Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-22
General Conference OF the Meth edist
Episcopal Church, south.

ORNAMENT The Rev. y. Lusk called up toe
resoluti on on dress, laid the table Wednes-
day the 18th Instant.
Rev. c. K. Marshall wanted to know wheth-
er it would not suit the brother to let that
matter lie over, and come up hereafter In
connection with the resolution of DR.. Drake
about lining the hymns. instrumental music
10 churches. riding circuits on horseback or
10 wagons, etc.
The resolution in question recommends
the striking out from the Discipline, section
8, On page l0S, entitled 20! Dress"
The Rev. Mr. Lusk said there was e lar
ing Inconsistency existing in the church
We stood, as a Church, 10 direct conflict
with the rule. 1t was standing evidence
of an awful apostacy. Ii was scandslous
inconsistency What class Of Methodists
CONFIRMED TO this rule? Go into our church
es in Louisville, Nashville, Charleston, New
Orleans, aud gold was seen everywhere, in
every form that it would be seen upon
Broadway dandy in New York. Such was
the axity of administration, that candidates
would be received into the church, though
loaded down with a weight Of gold under
which they could scarcely walk. Persons
would be taken into full connection, would
be licensed to preach, would be recon-
mended to the travelling connection, though
wearing in gold in every form. IL was re-
proach 1t was thrown up to Us in every part
of the connection. Why then retain the
rule, which is u dead letter? That we might
revive il? As we'll think of revIving an
Egyptian mummy, that had been sleeping
three thousand years five retain the rule,
a in mr. La
the brethren wear gold if they pleased; he
cared not how much they wore, but we ought
to expunge the rue. We loved the rule; 1t
was a good one: we ~ouli keep il in the Dis
cipline but va would not observe 1t Doe
brother said to him, he would wear his gold
spectacles, and still vote for retaining therule.
The glass would magnify just as much it set
in steel or iron. The speaker continued to
declaim in most edifying manner abou;
gold studs, gold sleeve-burtons, and gold
spectasles, aud gold watch-chains, and gold
hea led canes, and five hundred dollar dis-
moud breast-pins; and his style rose 10 the sub
limity eff his theme, aud his speech through
out was frIught with most refreshing fer
vor. Methodist preachers, be said, would
haste to meet the rich, loaded down with
ieweIry, when ;hey came forward to join the
church. while the poor and afflicted were neg
lected and uncsre1 for, etc, etc.
The X ". B. VI. Drake had read in an old
book, that thJse who compared themselves
among themselves, and measured themselves
by them selves, were not wise. lie was sorry
to see his respected brother doing 80. Whe-
Their the standard we're right or wrong, be
Mr.. Lusk) was for bringing it down to the
practice of our people. This was not the
course TO he pursued. lie had known 10
stances OF improvement 10 respect to dress
through the inIuence OF that section. de
hardly expected to hear bis brother say he
did not care how much gold people wore. Ii
was ridiculous to acknowledge that supertini-
ty of dress was wrong, and then expunge the
rule against it because people did not come
10 10 the standard. He would have no OBJ
lection to change that section into the strong
est language of Scripture. but was not pre-
pared for striking ont all tina; concerned the
su jact OF dress.
The Rev. J f Edwards, of Petersburg,
Va, felt little surprised at the remarks be
bad heard They were levelled not against
dress, but against gold spectacles, buttons,
and canes This was the staple Of the bro
theirs whole argument. If | understand the
General Rlle, it is against the putting on Of
gold simply as an ornament which certainly
does not apply to such things az speotacles
and canes. And il these things were forbid
den, there is not word in the Scripture
against men wearing, but only "the women"
50 that Oh orIptural ground we might claim
an exemption from the law. The brothers |
remarks were unfortunate. lie charged US |
with pressing to embrace the rich, and re. |
ceiye them into the church, while We passed |
10y the children Of Eoverty and sorrow.
repel the Imputatiou, aud will till die .
Perhaps some Of Us are not as particular, in
regard to superhuIty OF dress and ornament,
III receiving persons into the church, as we
should be; but the evi! certa nl y does not
prevail in our section Of the country to the
extent indicated in the brothers remarks.
am opposed to striking out. Let the sec
ton stand, and bring up the people TO the
standard. If we cannot do it, let us have
the satisfaction OF knowing that We have done
what we can.
The Rev. L. Pearce offered an amend
meut.
The Rev. Mr. Stacy moved an indefinite
postponement.
The Rev. Leroy NJ. Lee, of Richmond,
Va, did not teel great deal OF interest in
the matter, though he had to use his gold |
spectacles TO see what was 10 the Discipline.
lie did not understand It, snd never had un-
derstood it. What ornament was superfu-
Gus? Who could tell? The language GER
tarDly allowed some ornament who should
say at precisely what point ornament became
superhuCus? When was ornament supeIhu-
Gus, 10 style, in quality, 10 quantity, in
value? The best way to treat the whole
subject was to omit the section. IL was too
vague and iHdctinite. Where was the ruler
Rev. S. p. Richardson--lIere 1t 10 in tue
Genera! Rulc-"The putting 90 of gold and
costly apparel" The Rev. DR.. Lee, con.
llnued-Will you turn person out for wear
ing gold spectacles or gold breastpin p
Have you ever done Il? Where is the man
that can stand up aud say that be ever did
1t, and with the approval Uf bis brethren -
no can dehue or limit this matter? We
sometimes make great c.aDOr about gold.
We may carry as many twenty dollar gold
pieces In cur pockets as we please; but il We
should happen TO stick a little BIT Of 1t abOu.
here somewhere, (ayng bis hand upon his
breast somebody Is greatly scanda!ized.-
We may store up az much gold as We can 10 |
our Golfers; but If we should make a hole in |
a gold dollar and hang it 10 a tuttoo-hole,
some one would Immediately be offended
| beard the eccentric Mr.. Mafitt say, that |
when sumo one asked why he did not preach