The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-06-27
METHODIST GENERAL. CONFER
ENCE.

METHODIST GENERAL. CONFER
ENCE
On Wednesday-Mr Longsrect pre-
sented the following declaration, which
was read by the Secretary:
The Delegates of the Conferences in
the slavehodng States take leave to declare
to the General Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, that the continued
agitation on the subject of slavery and alb
clifton in portion of the church; The fire.
quent action on that subject in the Gener-
al Conference, aud especially, the extra
judicial proceedings against Bishop An
drew, which resulted, on Saturday last in
the virtual suspension of him from his Of
fee as superintendent, must produce a
state of things in the south, which renders
continuance o(lhc Jurisdiction of this
General Conference over those Conferences
inconsistent with the success Of the minis
try in the slave holding States,
After some debate, the following rcsolu
ton was adopted.
Resolved That the Committee appoint
to take into consideration the Commnnica-
ton of he delegates from the Southern
Conferences be instructed; provided they
cannot in their Judgment, devise n plan
for an amcable adjustment Of the difficult
ties now existing in this Church on the
subject OF slavery, to devise, if possible, a
constitutional plan for a mutual and friend
ly division Of the Church,
TnURsDAY-The Committee on slavery
made final report in which they state
that they have received petitions from nine
different Conferences, and the remainder
were from the people, The petitions con
tain the signatures of 10000 persons, who
pray for the following objects LIST the abo-
li,ion of the colored testimony resolution;
I'd. That this body will not elect slave
holding Bishop; and, 3D., That Conference
would take measures to separate the
Church from slavery. The Committee do
not think it necessary to take any other
action than that proposed in aforme- re-
port Laid on the table.
Bishop IIcdding said he desired to say
few words in relation to himself, and it
was always great cross to him TO speak
of himself. lie referred to a remark made
yc>terday,by the committee on Episcopacy,
that they did not know how many effective
Bishops they had lie desired to say, that
if he was rightly informed, tomorrow If he
should live so long he would be 70 years
old, and he had been in the ministry for
forty-threc and half years.
lie was admitted on trial in the n. York
Conference, in 1901. lie travelled the
following year a,hard circuit, lie then re-
ferred to the state of his health, aud said
that he had never had days i'll health I'M
ill 1913. Ills health had been destroyed
by hard work while nthe New Hampshire
conference. lie has always since been la
boring under infrmi,es, which he had new
er been able to get clear of entirely, to this
dav. lie has nevertheless taken his part OF
the work, and had never nnchcd from the
performance of the duties assigned him.
The brethren know that received the
Office with reluctance, and it has been n
burden to me ever since. In 1898, Con-
ference said that he should not be under
any obligations to do more work than he
was able to do, and in 1927, they confirm
yd their former actions.
lie hadIthought to have resigned his Of
flee at this time, but would not do it now,
under the circumstance in which Confer
cncc is placed, but would leave it to them
or to Providence to say what is best TO
be done. His health was good now, but
he could not do so much work as former
ly. lie could get along very well if he
could live easy. lie was of such make
that when he had any thing TO do, or 9th
ers thought that he had duties to perform,
he could not help attending TO them with
out regard to his health. His hope and
trust was in Christ, and all he desired
was to live and reign with him forever.
Mr. Bascom read Protest, in behalf Of
10 annual Conferences and portions of
the minority membership of several 9TH
crs, embracing nearly 100000 members,
who do most solemnly protest against a
recent act of the majority Of this General
Conference, in an attempt as understood
by the minority, TO degrade and punish
Bishop Andrew without form oftrial, sc.