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MACON, GEORGIA, DECEMBER 14,18G6.
THE GEORGIA CONFERENCE.
The Editor was called away from the
Conference before its close by sickness in
his family; but we are able to give this
week, by the kindness of Secretary Smith,
a full abstract of all the proceedings to the
close. The Conference is represented by
all to have been one of the most pleasant !
and harmonious, that was ever known even
in a body of men always remarkable for fra
ternal feeling. The grave question of the
division of the Conference was discussed
with great earnestness, and as great good
feeling. The principal opposition origina
ted in the reluctance of the brethren to part
with each other. They had been accus
tomed to meet in a large body ; they were
unwilling to see the Conference they may
hereafter attend a small body. But when
the division became inevitable they submit
ted cheerfully, and addressed themselves to
the work involved in it with great harmony
and brotherly love —desiring to do justice to
all, and to part in peace.
The preachers seemed resolved to devote
themselves with renewed energy to every
department of their work—the Colleges,
the Sunday-schools, the Missionary interests
and the circulation of the literature of the
Church. Church meetings were insisted
on, and a District Meeting ordered condi
tionally. Emory College was brought
prominently forward, and the prospect is,
that it will now renew its youth. May it
yet give a multitude of sons to the work of
the Chureh.
The changes proposed by the General
Conference were concurred in by a very
large majority vote, without discussion, ex
cept that Bishop Andrew expressed his
desire to see a unanimous vote in favor of
lay representation.
There was a considerable increase in the
white membership, notwithstanding the
purgation which had grown out of the law
of the last General Conference, that the
names of all, who had beeD lost sight of for
a year should bo stricken from the records.
In some places, where the rolls had been
loosely kept, many names came off—yet
there was increase.
In a time of such, peculiar hardship and
poverty any considerable change in the loca
tion of preachers and their families could
but be attended with some hardship. This
mav originate in the demands of the work,
or in the want of full information respecting
particular cases of difficulty and a proper
appreciation of them. It must always be
painful to a presiding officer cither unneces
sarily or unwittingly to afflict any of those,
whose destiny is committed to his keeping,
and Methodist preachers recognize this fact,
when they receive appointments that bring
trouble, and therefore, they submit cheerful
ly to what might otherwise be unendurable.
There is always some room for this patient
enduranse at the close of an Annual Confer
ence —and there were doubtless cases of this
kind at the Georgia Conference —but its
preachers have in them as much of the true
metal as any men on the continent, and, so,
they went forth cheerfully to their allotted
fields of labor. May they all have a moat
prosperous year.
The Indifference of the Sinner.
If tlmre is one fact that strikes the re
flective mind more forcibly than another, it
is that man is less interested about his future,
than are all in Heaven. The Father of all,
and the holy angels, sympathise infinitely
more with the sinner, respecting his unfor-
tunate fallen condition and miserable desti
ny, than he is concerned himself about his
present or his hereafter. Did man act wise
ly and well, he would give precedence and
prominence to his eternal interests before
all others. Did he fully comprehend his
relations, and feel his responsibility to the
government of God and the bar ©f his final
Judge, the performance of the greatest and
the least duties, growing out of those essen
tial obligations, would be the chief object
and effort of his life. Obedience to God
would then be recognized by man as his
first duty, and provision against the loss of
his soul hereafter, the only really important
concern of his present existence. But some
how, human beings cannot perceive and feel,
m all its fflrce, the momentous nature of
their earthly probation, as it connects itself
with the solemnities of death and judg
ment.
The sinner is the most listless and apa
thetic creature in the broad universe, on
the subject of his future destiny. By his
conduct he seems to give a significant mean
ing and currency to the curt sentiment, that
God has given him existence without his
consent, and is bound to care and provide
for his present and future without his co-
operation. The practical life of the sinner,
properly construed, is an irrational and im
pious declaration of independence of God,
and a blind and stupid defiance of his mani
fest power to punish and destroy. Besides
this, the impiousness and stupidity of man
kind are most conspicuous when they at
tempt to implicate their Creator in the sin
of making them sinners, and charge him
with injustice in punishing them for it here,
and with cruelty in adding eternal pains
hereafter. All this inconsistency appears, too.
in the face of their contemptuous and per
sistent rejection of the abundant provision
cf mercy and love, the free tender of the
means and securities of grace, and the sacri
fice of the Son of God on earth, and his
mediation in heaven, to secure to every man
all things actually necessary to his world-be
ing, and the spiritual gifts and blessings re
quired to insure his eternal salvation and
happiness. Ail these may be had by every
one on bis performance of appropriate con
ditions and the easiest imaginable terms;
and yet the sinner is so blind to the force
of truth that he foolishly persists in trying
to throw the blame of his depravity, and its
manifold evil consequences, on his Creator.
