The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-05-20

SOUTHERN METHODIST GENERAL CoNFERENCE.-A
correspondent of the Petersburg (Ya) Democrat,
who gives much more intelGgble reports than are
to be found in the official Journal writes follows
from the Southern Methodist Conference, under
date of the 18th inst:
There is, at the time of this present writing a
most animated discussion going on III the General
Conference on what are called the Alabama resolu-
tions. Tie Constitution of the CHURCH requires
that, ia order to change the general rule of the
Church, there must first be 4 concurrent recon-
mendation of three-fourths of all the members OF
the several annual conferences, who shall be pre-
sent and vote on such recommendation" Without
such recommendation the General Conference can
not make any change affecting the General Rules
OF the Church. In the case before the Conference,
the Alabama Con ference adopted resolution ask
ing the General Conference at its present scs ion,
10 abolish the General Rule the snbject of
buying and selling meh, women and children
&c. These resolutions were passed round TO the
Annual Conferences for concurrence. three
fuurths majority was obtained in the Conferences
tu which the resolutions were submitted, but il 50
happened that through some oversight, the Ala
balna resolutions were not submitted TO the Kan
SIS, Indiana, Missouri and Pacific Conferences, and
now the debate is on the question whether this
present General Conference has the constitutional
authority To act in the premises.
The Committee on boundaries this morning, re-
ynrted in favor of transferring the Danvie District
upw in the North Carolina Conference, to the fir-
boundary line between the two Conferences viz: The
Albemarle Sound ard the Roanoke river up to the
point where the river crosses the State line then
from the state line to the top of the Blue-Ridge
Mountain. This change, if adopted by the Con.
ference, will throw ali the counties of Virginia
III the North Carolina Conference, into the
Virginia Conference, aud will retain, at present
all that portion OF North Carolina lying North of
the Albemari Sound, known the Murfreesboro
District i'll the Virginia Conference. 1t is believed
that the report OF the committee will be adopted,
but not without severe contest on the Conference
floor.
The proposition to dispense with pro5ati0n, as a
condition OF membership, is under favorable con
sideration in the Committee Reyisals, SO il is
said and the probability is, that there will be a
modification of the system, if it is not entirely
abolished, as the future law the church.
The law, as ii now stands, respecting class meet
ugs, it is also probable, will be materially modi-
fed but the whole sentiment of the Conference is
decidedly in favor of Glass Meetings a pruden-
tial means of grace aud whatever action is had
ia relation to the existing law-which is regarded
entirely obsolete--the institution itself will be
Ierpetuated as a means of grace, and all that can
be done by the General Conference, will be d0Be,
render them more efficient in the accomplishment
OF the ends proposed by them.
The support Of the Bishops of the Church which
is drawn from the proceeds of the Publishing
House. ii is proposed to distribute among the sew
eral Annual Conferences, 10 be raised by special
collections for this purpose.