Wesley, Fletcher, Clark, Fisk, Olin, and many others that might be named. Will not a considerable number of our sisters follow this example, and will not many of the brethren do the same. If this amount is too large for you, send me $5, and I will send you 3750 pages for you to use in your community. Think, friends, how many thousands are starving for the bread of life, and how much God has given you with which you may feed them.

"I have at last secured the services of one colporteur, who, I think, will be very efficient-Brother J. Watts, of Spartanburg. Are there not more brethren of our local or superannuated preachers who will allow me to employ them in this work? We will give $200 a year, or they may work as they can spare the time, and keep an account of the time, and we will pay them in proportion, or we will give them the discount per cent allowed on books. Are there not young men willing to be employed? They will be getting more than a single man in the travelling connection, and will be preaching the sermons of great and good men, and doing a great deal of good pastoral work. Many have been saved in this way, and more are being saved at this than at any former time by means like these.

"In addition to the above I find, on examining my bills and books, I have sold over $800 worth of books of Methodist publication, and distributed 280,000 pages of tracts, and have about 200,000 more engaged, which will soon be delivered. This has been done without the help of colporteurs. Give us half a dozen good ones and we will soon fill our Conference with the glorious doctrines and teachings of the word of God. Brethren, one and all, we ask your help and prayers. "SAMUEL TOWNSEND, "Agent for Tract Society, S. C. Conference."

COLUMBIA, June 29.

[Nashville Advocate, August 23.]

MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE-PARTIAL REPORT.

He is unable to exhibit the precise condition of the agency, for the reason that very much of the business under his charge is in an unfinished condition. This i owing in part to the fact, that he has but recently entered upon the duties of his office, and that the business is necessarily spread over a large space of country, and much of it has not been in the immediate hands of the agent.

The following outline will, however, give a pretty fair idea of the business, from which you can perhaps make such conclusions as may be practically useful.

I have received in money, over and above expenses, about two hundred and thirty dollars. Other sums, however, are known to have been subscribed by societies, which have not yet come into the hands of the agent.

Quarterly Conference Tract Societies are known to have been formed in the circuits and stations generally throughout the Yazoo and Sharon districts, as also in some of the charges of other districts. Many other societies are no doubt formed, of which the agent has not been specifically informed.

There has been received from the Publishing House at Nashville between four and five hundred dollars' worth of tracts and books, all of which are either sold or engaged, except a box sent to Natchez to await my visit to that place, and also excepting a few books on hand at Vicksburg.

The agent has the satisfaction further to state to the Board, that the Tract cause is well received by our people generally. It is believed that very much good can be done in this way in establishing religion, morals, and the doctrines and usages of our Church. R. ABBEY, Agent.

[From the Nashville Advocate, Oct. 11.]

WESTERN VIRGINIA CONFERENCE.

MR. EDITOR: The presiding bishop of this Conference courteously vacated the chair to S. K. Vaught, President of the Tract Society, on Monday, the fourth business day of the session, at 11 o'clock A. M., when the Society entered into the business of the second annual meeting, or of the first regular meeting after the organization.

The following list of officers were duly elected: S. K. Vaught, President; B. Spurlock, Vice-President; W. Kennedy, Secretary; and R. Lancaster, Treasurer. Board of Managers.-W. Shearer, C. M. Sullivan, W. Briscoe, A. W. Thompson, H. S. Williams, and G. L. Warner, ministers; J. Samuels, J. Laidley, A. M. Bastable, L. P. Neale, C. W. Hill, and S. Hays, laymen.

The Society's anniversary meeting was held in the Baptist church, on Monday night, when Dr. Hamilton, the Secretary of the parent Society, addressed a large and attentive audience, in a very argumentative and eloquent manner, urging the claims of the Society upon the consideration of the Church and a generous public -in connection with which a collection was lifted, amounting to $39.11.

This may be considered a respectable collection, when it is understood that the missionary anniversary and numerous other collections had preceded it during the Conference session.