What indifference—stupidity-—blasphemy !
The Virginia Conference.
Bishops Pierce, Early and Doggett were
present at this Conference, held in Norfolk
under the presidency of the former, who,
however, left before the close of its protrac
ted session to fill an appointment he had
made in Halifax, N. C. The appointments
were made by him, but announced by Bish
op Doggett. There was considerable dis
cussion over the constitutional questions.—
The vote was for change of name, 64 ayes,
47 noes; —for laj representation, 74 ayes,
26 noes.
Rev. J. A. Duncan retires from the
Richmond Christian Advocate, and is sta
tioned at Washington st, Petersburg. Rev.
W. W. Rennet takes the chair editorial.—
He has been a constant contributor to the
paper, and his reputation as a writer and a
business man is well established. He will
make a popular paper, and we wish him
great success. Dr. Sehon was at the Con
ference, representing the interests of For
eign Missions.
Dr. Wm. A. Smith was transferred to the
St. Louis Conference. Several appoint
ments and preachers were transferred to the
Baltimore Conference, among them E. T.
Fripp, furmerly of South Carolina. Dr.
Sargent was received into the Conference
and appointed to Portsmouth. Dr. Lee is
in Norfolk, Rev. J. E. Edwardsjn Lynch
burg. The number of white members is
reported to be 34,843; colored 1,212. —
A subscription was taken in the Conference
to pay debts of R. C. Advocate, amounting
to §1,350.
The Mississippi Conference.
We find in the Jackson Methodist that
this body held its session at Brookhaven,
Miss., Bishop Paine presiding. The pro
ceedings also of the first few days are given,
but they contain only routine business. The
vote on the constitutional questions stood,
for a change of name, 36 ayes, 52 nays; for
lay delegation, 30 ayes, 45 nays. We see
that our Georgia Conference brtoher, L. ft.
Redding, is stationed at Brookhaven.
The Rev. James Sewell, once a mem
ber of the South Carolina Conference, and
also of the Georgia Conference, died recent
ly of a protracted illness at an advanced age.
He was in one of the Baltimore Confer
ences.
Beall, Spears & Cos., Commission Mer
chants of Augusta, Ga., renew their adver
tisement this week. Our brother, W. H.
Potter, continues his connection with that
firm, his engagemeut to it being such, as
not at all to prevent his discharging his du
ty fully, as presiding elder of the Augusta
District.
Situ ation Wanted, as a seamstress, by
a young lady in South Carolina. See adver
tisement.
Bishop Marvin’s Post Office will here
after be O’Fallon, St. Charles co., Missouri.
The Address of Itev. R. B. Lester is
Talbotton, Ga.
The Popular of Anderson and
Woods has made a change. Gen. Anderson
still continues at its head. See advertise
ment.
Stockholders Central R. R. will find
an important notice in the paper this week.
Collins worth Institute, opens again
14th January. See advertisement.
Wesleyan Female College, Second
Term begins Ist January. Sec announce-
I ment elsewhere.
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
Missionary Money. —The Churches in
Georgia will be drawn on largely this year
for money to support Missions, in ©ur own
State. This is one result of the war, and
of the short crops of the past year. The
appropriations to Missionaries in the North
Georgia Conference is §8,150 —in the South
Georgia Conference, §4,750. This latter,
we presume, does not include what may be
needed for the counties late in the Florida
Conference; nor what we must pay for
Foreign Missions and for the Missionary
debt included.
— +
Proceedings—Georgia Conference.
Fifth Day.
Monday, Dec. 3.
The Conference open with religious ser
vices by H. J. Adams,
Leave of absence granted to several mem
bers —with privilege to leave with the Sec
retary their vote on the Constitutional ques
tions.
J. M. Bonnell, Statistical Secretary, pre
sented a plan of statistical returns, which
was discussed and adopted.
Committee on Expenses of Delegates to
General Conference reported the balance in
hand, which was turned over to Bishop’s
Fund.
The Bishop reported the following ordi
nations to Deacon’s orders on yesterday—
P. A. Heard, W. T. Caldwell, A. N. Uoili
field, C. H. Ellis, C. A. Evans, and R. J.
