The Columbian fountain., 1846-05-19

ec TAuuudi conferences 10 40 ao 'J
thought proper Tor the good of the MISSION
Hence the new rule as explanatory OF the ola
rule was complete change in the DIsciphne'
II took away the power Of discplnlng OF si'-
ting in the Conferences, OF calling quar'eriY
n Conferences Ii took away the last vesuge q
power from the Annual Conferences. lhey
had no power over the Circuit, over stations,
and now they were TO have no power over
Missions. When the Missions have gone on
increasingto the glorious number OF 80; they
shall be made Circuits or Stations. Who will
be missionary? What now does il do ?
Why, they may if they please, send up lay
member to accompany the missionary So
they might before, if the railroads and stages
would carry them.
In conclusion he said that he considered the
report poor report, very poor report, fine
illustration Of the fable of the laboring noun
tain.
WEDNESDAY FORENOON.
The unfinished business Of yesterday being
the consideration of the majority report on
Home Missions,
Mr.. DeFord offered an amendment. He
said that he believed the commitlee did not in
tend TO make any change in the mission regu.
latlous, o.,.y - evnlain them He had been
brought up in the M. P. Church to speak spi.
ritually. He had, although young, made sa-
cri6ces for it. He loved its cons,itution-its
discipline, and he should meet any attempt to
blot out the brightest star in its armament, the
itinerant principle, in the gate. If he should
be severe, he had bright example in the phil
lipic uttered by the gentleman from Phadel-
phia.
Mr.. Stockton here said that he wished TO
make distinction. 1t was not against breth-
ren, but against measures, that he intended to
be severe. He loved his brethren and he ho-
nored Them, but he abominated their measures.
their arguments He gave warning that he
should be severe upon them. He should be
all love to the brethren, but consuming fire.
$50 help him God, to every thing they should
bring against his position.
Rev. G. Brown said he was alarmed-he
shuddered TO hear such solemn oath.
Mr.. Stockton said he had used it before. Ii
expressed the feeling Of his heart, but if his
brethren were offended, he would not use it.
The Chair said he hoped the gentleman
would not travel out Of the way in any such
manner as this 1t would only spin out the
debate, without convincing any one.
Rev. U. Ward wished TO enter his protest
against the charge brought by Rev. Mr. Brown
against Mr.. Stockton Of profanity.
Mr.. B. explained. He meant no charge of
any such thing.
The Chair called the house to order, and
Mr.. DeFord proceeded.
He thought that the conference was empow.
cred to say that the Annual Conferences should
regulate missions, but with this restriction. that
when these missions rose 10 sufficient import
ance they should be divided into circuits and
stations. What was the attempt to make it
possible to establish mission with four and
five hundred members, not sublectto the time
rant regulation, but an attempt TO introduce
congregatonalism. He wished brother Stock
ton to say distinctly whether he believed that
the Annual Conferences had any power under
the constitution TO do any such thing; why was
such language as this used: "And when three
or more societies, containing in the aggregate
not less than 80 MEMBERS" if any such thing
was meant.
How would il cripple their itinerancy In
this way. Here is large church; they wish
a certain eloquent preacher TO be stationed there
as long time as they may wish him. They
split off a few strong members, and these get
the minister as missionary, and the rest OF the
church would come over and they would have
the thing they wished. This was congrega
tionalism. This was fritlering away the iline-
rancy.
Rev. DR.. Armstrong offered the following
anne ndmeni
BY striking out all the provlso after the word
constitution, and insert, |" But the Annual
Conference has the right and power to form
such missions into circuits and stations, when
ever, in their judgment, it shall be the interest
Of the church."
MIR. Stockton explained how this numera
restriction would work The mission would
increase until it got within one of the number,
a yryh a H.