Newspaper Page Text
78
Christian
MACON, GEORGIA. MAY 20. 1870.
Obituaries.
In the Journal of the General Conference
of 1844, we find a debate on the subject of
Obituary notices, which sprung up when,
in discussing the Report on the Book Con
cern, it was moved, that “the editors of
Conference newspapers be instructed to
confine them to thirty lines.”
Dr. Elliott—then Editor of the Western
Christian Advocate, suggested an alteration—
that correspondents be thus instructed, not
editors, and that memoirs as well as obituaries,
be embraced in it. He thought correspond
ents needed the caution more than the edi
tors—they did not covet these long notices.
They would willingly carry out the resolu
tion, but unless shielded by the General
Conference, they would constantly give of
fence. Such a change would have a happy
effect on the literature of the church. Dr.
Bond of the Christian Advocate and Journal,
thought, if the Conference wished to carry
out its purpose, they must definitely fix the
limits of obituaries. They might make an
exception in favor of memoirs, but the evil
would remain—the writers would not make
the distinction. He understood how a
writer was drawn into that particularity and
minuteness, which he then described. The
family gave him an account of every event,
interesting to themselves, and supposed it
was so to others. The preacher was dis
posed to gratify the family, and threw on
the poor editor the entire responsibility of
inserting the notice, or of offending the
friends of the deceased. Two “squares”—
twenty lines—would be enough for such a
notice. All that was necessary was a record
of triumphant death to encourage other
pilgrims. “This was the whole pith of the
matter.”
So, the “fathers” had their troubles, as
well as the sons. More trouble has arisen
from obituary notices, more dissatisfaction
has been given by editors of our church pa
pers on this subject than on all others be
sides. There is hardly a week but that we
cut down these notices from one-third to
one-half in the aggregate, and yet they ac
cumulate and we believe grow longer week
ly, until our fourth pago is likely to become
a cemetery, in which there is nothing but
tomb stones. We do not say a word against
a tribute to the lives of saints, who have
lived for God and died in the faith. It is
right to hallow their memory. For the
good of the church, it should be done. But
no other motive should elicit other than a
local obituary notice—never one to be sent
abroad in the church paper to thousands of
strangers, who, if they read them, find noth
ing in them except birth, life, death—ex
cept, in short, what may be said of nine out
of ten persons who die. Why should they
feel interested in the thousand things that
are put into obituaries ? We have senti
mental “reflections” on life and death, poe
try, prayers, invocations, exhortations, per
sonal addresses to sinners, and a deal of fine
writing intended more as a monument of the
writer’s genius, than a remembrance of the
dead. And there is a tedious particularity
that makes them a burden on a newspaper,
shunning the operation of the rule against
obituaries, by writing a memoir. Where
the subject was born and died may do—but
when every place of residence and employ
ment is given—and a long and minute de
scription of the sickness, and of the doctor's
skill and care, and of the attention of friends
and what every body did and said, and how
they mourn, and where and by whom he
was buried and the text, and the large con
gregation and how many wives he has had
and how many children he has left—all this
forms no part of tho object of a Christian’s
obituary in a church paper. It is to be pre
sumed that every body who is enough in
terested in tho deceased to care for these
things knows them already; if a few distant
friends or relatives are ignorant of them,
put this news into a letter and send it to
them by mail. Do not advertise it in an
obituary, that the intelligence may reach a
dozen persons, when it is of no interest to
ten thousand subscribers, who look for some
thing more edifying in the paper they have
paid their money for. Once in a while such
a thing might be tolerated ; but when it
happens from throe dozen or more times a
waolc, such things become burdensome. It
is a good rule to cut every word out of an
obituary that can be spared—to write only
what the utmost stranger will be interested
in knowing—or if one is not willing to do
this, or to have the editor do it—then do
nothing.
Pleaching at the Passenger Depot.
The second appointment was filled by Rev.
R. B. Lestor, pastor of Mulberry Street
Methodist Church. The congregation was
good and much interest was manifested un
der the preaching of the word. On last Sab
bath (the 15th,) Rev. J. Blakely Smith,
pastor of First Street Methodist Church,
preached to an attentive congregation, from
I. Cor. vi. 19, 20. The services were closed
with an earnest exhortation by Dr. Wills, of
the Presbyterian Church, and everything
connected with the appointment is encour
aging. Many persons listen eagerly to the
preaching of the Gospel at this place who
seldom, if ever, hear it at the regular places
of worship. From the experiment, thus far,
the laborers feel much encouraged, and
fondly hope that in the “ great day ” it will
be found that the seed here sown has pro
duced at least thirty if not one hundred fold.
Laid Over. —A number of articles,crowded
out this week, by the very full report of pro
ceedings of the General Conference, will
receive publicity through our next issue.
Very unwillingly do we allow our correspond
ents’ favors to stand over, but with the space
at command, this alternative cannot be
nvoided.
General Conference Documents.— A few
have been omitted in our report of proceed
ings, for want of room. They will be given
next week.
Temperance Publications.—See J. W.
Burke & Co’s, advertisement.
JVlonticello, Fla.
Mr. Editor: —l have just closed a protracted
meeting of great interest. The presence of
the Holy Ghost was gloriously manifested
during the session of the District Confer
ence. The adjournment of that body left
tho membership in a fine frame of mind,and
continued prayer was shortly answered by
awakening power. At the first invitation to
penitents a large number presented them
selves at tho altar. The number increased
daily while several entered the kingdom at
every service. The gracious season was
crowned with an accession of nineteen to our
membership all of whom, except two or or
three, having professed religion.
It is worthy of note and a most pleasing
fact, that about two-thirds of those who have
joined the Church are scholars of our Sun
day-school. It is also worthy of remark that
those young ladies who first yielded to the
Spirit’s moviugs had been subjects of their
teacher’s fervent prayers for several months
preceding the meeting.
The influence continues deep and pervad
ing, and I trust that many more will be added
to the Church of such ns shall be saved.
God be praised. U. Sinclair Bird.
May 7.
Proceedings of the General Confer
ence of the M. E. Church, South.
Third Day—Friday, May 6.
The Conference met at the stated time,
Bishop Pierce in the. Chair. Religious ser
services were conducted by Dr. Hamilton.
The minutes of the last meeting were read
and approved.
The following delegates, who were not
present yesterday, took their seats : Balti
more Odnference—Lay: Thos E. Bond.
NortlrOeorgia Conference —Lay : Lewis D.
Palmer. Mobile Conference—Lay : A. W.
Lampkin. Tennessee Conference—Cleri
cal : Thos. Madden, place of J. B. McFer
rin. Lay: Jos. D. Palmer. Si. Louis
Conference —Clerical; Thomas M. Finney.
Missouri Conference—Lay: J. O. Sweeney.
Bishop Kavanaugh took the chair.
Dr. McFerrin, presented his Report as
Secretary of the Board of Domestic Mis
sions in part as follows :
At the last se33ion of the General Confer
ence, our missionary work was divided into
two branches, Foreign and Domestic.—
The Board of Domestic Missions was loca
ted at Nashville; and the Secretary, with
the advice of the Board, and in compliance
with his duty as prescribed in the Discipline,
proceeded immediately to bis work. As the
Annual Conferences did not convene, after
the close of tho General Conference, until
the autumn and winter of 1860 67, no Con
ference Boards could bo’ organized be
fore the times of their meeting. At the first
opportunity, however, each Annual Confer
ence did constitute a Board auxiliary fto the
Parent Board, and have been at work with
some degree of success.
The first annual report, which is herewith
submitted, was imperfect, because the Pa
rent Board failed to receivo ihe necessary
data; enough, however, was reported to
show that the plan was approved by the
preachers, and the membership generally,
and that God had made the Board the in
strument of much good.
