, 1864-05-17
FROM PHILADELPHIA.
General Conference Of the Methodist
I:pikcopnl Church In l,htindclpAia,
ECupKTIrQpfA%.


P1u1ApK1PA1A, May 13, 1864.
Friday, May 6. was set apart By tie Gen
cral Conference as day Of fasting and
prayer for tho success Of our national arms
As the events have proved, 1t was an especial
" appropriate day for prayer, though no one
knew 1t would be 80 when it WAS first ap.
pointed. It nas tit, too, that special prayer
should be offered bya religious council, Is
sembling In city where the first Continent
III Congress met; wherein is Independence
Hall, in which the noble men Of other days
affixed their signatures to the document,
which, declaring all men free and equal, Is
tho sheet anchor Of liberty and the charter Of
freedom; city In which was framed the
Constitution now fmperlled BY the last des-
Ecrate effort Of ambitious traitors; eity in
whose harboE the flag of freedom Was first
unfur]ed by Paul Jones, and whose bell drst
proclaimed tlibcrty to all the land aud to ali
the Inhabitants thereof;'' city which en-
1ells among its heroes Rittenhouse and
Franklin, Fulton and Norris, West and the
two Dickensons, the first of whom wrote his
name On tho Declaration Of Independence,
Colambia;'' q city who're title Of Brothcrly
Love, is not only asserted by ito Quaker
meeting houses and its genuine hospitality,
but by its munlhcent benefactions! to our
soldiers, its grand provisions for the sick and
wounded, and its noble response to every
effort of the Government to maintain the
national honor and the cause Of freedom.
1t may be supposed that In such q city,
day Of prayer appointed By 80 l1rEe aud SO
influential body rs the General Conference
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was full
II Observed. Three houses Of worship were
opened, In each of which there were three
services-thcy were fully attended. The ad-
dresses Of the speakers vera able and clo-
quent-wanting perhaps some Of them, in
The fire and GLOW with which meR speak who
are accustomed to breathe the pure air Of
the eprairies, and the inspiration Of the great
lalkB, where God has embo5omed the great
mirrors in which he reflects the graudcst e1-
grand aud in the full realization Of tue mo.
mentous crisis In which the nation WAS
rlaced-noblc utteraaces Of hearts,; full of
christ m devotion and patrioticterYdr.
Perhaps there was noteAe of these which
e1ce1led the effort Of Rev. DR.. Thompson,
Of New York, or that Of Rer. j. B. WakeIy,
who spoke at the Salem Methodist Episco-
The fact that Asb,ur and Coke. the first
Methodist blsbeps were the first minister's
In America to present m address to Wash
iugton, declaring the determination Of the
church to abide BY tho Constitution and de-
fend the Government. The Methodists were
late George Washington. Methodist preach.
ers wcro loyal then, and are loyal now to tha
hearts core. what sight to look upon,
those two hundred and sixteen representa-
tiycs in our General Conference. gathered
from the East and West, all patriotic, and
country, in the Union Church Of this city,
while the starry banner floats over their
heads.
1t was great day tor Christian patriotism
in PHILADELPHIA, The most prominent ques-
tions on which action will be taken here, are
the presiding eldership aud the cxtensl4n of
the time for pastoral service. a large nun
Der Of the delegates are presiding elders, aud
consequently re may not anticipate any ma
teria1 attentions In that relation. And I am
sorry to say the indications are daily more
unfavorab1e to the extension of time. fear
1t will not prevail Eaw IN the hands Of
member Of the Committee on Episcopacy q
resolution declaring that no preacher could
exercise the pastoral office, under the law Of
the church, longer than two years in SUCCESS
sion. The resolution, which has not Us vet
been presented to the Conference, grows ont
Of the situation Of the church in Missouri,
where Rev. II. Coz, formerly Of the Wabash
ransement with the church, 1lling the pulpit
One Of tha pleasing Incident. Of Monda,,s
session was the reception of an invitation
from the Union League Of the city, and 1t is
proposed to have grand reception on Mon
Jay night next Tie Conference is also to
lie Welcomed BY the city authorities In 1nde.
peRdence Hall.
The venerable Bishop Morris delivered an
historical discourse before the Conference,
full Of suggestions Of practical wisdom, and
enriched By an allusion to lis Christian ex-
perience. append summary of his varied
iabors which will interest yczy many Of your
readers.
lwss lsccnted to preach On the I'd OF April, 1914,
ty Elder Daytd Youas, sad By him empleYed on i
circuit In 1876; admitted trial By the Ohio Con-
ference in 1s1t1 and into full connection and Or
d"s:ed Deacon II 1s1a and ordained Elder In 1seO,
h*lf that was Lfcenlate, preached termoss,
I'VE 1tVU
A. Otacons TWO SeaFe. .+-.........-.......... go
Al Elder, Hixteen years.. .......-........, 1900
As Hishop, tTcpty-eight yeara, about....... 3,u0
In ~, sAy. ..........----............. $50
1trayc1ea ~ preacher bcfcreI was Bishop,
mostly sn horseback. Hijos $500. 60 NAN
As GshoF, mostly By public conveyance. 10000
In Ill. say, miles. 200 NO
During twctty-eisht years. Episcopal ser