The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-21

Minnesota Annual Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.

Minnesota Annual Conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Reported for the Pioneer and Democrat
The Fifth Session of the Annual Confer
ence of the above Church was opened in
Prescott on Thursday, the 18th of October,
Bishop Jones presiding.
After the preliminary religious exercises,
Jabez Brooks was elected Secretary, and A.
j. Nelson, Assistant.
The usual committees were then ap
pointed.
Xhe committee appointed last year to
report upon the affairs of Ham line Univer-
sity, submitted report very fattering as
to the usefulness of the institution; but
were grieved to say that unless some ar
engagements could be made to relieve its
pecuniary embarrassments, they could see
no alternative but forfeiture of its privi-
leges as University.
The Presiding Elders were called upon to
give a character of the work upon their
districts-reported generally very prosper
Gus, many conversions and a good state of
the Church.
Upon the question of who are the Super
animated Preachers? the following were
named N. Hobart, Peter Akers, j. H.
Lizard, John w. Dow, Ames G. Pennock,
G. w. I. Wright, $. Spates, r. S. Gum,
and Lewis Bell
MEMBERS IN FULL CONNECTION.
The forenoon's proceedings Of the Second
Day were almost entirely taken up with the
reception into.s full connection of Messrs.
Bowdish, Gleason, Willlord, Tucker, Judd,
aud w. Berg. The Bishop made very
pointed and interesting address to the can
didates.
NEXT ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
In the afternoon the first business was
the selection of place for the next Confer
ence. Red Wing was selected.
LAY DELEGATION.
The Committee to whom was referred the
Oregon resolutions reported adversely. The
following are the resolutions of the Oregon
Conference
l. Resoleud, That this Conference request
the General Conference, at its next session, to
provide in the Discipline for lay representation
in & oil
the Financial Educational and Benevolent mat
tiers. usually receiving Conference action, and
also to provide that the Lalty shall never have
vote in the Annual or General Conferences
which shall either modify or abrogate the
Itineracy.
2. ResOired, That the Bishops be respectful.
ly requested to bring the action of this Confer.
ence on the subject of lay delegation as con-
tanned in the foregoing resolution, before the
several Annual Conferences requesting their
concurrence therein.
STEWARDS REPORT.
The Conference Stewards report shows
deficiency upon the receipts of the Preach
ers' Claims of $5,75S.l4. Many have re-
ceived but from forty to fifty dollars for
their years labor; still they cheerfuIly take
their work, again trusting in the providence
OF God to sustain them.
A. D. Nelson, N. Lathrop, II. M. Cos
sard, Thomas Day, T. f. Chafee, Ezra
Tucker, G. Brooks.
DELEGATES TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE.
B. F. Crazy, Chancey Hobart, and Cyrus
Brooks reserved delegates, D. Brooks and
J.sF. Chaffee.
SLAVERY.
The Committee on Slavery made the fol
lowing report:
Your Committee see no reason why the Con
ference should weaken the testimony hereto
fore borne against American Slavery, or recede
from the position heretofore occupied in regard
to it. On the other hand, if we knew of Ian.
guage stronger than any that has yet been EN-.
plOyed. we would use it TO express our abhor-
renee of this enormous wrong; and if we knew.
of measures that would put an end to that
wrong more certainly and speedily than any as
yet suggested. we would recommend them for
adoption.
And we can see no propriety whatever in
cOndemning as sinful the purchase and sale Of
slaves, if it is not wrong to hold and use them
IN Slavery. Indeed, we regard ave-h0lding
as the great radical evil of the system and the
acquisition and transfer of slaves as the natur-
al branches. inevitably growing out of it.
We would respectfully recommend to the
Conference the adoption of the following reso.
ltOns
Resoived, That, as our first choice, we concur
with the Providence Conference in so altering
the General Rule that it shall read as folio WIS,
viz: Slareholding the buying or selling of
men, ,o0'nen, and children, ,ciM an intention to
ensiare them.
Resolved, That should the above alteration
fail, then, as our second choice, we concur in
the change proposed by the Erie Conference.
so that the Rule shall read as follows, viz
1.-THE buying, selling, holding or transferring
any human being to be used in Slavery"
ResOlred, That we recommend the suspension
of the Fourth Restrictive Rule, for the purposes
specified in the foregoing resolutions.
Resolred, That we do not concur in the
change proposed by Cincinnati Conference.
Resoered. That we respectfully recommend
the next General Conference so to alter the
chapter on Slavery, as effectually to relieve
the church OfrespOnsibility for the continuance
of Slavery in our land, by excluding from the
church all shareholders who will not confer
liberty upon their slaves.
Respectfully submitted.
CYRUS BROOKS. Chairman.
The report of the Committee was adopted
unanimously.
BOOK DEPOSITORY AT ST. PAUL.
The following resolution was adopted:
Reso!ued, By the members of the Minnesota
Annual Conference, that We request our Dele
gates TO the next General Conference to use all