Onr second annual report, for 1863-60,
which is also herewith handed to the Gen
eral Conference, shows considerable pro
gress. From nine Annual Conference
Boards we could get no reports whatever,
and from eleven no statistics ; and j et, from
those reported, we gather the following en
couraging facts, viz : Missions, as far as re
ported, 194 ; white members, 23,707 ; col
ored members, 291; received during the
year, 3,621 ; local preachers, 73 ; Sabbath
schools, 282 ; scholars, 9,945 ; churches, 228;
infants baptized, 797 ; adults baptized, 2,017.
Had your Board been able to procure the
statistics from the eleven remaining Confer
ences, the number would have been greatly
increased in this year’s report.
The report for 1869-70 gives 187 missions,
17,665 white members, 245 colored members,
2,515 received during the year, 45 local
preachers, 162 Sunday-school,s 478 officers
and teachers, 10,553 scholars, 251 churches,
662 white infants baptized, 1,437 white
adult3 baptized, 11 colored infants baptized,
8 colored adults baptized, $12,168 35 collec
ted for Church purposes.
From the general summary it will be seen
that from eleven Annual Conference Boards
we have received no statistics; and many of
those reporting to ns say that their returns
have been very incomplete. We are quite
certain that, could there be a full and fair
exhibit from every part of our field of Do
mestic Missions, the showing would almost
double our present returns. But so it is.
Every effort to obtain full reports has failed.
Somo brethren are always prompt.
There was collected and disbursed during
the first j-car of the Board’s operations, 814,-
672 90.
The second year the Treasurer reported
the collections $47,959 60, besides five An
nual Conferences which made no report of
tlieir funds.
The third year, 1869-70, shows the amount
of collections to bo $50,321 50; and six
Conferences Lave not yet made tlieir re
turns. These added, would indicate that
over $60,000 have been collected during the
year.
From tho foregoing it will be seen that, in
connection with the Board, the gospel has
been preached to multitudes, and tho sacra
ments of the Church administered to thou
sands, while scores and hundreds of guilty
sinners have been brought to a knowledge
of pardon through faith in Christ; and chil
dren by the ten thousand have been put un
der religious training. Here, without any
reference to what lias been impressed on the
outside world, i3 a full remuneration for all
tho labor and expense in sustaining our
home-work.
The collections have been i esjjcctable,
especially when we bear in mind that the
Board was organized when our country was
desolated and impoverished, and almost
every interest of the Church prostrated.
Church-edifices, parsonages, school-houses,
college-buildings, and cemeteries were near
ly everywhere destroyed or dilapidated.—
Indeed, for two years subsequent to the last
General Conference, many of the people
were in want of bread I’and contributions in
money and provisions had to be made to a
hungry and starving people, rendered poor
by war, drought, anil mildew. Besides all
this, our Foreign missionary work called for
help, and an old debt weighed heavily upon
the Church ; and then our regular ministers
had to be sustained, or cease from their
loved employ to plow the fields and make
bread for their wives and children. In
these straitened circumstances, it is no mar
vel that the collections fell below what they
once were, when one rich cotton or rice
planter could pay his overseer SI,OOO per
annum, and give a missionary 8500 to be a
pastor to the slaves on his plantations.—
These liu-ge ami generous sums went to swell
tho receipts of the Missionary Societj-, and
counted by thousands as sums given to the
cause of Missions, in the days of our pros
perity ; but, now, what is contributed is
given in small sums, and appropriated to
such as are not able to help themselves. We
repeat that, in view of all tho facts and cir
cumstances enumerated, the Church has no
cause for discouragement; but rather, she
should thank God and take courage.
After a careful survey of the whole ground
for four years, the Parent Board is fully im
pressed with the importance and necessity
of increased effort in tlio home department of
our missionary work. There are thousands
multiplied in our own land, and among onr
own people, who are unable or unwilling to
sustain the ministry, they are perishing for
the lack of knowledge ; their children are
growing up in ignorance and vice; and, if
they are saved, the gospel must be sent to
them. The poor, the maimed, the halt, the
blind, must be brought in ; the ditches and
hedges, tlio by-ways and highways, the
streets and market-places, must be all visited
bytbe missionary of the cross, and the mul
titudes compelled to come to the marriage
feast.
A live and prosperous Clinch at home has
the means and the heart to send the gospel
abroad : the Church that provides not for
its own poor, or the destitute and suffering
of its own country, will not likely feel great
concern in the salvation of the pagan nations
of the earth. The language of every con
verted sinner is :
“ Ok that the world might taste and see
The riches of his grace.”
In the Treasurer’s reports it will be seen
that, over and above the actual expenses of
the Board, there has been appropriated in
three years, to various objects, the sum of
§2,074 29. This amount might have been
greatly augmented, if the Secretary had felt
at liberty to lift collections exclusively for
the benefit of the Parent Board; blit he
found this entirely impracticable : each An
nual Conference seemed to have demands
for every dollar collected within its own
bounds, and many of them spared the ten
per cent, with embarrassment.
After reading it, Dr. Young said: “I
have been requested by Dr. McFerrin not
only to read this address, but to state to the
brethren that he is indisposed, and would
like for me to make a few remarks upon the
address. He has sent out his annual circular
to all the Conferences, and three annual re
ports, and that the sums mentioned in the
circular tally exactly with those mentioned
in the annual reports. He has averaged
eight Annual Conferences each year, and be
sides this, I would add, has attended dis
trict meetings without number. All the
money has been spent within the bounds of
the Conference in which it was collected,
except his travelling expenses, which were
not over §3OO any one year, his salary, and
§2,000, which was divided out as follows ;
During the war the old Parent Board learn
ed that Bishop Soule was in straitened cir
cumstances, and instructed a brother to fur
nish him with §SOO. Some went to the sup
port of the Superintendent of the colored
Conferences, and the remainder went to ap
propriations made by the Board of Managers
in Nashville. The balance, over §2.000, is
in the Third National bank of Nashville,
and subject to order. I move that this be
referred to the Committee on Mission.” It
was so referred.
W. M. Prottsman moved that that part of
the report of the Secretary of the Board of
Domestic Missions referring to the business
of an Annual Conference, be inferred to the
Committee on RevisaL
_ Dr. Evans suggested that the organiza
tion of the Standing Committees be report
ed ; whereupon the Secretary called the
names, of ihe Chairmen of the Standing
Committees, as follows : Episcopacy, L. M.
Lee ; Itinerancy, J. E. Edwards; Books and
Periodicals, W. M. Rash ; Boundaries, Ro
bert Alexander ; Missions, Jesse Boring ;
Revisal, J Hamilton; Sunday-schools;
Simpson Bobo ; Education, L. C. Garland ;
Religious Instructions of Colored People,
Jas. E. Evans.
The Committee on Finance was announced
as follows :—Baltimore, Thos. E. Bond ;
Virginia, A. G. Brown ; West Virginia. W.
C. Ireland ; North Carolina, T. M. Jones ;
South Carolina, 11. '£■ Wright ; South Geor
gia, A. T. Colquitt; North Georgia, I. P.
Garvin ; Florida, G. W. Taylor; Montgom
ery, R. 11. Powell ; Mobile, A. S. Andrews ;
Louisiana, N. A. Cravcr.3 ; Mississippi, O.
J. Moore ; Memphis, Milton Brown ; Ten
nessee, J. B. Palmer ; Holston, .T. M. Me-
Teer ; Kentucky, W. M. Leather ; Louis
ville, D. Morton ; St. Louis, Trustea Polk ;
Missouri, C. G. Epperson ; Arkansas, L. L.
Mack, Little Rock, J. L. DeYampert; Indian
Mission, Y. Ewing; Texas, J. I). GidJings ;
East Texas, Jas. T. Taylor ; Trinity, W. J.
Clark ; Northwest Texas, not reported;
West Texas, D. A. T. Woods ; Columbia,
no representation ; Pacific, W. E. Cooke ;
Illinois, R Smithson.
Tho.-. Stanford aakc-d leave of absence on
account of family sickness, which was gran
ted, and J. S. McCarver, first reserve, took
his seat.
C. K. Marshall arrived and took his seat.
; N. H. Lee presented a memorial from the
Louisville Conference, which was read and
ordered to be published in the General Con
ference Daily.
