Smyrna times., 1865-03-30
MISCELLA a n EOUS
Philadelphia III. E. Conference.

WEDNESDAY-SEVENTH DAY.-COnference
opened at 9 O'clock. Religious exercises by
Rev. William McCoombs.
After the reading of the minutes the Bish-
op said he would determine question submit
ted to him several days since. That question
was in reference to the introduction Of music
into the Church, and who has the right to do
so. The Bishop rendered the following decl-
sion:
| find no specific provision of law determin-
ing who has the. right to decide whether III
struments of music shall be used i'll our church
es, but all the analogies of the case indicate
that the Trustees have such right, they being
10y virtue of their office entitled to the posses
sion and control, for legitimate ends, of the
temporalities of the Church, including the real
and personal estate.
(Signed) D. w. CLARK.
The Bishop further stated that the Confer
ence had by their action, placed Rev. George
Barton, blind preacher, in the supernumera-
ry list without appointment. This cut him of
from all claims, which the Bishop hardly con-
sidered to be fair.
Rev. Mr. Barton replied to the Bishop.
Brother Quigly had told him that there was nc
opening where he could be appointed, and was
requested to be made a supernumerary man.
lie was not a supcrannuatcd man in any res
pect, except that he could not see. With al
i
not believe he would be unacceptable in the cir
cults or stations of which he had charge. He
desired his position fixed by this Conference.
George H. Stuart, Esd, President Of the
United States Christian Commission, was here
introduced. 4 number of the most thrilling
incidents of the battlefield were told with fine
effect, and received with the most rapturouS
applause. a number of curiosities were ex
hibited, the most interesting of which was q
massive pure virgin gold pen, made in Cali
/ fornia.
The original idea in its conception was t.
benefit the Christian Commission, one dollar
being charged for the privilege of writing ;
name with it. Much was raised for the pur
| pose i'll this way. The pen was then sent t.
the east to be presented to the President of the
| United States, with which he is first to write
the peace proclamation The pen is the mos
magnificent affair of the kind ever gotten up
1t is in the form Of large quill, richly bestud
ded with diamonds Mr.. Stuart handed thC
pen to the Bishop, who signed with it the pre-
amble and resolutions passed by the body, tt
be sent to the widow and friends OF the lat
Governor Cannon.
The order of the day, the preaching Of tn,
annual missionary sermon, by the Rev. G. w
CarrOw, was now called. The exercises wer
opened with the singing of hymn, and praye
by Rev j. \. Roache, of New York.
The sermon was then preached, the spcake
selecting Tor his text the thirteenth verse O
the mheteenth chapter of st. Luke, "Occup
until L come. The discourse was most abl
one.
THURsDAY-EIGIITH DAY-Rev. j. Turne
I was made supcrnumerary.
The following were received on trial by tn
Conference James Carrow, Wesley {. JOIN
son. John Walton, George w. Burk, W.
s Mcdowell.
/ An Afternoon Session was ordered for
n clock, and also one for y j. NJ.
DIR. Parrish then proceeded to address ii
, body in advocacy Of the United States Saints
u ry Commission.
The Board Of Stewards then presented the
report.
The sum of 81, 1877. 73 cents has been recei'
e ed from the churches in favor of the caiman
=; upon the funds Of the Conference. This IS a
increase OF S970.06 over any former year. The
report that they have added twenty per cen
TO the assessments made to'the churches, an
urge the importance of the collection.
The Secretary read the statistics for the pr
sent year FROM them we select the following
v. Number OF members, As, go; number of pr
ii ber of local preachers, 352; number of bal
tisms, adults, 1904, infants 444g: churche
I'd l44, probable value, 81 ,94G, $50; parsonage
73. probable value $l94, 100 Collections
Education, $l,l5O04; Tract 81, ,O26 81 Mi
,e sions, S55, ,573 A; Bible, $5,O35 90; Sund;
School Union, Sl,37l.8l; Church extensio
STA, 658. &c; Building parsOnages, sic, 9
Number of Sunday Schools, 597 officers al
E. teachers, 1902; scholars, 55,267. Convt
= APrERNooN SEssIoN.-Aflecting memoir
of tho members Of the Conference who ha
fallen in death during the past year were re
and adopted. They all closed their career
ae great peace and triumph, dying only as Chr
III III tians can die. Their names are Revs;
IN smith, Jas. Webb, J. b. Dennison, A. Free
he and Gov W. Cannon, Of Delaware.
A committee, to whom was intrusted
care of the widow and six children Of Rev.
- Freed, was appointed, consisting Of Revs.
Wallace, A. Manship, and }. W. jackson,
The following were appointed to preach
si. the next session OF the Conference on the 81
jects named:
The Missionary Sermon--Rev. }; Is. Met
Tough alternate, Rev j. f. Chaplain.
'V- On the relation of the ministry to Sunt
Schools-Rev. T. G. Murphy; alternate, Il
7. A Fernley.
The subject of changing the law Of the chu
was then taken up, and after remarks by Re
| r ~ = n a. =,