Corley of the Conference; Jas. P. Prickett,
James N. Myers, Christopher C. Andrews,
Wm. W. Chiney, R. P. G. Walters, John
C. Webb, John W. Atwater, Jno. Anderson,
and Julius Turner, local preachers: and the
following were ordained Elders; W. A
Dodge, W. C. Dunlap, B. J. Baldwin, J.
Taber Payne, and Morgan Calloway of the
Conference; Wm. B Merritt, Jas. W.
Harris, John I). Clarke, and John W. Cook,
local preachers.
The following colored brethren were or
dained Geo. 11. Neely, Elijah
Hampton, Thomas Sweet, Cesar Taylor,
Wm. Lewis, Paul Burnett, Isaac Anderson,
and Sundy Kendall ; and Edward West,
elder.
Dr. Thomas, President of Emory College,
presented a full report of the condition of
that Institution, and addressed the Confer
ence at length on the history, interests and
prospects of the Institution. His address
made a profound impression upon the Con
ference, and it will doubtless bear fruit in a
general revival of interest in the college, and
a large increase of patronage. Our Church
in Georgia cannot afford to let that Institu
tion languish. Her every interest is in
volved in its success ; and we are glad to
learn that its prospects are brightening.
The Committee on the Southern Chris
tian Advocate reported, and their report
was unanimously adopted.
The Conference reconsidered the vote
dividing the body, by a vote of 63 to 56.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
After discussing the question of a divis
ion of the Conference, the vote was taken
as follows: For division 65, againstsl.
This action was authorized by the last Gen
eral Conference, and involves the recession
of the Southern counties of Georgia from
the Florida Conference to the Southern di
vision of the Georgia Conference.
Sixth Day.
Tuesday, Dec. 4.
Conference was opened with religious ser
vices by D. D. Cox.
E. 11. Myers was appointed Receiver of
the money collected for Foreign Missions,
and to pay the Missionary debt.
A letter from A. Dorman informed the
Conference that he had joined the Northern
Methodist Church.
The Committee on Bishop’s Fund report
ed the collection for tfiis fund to be $1653.-
20 The balance in band was ordered to bo
paid to the Bishops.
The Boundary between the two Confer
ences was fixed as follows :
The line to run east and west, beginning
on the Chattahoochie river at Pine Moun
tain to Flint river, thence down said river
to the south line of Upson county, thence
along the South line of Monroe to Macon,
(leaving Macon south) thence along the
south lines of Jones, Baldwin, Hancock,
Warren and Richmond counties to the Sa
vannah River. Vote on the boundary, 78
to 19.
It was resolved to name the Conferences,
North Georgia Conference and South Geor
gia Conference, by a vote of 79 to 28.
The report on division as amended w ? £)S
then adopted by a vote of 88 to 22.
The Secretary was requested to copy
from the Journal of the Conference, such
matters as may be important to the South
Georgia Ccnference—the original record to
b||kept by-the North Georgia Conference.
A committee was appointed to prepare such
business, as the division of the Conference
would render necessary to be transacted.
The Constitutional questions, submitted
by the General Conference were presented
by the Bishop, and the vote taken without
debate—as follows :
For admitting lay-representation, yeas
117 ; nays 12.
For change of name, yeas 109 ; nays 3.
On motion of W. F. Cook and W. G. Al
len, the following resolutions were adopted :
Whereas, There is a highly respectable
body of Christian Ministers and Members
in the State of Georgia, known as the Con
gregational Methodist Church, holding the
same general form of doctrine with us ; and
whereas, that Church originated mainly in
dissatisfaction with some part of the Discip
line of the M. E. Church, South, and
whereas it is beheved that the recenj action
of the General Conference of the M. E.
Church, South, if laid before that body
will go far toward reconciling the differ
ence and promoting unity, therefore
Resolved , Ist. That this Conference re
gards with great interest and favor, the
brightening prospect of a reunion of the
whole Methodist Family in Georgia.
Resolved, 2nd. That a Fraternal messen
ger be appointed, to carry to the Annual
Conference of the Congregational Methodist
Church in the State of Georgia cordial
greeting from this Conference, and to laj
before them the action of our late General
Conference relative to Lay-Representation ;
and such other subjects as may be of interest
to them, with the assurance that if in their
wise discretion it seem good to them to
unite with us, we will cordially receive
them and heartily co-cperate with them in
united labors to cultivate a common field.
W. P. Harrison, offered the following
which was passed unanimously by a rising
vote :
Whereas, In view of the destructive
drought of the past year, and the peculiar
embarrassments created thereby in many
sections of this Conference, our brethren
of the Kentucky Conference have been
pleased to organize themselves into a Rebel
Association, for the purpose of aiding the
destitute members of this Conference, and
enabling them to keep the field during the
ensuing year ; therefore
Resolved, That the members of this body
have a lively sense of the kindness of our
Kentucky brethren, and hereby tender to
them our hearty thanks for the interest
manifested in our welfare.
