The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-05-28
THE ORGAN OF TEN


BOSTON, may 10 Ac0~s
EDIToR DAILY TlnEs:--As you have taker
much interest in tbs question Of pows and free
sesis 50 long agitaied 10 The n D. Church y
your ty aud especially in the case Of Uaion
Chapel, have thought yop would be pleased g
hear occasionally from this, the seat Of the Gen'
eral Conference.
This venerable body Of men coavsued b
Bfomfeld street Church on the first Of The
present month, where It continues to lneet daily
and will f0f some wei ks to come. phe Bishops
present are--Wugh, Of Baltimore, james, ot
New York, and Morris, Of CihcinNsi. Bishop
Hamline, since the session began, has sent IL
his resignation Of the Episcopal office, which
was accepted, and be Is no longer Bishop
There will most probably be four new Bishop
elected during the present session, as the pres,
ent number are entirely insufficient to discharge
the rapidly increasing duties Of that Office 10
the church.
rhe great question before Che Conference
so far, aud the most talked Of abo1t here, i
that Of pews-whethor each congregation shall
be permitted TO occupy their church in The
manner most congcnial to their own sense ol
propriety, or whether the preachers shall dic-
tate in this matter. The question has come np
by petition from Union Chapel to be supplied
with the ministry. The petition was received
and referred TO the committee on the Episeops.
ey, where it is still pending. Another
growing out Of aud involving this same
4iUd, tsine before the Conference in 30 apbeA
the Rcv. J. S. Inskp. Mr. lnskip had ia,
vored the plan of allowing his congregation TO
sit in church as they deemed proper; and for
questions growing out Of this he had been tried
by his Conference where a decision was had
against him. From this decision he appealed
and the case vas twice tried last week--ocCu-
pyiug the Conference several days. The case
was warmly contested, and the wkole merits
Of the controversy connected with the question
of seating churches, was examined. The trial
created much interest, not Only among the
delegates, but among the members of the
church in this city, and visitors from abroad
You will bear in mind that the General Con
ference holds its session in church with pews
and an OrgaS. Indeed, all the Methodist
churches in New England are either pewed, or
the men and women are seated promiscuousy, y,
which involves the same principle. The mem.
bvrs, therefore, in this country, cannot under.
stand how this practice, 50 universal among
them can be considered an offence against the
rules OF the church. And to refuse for more
than two years, to supply congregation with
aminister, as in the case Of Union Chapel, or
to punish ministerfor favoring the pew sys.
tenn, as in the case of Mr.. lnskip, sounds 70
their ears strange and unmethodistic.
Duriug the trial last week the spacious church,
above aud below, was crowded with listeners
Mr. Tnskip made most excellent speech in his
own defeuce. Itwas full Of humor, argument,
and sometimes sarcasm. The audience was
so delighted with it that once they forgot the
proprieties Of the place, and began stamp
ing aud clapping in token of their APPRECIATION
MIR. Inskip was also ably defended BY Rev. DIR.
Teift. The advocates in behalf Of the action
Of The Ohio Conference were Rsvs. G. Moody,
Geo. W. Walker, Jacob Young aud Df. Elliott
The decision Of the Conference against Mr.. In.
skip was reversed by large majority. This i
considered as settling the question Of pews; thu
strongest opponents conceding the vote in tina
case as test vote on the pew question.
The case Of Union Chapel will most probabl,
be taken up in day or two. There will be
proposition to modify the discipline of thu
church touching the practice, and there viii
doubtless be a very large majority in favor o.
modification.
A the first leisure moment [ will advise yor
farther in relation to the doings Of the Confer
ence. Yours, G. W. +.