Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-08
GENERAL SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
or THE NJ Z. CHURCH.

The certificates of Delegates who had arrived
since Yesterday were then received and read.
Mr. Early moved that The Rules OF the late We
neral Conference be adopted, with such alDend'
menrs as may be necessary, as the Ruies lof .ne
government OF the deliberations IN lhls Cohief'
ence.
a call was made for the reading OF those Rules,
which was done; whercIpon they were Adopted
Bishop Soule rose and asked indulgence ioi d
few remarks al the present period oil Inc Pfoceeo-
ines, He considered that The assembling Of ms
hodv as now organized, was the contamination
Of th,. organization OF he Methodist Episcopal
Church. South, in conformity 10 the plan oil sepd-
ration adopted BY the General Conference oil tn me
M. T.. Church in lS4l He regarded hlmseli,
therefore, al this luncture as standing before ine
Genera! Conference OF the NJ. f. Church, South,
fully organized, and clothed with full and enIire
powers 10 transact all business appropriate 10 a
Methodist General Conference. This orsaniza-
ton he looked upon as having been commenced
in the "Declaraion Of the Delegates OF the Con-
ferences in the slaveholding States, made in ~
York in 1871, as having been advanced IN It's va
rious stages in the "Prolesl'-the "Plan OF Sepa
ralion"-lhe appointment ofde!egates to The Lou
lsyllle Cunventlon--in The action Of that body
IN the subsequent action oil The annual Confer
ences approving the acts OF their delegates al The
Conven,ion-and finally in sending their dele
gales 10 constitute the present BODY and 10 be
now completed in the assembling OF the body un
der constitutional President. He had marked
with great care The various stages of this impoI.
ant mater, from first TO last, and was fully salts
ned Ina! every step mad been taken in full confor
mily 10 the act Of the General Conference Of 1874
he had ,larked, with no ordinary satisfaction
ihe'peace and unity which had governed The coun
ellis 0. he new organization. He knew Of ne
single case-he doubted whether ecclesiastical
history could furnish a case-similar to this, a:
10 the unanimily with which such great move
lnenl had been carried through We we're debt
urs TO experimenting Providence in this matter
God be praised
His last tour Of labor had called him into those
portions of the work where the greatest difficult
lies were apprchended, and ne had been happily
disappointed in finding such agreement and una
nimily both among preachers and people. Ap-
pretended difficulties had subsidized in great de-
gree, and peace and quctness prevailed every
who're He rejoiced exceedingly in this state OF
things. He referred 10 the misrepresentation OF
his views ard opinions, which had been put forth
in various quarters, aud The very strange attitudes
he had been made 10 assume in regard 10
the Episcopal office and its prerogatives These
misrepre> en,ations had been circulated through
these lands and across The seas. He had been
held up as possessing views on this subject quite
different from those entertained BY his venerable
predecessors, Bishops Asbu-y and Mckendree.-
These charges were too general and indefinite 10
allow OF any specific defence or reply II was
sufficient for him 10 saw that after an intimate ac
quaintance with both those good and great men,
al periods in the history OF The Church which
"tred mems souls, he had as luil access 10, and
as perfect knowledge OF, the views OF his pre-
decessors as any other man o.! his day. He as
sured them, that if he entertained any opinions
different from those OF Asbury and McKsndree-
any higher views Of the preroga,ives OF the Epis-
copal oliice-il was not known 10 himself. That he
differed with many excellent brethren with regard
10 the relative position ofthe Episcopal Office, be
did not doubI; but no man should mystiy him.
He did not accord with The views OF some breth-
rem expressed on the floor OF the General Confer
ence of 1914; and further, if those we're the views
generally prevailing in the Church, he should
unhesitatingly say that he could not sustain the
office. He had once resigned his election on this
very ground and under similar circumstances he
would resign again. Not that he, personally, was
so much concerned butt the great principles given
to us by our fathers in the organization OF The
Church. were involved. He was resolved that
this sacred depose should never be married in his
hands. essential as il was 10 the accomplishment
Of the great work before The Church.
He needed not 10 say more. The time had
now come when il was proper Tor him 10 declare
his adhesion. Sustaining no relation 10 one an
nual conference which be did not 10 another, he
could no, declare his adhesion 10 any one OF these
bodies. He had stated al the Louisville Conven-
lion that before this body he should make his ad-
hesion 10 the Church, South. Under the provi-
sions of The Plan Of Separation availing himself
Of the present opportunity he adhered, and now,
formally gave in his adherence 10 the Methods,
Episcopal Church, South. He would 90 the
same were he only private member or minister.
He was ready, il the Conference should think
proper 10 receive him in his present relation, 10
serve them 10 the best OF his ability.
AT the conclusion OF the Bishops address, Mr.
DRAKE of Miss, moved that this Conference re-
GIVE RI. Rev. Joshua Soule as Bishop OF The
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which was
adopted unanimously.
On motion Of DR.. Bascoln, Bishop Sonle was
reoue.,ed 10 communicate in writing the sub
stance of his remarks in declaring his adherence
IN Inc Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and
that committee be appointed TO respond in the
shape OF a resolution.
Mr. C-ovder moved 10 take up his resolutions
ofyesterdav relative 10 committee adjudication,
The motion was adopted and the resolutions
were discussed at considerable length by Messrs
Smith Winans, LongsIreet, Leigh and Green in
favor. and Messrs. w. Capers, Ferguson, Crow
der and Sehon against.
During The discussion upon The above subject,
Bishop Andrew retired, and Bishop Soule took
the Chair.
On motion Of MIR. Early, it was resolved 10 APP
point The following Committees
On Episcopacy, member from each Conference.
On Itinerancy. member from each Conference.
On Finance, member from each Conference.
On Missions, member from each Conference.
On Boundaries | member from each Conference.
On Literary Institutions in conne1ion with the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
On Revisals 10 consist OF D members.
On Sabbath Schools, 10 consist Of members.
On Temperance, TO consist of members
On Claims OF the American Bible Society to
consist Of members
To ascertain the expenses OF the Bishops and De-
legates 10 the Conference, and The best method OF
detraying the same, 10 consist Of 3 members.
On the motion OF Mr. Early, the Delegates from
each annual Conference were authorized 10 ap-
point from their own delegations The members
upon the committees requiring one from each
Conference.
After prayer by the Reverend Mr.. Stamper, the
Conference adjourned.
THIRD DAT-MosnAY, May 4th, 1876
Conference met pursuant 10 adjournment.
Certificates of members who arrived since last
meeting were called for, and the Rev. Mr.. Seyi-
er, Of the Holsein and The Rev Mr. Wilson. of
the East Texas Conference, appeared and took
their seats.
The following Standing Committees were ap-
pointed:
On THE Messrs. Crouch, Patton,
Monroe, Sehon, Crowder, Bryanr, J. c. Berry,
man, Brock, Wsightman, Winans, Richardson,
Luckey, Boring, Truslow, Wilson and Parks.
Or Observation-Disclosures. Crouch, Samper.
Sullns, Patton, Driscole, Penn, Jameson, Brow
ming. McFerrin, Taley, Lane, Alexander, Mar.
tin, LIE Vert, Ratelifse, Wilson ani G. F Pearce.
On BorSpARrEs-Messrs. Kavannaugh, FIc.
ming, Wallace. Ferguson, Cowles, Doub Ber-
rymsn, Harris Belts, Rogers, Luckey, Richard
son, T. a. Capers, Truslow. Wilson and Glenn.
ON FINAEcr.-Messrs. Boyle, Green, w. A..