Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-03-18

was held In the Hall. Colonel Wilmer took II
chair at O'Clock. The services were az fol
lows Singing of the s99lh hymn, commencInr
'Jesus shall reign Where'er the sun" &c. Prays
by Rev. Il. i'' a'is'n Singing the oct
hymn. This was lollo std by the reading of III
Treasurer's report.
The Treasurer, WhitemaD, spoke OF tn
Affairs OF the Conference Missionary societ
when he was hrst elected its Treasurer in m
spring OF 1867, and Of the joy Of the Conferenc
over The report that they had raised 1876 900 =
Notwithstanding the financial disturbances du
ring the year, there was an increase Of $753. 90
This Increase continued every year except 1851
when on acoount of the general embarrassment
OF public nhaire, there was decrease OF Sb
O6s 80 Ia 1882, on Increase Of SloS7. IL VA
reported in 1868 there was reported an in
crease OF SS02 81 The Treasurer, at this an
nlVersary, reported an aggregate Of over $40 OOl
an Increase Of over $4,000 II was after
wards announced that Trinity Church, Philadel
phia, which have already given over S8OOe
would increase their contribution to $1,000
making grand total of $780, 900 as the Confer.
ence contribution for the last year
In gratitude for this Offering the Wts's audi
enoejoined in singing the doxology.
The audience was then addressed by Rev J.
DioEersOp, which was followed by singing the
sf5d hymn commencing, "From Greenland's 4
10y mountains" after which an address was
delivered by Rev. j W. jackson. Then follow
ed the singing of the l0O2d hymn, "See how
great 6ame aspires" The audience was ther
addressed by Rev. DR.. SeWell, of the Baltimore
Conference. The singing was under the direc-
ton OF Henry +. Pickles, aided by an efficient
choir, the whole audience joining. The doxol-
ogy was sung, and benediciion pronounced by
DR.. Hodgson, when the crowd dispersed.
Stsfh Day Iaeaddy. y.-Conference convened
a. the usual hour, Bishop Ames In the chair. -
The opening religious services we're conducted
by Rev. ]. Ruth.
The report Of the Committee on the Bible
Cause was presented by Rev. A. Atwood, Chsir-
man OF the Committee. II represents that the
American Bible Society has distributed to the
army and navy alone more than two millions of
OF Bibles and Testaments since the war began,
Two hundred thousand have been sent to Rebels
beyond the lines, and one hundred thousand to
Rebel prisoners Of war, by permission Of the
Government. Bibles are not contraband Of war
but like the sunlight Of heaven and the breath
OF life, are and ought to be untrammeled and
free for all
The foreign interests have been literally pro.
Vided for, and the missionary work has also been
we'll supplied
The report closed as follows.-
The annual contributions to the Society have
steadily advanced, but as the demands are great
er than ever therefore
Resolged l, That we gratefully acknowledge
the hand Of God In the liberality of his people
and the prosperity Of this noble enterprise.
ResoIVed ?. That we have the utmost conf
dence In the American Bible Society, and hear.
tily commend 1t to the continued sympathy and
support Of our churches.
ResolUcd 8. That we will preach in behalf OF
the Bible cause, take up a collection at each
our appointments to sustain II, and, in view Of the
increasing demand for Bibles in the army and
navy, we will urge upon our congregations the
necessity of very liberal contributions.
The report was adopted.
Rev. j. W. Jackson presented the following
report of the Committee on the State Of the
Country;
WhsTeds A Rebellion, unjust and causeless
10 its origin, and infamously wicked 10 it's OBJ
jects, continue to threaten the existence of the
Government framed by the wisdom and sacrifice
Of our fathers, and founded upon The corner stone
Of he freedom and equahiy Of all men and
Whereas, The success Of the leaders in this
unholy Rebellion in their avowed objects--the
dissolution Of our National Union, the dismem
berment of the country and the establishment OF
a new Confederaoy within the present territorial
limits, having for its cornerstone the system Of
human sldUey-Would be to imperl the existence
Of civil and religious liberty, which is the life Of
the nation and
Rhereds, As Ministers of the Lord Jesus
Christ, we relinquish no rights as American cit
liens, but are compelled by our articles Of reli-
gion to preach to all loyalty to the powers that
be, that are ''ordained of God," We, therefore,
Rssoipe, l, That as ministers and members Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church within the
bounds Of the Philadelphia Annual Conference
We reafirm our past declarations since this war
commenced, in reference to the Rebellion, and
our pledged determination to sustain the Gov
ernment in this crisis of our national existence
Resolped, 2, That while we acknowledge the
war as great national calamity, and lament the
untold mseries that by it are cntailed upon the
land in the loss oil precious iyes, in it's sad, de.
moraliring influences, we believe that the duty
Of the nation is to prosecute the war with all its
resourceg Of men and money, until peace shall
be obtained by victory, the Rebellion be com.
pletely subdued, the legitimate power and au-
thorily of the Government shall be re. establish
ed, and I'll the flag of the nation, as the emblem |
Of the undisputed sovereignty Of the Federal
Government, shall wave over every foot Of the |
territorial domain.
ResolUsd, 0, That as the Constitution OF the |
United States, the supreme law Of the land, |
makes II the duty OF the Government i'to sun |
press Rebellion" and as Government would be a |
nullity aside from it's administration, We main
tain that loyalty to the government is only to be /
understood as loyalty to the Administration Of
that Government as duly elected under the Con
and that in rendering to "CAsar the |
things that belong to Cesar" the entire unqual.
ifed and prompt obelience Of oil under its au-
thOrity is to be rendered to the Administration,
not for wrath, but for conscience sake and that |
resistance to its authority, either by speech or
action, is not only Rebellion and treason to the |
civil Government, but to God.
ResoiUed, 4, That while we recognize the right |
of citizens to discuss the measures and policy Of |
the Government, We yet affirm that 1t is reli-
gious duty "not to speak evil Of ministers and |
and that, especially in times like |
these, when the utmost wisdom is required in |
the administration of civil affairs, the right Of
even such discussion is only to be exercised with
great caution, prudence and forbearauce.
Resolved. 8, That 80 far as our influence may
extend, we dieoountenance and condemn the lily
concealed treason Of those who, Influenced by
party spirit, or sympathy with human bondage,
find tault with every warlike measure, under the |
pretext of a discrimination between the Uonstitu-
tion, as the supreme law Of the land, and the ad-
Of the Government as framed by
the Constitution. They are the secret foes Of |
the Government, with all the venom, but with
out the manliness OF Rebels in open arms.
Resolped, 6, That we recognise in American
slavery, 30 justly characterized by the Fathers
Of our Church 'as contrary to the golden law Of
God. on which hang all the law and the pro-
phets, and the inalenable rights of mankind, as
well as every principle of the Revolution the
root and palpable cause Of this most foul and
wicked Rebellion and that we rejoice that q
system SO contrary to heletter and spirit of our
holy religion, 80 abhorrent to humanity and civ
iliz ziton, has, by taking the sword of resistance
to the Government, secured its own destruction,
and that in the emancipation policy of the Gov
ernment we recognize the hand OF Him who,
thus overruling the councils Of men, has caused
a military necessity to coincide with the prinei.
Piles Of everlasting righteousness iu the eItirpa.
tion Of slavery, the prolific mother Of wicked leg