Dr. Green moved, to refer this to the Com
mittee on Books and Periodicals, which mo
tion was amended by R. S. Moran, by add
ing “with instructions to report as soon as
possible.” With this amendment it was re
ferred.
Dr. Bedford remarked that it was due
himself and liis colleagues, that he offer an
explanation. He said : “I have the honor
to be a representative from the Louisville
Conference, and ns the memorial just offered
by the delegates from that Conference, re
fers to the management of the Publishing
House, under my Agencj', I beg leave to say,
that tny colleagues did not invite me to take
any part in tho preparation of the memorial
just presented. In consequence of my re
lations to the Publishing House, they have
relieved ms from the delicate attitude in
which I would otherwise be placed.”
The call was then made for petitions, and
memorials.
On motion of W. M. Rush, it was ordered
that all petitions and memorials be referred
to the appropriate committees without read
ing, unless requested by the delegations of
fering them.
The Secretary then called the roll of the
Conferences, and the petitions and memo
rials w ere presented as follows:
Western Virginia Conference. —S. K.
Vaught presented a correspondence respect
ing boundaries of Western Virginia and
Baltimore Conference. Referred to Com
mittee on Boundaries.
South Carolina Conference. —A. M. Shipp
presented a memorial from Marion, S. C.
District meeting, on District Conferences,
etc. Referred to Committee on Education
and Revisal.
South Georgia Conference. —J. E. Evans
presented a report from the Wesleyan Fe
male College, Macon, Cia. Referred to tho
Committee on Education.
Mobile Confei'ence. —A. H. Mitchell, a
memorial on making State lines, Conference
boundaries. Referred to the Committee on
Boundaries.
Tennessee Conference. —A. L. P. Green,
on Distribution of Church Literature, Re
ferred to Committee on Books and Periodi
cals.
A. 11. Bedford presented a memorial from
Superintendents of Sunday-schools in Nash
ville. Also, one from Rev. W. M. Green.
Referred to Committee on Sunday-schools.
Dr. Witherspoon, of the Presbvterian
Church, was here introduced to the Confer
ence.
Louisiana Conference. —J. C. Keener pre
sented a memorial of the Conference on
New Orleans exception. Referred to the
Committee on Itinerancy.
Two memorials on Sunday-schools. Refer
red to committee on Sunday-schools.
A memorial from New Orleans Sunday
school Convention. Referred to committee
on Sunday-schools.
A. If. Bedford presented tho Exhibit of
the New Orleans Depository. Referred to
committee on Books and Periodicals.
Holston Conference. —J. N. McTeer, a me
morial from the Quarterly Conference of
Hillsville station and circuit, on boundaries.
Referred to Committee on Boundaries.
Louisville Conference. —E. W. Sehon, a
memorial from colored Conferences which
was read and referred to committee on Re
ligious Interests of colored peopl^T
Missouri Conference. —W. M. Rush, memo
rial on Boundaries and Missions. Referred
to committee on Missions.
B. 11. Spencer, on changes in Discipline.
Referred to committee on Revisal.
Arkansas Conference. —J. M. Steel, me
morial on Boundaries. Referred to com
mittee on Boundaries.
Texas Conference. —R. Alexander, memo
rial on German work—read and referred to
the committee on Missions. Another on
German Apologist, Hymn Book, and Cate
chism. Read and referred to committee on
Missions.
East Texas Conference. — L. P. Lively, on
Episcopal Services in Texas. Read and re
ferred to committee on Episcopacy.
Trinily Conference. —R. Lane, memorial of
the Quarterly Conference of Jefferson Sta
tion, on change of the name of the church.
Referred to committee on Revisal.
I. G. John, a memorial on Episcopal ser
vices in Texas. Referred to committee on
Episcopacy.
Pacific Conference.- — O. Fisher, a memo
rial on anew Conference on Pacific "coast.—
Referred to committee on Boundaries.
Columbia Conference. —Bishop Marvin came
forward to represent Columbia Conference—
presented the minutes of the Conference
and called attention to the prosperous con
dition of Corvallis College. He also pre
sented memorials from the Board of For
eign Missions, which were referred to the
committee on Missions.
An invitation to members cf the Confer
ence was received from the Ladies’ Memo
rial Association of Memphis to attend the
decoration of soldiers’ graves to-morrow
morning.
Dr. Mitchell moved that the Conference
adjourn at 11 o’clock to-morrow’ morning, in
order to attend.
After an animated discussion, in which
Drs. Bond, Marshall, Cottrell and others par
ticipated, Dr. Myers offered the following
substitute :
“ Resolved , That in view of the invitation
extended to members of this Conference to
attend the service of the decoration of sol
diers’ graves, this body will adjourn on to
morrow morning at 11 o’clock.”
Dr. Moran, of North Carolina, said that
without intending to cast any reflection on
any of the brethren who had spoken, it was
quite evident that any further discussion of
this subject was unnecessary and unwise,
and he therefore called for the previous
question, which was sustained and the sub
stitute was adopted by the Conference.
A memorial from A. L. P. Green, T. O.
Summers, and R. A. Young, a committee
from the Board of Domestic Missions, was
presented, read and referred to committee
on Missions.
A communication from Bishop Paine, re
ferring to his “Life and Times of Bishop
McKcndree,” and Resolutions of J. C.
Keener and L. C. Garland, commending
said work, were presented, read, and on mo
tion of A. M. Shipp, were referred to the
committee on Books and Periodicals.
On motion of C. I. Yandeventer a com
mittee of nine was ordered on the Circula
tion of the Holy Scriptures.
4}isliop Pierce announced the committee
on Orphans’ Homes ns follows : J. Boring,
D’Arcy Paul, G. W. Williams, J. Jackson, J.
Hamilton, and A. L. P. Green.
J. E. Edwards and L. C. Garland offered
a resolution proposing a change of the Dis
cipline in regard to the appointment of
preachers and requesting that, as it would
have to lie over, according to rule, it be
be published in the Daily of to-morrow.
P. A. Peterson wished it referred to the
committee on Revisal.
Dr. Myers rose to a point of order, and j
thought that it was out of order to do any
thing, but lay it on the table and order it
printed.
Dr. L. M. Lee agreed with Dr. Myers.
Mr. Potter referred to the rule in question,
and said that it required the resolution to
lie on the table before, being adopted, but
that the Conference could make any dispo
sition of it, in the meantime, that they
thought proper.
Jos. B. Cottrell was disposed to agree with
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
Mr. Potter. It was, however, not altogether
clear that the Conference, under the rule,
could do more than order the publication of
the Resolutions. If he apprehended aright
the object of the movers of the Resolutions,
it was, without delay, to get so important a
matter as that of the Pastorate before the
body that it might have the attention it de
served before we became jaded, and whilst
all are present. Surely it is the subject of
subjects, and deserves the most patient and
thorough discussion. He was ready, and
had no disguise of his opinion of it. After
considering the subject for several years, he
was confirmed in the opinions held at the
last General Conference, and deemed it im
portant to the prosperity of the Church
that decisive action be taken in the pre
mises.
Pending this discussion, the Confei'ence
adjourned with benediction of the Bishop.
FOURTH DAY —SATURDAY, MAY 7*
The Conference met at the stated hour,
and opened with religious service conducted
by O. Fisher. „
' The minutes of the last meeting were read
and approved.
Bishop Wightman took the chair, and
called for the delegates who had arrived since
yesterday: and the following delegates took
iheir seats: Asa Snyder, lay delegate from
the Virginia Conference: and A T. Scruggs,
lay delegate from the Memphis Conference.
