The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-05-22
From the Richmond Christian Advocate

| ACTS OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE O
the Methodist Z CAurch, South, ut its late ses
sion IN Neeo' Crleans.--The action Of the len
eral Conference may be summed up in the fol-
lowing items:
l. The name Of the Church it was resolved tc
change to Episcopal Methodist Church, provid
ed that three fourths of all the members of the
several Annual Conferences shall co6cur therein
2. Lay Represen tation-four laymen, one OF
whom may be local preacher, Go be elected
by the District Stewards Or IN such way the
Annual Conferences may directly to each Pre-
siding Elders District in the Annual Confer
ences; an equal number Of laymen and clergy
men as representatives, to the General Confer:
ence, excepting the number be odd, then the
advantage Of the odd number to he given to the
clerical portion-the lay members Of the An
nual Conference to elect the lay representatives
to the General Conference, and the clerical
nemBk<s to elect the clerical representatives,.
Upon the request of one-6fth of the General
Conference, the laymen and the clergymen car
form two distinct houses, when concurrent
majority will be necessary to pass any law
This action, however, is subject to the same
confirmation anG approval Of three-foarths of all
the preachers 10 the several Annual Conferences.
3 The limit of the Pastorate has been ex-
ttHutu llOI1 t"O W lOdI JtdlS.
f. a system Of Church meetings was adopt
ed, to be held once month if practicable,
otherwise once quar+er-to be presided over
by the preacher IN charge The object of It is
to put the membership more thoroughly ia con-
nection with the various enterprises of the
Church.
5. The probationary system has been abrosa-
ted-members to be received formally by
the preacher in charge, according to the form
of the baptlsmal service, or some other form In
an appendix to the Disci pine.
6. Class meeting is placed upon the same
footing with prayer meeting, and is no longer a
test Of membership
7. The missionary society is divided into
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society,
with distinct Board Secretaries and Treasures
the former located at Nashville, aud the latter
at Baltimore
8 Everyth in the Discipline in regard to
the men and women sitting apart in the church,
has been taken out.
g. The whole matter of the quarterage has
been merged into real support.
10. Everything advisory in regard to dress is
taken out and so too all that part which re-
auires preachers to consult the presiding elder
upon the delicate subject of matrmony:
H.. No travelling preacher eau be proposed
to an Annual Conference for ordination except
lie shall have passed an examination before the
Conference Committee to their satisfaction in
the prescribed course of study.
~ 1t is recommended that, for the present,
a Biblical Chair be established In connection
with each of our Colleges, for the theological
of young preachers.
Is. Several important changes in the boun-
daries Of the Conferences were made, for which
we refer to the report Of the Committee on
Boundaries.
IA. The vote on licensing preachers ard re-
persons for ordination, is to be
taken by ballot in the Quarterly Conferences.
l5 J he colored members of the Church
to be formed into their own Quarterly and An
nual Conferences, the latter at the discretion of
the Bishops, with view to their ultimately
forming their own General Conference Mean
while the Bishops of our Church are authorized
to confer with the Bishops of the African NJ.
Z. Church, with view to union between our
Cclored Churches and that Church. 1t is also
recommended that day, schools and Sabbath
schools be formed among the colored people
whenever practicable.