The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-05-10
General Conference Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church for 1866.
THIRD DAY-MoRNING SESSION

10r 1000.
THIRD DAY-MoRNING SESSION.
SATURDAY, May 3.
The Conference was opened with the usual
religious exercises.
The journal Of yesterday was read. The
Conference proceeded to busness-Bishop
Scott presiding
The Chair announced as first in order, petit
tons and memorials.
a New Hampshire delegate presented Pc
titlon on slavery, which was referred to the
committee on that subject. &.
A member from New York East presented
petition on the itinerancy. from churches in
New York and Brooklyn, which was read by
the Secretary. 1t referred to a change in the
duties and Office of presiding elder.
A considerable debate ensued whether or
not the memorial should be published. Much
spirit characterized the discussion. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY regarded as a question of vital impor-
lance to the itinerancy and Methodism. 1t
was finally ordered to print the memorial with
the names of the signers attached.
Other memorials were shown with large
lists of names attached, and motion made to
publish the names of the petitioners without
the memorials.
A motion was made to reconsider the vote
rial, and carried by a large majority.
The Bishops Address having been made
the special order of business for 10 O'Clock
Bishop Jones proceeded to real the conmunl-
cation prepared for presentation to the Con-
ference.
From the address we gather that there were
about 1900 preachers, travelling and local.
and nearly 100000 church membe S. This
has no reference, of course, to the membership
and ministry of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South The address glanced at the
state and progress of the Church for the past
four years. The Episcopal jurisdiction ex-
tended over 3S annual Conferences including
the Pacific coast and Liberia 1t looked to
change in the number of representatives in
the General Conlerence-redueing the number
so as to facilitate business; referred to educa-
tional statistics; the progress made in provid
ing the means OF liberal education; the pub
fishing progres s-showing a very large list of
readers to the various weekly, mon5hly, and
quarterly publications, amounting to 205, 46l
subscribers, and the number of copies issued
annually 9,97084o. The Sunday School sta
tistics we could not catch from hearing the
reading of the address. Not having access to
the documents of the Cone ence we have to
depend on our ear and memory for our re-
ports.
The Sunday School cause and tract cause
were alluded to and commended to I re consid-
Grafton of the Conference. The Missionary
contribution exceeded very far the sums ap-
propriated during the quadrennial period pre-
ceding the present term. We cannot give the
particulars of the extension of the missionary
work over the Western territories and in for
egn countries.
The slavery question was alluded to, and
the points submitted to the Conference wheth.
er or notit had the power to change the gen.
eral rules of the discipline on the subject.
| While it might be desirable to make change, a
constitutional right to make an alteration might
be questiond. We will publish that portion
of the address abiding to slavery as soon as
we can make room for it, as it is an important
political as we'll as religious document.
| A motion was made and carried to have one
thousand copies of the address printed in PAM
phlet form, for the use of the members, and
that it be published in all the General Confer
ence papers.
| On motion of j. A. Collins, of Baltimore,
the different subjects touched upon in the ad-
dress were referred to the proper committees.
After the appointment of the room commit
tee, and the arrangement of some minor
points of business, the Conference adjourned
till Monday morning.
1--WE have published the 4th days proceed
ings. The 5th days has not been received.
ED. JOUR.
|