Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-15

The annual sessions OF the Baltimore OOn-
ference of the NJ. e. Church, commenced
in this place on Wednesday the 18th inst.
Bishop L. Scott, presiding, and Rev. }. 5.
Martin, Secretary, and Rev. ]. b. Arm
strong, assistant
The first day was consumed pretty much
in an unsuccessful attempt to create, tlrst,
committee to whom should be referred me-
MORALS, &c, and secondly, committee on
the State of the Church. The main idea
in the creation of these committees was to
refer to them papers on the subject Of Sla-
very. They were both defeated. The con-
sideration of the new Chapter on slavery
and the relations of the Church growing
out of it, were then made the order of the
day for Thursday, at 10 o'clock.
SECOND DAY
The Conference opened with singing, and
prayer by Rev. John Thrush.
Memorials were presented by the Bishop
and adopted, for the restoration of the
Revs. Mr.. May bee, and Thos. j. Harding
The Chair was ordered to appoint COM
mittee on periodicals. Revs. Messrs. Tudor
and Metals were appointed.
Rev Norvel Wilson presented commu-
nication FROM Thos. T. Harding, which was
referred to the committee on necessitous CO.
ses.
Rev. T. H. W. Monroe presented the re-
port Of the publishing committee of the Bal
timore Christian Advocate. Adopted.
The Chair ., esented certificate of Rev
R Barns. Referred to the committee on ne
cessitous cases.
On motion of Rev. J Eandstreet, the Or
der Of the day was taken up.
Speakers were limited to 80 minutes.
The Bishop exhorted the Conference to
''let brotherly love continue"
A great many questions were propounded,
in writing, to the Bishop, as to the meaning
of the new chapter on slavery in the Disci-
pine.
Rev. Alfred Griffith, "the old man elo-
quent," proceeded to address the Conference
upon the doctrine of the new chapter, pro-
nouncing it spurious, false and heretical in
morals, " and at war with the spirit Of the
Church as understood and preached BY those
who built the church, and made it what it
is. Ha INDUCED in some pleasant and in
teresting "reminiscences Of the labors of the
pioneers Of liethodism, and declared that
the relation an applicant for mem bership
bore to slavery was never thought of or
considered. He pointedly alluded to the
law as laid down at Mt Sinai, whore the
coveting Of neighbours ''man servant or
''nad servant" was denounced, as evidence
that slavery then existed, and argued that
in the whole catalogue Of offences prohib.
tied and condemned, the .'sin" of slavery
was never mentioned BY the great Lawgiyer
| Rev. N. Wilson followed 10 a clear, en-
phatic, and as we considered, unanswerablc
argument against the new chapter, and for
Immediate separation from the General Con-
| ference
Rev. Z. P Phelps succeeded Mr.. Will
son, and intended his remards as a reply tc
/ the positions Of that mountaineering
that the new chapterdid not constitute cause
sufficient for separation. He spoke hall
hour, but by vote Of the Conference was
permitted to continue bis remarks on Frl>
day.
The Reverend gentleman will have to
improve upon bis speech of Thursday, if he
hopes to reach the core Of the question dis
cussed, as presented by Messrs. GLENN and
Brooke in their questions, aud Griffith and
| Wilson in their remarks.
| The attendance on Thursday was cutie
large, and the interest in the proceedings
must continue to increase daily until the
perplezing and exciting question before the
body is disposed Of.
There are present about 100 ministers,
and as many laymen. We have not been
present at any Of the sittings Of the lay con-
venton, and cannot, therefore, give no.
tlce OF its proceedings