The Bishop then stated to the Conference
that this day’s work had to be done in two
hours. He hoped, therefore, that it would
be the pleasure of the Conference to move
with alertness, and not take up time that
ought to be devoted to matters of vital im
portance in the discussion of points of order;
that one hour lost here is equal to the loss
of ten days, and one day lost is equivalent
to the loss of two-thirds of a year. He there
fore begged that the Conference would assist
the Chair in carrying out the spirit of his
remarks. ,
The call was then made for reports from
standing and select committees. There be
ing none,memorials and petitions were called
for, and were presented as follows:
Baltimore Conference. —John Martin pre
sented a memorial calling for a change in
the name of tho Church. Referred to the
Committee on Revisal.
Also one calling for the incorporation of
District Meetings into our ecclesiastical
economy. Referred to the Committee on
Revisal.
Also, one against the division of the Con
ference. Referred to Committee on Bound
aries.
Also, ono from the Quarterly Conference
of Piedmont Station, asking the General
Conference to define who shall have the
right of nomination of trustees to fill vacan
cies. Referred to Committee on Revisal.
Also, one asking the General Conference
to divide the first question of the Quarterly
Conference and that tho question of com
plaints be changed according to the sugges
tion of Bishop Pierce. P.eferred to "the
Committee on Revisal.
Virginia Conference. —L. M. Lee presented
a memorial on Change of Discipline on Pre
siding Elders, etc. Referred to Committee
on Revisal.
L. M. Lee presented a memorial requesting
a rule to be inserted in the Discipline in re
gard to the manufacture and sale of ardent
spirits. Referred to Committee on Revisal.
Also, a memorial from Stafford Circuit,
Baltimore Conference, praying to bo re-ad
mitted into the Virginia Conference. Re
ferred to Committee on Boundaries.
Western Virginia. —W. C. Ireland presened
a petition of that Conference praying that
that part of tho Western Virginia Confer
ence extending into Kentucky be transferred
to the Kentucky Conference. Referred to
the Committee on Boundaries.
South Carolina Conference.— A. M. Shipp
presented a communication from Trinity
Quarterly Conference, Charleston, S. C. on
change of Discipline, asking for the admis
sion of Trustees into tho Quarterly Confer
ence. Referred to the Committee on Re
visal.
South Georgia Conference. —J. S. Key and
J. E. Evans offered a resolution asking that
Presiding Elders be allowed to appoint sub
stitutes. Referred to the Committee on
Revisal.
North Georgia Conference. —Bishop Pierce
presented a memorial from LaGrange church
meeting, on Sunday-schoolLiteratnre. Re
ferred to Committee on Sunday schools.
Montgomery Conference.— M. S. Andrews, a
memorial from tho Trustees of East Alabama
Male College, which was read. Referred to
the Committee on Education and ordered to
bo published.
Mobile Conference. —-A. H. Mitchell pre
sented a memorial, asking a chaDge in the
order of business in the Quarterly Confer
ence. Referred to the Committee on Re
visal.
Mississippi Conference. —H. H. Montgom
ery and T. Reed offered a resolution asking
that the clause, “ Except such as involve
ministerial character and relations ” be
stricken out of page 45 of tho Discipline.
Holston Conference. —J. M. McTeer pre
sented a memorial from Newbern Circuit,on
Boundaries. Referred to the Committee on
Boundaries.
Kentucky Conference. —H. P. Walker pre
sented a memorial from D. Welbourne, on
Boundaries. Referred to the Committee on
Boundaries.
A. H. Bedford presented a memorial from
that Conference, on the subject of Logan
Female College. Referred to the Committee
on Education.
East Texas Conference. —L. P. Lively pre
sented a memorial from that Conference re
specting the ordinations of Local Preachers.
Read and Referred to the Committee on
Revisal.
Trinity Conference. —R. Lane and others
offered a resolution, asking that fifteen be
substituted for thirty, in Part 11, Sec. 5, par
agraph 1, of the Discipline. Referred to
tlie Committee on Revisal.
West Texas Conference. —R. H. Belvin pre
sented a memorial asking for a change of
boundary. Referred to the Committee on
Boundaries.
Pacific Conference. —O. Fisher presented a
memorial from Vesalia District, on Religions
Literature and a Book Depository on tho
Pacific coast. Referred to the Committee
on Books and Periodicals. Also, one on the
subject of Dancing, which was referred to
the Committee on Revisal.
Judge Byrd then called for the resolution
of J. E. Edwards pending the discussion of
which the Conference yesterday adjourned.
C. K. Marshall arose and said that the
Conference was aware that the Mississippi
Conference had sent in no memorial. Yet
he felt inclined to call the attention of the
Conference to a subject which he had been
advocating for sixteen yearn past—a general
Church paper which ought to be established,
Then, perhaps, he thought they were not
prepared for it—perhaps they were not even
now, but he begged that the Committee on
Books and periodicals wouldlook to this and
take effective measures with reference to it.
There was yet another necessity which pre
sented itself forcibly to the Church, and that
is an Eclectic,Church Magazine adapted to
the wants of the clergy and scientific men of
the Church. This he thought was greatly
needed. If the Church would take it in hand
it would be well; but if not, he himself
would gather about him suitable men, and
they would publish it on their own respon
sibility.
Dr. Bond offered a resolution fixing May
23d as the day of adjournment, which was
read and laid on the table until Monday.
C. I. Vandeventer and B. H. Spencer of
fered a resolution on the publication of a
Hymn and Tune book, which was referred
to the Committee on Books and Periodicals.
On motion of Dr. Hamilton the report of
the committee on the re-arrangement of the
Discipline, presented by Bishop McTyeire,
was referred to the Committee on Revisal.
On motion of W. W. Bennett the resolu
tion of J. E. Edwards was amended, and on
motion of W. M. Rush was referred to the
Committee on Itinerancy.
The amendment instructed the committee
to inquire into tho expediency of the pro
posed changes in the Discipline.
J. E. Evans offered a resolution asking
that after the word “except,” page 45 of
the Discipline, second line from the bottom,
the words “ on the trial of ministers,” be
inserted instead of “such as involves minis
terial character.” He asked that he be al
lowed to state the reasons which called for
this change. He said that the Conference
would perceive that this had reference to
the rights of laymen in the action of the An
nual Conferences. As it now stands these
rights are restricted. Here are eighteen
questions in which laymen are not allowed
to participate at all,and cannot therefore
feel that interest which they should take in
the action of that body of which they were
duly elected members. It is their vote which
governs the actions of Quarterly Confer
ences. Until they act, a recommendation to
Deacon’s orders cannot be acted upon by
us. In Annual Conferences, they are not
allowed to act upon those things which were
originally theirs to govern. In the change
proposed I except the trial of ministers in
deference to the feelings of others, expressed
at the last General Conference, and which,
perhaps, may not now bo changed. For
myself, I would as willingly repose my char
acter in the hands of these my brethren of
the laity, who represent the several Confer
ences in onr Connection, as I would trust it
to you. I move to refer this to tho Com
mittee on Revisal.
Joseph B. Cottrell moved to strike out
the exception left by Dr. Evans in bis reso
lution, but seeing it was about to give rise
to discussion he was requested to withdraw
his amendment and the original motion of
Dr. Evans prevailed.
On motion of P. A. Peterson the Commit
tee on Books and Periodicals was instructed
to inquire into the expediency of publishing
a Monthly Review and Magazine.
HjTI. Montgomery submitted the Plan of
Finance adopted by the Mississippi Confer
ence, which was referred to the Committee
on finance,
J. C. Keener submitted a communication
from the editor of the German Evangelical
Apologist. Referred to the Committee on
Books and Periodicals.
L. C. Garland asked and obtained leave
of absence on account of pressing profes
sional engagements until next Friday.
L. M. Lee offered a resolution limiting the
time for the reception of any papers refer
ring to change of Discipline to Thursday,
May 12th, pending the disc ass: oil of which,
the hour of adjournment having arrived,
Conference adjourned with the benediction
by the Bishop.
Fir ni Day—Monday, May 9.
The Conference met at tho stated hour.
Bishop Andrew in the chair. Religious
services were conducted by \V. J. Parks.
The minutes of the last meeting were read
and approved.
