The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-05-23
General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church for 1856.

FRIDAY, May 16.

Conference met with Bishop Ames in the
chair. The opening exercises were conducted
by DR.. E. Thompson of the Ohio Wesleyan
University. Journals of yesterday read.
Several members took exceptions to an edito-
rial articles in this mornings Advocate touch
ing the probable disposition of the slavery
question in the misunderstanding any ex-
PRESTON in the official organ, which might in
fuence decision on any question.
Mr.. Hamilton, of Baltimore, hoped the Con-
ference would address itself to it's proper work.
The members had entertained each other and
the visitors in the gallery long enough. He
had been very well entertained himself-never
better in his life. He moved that the report
of the Committee on Missions be acted upon.
The report was read-recommending the or
dination of Bishop for the Liberian Mission
as soon as fit person could be selected for
that statlon-giving him episcopal Jurisdiction
in Liberia only.
After a long discussion occupying nearly all
the morning, motion was made to lay the
amendment to the report, and the first resolu
ton of the report, on the table. Prevailed.
1t was then ordered to recommit the re-
mainder of the report The substitute offered
by Mr.. Porter, of New Jersey, was taken up,
and ordered to be referred to the committee.
After announcing appointments, the Confer
ence adj burned until tomorrow morning.
FIFTEETH DAY.-MoRNING SESSION.
SATURDAY, May II.
Conferei nee met and was opened with the
usual religious exercises by Mr.. Coon, Of Phila-
delphia.
The journals of yesterday read. Bishop
Waugh in the char
Several resolutions were presented in refer
ence to slight changes in the Discipline. Re-
ferred to the Committee on Reylsals.
The regular order of business was resumed.
The Committee on Missions reported on the
papers referred to them yesterday providing
for the election of Bishops for any mission
work where the necessity of the work shall
warrant it-limiting the jurisdiction OF the
mission Bishop to the territory over wiuch he
may be elected to exercise episcopal functions.
The report recommended the election of us
hop for Africa; the organization ola missionary
annual conference for Germany, France and
Switzerland; the establishment of Book Con-
Germ at Bremen, in Germany, under the super
vision of the Western Book Committee of the
church in the United States; opposed the divi-
sion of the missionary organization into For
eign and Domestic Societies; and recommend
ed an appropriation of funds for the African
mission.
The item of the report in reference to the
division into Foreign and Domestic Societies
caused considerable discussion as the commit
tee presented their report against the division.
Some members thought, as the report did, that
the domestic missions would suffer in the re-
ceipt of contributions, and it was the domestic
work which was most important to US. We
had large foreign population among US, and
one member from Rock River gave some inter
esting items in reference to missionary progress
among the German and Swedes of Illinois and
Wisconsin. Others were opposed to the sepa-
ration, as it would necessarily require separate
and additional officers and consequently, in
creased expense. The division, many thought
would involve such increased expense in con-
Quoting the business that the church could not
go before the people with good grace asking
aims for the missionary cause. The contribu-
tons to the missionary funds should not be
swallowed up in salaries for officers Other
denominations had helped us in this work, be-
cause it was well known that there were no
"Eeaks" in the system, but that every dollar
went directly to the object for which it was in
tended Create new officer and give fat sala-
ries, and the missionary glory of the church
would be gone.
This item of the report was adopted by
large majority.
A further item provided for furnishing books
to the African Mission Book Concern at the
same prices at which repositories in this coun-
try were supplied.
The Committee on Revisals reported some
items of minor importance relative to changes
in the General Rules of the church. An item
on Dress recommended an adherence to the
apostolic injunction that they should not adorn
themselves with gold, &c. Report laid over
under the rules of the Conference.
The Committee on the Bible Cause reported
exhibiting the state of the Parent Bible So
ciety as being healthy and progressive 1t
recommended a thorough exploration of the
country by the auxiliary societies in order to
supply all destitute families with the Word
of Life. The dissemination of the Bible in
foreign countries was shown to be on the in
crease. TRANSACTIONS had been made to suit
the languages of Europe and several of the
dialects of Asia and Africa.
DIR. Holdrich. Financial Secretary of the
American Bible Society, was introduced to the
Conference and made some brief remarks in
regard to the operations of the organization
with which he was connected. The society
had increased from very small beginnings I'M
til its present vastness was matter of curl
osity and admiration. They were now run
ming seventeen printing presses-making s.
600 Bibles per day, or about seven per minute
during working time
During the course of his remarks he alluded
to the arrival in New York of an educated
Spaniard asking for aid to distribute the Bible
in SPAIN The power of the priests was gone
from that country, and the people wanted no.
thing more to do with the Pope.
| The Committee on Temperance reported in
favor of maintaining the principles of temper
ance in tie manner in which the church had
always heretofore acted. The views of the
church had become the basis of action on the