The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-09-18
Gbe 4ailg 9onrnal,
Reported for the Vincennes Daily Gazette
INDIANA CONFERENCE.


and approved.
On motion of Mr.. Crary, the Presiding Ell
der and preacher in charge were consti tuted a
Icommittee of examination for local preachers
on their works, applying for Deacons or Elders
orders.
The Trustees and Visitors of the Male and
Female Academy, at New Lebanon of the
Bloomfield High School of the Bloomington
Female College of the Indiana Female Col
1ege at Indianapolis and of the Ashbury Fe-
male College, at New Albany, presented re-
ports for the several institutions and they were
referred to the Committee on Education.
Bishop Simpson then called the class of the
second year, preparatory to asking the prelim-
mary questions. Previous to asking these
Questions the Bishop made some forcible APP
lpropriate remarks. After this, Rev. j. Hill Of
fered resolution instructing our delegates in
General Conference to oppose any change in
our Discipline in relation to Glass meeting, or
during the time Minister may remain in one
appointment. The resolution was unanimously
adopted.
f. H. Sabin offered resolution on the sla-
very question--pending which; an animated
discussion ensued. In the discussion, Rev. B.
r. Crary and DR.. Curry took part.
The Reporter being absent during the time
of the address of these two gentlemen, he is
unable to give all the points made, and the ar
guments presented by them. At the conclu-
sion Of the Doctors address, B. +. Crary, by
permission of the Conference, again spoke upon
the resolution. He maintained that the Church
had ever been opposed to slayery-the spirit
of Methodsm is the spirit of prohibiting sla
very-yet before the division of the Church,
this spirit and the general rule had been disre-
igarded, so that Ministers owning slaves had
been appointed to different fields of labor. He
believed etery member of this Conference is at
heart opposed to this great evil-yet it will be
impossible at the approaching session of the
General Conference to change the general rule
l-two-thirds Of the annual Conference not hav-
ing voted therefor. Ii could only, as prelimi
nary, pass a strict explanation of the rule--yet
the chapter in the Discipline was weak and in
consistent. 1t does not speak forth the spirit
of prohibition as it should. The Church was
called an Abolition Church--he was not now
much afraid of that name, if byit was meant an
deposition to slavery; and the Church should
throw its coors to the breeze as an Anti-Sla-
very Church.
L. H. Sabin endorsed the remarks of DR..
Curry in exhibiting the evils of slavery-he
had a strong anti-slavery heart-he wanted to
see the General Conference take high grounds
upon this subject-the Church had been vasci-
lating upon the question. There is spirit in
some quarters of binding the hands of those
|who should speak out fearlessly their opinions;
yet he long since had made up his own opinion,
and expected the principles upon which he
acted to go with him to the end
/ Mr.. McGinniss wished to make some re-
marks upon the sui ject. He had been accus-
toned to hear the Discipline and fathers in
the Church spoken of with esteem-if he had
the casting vote he would give it to seal the
death warrant of slavery-yet he was not pre-
pared to believe that every man holding slave
was a sinner-he was not prepared to adopt
such a course as would forever keep our
Church off ofslave territOry-yet he was will
ing to favor an explanatory note on the gen
eral rule, and to amend the chapter in the
Discipline so as to give members and ministers
equal privileges and equal restraints.
| Il. Whitten could not vote for the resolutions
because he conceived they were more flvora-
BILE to slavery than the discipline now is. He
wanted rule that would prohibit all slave
holders from the church. He wished the
stakeholder to be dealt with as the drunkard
| as the adulterer.
| G. B. Davidson felt that the Conference was
already weary of the discussion. He would
pot detain the Conference long; and he would
not enter into the excitement on the subject.
! He believed that the more conservative felt as
anxiously and prayed as earnestly as any others
\ that the God of Providence should remove the
Hevil of slavery from our midst. 1t is not
hard. to get up difficulty here 1t was easy to
raise an excitement upon the subject. But
the question should be met coolly, and with the
fear Of God before our eyes. Inconsistencies
and an appeal to the passions should be avoid
led. He was in favor of the resolutions.
DR.. Curry explained, He had tried to avoid
raising an excitement upon the question. Hel
Ihad not thought of casting contumely on the
memory of our fathers, but ifexhibting incon
lsistences in their actions was contumely, he
lpIead gpilty to the charge.
On motion, the subject was suspended until
the Book Agent should make his final re-
lport.
1 The time having expired, the usual notices
were given, and the Conference adjourned by
Bencdiction, to two o'clock 2. NJ.
i AFTERNOON SESSION.
: The Conference met at two O'Clock, was call
ed to order by the Presiding Bishop, and open
led in the usual manner,
The Conference proceeded to the conisdera-
ltion of the third question: Who are admitted
Into full connection? The Examining Com
Imittee having reported the names of T. e.
Whitfield Il, r. Lathrop, John Layerty, J. B.
Admire, R. B. Spencer, Calvin Lee, Charles
ITinsley, A. P. Forsyth, being called, their
characters passed, and they We're elected to
IDeacon's orders.
j. 7. Bean and David J. Hayens were, ON
motion discontinued
i B. F. Rawlins, late of the California Confer
lence, was re-admitted by a unanimous vote.
Whereupon, the Conference proceeded to
the election Of General Conference Delegates