Bishop Andrew made the following re
marks :
“I am here among you once more. I
feared J should not be here. In fact, I had
made up my mind not to attend, but my
wife urged me to come, and my friend, Dr.
Mitchell, promised to take charge of me;
and now I am here, and feel that I am
blessed of God, to be permitted to shake
hands with my fellow-laborers, and am glad
to meet you as Methodist preachers. I
thank you for the kindness with which you
have greeted me, and for the warm welcome
with which I have been received. I am
here, unfit for work, and good for nothing,
but I take pleasure in the business of the
Conference, and listening to your debates.
This is an important Conference, an impor
tant crisis in the history of our Church.
Tho list General Conference introduced
changes in our economy, one of which was
lay delegation; and lam glad to see it lias
been so well received, and that so many
laymen are before me. I would say that
your relations are important, as laymen to
ministers, and it is very important thatrhere
be no jarring between you. As laymen,
you should feel that you are just as much
interested in the action of the Conference
as the preachers. Watch and le careful.
We are in more danger of erring with our
tongue than in any other way. I know hu
manity is in danger of erring always, but
the last General Conference inaugurated a
system of change which should le allowed
to remain. Don’t be impatient to change.
The last changes were very good. Don’t
touch that old book too heavily. It lias
been a precious book to me. I was born in
this Church and I am attached to her old
Discipline. Now a brother comes to Con
ference and he thinks, why should I come if
I can’t have some new scheme to bring up?
This is wrong. Let that Discipline remain
a while longer. Let tho old machine run
four years more at any rate, and then if nec
essary knock it to pieces.
“Four years ago ycu were kind enough
to give mo permission to retire from active
service. It was not long before I couldn’t
preach standing. My lower limbs began to
get weak, and 1 had to sit down. I have
been trying to do good in Sunday-schools,
and in some other ways, but I couldn’t do
much.
“Now, let me enjoiii j'ou to be in unity;
love the Church; love Methodism; frown on
everything that tends to alienate you from
the Church. I have been grieved to see a
tendency to go off to other Churches. Now,
lam no b’.got, but, nevertheless, I hive
never seen a man or woman that joined an
other Church in order to get more religion.
God bless j'our souls ! I have yet the first
one to meet who could not be helped to
Leaven in this CUiurcli. Train your oil 11
drei) to Methodism. Learn them to say
‘Our Church!’ I have seen with pain, a
disposition to glorify- ono another through
the papers. Men of intelligence have come
to me and asked me why this exists to such
an extent among us. Every old field school
teacher is a professor, and straightway the
school he takes charge of is the first school
in the country. Now twelve months cures
the people of all such. People don’t esteem
it praise; it is got so cheap. Brethren, be
modest. There are very few- of us great
men, and those will be found out soon
enough; and when I hear of preachers mak
ing a big show in the pulpit and going out
after such things, I am afraid of them
Brethren, despise such. Aim not at glori
tying yourselves, but glorify God. I have
talked long enough and I will stop.”
Bishop Maivin took the chair.
Petitions and memorials were called for
in the order of the Conferences.
Virginia Conference. —L. M. Lee presented
a memorial asking for the abolition of the
office of Presiding Elder, and for the admis
sion of lay delegates to the Bishop’s Conn
cil. Dr. Lae stated that he had promised
to present this memorial, to advocate it, and
vote for it, and that lie was ready to that
extent to act upon it. He added that it
was presented by respectable gentlemen
who did not design merely to get rid of bim.
Referred to tho Committee on Itinerancy.
North Carolina Conference. —Dr. B. Craven
presented a petition from members of the
Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, pray
ing to be transferred to the North Carolina
Conference. Referred to the Committee on
Boundaries.
South Georgia Conference. —E. W. Lovett
and others presented a memorial on the re
lation of local preachers. Referred to the
Committee on Revisal. J. S. Key, one on
the veto power of Bishops. Referred to
the Committee on Episcopacy.
Mobile Conference.—A. H. Mitchell offered
a resolution on the organization of Sunday
schools, and appointment of Superintend
ents. Referred to the Committee on Revisal
Dr. J. Hamilton, one on Church prop
erty of the colored people in Mobile. Re
ferred to the Committee on Colored People.
Louisiana Conference. —J. C. Keener of
fered resolutions on the German Hymn
Book and Evangelical Apologist. Referred
to the Committee on Books and Periodicals.
Mississippi Conference. —R. Abbc-y offered
a resolution on Church Architecture. Re
ferred to the Committee on Books and Pe
riodicals. Another on the propriety of es
tablishing a mission in Mexico. Referred
to Committee on Missions.
Memphis Conference. —T. L. Boswell, pre
sented a petition of that Conference asking
permission to divide, if found expedient
within four years. Referred to the Com
mittee on Boundaries.
Holston Conference. —J. M. McTeer offered
a resolution on the boundaries of that Con
ference. Referred to the Committee on
Boundaries.
Pacific Conference. —E. K. Miller present
ed a petition asking for the establishment
of a Book Depository in San Francisco. Re
ferred to Committee on Book and Periodi
cals.
Another on Catechisms. Referred to the
Committee on Revisal.
The following resolutions were then pre
sented, read and adopted:
Resolved, That the Episcopal Committee be, and
they are hereby authorized to select and nominate
one of our Bishops, or some-other competent per
sons to write the life of our late venerable Bishop
Soule.
Resolved, That the Committee on Revisal be di
rected to inquire into the propriety of so changing
the language of the Discipline, where suspension
is mentioned as a punishment, as to make the time
of suspension depend on the repentance and refor
mation of the suspended party.
The Rev. Dr. R. S. Morau, of North Caro
lina, presented the following resolution:
Resolved, That Section 5, Chapter 2, page 81 of
the Discipline be changed as follows: After the
word “care," in the fifth line from the top of the
page, add the following: “Or to any other appro
priate work in which he may be useful as a minis
ter of the gospel among us."
Referred to the Committee on Revisal.
Dr. J. B. McFerrin presented memorials
from S. T. Moorman : tho first referring
to Presiding Elders’ Districts—referred to
the Committee on Itinerancy; the second
on Missions— referred to the Committee on
Missions.
On motion of Dr. L. M. Lee the question
on which the Conference adjourned on Sat
urday, was taken up and finally adopted, as
follows:
Resolved, 1. That from and after the 14th day of
May, the General Conference will not either re
ceive or refer to a committee, any proposition in
tended to effect a change in the language or laws
of the Discipline, unless by a vote of three-fourths
of the Conference. i
2. That the Revisal or any other
committee be, and they hereby are instructed on
the completion of any report, changing the lan
guage or law3 of the Discipline, to report the
same forthwith, to the General Confererence, in
order that it may be printed in the Daily Advocate,
for the consideration of the members of this body.
W. A. McCarty was put in the place of
O. R. Blue, on tho Committee on Episcopa
cy', and J. P. Ralls, in place of J. Matthews,
on the Committee on Sunday-schools, from
tho Montgomery delegation.
Dr. Bond called for the resolution brought
in by himself and E. E. Wiley, laid on the
table on Saturday.
A motion of A. H. Mitchell to lay on tho
table was lost.
The resolution was finally carried by a
vote of 123. It is as follows :
Wuebebas, By- diligence and promptness In at
tention to its business, this Conference can linish
its work within two weeks; and, whereas, experi
ence teaches that in all similar assemblies, expe
dition is attained by fixing a day of adjournment;
therefore,
Resolved, That this General Conference will ad
journ sine die on Monday, 23d May.
The following resolutions were then of
fered, read, and adopted, to-wit:
Resolved, That tho Committee on Itinerancy bo
requested to report to this Conference its action
in regard to the resolution of Drs. Edwards and
Garland, oa the subject of the removal of the re
strictions of the pastoral term so that the subject
involved bo the order of tho day at 10 a. in., Fri
day next.