The amount of gratuitous aid for the benefit of the Society during the Conference, is as follows:

Conference Agent's Report,.
Annual Subscription,...
Anniversary Collection,..

Total,......

.$257 36
13.00
39 11

.$309 47

This amount will appear the more respectable when it is understood that two thirds of the Conference year had passed away before the Society entered into any official operations, or before the agent fully entered the field of his official duties. This delay necessarily retarded the sale and general distribution of the Society's books and tracts within the bounds of our Conference. The whole amount of books received from the department is $959.51; amount sold, $280; and amount granted, $99; leaving a balance of stock on hand, at the different depositories, of $589.51, subject to the orders of colporteurs and others, for the commencement of the present Conference year. W. KENNEDY, Secretary.

BUFFALO, VA., Sept. 21, 1855.

REPORT OF THE TRACT SECRETARY.

At a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Tract Society, Nashville, held July 24, the Financial Secretary made a report of the Society's operations up to that date. The first order was filled Feb. 10, 1855. Since then there have been sent out the following:

Conference agents have been secured by the Secretary in the Tennessee, Louisville, Missouri, and Mississippi Conferences. There are agents laboring, by the appointment of the bishops, in the Kentucky, Western Virginia, St. Louis, Ouachita, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, South-Carolina, and Holston Confer

ences.

The early part of the year was one of very great financial embarrassment, in a large portion of the country, so that but little could be done; nor is it relieved yet, though much improved. Much more could have been done, if we had had a supply of tracts and tract volumes early in the year. This difficulty is now removed, and we are prepared to supply nearly all demands.

CHAPTER IX.

SOUTHERN METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE.

THE accompanying engravings illustrate the appearance of the new Publishing House in Nashville, Tenn. They appeared in the August and September numbers of the Sunday-School Visitor, with the subjoined articles.

Our young readers would no doubt like to know where the Visitor and all the Sunday-school books come from, and what sort of a place the Publishing House is. So we have had two pictures of it made; one to represent the front, and the other the rear building. The first we give you this month, and reserve the other for the next number.

The Publishing House is situated near the north corner of the public Square; between the City Hotel, which is on the right of the picture, and the corner house, the edge of which you see on the left. It fronts towards the west, looking upon the great Square, within which are situated the Court House and the Market

House.

Just under the letters U SE in House is the office of the Treasurer of the Missionary Society, W. R. Elliston, Esq., and the first room above it is the office of the Sunday-School Visitor. Under the letters I NG His a fine, long room for retailing books and stationery, and at the back of it is the counting-room. Over it is the wholesale room, and still higher up, one story, are the tract room and the office of the Corresponding Secretary of the Tract Society, Rev. Dr. Hamilton. To the left of the tract-room, and just over the letters SOUTH, is the office of

the Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society, Rev. Dr. Sehon. Here the meetings of the managers of the Parent Missionary Society are held. Immediately under the letters SOUTH is a room for packing boxes, and at the back of it the office of the Rev. Dr. McFerrin, editor of the Advocate. Under the letters PUBLISH is the packing-room, and at the back of it is the office of the periodical clerks. To the left of the picture is an arched way, not represented in the plate, through which drays, carts, etc., pass into a large open court, which lies between the front building and the manufactory.

It is thought that the business of the establishment will soon render it necessary to take this building down and erect in its place a muca larger one. When that is done, it is believed that we shall have one of the finest establishments in the United States; and, by the blessing of God, it will no doubt be a source of incalculable good to the world.

Last month you had a picture of the front building of the Publishing House, in which are back rooms and offices. In this number you have a view of the back building, where the books are made and the papers printed.

This is by much the finer building of the two. The first and second stories are built of large blocks of stone, the third and fourth of brick, and the whole building is considered one of the best specimens of masonry in the State. The house is covered with copper, and is, we believe, one hundred feet long on the side next to the river, and one hundred and one feet on the side where you see the two large doors. It stands on a very high bluff of solid rock, the waters of the Cumberland river running as far below the water you see in the cut as the whole height of the house would be.

