The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-06-02

in the reports of Boards of Manage.
ment, and OF the book agents. The
statistics of 1868 present the following
results: Members and probationers
923.394; travelling preachers, 6,788
local preachers 1856; churches, 1920
probable value, S20,83O,554; parson,
ages, 1858; probable value, s2,790, 150
amount collected for conference claim.
ants, S66,41O; for Missionary Society
1899, ,073: for Tract Society, sl2,534; for
American Bible Society, s55,685; for
Sunday School Uuion, $ll ,633; Sunday
Schools, 13,008; officers and teachers
1876, ,967; scholars, 1852; volumes in
library, 2,3OO,783
X # 4 Il Il Il
Tho progress of the Federal arms
has thrown open to the loyal churches
Of the Union large and inviting fields
of Christian enterprise and labor, In
the cultivation Of these fields it is nat.
ural and reasonable to expect that the
Methodist Episcopal Church should
occupy prominent position. She oc'
cupied these fields once. Her network
of Conference districts and PASTORAL
. charges spread over them all-all. in.
deed, both within and beyond the Fed
cral lines. For nineteen years they
have been in the occupancy of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South, to
the wrongful exclusion of the NJ E
Church. But her days Of exclusive
occupancy are ended. The wall Of
partition is broken down by.that very
power whose dreadful ministry was in
yoked to strengthen it. And now, the
way being open for the return Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, it is but
natural that she should re-cntGr those
fields and once more realize her un.
changed title, as "the Methodist Epis.
copal Church in the United States Of
America. " She ought never 10 have
been excluded from any portion of the
United States; she ought never to have
consented on any ground, to such ox.
clusion. And now, that the providence
ofGod has opened her way, she should
not be disobcdient to her heavenly
calling, but should return at the earliest
practicable period,
But how! This is the great question
And while we defer for the full answer
to the wisdom of the General Confer.
cncc. we feel that we ought TO say that
she should enter those felds-as she
enters all felds-she should enter
preaching Christ, and Him crucifed
TO all classes Of people, laboring with
all her might, to bring sinners to re-
pentcncc, and to build up believers in
that holiness without which no man
can see the Lord, and welcoming back
such ministers and members as were
cut off from her communion without
their voluntary act Yet it is oar sol
en,n Judgments that none should be ad
: mitted to her fellowship ,Oho are eithe,
Shareholders, Or are tainted nth treason
We suggest such a change in the
dicipline as will permit the recognition
Of such members and ministers as il
may be proper to receive into the
church.
We may add to what is hero said
that the bishops, at their meeting in
November last, arranged among them.
selves to have the Southern territory
then within the Federal lines explored
with q view to make such temporary
arrangements as might be found tC
be practicable for the supply Of the
spiritual needs Of the forsaken people
The bishops have made the exploration
more or less thoroughly, either by
personal visitation or correspondence
f and have temporarily appointed few
preachers.
AS an evidence Of the loyalty o.
these venerable and pious men, We
quote from the report Of the Inquirer
a description Of the scenes that attend
ed its reading:
When that part Of the address was
read which recommends the passage o
q law that. no STAKEHOLDER shall hero
after be entitled to admission into thC
Methodist Episcopal Church, it wal
hailed with tho most unbounded ap
plause.
The strongly anti slaveiy members
of the body could scarcely tell whethe
they were in the flesh or out of it
while the whole body seemed to feel
that the year ofjubilee had come. Tb'
, Rev. Bishop was compelled to ceas'
for n time his reading, which pause
was fully occupied by continued ap.
plause, and shouts Of GLORY" "llal
; lelujah!" "Amcn!" &c.
The address was finally finished
, when it was proposed to sing 70 'Olt
Hundred" Praise God from whom
r all blessings fow,' &c,
6 A motion was then made 10 prin
five thousand copies of the address,
/ On this question an opportunity wa
. taken by the members of body for zen
f joying,' as DR.. Hill of Erie remarked
@ 'the sunshine of the day" Great ant
g rapturous jubilation was expressed
:. on account of the change in nationa
!, affairs, which, in the providence o
i. God, has rendered this proposed, actor
of the church possible.
Stirring speeches we're made by th
. Rev. S. Y. Monroe Of New Jersey, Rev
! COL Moody Of Ohio, Rev. DR.. Kingsley
i of Erie, Rev. Mr.. Drummond, and {
: great many others.
0 Finally it was determined to prin
ten thousand copies. Of the address TO
: gratuitous circulation, and request il
: publication in all church papers.