Resolved, That the Committee on Sunday-schoois
are hereby instructed to Inquire into the expedi
ency, and report as early as possible, upon that
part of the Bishops’ Address in which they recom
mend improvements in the interests of Sunday
schools, and report a plan: Ist. For a universal
system of lessons. 2. A monthly periodical in the
interests of teachers. 3d. The publication of the
Sunday School Visitor once a week—all of which to
be published at our Publishing House, and under
the supervision of aa Editor, to be appointed by
this Conference.
Resolved, That a committee cf three bo-appoint
ed to consider the practicability of obtaining a
collection of Church music, containing a variety
of suitable tunes for all the meters in our Hymn
Book, and adapted to the wants of our congrega
tions In this respect.
Dr. Bonnell was suggested as a proper
person to be consulted on this subject.
Dr. Myers stated that he had in his pos
session some music prepared by Dr. Bon
nell, whioli ho would submit to tho commit
tee, and woiild be glad for all to look nt it
who were acquainted with music.
F. A. Peterson and P. Whitehead offered
a r solution on Presiding Elders reporting
to Annual Conferences educational statistics.
Referred to Committee on Education.
The following resolution was offered,
read, and, on motion of Thos Reed, was
1 rid on tl.c table :
Resolved,, That the Committee on Itinerancy he
indrui tej to in inquire into the expediency of so
arranging the Presiding Elders’ Districts as to re
duce the number of Presiding Elders to one-half
of the present number in each Annual Conference,
or to provide for semi-annual rounds of Presiding
Elders in their respective districts.
The following resolution was road and not
adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Education be
instructed to examine the subject of catechetical
instruction upon the doctrinas and government of
our Church, and report what action, if any, should
be had by this Conference on that subject.
F. E. Pitts and six others of tho Tennes
see delegates, presented a communication
opposing the division of said Conference,
which was read and referred to the Commit
tee on Boundaries.
The Secretary presented copies of his
Commentary and Questions on Matthew
and Mark, and bound volumes of tho Cate
chisms of the Church, and Sunday School
Visitor, which were referred to'Committee
on Sunday-schools.
The hour of adjournment having arrived,
Conference adjourned with doxology and
benediction by the Bishop.
SIXTH DAY —TUESDAY, MAY 10.
The Conference met at the Second Street
Methodist church at the stated hour. Bishop
Marvin in the Clutir. Religious service was
conducted by Dr. J. B. McFerrin. Minutes
read and approved.
The Bishop then announced the following
Committee on Church Music: C. F. Harvey,
D'Arey Paul, T. O. Summers.
Bishop Doggett took the Chair.
Jno. Mathews, clerical delegate from the
Montgomery Conference, appeared and took
his seat. W. L. Lipscomb, lay delegate
from the Mobile Conference, appeared and
took his seat.
Reports of Committees was then called for.
J. Hamilton, Chairman of the Committee
on Revisal, presented Report No. 1 of that
Committee, which was read and laid on tho
table under the Rule.
J. E. Evans, Chairman of the Committee
on Religious Interests of the Colored Peo
ple, presented tire Report of that Committee,
which was read, laid on the tablo so r tho
present. It is as follows. -
Tho Committee on tho Religious Interests
of the Colored People, beg leave to submit
their Report.
We have had under consideration that
part of the Bishops’ Address and all other
papers referred to your Committee; and,
alter mature deliberation, we submit the
following Resolutions for the adoption of
the Conference;
Resolved, 1. That the action of the last General
Conference in reference to an ultimate organiza
tion of the colored people of the M. E. Church,
South, into a separate Church is complete, and
therefore no additional legislation is necessary to
the end intended.
2. That we fully approve the purpose of the
Bishops, as expressed In their address to this Con
ference, at an early day to call a General Confer
ence for oar colored members, to organize them
into a separate Church, as provided in the Discip
line.
3. That we respectfully suggest to the Bishops
to take measures to organize other Annual Confer
ences, wherever it may bo proper to do so, that
they maybe represented in the contemplated Gen
eral Conference; provided, the time of the holding
of said General Conference shall not be delayed
therebj-.
4. That we appreciate the services rendered in
this cause by Brother Thos. Taylor; and we do
hereby commend him to tiie Bishops, should ids
services be needed in the further prosecution and
eonsummation of this organization.
5. That all Trustees now holding Church prop
erty for the use of our colored membership, be in
structed to make titles to said property to tiie
properly constituted Trustees of the colored M. E.
Church, South, according to the Discipline ofsaicl
Church, when organized.
Whereas, Applications have been made by cer
tain parties for the transfer of the title to property
belonging to the M. E. Church, South, to congre
gations who have withdrawn from our communion;
and, whereas, we regard the property conveyed to
our Trustees for tiie use of the colored congrega
tions of our Church, a sacred trust to be held for
them; therefore,
Resolved, 1. That It is llie settled conviction of
this body that the M. E. Church, South, has neith
er the legal nor the moral right to tiansfer ar.y
property thns held to those who have withdraw':
from our Church.
2. That the disinterested service rendered our
colored people in a time of need, by Rev. Samuel
Watson, iu the publication of the Christian Index,
deserves and receives the warmest commendation
of this Conference. And we do hereby recommend
that paper to our colored members as worthy of
their patronage.
3. That we commend tiie colored M. E. Church,
South, when farmed, to the warmest sympathies,
earnest prayers and support of the people of the
South. Respectfully submitted.
J. E. Evans, Chairman.
Petitions, memorials and appeals being
called for, the following were presented:
Virginia Conference. —Dr. Lee presented a
memorial of the Virginia Conference Sun
day-school Society, on the relation of bap
tized children to tho Church. Referred to
the Committee on Sunday-schools.
South Carolina Conference. —Dr. A. M.
Shipp presented a memorial from S. H.
Browne, on the subject of war, which was
referred to the Committee on the Pastoral
Address.
Montgomery Conference. —M. S. Andrews
presented a memorial from that Conference
on the relation of local preachers, etc.,which
was read and referred to the Committee on
Revisal.
J. Mathews presented one from the same
Conference, on the organization of Sunday
schools which was read and referred to the
Committee on Revisal.
Mobile Conference. —A. H. Mitchell pre
sented a petition from that Conference on
the insertion of a rule forbidding worldly
amusements. Referred to the Committee
on Revisal.
Dr. J. Hamilton presented a memorial
from the Columbus District on a Methodist
University. Referred to the committee on
Education.
Holston Conference. —F. W. Earnest pre
sented a memorial on local preachers. Re
ferred to the committee on Revisal.
Trinity Conference. —R. Lane presented a
memorial of the Quarterly Conference of
Canton and Garden Valley circuit, on Bound
aries. Referred to the committee on Bound
aries.
The following resolutions were then of
fered, read and adopted:
By W. H. Bobbitt.
Resolved, That the Committee on Revisal be in
structed to inquire into the expediency ol so al
tering the Discipline as to make Chairmen of
Boards of Trustees of Chnreli property, members
of Quarterly Conference.
By W. A. McCarty.
Resolved, That the Committee on Revisal be in
structed to inquire into the propriety of inserting
into the Discipline as a part of the business of
the Quarterly Conference, the following question :
Has the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper been reg
ularly administered ?
By R. S. Moran.
Resolved, That the Committee on Revisal he in
structed to inquire into the expediency of so
amending the discipline (Re-arrangement, page
31, sec. 5, par. 1,2,) part 2d, see. o, par. 4, page
219, that all after the word “ Finance” in the sen
tence at the top of the page, shall be stricken out,
and the following words inserted, to-nit; “to
consist of one Clerical and one Lay member of llie
Conference for each Presiding Eider’s District,
The clerical members shall be appointed by the
President of the Conference, (unless otherwise or
dered) at the close of its annual session, to hold
their office until the close of the next ensuing An
nual Conference session; and the lay members
shall be appointed on the first day of the session
during which they are to act.”
By N. F. Reid.
Resolved, That the Committee oil Revisal he in
structed to inquire into the expediency of amend
ing the Discipline Chap. 2, page 07, so as to strike
out the whole of the 9th section.
By T. L. Boswell.