You see a dome away yonder at the top of the picture. That is the dome of the Court House. The house just on this side of it contains the book-room, of which you had a description last month. The houses in the distance to the left are the City Hotel buildings.

The wall you see just above the water is a much higher and finer piece of work than it appears to be, and at the right hand runs up to the corner of the building.

From this wall to the house is built a strong platform, on the left end of which you see the boiler-room; on the right end is a place for coal, of which several thousand bushels are now lying there.

Now let us enter that large door near the corner. The room occupies the whole house. The right wing of it is a place for the drays and carts, which drive in at those great doors to unload the heavy materials and fixtures used in the establishment. In the left wing stands our new engine; and all along the ceiling are shafts and pulleys, to which bands are attached, which, passing through the floor, move the machinery in the upper rooms.

Just beyond the engine you will find a stairway, leading into the second story. This is the press-room. There are in it four elegant Adams' presses, and one of Hoe's large drum cylinder presses, besides a hand-press for printing covers, bills, etc., and the largest hydraulic press, it is said, in the West. Just by that window of this story, in the shade of the tall chimney, is the Visitor's press, the finest one in the room. The damping, drying, pressing, and mailing, also, are done in this room, which, like the one below it, occupies the whole story.

Running up another flight of stairs, you come to the composing-room. It is said by competent judges to be one of the finest rooms for its purpose in the United States. All along those windows, from the extreme left to within three windows of the extreme right of the picture, are printers, selected for their superior skill, employed in setting type, and doing other work pertaining to their craft. Right in the corner of the third story, where the two wings meet, is a nice little room, partitioned off for an office for Dr. Summers, the book editor; and nearly opposite it, across the building, is a similar office for the Superintendent of the printing establishment, Mr. A. A. Stitt. These two gentlemen, in their different departments, work as if they were propelled by the same engine which moves the machinery, and they get along all the faster for knowing precisely what they are about.

Just to the left of Dr. Summers' office, stand two excellent printers, one each side of the window, at work on the Visitor, fixing the pictures and adjusting the columns with admirable taste. When it is all right, it is carried down to your press, and the edition printed off. After which the folders, and then the mailers, take it in hand; and finally it is put in mail-bags, and lowered through the hatchway, down into that lower room, and carried out on a dray, through that great door, to the post-office, and-away goes the little Visitor all over the South, from Virginia to California.

This article is getting somewhat too long for your paper, but we must not close it without telling you that the space lighted by the three windows on the extreme right, in the third and fourth stories, are partitioned off for the stereotype foundry: but there is not time now to tell you about the interesting art of stereotyping.

The fourth story is the bindery, where the books are finished, and from which they go to the store. You would be delighted to see the many beautiful and wonderful pieces of machinery with which this department is furnished; but a description would be but a poor substitute for the sight, and even that can not be had now.

[From the S. C. Advocate, Jan. 19.]

THE PUBLISHING HOUSE.-This establishment in Nashville is now open. We learn from the N. C. Advocate, which has been removed into its new quarters, that the agents are receiving a large supply of stock from different points, and that their store will soon be full, there having been a rise in the Western waters. The agents advise the adoption of the cash principle, as set forth in their catalogues, which they will be glad to send to any person, who will give his address. They do not expect to commence "manufacturing their own work" before the middle or last of February.

[From the R. C. Advocate, Feb. 8.]

The article below was received in slips from the Publishing House, Nashville. It contains a full exhibition of the circumstances and causes which rendered it necessary for those having charge of our publishing interests, to seem to disregard the regulations of the General Conference in relation to loans to papers, the establishment of Depositories, etc. We hope it will prove satisfactory to all concerned, and that hereafter we may with unity and vigor prosecute this great enterprise of the Church.-Ed. R. C. Advocate.