Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-05-19
General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Chnrch.

r rom BaltlmOr6 sun.
Thirteenth day-Among the reports submitted
was one from the committee on revIsalS,
changing the order of public worship so as 10
provide for the reading OF one scripture lesson
frcm The Old Testament and one from the New
Testament in the morning service and one les
sen for the afternoon or evening service. They
also recommend that the Lords Prayer be
used at the close OF the opening prayer, IN
which the people are to be exhorted to Join
andibiy with the minister; also that the minis
ter always use the ritual at all services Of the
Lords supper, baptism and burial OF the dead.
1t also makes it the duty of the pastor to keep
the records of the church, and to report at
each quarterly conference the names of all
members who had been received, expelled,
Withdrawn or died during the preceding
quarter. The report was ordered 10 be printed.
The reports Of the majority and minority of
the committee on slavery were then taken up.
The majority recommended for adoption the
following resolutions ..
Resolpcd, 1. By the delegates Of the several
Annual Conferences, in General Conference
to the general rule on slavery, so that it shall
read:
sLAvRHoLDING, BUYING Or SELLING SLAVES.
Resolred, =. That we recommend the suspen-
sion Of the fourth restrictive rule for the pur.
pose set forth in the foregoing resolution.
Resolred, 3. That the bishops be requested to
submit the foregoing resolution to the Annual
Conferences at their next sessions, and If the
requisite number of votes be obtained, to report
to the book agents, who are hereby instructed
to insert the new rule in all subsequent editions
VI tuu
The mnerity report recommends the selling
or buying OF holding of slaves be prohibited,
"except for reasons purely humane"
Rev. John Lanahan. OF the Baltimore. and
Rev. 7. Mckendree RELY, OF the East Balti-
more Conferences, advocated the majority re-
port y.
Rev. Mr.. Phelps, Of the Baltimore Confer
ence, one of the slgners of the minority report,
did not think the precedents OF the past justi-
fed the adopt ion of suoh rule as is proposed
by the majority. He contended that slavehol.
ders, as class, gave as sure indications of
piety as any other. He had known them all
his life, and for thirty years had been timer.
ating among them, more or less. It was also
due to himself to say that he had no sympathy
with the system OF slavery, and he trusted to
God it would fall and If they could overthrow
1t, he was with them; but while this was his
own feeling on this question, he was not pre-
should be member OF Christian church
What oppresses us is, that in its dying agonies
it may do us an injury, and you, by your pres.
ent action, may contribute to this trouble.
Rev. Mr.. Harding, of the East Baltimore
Conference, and the Rev. Mr.. Drummond, Of
West Virginia, also opposed the majority re.
port 81
Rev. DIR. Tippett, of Baltimore, thought that
slavery was doomed. but considered the action
BORT would express his views twelve months
hence. He, however, would vote for the ma.
jority report.
Alter some further remarks the previous
question was ordered, and the yeas and nays
were taken on the majority report, resulting as
folloWs:-190 yeas to nays so that slavehold.
ers will be excluded from the church, as there
is little doubt Of the action OF the annual con-
terences. NJ s5zsg 80 u F.,-..l IS. s.