Resolved, That the Committee on Revisal be and
they are hereby Instructed to inquire into the ne
cessity and propriety of framing a specific rule
against the manufacture or sale of spirituous liquors
lay members of our own Church, except for chem
ical or mechanical purposes.
T. L. Boswell presented another resolu
tion calling upon the Bishops to define the
clause in the Discipline referring to tho use
of spirituous liquors.
Bishop Paine said that this called for the
official declaration of the Bishops on the
meaning of a General Rule; that it was a
bad example and without authority ;-thero
arc only two cases in which a Bishop is called
upon to do this. One is in an appeal from
the quarterly conference, raid the o! her when
it comes up in a pending question in an An
nual Conference; and these do not cover the
case in question. Ho thought they might
find it inconvenient to call upon the Bishops
to do this, while the judiciary of the Church
was in session.
Dr. Marshall ’said that he regretted that
Dr. Boswell did not make a broader appeal
to the Conference on that subject. “If Dr.
Boswell had voted to expunge that portion
of the Rule, ‘ except in case of necessity,’ I
would have liked it better. I don’t believe
in going to a doctor for his prescription to
get a drink. A man of God will drink a
great deal of cold water first. If I were very
sick I would rather die than be fed on whis
ky. The habit grows. There will be the
never-ending thirst for more, and the old
sleeping lion will wake up and roar for one
drink in the morning, another at noon, and
another before retiring to rest; and before
you know it you will read, ‘ dust to dust,’
and ‘ ashes to ashes’ over that man who died
a drunkard under cover of the Methodist
Discipline.”
After some further discussion tlio resolu
tion was put to the Conference and lost.
The following resolutions were offered,
read and adopted:
By C. K. Marshall.
Resolved, That the Committee on Books amt Pe
riodicals be requested to consider the propriety
and importance of publishing a weekly newspaper
for general circulation among all our people, upon
the plan heretofoio presented to the General Con
ference,
Wiieheas, The sufferings and necessities ol or
phans have in nil ages claimed the sympathies and
tender bare of the Church of Christ; and,whereas,
the number of orphans in our land and within the
boundaries of our Church, appeals with touching
emphasis to the enlightened charity of ail good
and Christian people.
Whereas, We deem the ordinary method of
collecting great numbers of orphans into massive,
solitary, gloomy affd expensive buildings, unwise
and contrary to the best Interests of the orphans
and of society—inasmuch as such children are un
avoidably subjected to an unnatural, and often
most painful course of life, destroying the cheer
fulness of childhood and making the just and
proper formation of character upon a high stand
ard, almost impossible; tiierefore,
Resolved, That we regard it as desirable in under
taking a general system for the accomplishment of
tiie work of befriending and educating orphans,we
should consider the propriety of adopting a system
applicable to the boundaries of each Annual Con
ference, by which under the authority and man
agement of such organizations,they may be boarded
out in families and supported and educated and
trained up in house and family relations, and ap
prenticed to learn appropriate "trades and thus ren
dered happy amt useful.
Dr. Fierce offered a resolution asking a
change in the Discipline, chapter If. answer
to question 5, referring to the passage of
ministerial character, which was rend and
laid over, under the Rule.
R. Lane and other delegates of Trinity
Conference offered a resolution on Bounda
ries, which was referred to the committee on
Boundaries.
On motion of \V. P. Harrison and J. Bor
ing, a special committee of five was ordered
to consider the expediency of changing eor
t: in expressions in the Ritual. The resolu
tion is as follows:
Resolved, That a special eqmmiltee of live be ap
pointed on the Ritual who shall be instructed to
inquire into the expediency of changing tho phrase
ology in the office of the Ministration of Baptism
to Infants so that the exhortation on page 112 of
the Discipline may read as follows:
“Dearly beloved, forasmuch as nil men are con
ceived and born in eln, and that our Saviour Christ
saith, 1 Except a man be born of water and of tiie
Spirit, be cannot enter into the kingdom of God.’
I beseech you to call upon God the Father,through
our Lord Jesus Christ, tliatof his bounteous mercy
he will grant to this child that which by nature he
cannot hive; that he, being baptized with water,
may also be baptized with ihe Holy Ghost, and re
ceived into Christ’s Holy Church, and be made a
lively member of the same.”
The following resolutions were then of
fered, read and adopted:
By AV. Shapard;
Resolved, That tiie Committee on ltevisal be re
quested to inquire into the propriety of so amend
ing the law of the Discipline as to make a member
bolding a certificate of membership amenable for
his conduct to the particular church granting said
certificate and giving said church authority to dis
cipline said member as though lie should'then be
in regular connection with said church.
By R. J. Morgan.
Resolved, That the venerable and beloved Dr.
Lovick Pierce, one of the few men of God who con
nect its personally and directly with the fathers of
American Methodism, he and hereby is nflection
ately invited and requested to preach a sermon to
the General Conference in session, at such time os
tnay be most suitable to his convenience.
By A G. Haygood.
Resolved, That the Committee oa Revisal he re
quested to inquire into the expediency of so amend
ing Discipline, chapter 2, sec. 4, page 07, ns after
the words, “At the fourth quarterly meeting let
the Report of Trustees be called for,” to add these
words: “ And let the President of the Conference
ask: Are there any vacancies to be tilled or any
changes to be made in the Board of Trustees.”
By A. G. Haygood.
Resolved, That the Committee on ltevisal be re
quested to inquire into the expediency of so amend
ing the Discipline, part 1, chapter 4, see. 4, page
127, as after the word “Church,” insert this para
graph : “ Persons holding certificates of dismission
from our Church shall be amenable to the author
ity of those charges in which they may reside.”
A. G. Blown and D’Arey Paul offered a
resolution on tlio support of tho ministry,
which was read and referred to the commit
tee on Finance.
D. E. Me Anally and other delegates of
St. Louis Conference offered a resolution
requesting the Committee on Boundaries to
inquire into tho practicability of organizing
a Conference in tlio State of Kansas, which
was adopted.
The following resolution was offered by
D. R. McAnally, read and adopted :
Resolved, That the Committee on Revisal be, and
they are hereby respectfully requested to leave the
Catechism out of tiie Book of Discipline.
On motion of AV. 11. Potter and A. G.
Haygood, the Book Editor stated the rea
sons that a music book for Sunday-schools
lias not been published agreeably to the
provision of the last General Conference.
He stated that, tho Book Agent has taken
steps for tlm publication of said work, but
it has been delayed on account of the cir
cumstances of the Publishing House.
J. Mathews, of the Montgomery Confer
ence, was put on tho Committee on Sunday
schools, in place of J. P. Rails, and T. J.
McCoy, laj- delegate from the Baltimore
Conference, on the Committee on Missions,
in place of AA 7 . P. Conway.
F. E. Pitts and L. M. Lee offered a reso
lution on the arrangement of the work on
circuits, so that ono preacher should have
no more than four churches under his
charge.
F. E. Pitts said that his desire was to
rescue, as far as possible, the availability of
class meetings and love-feasts, and to give
the preacher a chance to visit among the
people.
Dr. Lee said that lie had a design in
seconding that resolution, and that it com
mended itself to the attention of the
Church. There was now no chance for
week preaching, and they were compelled
to restrict their labors to the Sabbath. If
any two churches should decide that they
could support a preacher, they should have
one. He was not acquainted with the con
dition of tiie Church work in the West, but
be could speak with confidence about the
state of things in ATrgiuin, and he had
learned from personal intercourse with tho
ministers that they were losing ground. A
great deal of the work is distributed over
so large a territory that the preacher can
only touch them in his rounds. “A\ T e have
ceased to be aggressive, wo are onlj- barely
holding on to our work.”
Andrew Monroe rose and said : “I do not
think it possiblo to adopt a resolution of
uniform application, especially through our
broad extended West. The objection I have
to that resolution is that it seems to me to
be unconditional. We bad better leave it
to the quarterly conferences and let them
refer the matter to the Annual Conferences.