Resolved , That we humbly implore the
Divine blessing upon the members of the
Kentucky Conference, and the people of
their charges, who, mindful of the less-fav
ored and suffering minister of Jesus, open
their hands to relieve his wants, and those
of his wife and little cues.
Resolved, That a copy of this preamble
and resolutions be forwarded to the South
ern, Nashville, and St. Louis Christian Ad
vocates, for publication, and that the Agent
of the Relief Fund be requested to ac
knowledge through those papers, the contri
butions received.
Treasurer Fund of Special Relief report
ed, and the usual collection for the fund
was taken up —amounting to §126.10.
The Committee on Memoirs reported me
moirs of Allen Turner, J. F. Berry and
J. J. M. Mapp. Received. Sundry reso
lutions were passed, which will he reported
elsewhere.
Seventh Day-
Wednesday, Dec. 5.
Conference ouened with religious serviee
by J. M.Marshall.
The Statistical Secretary reported as fol
lows : White members, 51,109; colored
members, 21,346; local preachers, white,
526; colored, 18; baptized adult?, white,
3375, infants, 931; adult, colored, 1244,
infants, 184 ; Sunday-schools, white, 455,
colored, 5; officers and teachers, 3370;
pupils, white, 20,653, colored, 2758 ; col
lections for Georgia Conferenoe Suuday
school Society, $431.25; for Sunday-schools
$4282.28. Some of these items were order
ed at the last General Conference, and the
report is imperfect—this being the first
year of reporting these items. The increase
in white members is 2193 ; in local preach
ers 37 ; decrease in colored members 6229.
By resolution, the Bishop was requested
to make the appointments with reference to
the wants of the entire work —rather than
considering the ultimate purposes of the
preachers, as to which of the two Confer
ences they adhere to.
Various committees reported. These re
ports will be found elsewhere.
John W. Heidt, Alfred W. Williams, B.
L. Timmons, Robert R. Johnson, Josiah
Lewis Jr., Wm. M. C. Conley and Wm. F.
Robison were admitted on trial into the
Conference.
AFTERNOON SESSION, Dec. 5.
Conference opened with religions service
by H. H. Parks.
The Board of Stewards reported the
amount of claims for the superannuated,
supernumerary and deficient preachers’
widows and orphans to be $10,440 —the
collections to meet said claims $5838 40.
Claimants settled with at 50c in the dollar;
and balance on hand $46.83 was on motion,
paid to G. T. Embry, whose claim had come
in after the distribution was made.
Francis B. Davies was admitted on trial,
and Wesley F. Smith, Robert Stripling,
Theodore A. Pharr, and Jamison Scaife,
formerly members of Conference, were re
admitted. 0. S. Means, E.W. Aiken, and
B. W. Williams were located at their own
request.
11. P. Pitchford was placed on the su
perannuated list. Moses E. Harp, local
preacher, was elected to Elder’s orders —R.
N. Andrews to Deacon’s orders; and Ad
am Bruton, Peter Colquit, and Conner Col
quit, colored preachers, to Deacon’s orders.
T. T. Christian was elected Trustee of
the Cuthbert Female College, vice W. G.
Parks, resigned.
A donation of $lO0 —Georgia State Bond
-/rom Robert Mclntyre was placed in the
hands of Treasurer of Preacher’s Aid So
ciety.
The Committee on Memoirs closed their
report with memoir of John Simmons de
ceased.
The Corporate Conference met, J. W.
Glenn in the chair. Treasurer’s report
adopted. Receivers of assets of Estate oi
J. P. Radford, deceased, appointed.
P. Heard and J. B. McGehee elected
Trustees of Lagrange Female College. J-
W Glenn re-elected President, and H. J
Adams, Treasurer of tho legal Conference.
EVENING SESSION, Dec. 5.
The Conference met at the Methodist
Church.
