Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-12-07
v1RGINIA MErnoDIsr CONFERENCE.


VIRGINIA METHODIST CONFERENCE.
This body closed It's deliberations at Danville on
Thursday night. The following preamble and reso
lutiols Were adopted:
Preamble to Report Gr Committee Oh the State O
the Church on the CoioTed PEOPLE.
The committee have carefully considered the
, question of our duty, a church, To the coloyed
| population within the bounds OF the Virginia An
nual Conference. ANA are oi opinion that the sub
/ ject is one OF great magnitude and fraught will
/ grave and delicate responsibilities.
! Yet in the order OF a mysterious Providence, We
neither can nor ought to omit It's consideration. II
behooyeS Us 10 encounter IL with calm delberation
aud meet It's responsibilities with Christian resou-
/ ton.
It's the solemn conviction of your committee that
the religions oversight OF the co,Ored people Of the
| south specially deyolyes upon the churches of the
SoutL There are many Weighty reasons for this
/ conclusion, several OF which We briefly adduce -
/ Their actual position amongst Us. in which they are
likely to remain, places them at our doors, and.
were. in our hands. Their contiguty to US, III such
large numbers. likes Cur relations 10 them ~ a
Christian community, and leaves no doubt as to the
GENERAL question OF our moral obligations toward
| them Their former relation 10 our people and our
citizens a. slaves between whom, notwithstanding
Ahe violence OF It's disruption, there aIe peculiar SYM
uathieS aud attIc hmcnts, J. another element IN the
| account. The fact tuat many Oi them were mem
OF our CIuitH anu ul'ttI oul impulses
this duty upon u. Our intimate knowledge o! their
| uecul iLr habits character and necessities, give Us
/ extraordinary advantages for doing them good
And the manifest uuiitnc,s OF Northern preachers,
whether white cclurcd especially such is possess
flnatica IDEAS, to impllt to them suitable instruc-
tons either in religion or morals renders Il mpcr1-
tive upoH Us Ia undertake the task whatever may be
it. di!liculLcs
WIth this summary OF facts, AMI recognizing as
We do their civil freedom q: an undoubteh fact voar
committee arc persuaded that it Is inrual1cnt upon
H. 10 utlnpt immediate measures 10 prOmOt the pm
tual welfare OF the coorcd population amongst IL.
fhev therefore recommend the adoption of the !o!-
/ lowInt resolutions.
Reyoirad Thatwe cyiuce our interest IN them by
Gathering them together aud preaching 10 them
wherever il j. p:act CHhic IN the course OF on! rcu-
lar m.ui-tation.
Rryolr5i That missionaries be appointed to serve
them ~ suitable localities.
Rcsolrcl. That sabbath schools exclusively for
the benefit Of coored children and adults, be in,.-
tinted.
ReSolced. That separate churches he organized
for them and pastors be sent To them rs soon a. II
can be done with propricy.
Ecy0ircd That the Genral Conference he request
ca to provide that suitable colored person. he IL
cenS,l 10 eNholt and preach and To become eligible,
under proper restrictions for deIcons' and elders
orders.
Reyolrcd That the General Conference be recon-
mendcd at its discretion 10 establish, Il sooH a.
circumstances Justify, one or more annual confer
cuces OF colorrd preachers under the super.n,end-
encc of orr bishops.
Ras0lrcA That We recommend to our people to en-
courage the attendance Of the coored population on
public religious worship and to furnish them all pro-
per facilities to that end.
Rcsolreh That we will encourage and aid as
far rs we can julriously. the establishment OF day
schools for the literary instruction of the coVred
children.
RcyoIccd That We regard It incNpedicnt to recon-
mead special legislation hc subject OF the traffic
nfardent spirits IN the view OF the fact that our eX
i>tfng laws are sufficient to reach any immortality
whatever may BE- It's specific character.
Rcy0ircH. That wc recommend the General Con-
ference to consider the pr0pliety o: altering the
discipline that each society may have at leasc one
steward ana each station not less than seven, and
as many more as may be in some proportion oi It's
ui1mBeTS. NELSON HEAD, Ch u.