I do not think this General Conference can
fix upon a Rule that will apply to all. It is
said that the minister has not time to visit.
Why is this ? It is because when lie gets
through liis sermons on Sunday he goes
home and stays there. If he does not
preach except on Sabbath why can’t he go
ont during the week and visit his people and
VOL. XXXIII. NO. 20.
pray with them. They say they can’t leuvo
their families; but, sir, if there was a mar
riage every night in tlio week, and five or
ten dollars to be gained by going, j’ou
couldn’t keep them at home. Let them
preach on the Sabbath, hold class-meetings
in the week, and go out and attend to their
pastoral work. Ido not think it ’frill work
well in many cases.”
Dr. Yviufield rose and called for the ven
erable W. ,T. Parks to express his views on
this question.
V.. J. Parks said : •‘From principle and
long observation, I am opposed to that
resolution. I want to accomplish the de
sired end, but that's not the way to do it.
In our country they carve in upon the cir
cuits until they have left out all the feeble
churches. lam opposed to Presiding El
ders proposing this and that change with
out consulting the people whether such and
such a change is wanted. Our people sur
render a plenty. Now, I entered on my
work fifty years ago. I have traveled a cir
cuit of two hundred and thirty miles,
preached thirty-five times in twenty-four
days, held night meetings, and did more
pastoral work than any man or two men
does now, that run home on the railroads,
whenever they please. Whenever wo cut
down our circuits we do wrong, I have
traveled on loss than one hundred dollars a
year, I have preached on eighty dollars a
year when I had a wife and two children. It
is my opinion that tho best way to get work
out of men is to give them plenty to do. A
man can’t half preach unless you keep him
at it. He may preach a fine sermon and
it may be a useful one, but there will be
a lack of that inspiration that gives pow
er and life to our preaching. I had rather
have our circuits enlarged. ' I want to use
our young men as the old ones were used.
I want them to hold cl', -meetings and
prayer-meetings. Our brethren who go for
this resolution have no idea how they cut
off the poor sections. I want Methodism to
keep its hold on Ihe. poor."
N, A. Cravens thought that the inaugura
tion cf district meetings was intended to
cover all such eases, and that it would be
better to leave it to them. He said:
“There was a time, during the war, when
it was with difficulty that' a preacher could
get about; but now I trust the war-cloud
has passed away, to return no more, and
that the influence of paralysis is being re
moved, and that old men are being renewed
in their youth.”
After considerable discussion, Judge Byrd
moved to refer the resolution to tho Com
mittee on Itinerancy, and pending the
question tho Conference adjourned, with
tho benediction by the Bishop.
Seventh Day—Wednesday, May 11.
Tho Conference me , Bishop Doggett in
tho chair. Religious service conducted by
Dr. Mitchell. The minutes read and ap
proved.
Bishop McTyeire took the chair and
called for reports from standing committees,
which were presented as follows:
L. M. Lee, chairman of the committee on
Episcopacy, presented Reports Nos. 1,2,
and 3, of that committee, which were read
and adopted, ar follows :
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EPISCOPACY. NO. I.
Tho committee on Episcopacy beg leave
to offer the following tribute to the memo
ry of Bishop Houle:
It is due to the eminent services rendered
to the Church by the late venerable and be
loved Bishop Soule, that this General Con
ference acknowledge the justice of the en
comium passed upon his life and labors by
his colleagues in their Episcopal Address,
and that we, adopting their sentiments, ex
press our admiration of his thorough devo
tion to God and to tho best interests of
mankind, throughout his long and honor
able career in those offices of high responsi
bility he filled in the Church, so faithfully
and so usefully. AYe rejoice that we ever
had so noble an example set before us of
fidelity, purity, dignity, and sclf-sacrilicing
devotion to duty and to principle—an ex
ample which wo commend to all who would
approve themselves to tho Church and to
the world, as faithful ministers of the gos
pel of Christ, We acknowledge with pro
found gratitude tho good Providence which
spared him so long to the Church as its
counsellor and guide, and which crowned a
ripe old age with such blessings of serene
peace and holy triumph as characterized his
closing days. So long as we live we will
cherish his memory, and will hand it down
to our sons and successors iu the service of
tlio Church, us a monument of the power of
the gospel to develop the noblest elements
of manhood, until in him the/ reached n
sublimity that made liim lit for the compan
ionship of that illustrious company of Chris
tian heroes of the olden time, of “whom the
world was not worthy.”
On this occasion and in this brief tribute,
wo can only give these few salient points of
liis life.
Joshua Soule was born Aug. 1, 1781. On
tho 19th of June, 1799, ho was admitted in
to the traveling connection, and appointed
to tlio Portland circuit in Maine. He was
elected deacon in 1800; was elected Bishop
at the General Conference of 1820; declined
to bo consecrated at that time, but was re
elected and ordained in 1824 ; and died in
triumph, March 6, 1867.
But how much actual service and fruitful
labor was crowded into the interval between
these extreme dates must bo left to his biog
rapher to say.
This body can now say no more than that,
in common with the entire Connection,
which he loved so well, wo mourn the re
moval from the Church of so venerable and
wise a leader, and pray that the mantle of
our ascended Elijah may fall upon his sons
and successors in the ministry.
L. M. Lee, Clx’in’n.
Memphis, May 11, 1870.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EPISCOPACY. NO. 11.
The committee on Episcopacy recom
mend to tlio General Conference the fol
lowing action in respect to two of our hon
ored Bishops, whose lives have been pro
longed bej’ond the period of active service
to the Church.
The General Conference recognize the
mercy of God, in sparing to the Church the
lives of the venerable Bishops Andrew and
Early, that it may yet have the benefit of
their wisdom and experience, and the illus
tration they give of a declining ago, cheered
by the consolations of religion and hallowed
by the recollections of a long and fruitful
service for God and the Church. In their
affliction and amid the infirmities of age,
they will ever have tho sympathy and
prayers of the Church, and we heartily unite
in the hope that they will find that the af
flictions of this present time are not wor
thy to be compared to the glory that shall
be revealed in them. Tho Conferences will
always hail their presence with pleasure,
and receive gratefully such service, as they
may still be able to render in the pulpit and
tho councils of the Church, until the Great
Hoad thereof shall reveal to them immor
tality and eternal life—which day we may
wish, for our sakes, may bo long delayed,
while for their sakes to depart and to be
with Christ may be far better.
Resolved , That Bishops Andrew and Early be re
leased as heretofore from active participation in
tho responsibilities of the Episcopal office; but
we request that, as far as their health and circum
stances will allow, they give to their colleagues
and the Church at large the benefits of their ex
perience and counsels. L. M. Lee, Chairman.
Memphis , May 11, 1870.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON EPISCOFAOT —
no. m.
The committee on Episcopacy have had
under review the official service and Chris
tian character of all our Bishops for the past
four years, and we take great pleasure in
reporting that the general testimony is
highly honorable to our chief pastors—
(and especially to those on whom the bur
den of active service now falls) for an in
dustry, fidelity, and consistency worthy
of the days of ‘the fathers of the Church.
These years have been marked by a renew
al of closer intimacy with the membership
of the Church, and a wider and more par
ticular distribution of Episcopal labors
among the people, in tho intervals of Con
ference sessions, than had been customary
for some years previously; and, as a conse
quence, tlicir personal influence lias been
more generally felt, and their official char
acter has made a deeper impress upon all
its departments of labor. Improvement in
all its interests lias resulted; and the hopes
of tho future have grown brighter, as our
Bishops have traversed the land, to guido
the office-bearers in the Church and the
ministry, and to preach tho gospel of salva
tloThis testimony to their zenl and fidelity
is due to those who have been abundant in
labors during the past four years—often at
the cost of long absence from their families,
and of arduous travel and great sacrifice of
homo comforts. Iu this they have proved
themselves an example to those over whom
they had rule; and they merit whatever en
couragement commendation may give, to
continue this work until every section of
the Church has become familiar with their
presence and labors.
Resolved, That tho character of the Bishops pasß,