Resolutions of thanks were passed, ten
dering the thanks of the body lo the pas
tors of the Baptist and Presbyterian Churches
for the use of their pulpits— to President
Wilson and the trustees of theFurlow Female
College for the use of the college edifice —to
the citizens of Americus for their generous
hospitality —to the Rail road companies,
who had passed the preachers for half fare,
and to the Editor of the Sumter Republi
can for acts of courtesy. »
The following resolution was also passed :
Resolved, That the Rev. J Blakely
Smith, having faithfully served this Confer
ence, in the laborious office of Secretary for
more than fifteen years, deserves the thanks
of this body for the unabating diligence,
promptitude and accuracy with which his
duties have been discharged ; and now that
we are about to separate to meet no more
as one body of ministers, and as many of us
will never again answer to the roll-call of
the efficient Secretary of the old Georgia
Conference, we cannot forbear uttering our
fervent prayer that his name and ours, and
the names of all these our kind friends and
entertainers, may be found, in the last great
day, written in the Book of Eternal Life.
It was reported that §6855 15 had
been collected for Missions; §47IH 50 for
Sunday-school Society ; and §7OO for Bible
Society.
Atlanta was chosen for seat of next North
Georgia Conference; and Savannah lor that
of next South Georgia Conference.
The Bishop announced the committees of
examination.
The Secretary was instructed to publish
1000 copies of the Minutes of the Confer
ence.
After a short, but impressive address
from the Bishop, the appointments were
read, and the Conference adjourned with
the benediction —and thus closed the last
session of the Georgia Conference.
Appointments—Georgia Conference.
Augusta District, W. 11. Potter, P. E.
Augusta St. John’s, A Wright.
“ St. James, Geo H Pattillo.
“ f Asbury, C W Key
“ | Harrisburg Mission, IS Hopkins.
“ Trinity, to be supplied by Ed West.
Richmond circuit and colored charge, Jno A
Reynolds; one to be supplied; D W Cal
houn, supernumerary.
Columbia circuit and colored charge, L Rush,
11 A Conner, supernumerary
Warrenton circuit, Jas M Dickey; J T
Curtis, supernumerary.
Hancock circuit, Josiah Lewis.
Sparta station, A J Jarrell.
County Liue circuit, J V M Morris.
L Pierce, Agent Sunday schools in North
Georgia Conference.
Athens District, W R Branham, P. E.
Athens, II II Parks.
Athens colored charge, to be supplied by
Jas R McCluskey.
Watkinsville and colored charge, A G Wor
ley ; one to be supplied.
Factory Mission, to be supplied.
Madison, Geo Kramer.
Morgan and colored charge, W R Foote, J
L Pierce, sup’y.
Greensboro circuit, J W Talley, A Means,
sup’y- .
Greene circuit, Thos F Pierce.
Lexington and colored charge, C A Mitchell
and A N Hollifield.
Washington, Morgan Calloway.
Broad River circuit, L L Ledbetter.
Little River circuit, to be supplied by G G
Nonnan.
Lincolnton circuit, R J Harwell.
Elberton District, D J Myrick, P. E.
Elberton circuit, Jno II Grogan.
Elbert circuit, E G Murrah.
Jefferson circuit, M F Malsby, A W Wil
liams.
Madison Springs, W T Norman.
Homer circuit, C II Ellis.
Hartwell circuit, Britton Sanders.
Clarksville circuit, F G Hughes.
Clayton mission, Henry Cranford.
Gainesville circuit, Willis T Caldwell.
Dahlonega Dist., W A Simmons, P. E.
Dahlonega and Auraria, Goodman Hughes.
Lumpkin circuit, Jos Chambers.
Cumming, L Q Allen, J H Mashburn,sup’y.
Cleveland circuit, to be supplied by Noah
H Palmer.
, Blairsville and Morganton mission, M Or
Hamby.
Ellijay circuit, to bo supplied.
Canton, J R Parker.
Gwinnett, to be supplied by J Bradford.
Rome District, A G llaygood, P. E.
Rome, A M Thigpen.
Cave Spring, John W Heidt.
Cedar Town, to be supplied.
Manassas, C A Evans.
Kingston, W P Rivers.
Calhoun, R II Jones.
Spring Place, to be supplied by Wia Ileath.
LaFayctte, Wiley T Hamilton.
Dalton, Jno T Norris.
Whilcfield, B J Johnson.
Ringgold, Jas L Lupo.
Summerville, W A Parks.
Etowah, to be supplied by Thos N Pledger.
LaGrange District. J B McGehee, P. E.
Lagrange, E W Speer.
LaGrangc and West Point colored mission,
to be supplied by E Harris.
Troup circuit and colored charge, T S L
Harwell.
West Point, Bethel and Long Cane, P M
Ryburn.
Whitesville circuit and colored charge, W
J Cotter.
Greenville circuit and colored charge, F A
Kimball, J Rush, J W McGehee.
Coweta circuit and colored charge, R F
Jones.