Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-06-27

Mr.. EDIroR:-The tweifth DeIega-
ted General Conference OF the Meth
odist Episcopal Church closed its ses-
sion on last Thursday evening. /
have thought that brief rssums
might be neither displeasing nor un-
profitable TO your readers. Yet. l
must. in justice, say that have been
absent from the Conference room
much Of the time-necessarily 50.
As to the appearance Of the body it
is enough to say that gentlemen. ac-
customed to see the various assem-
bles which have met in our State
House from year to year, pronounce 1t
the finest looking body Of men ever
convened in the Capitol. There wAs
q suitable mixture OF aged experience
and youthful vivacity. On thislpoint
one suggestive inquiry. Some Of our
elder ministers are perpetually de-
nouncing the younger for departure
from the old land marks-and will
they tell me how it comes that every.
SO called innovation Is headed By I'D
men {?
The animus Of the Conference
may be styled that of Cautious pro-
gression-just the spirit most hopeful
to the church. A spirit which win not
refuse change for the better. but which
demands that substantial reasons shall
be shown.
Among the mass Of business done.
l may specify a few items.
About mine new Conferences were
created. yet no new Bishops were
elected. This is as II should be. By
the proper arrangement, the present
Board Of Bishops can hold all the
Conferences and give them sufficient
time. The probability is that after
one more fall session, our Conference
will be held in the month Of April
"a consummation devoutly to be
wished"
Our Bishops are laborious and sc-
tive men, and will work hard. and We
believe in letting them. Yhe Souti.
Eastern Indiana will meet in Madison
Sept. IT. Bishop Waugh presiding.
SLAvERr.--It was evident that this
was the great question Of the session
and one which would require much wis.,
dom and much grace to settle. Unlike
former discussions. there was in the
late General Conference no pro-slave-
ry element. The members from Bal
timore Conference, from Missouri, vir-
qinia, Arkansas, Texas DC. sll ad-
mitted the evil Of slavery. its antago-
nism to the genius Of Christianity and
civil liberty, and the duty Of every
man 1, labor for its ertirpofion.--
The anti-slavery men to speak tech
nically) also admitted that there were
circumstances under which slavehold.
| ing might exist without sin--that the
legal relation Of master and slave
might be found. where both masteI
and slave walked blameless before God
Yet there was marked differences
Of view. The sentiment Of some wal
that the Discipline should I've sc chan
ged that non.slsveholding should b
a test Of membership. or at least tha
the possession Of slave should b
prima facis evidence Of moral wrong
and the possessor be put TO the proc
Of innocence.
The other side contended the new
chapter reported by the majority o
the committee on slavery. Instituted I
new test Of membership unknown 4
the Discipline--thst to make nev
term Of membership by mere stafuf
while the rule. apart ofshe Constitution
remained unchanged was Of doublfu
constitutionality. An this view con
CURED some Of the leading snti-sla
very men Of New England and else
j where. 1t was also contended tha
the proposed change would do no rea
service to anti-slnvery. either 60 "a
a. slave or master vss concerned; tha
Il would seriously smmbarrass eiIec
tive anti-slavery effortA now beinI
made &c.,
i The discussion continued ssvera
days and was conducted Ia sxceIlen
temper most OF the time. The pro
posed chapter was finally laid on th
table, and vote taken on ths propos
ed change Of the general rule--thl