The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-11-27
The Virginia Methodist Conference.
slXTY-NINTH SESSION.
DANvILLE, Va, Thursday, o'clock,
November % 1861

hO -
slXTY-NINTH SESSION.
DANvILLE, VA, Thursday, 9 o'clock,
November "a, 1865.
SECOND DAY.
Bishop Early called the Conference to Or
der, and read passage of Scripture
Prayer by Mr.. Head.
DR.. Smith feelingly addressed the Confer
ence. He said this was the forty-Grst consecu-
tive conference he had at.anG-d, lie spoke
of the prayer meetings o. lie Conf renee as
being of the greatest importance to the
preachers. These meetings haa always bene-
fitted him in great degree.
DR.. Smith then led in prayer
Bishop Early addressed the Conference. He
said it was proper for the Conference to pray
for national blessings as we'll as for personal
blessings, and asked Mr.. Bennett to offer up
suitable prayer which he did ably and
eloquently.
The Secretary called the roll of members
who did not answer to their names on yester-
day
The Minutes of yesterday were read by Sec
rotary Whitehead and approved.
Bishop Early introduced Rev, Mr.. Wilson,
of the Baltimore Conference. He was received
by the members rising.
Mr.. Cranberry, presented memorial from
the official members of Market Street Church,
Petersburg, to the effect that the "ofice of
Presiding Elder is an unwise outlay both of
money and ministerial talent"
Mr.. j. l.. SIMPLIFY presented a memorial
from High Street Church, Petersburg, endor-
sing the Market Street memorial
A memorial was received from the Wash
ington Sweet Church, recommending to the
Conference: l. The extension of the pastoral
term. q To increase the number of Bishops,
so that they may have time to visit the differ
ent fields of their charge, besides presiding
over conferences 8. To abolish the office of
Presiding Elder, or so modify it as to make its
incumbents more tseful. a. That lay dele
cations be admitted to conference
After lengthy discussion upon the infor-
mality of the memorial from the Washington
Street Church Petersburg, all three papers
were referred to the Committee on the State
of the Church.
Mr.. Bennett presented the following pa
per, which was referred, after much discus
sion, to the Committee on the State of the
Church.
RESOLVED, That the Committee on the State
of the Church be instructed to inquire into
the expediency of memorializing the General
Conference SO to alter the economy of our
Church as to secure the following changes:
l. The extension of the term of the pasto-
rate to three years consecutively, or more, as
the General Conference may decide.
g. The abrogation of the office of presiding
elder as such, and the substitution of the plan
| of chairman Of districts
g. The admission Of lay representation
| into the legislative and executive councils of
the church.
a. The abolition of all regulations in refer
ence to the salary of preachers
g. The removal of the class-meeting test as
a condition of membership in the church.
| 6. The abrogation of the probationary sys-
| tenn and the substitution of some plan for the
reception of members that shall effectuallv
| guard the doors of the church against unwor-
| thy applicants.
7. The increase of the Episcopacy so as to
secure more thorough and complete pastoral
oversight of the church by it's chief pastors.
8. The propriety Of establishing depart
ment of biblical instruction in our colleges,
| for the benefit of young men who feel called
to the work of the ministry
W. w. BENNETT,
j. G. CRANBERRY.
The Bishop introduced Rev. Mr.. Kirkpat-
rick, of the Presbyterian Church and Rev.
Mr.. Tucker, of the North Carolina Methodist
Conference. They were received by the mem
bers rising.
The Committee on the State of the Church
was increased to thirteen
! The following announcements were made
by Mr.. Hall for preaching tonight:
John B. Dey in the Presbyterian Church.
w. H. Christian in the Baptist Church
S. S. Lambeth in the Methodist Church.
After benediction by the Bishop, the Con-
ference adjourned until 8 o'clock tomorrow
morning. Richmond Republic