The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-06-02
What the Methodist Genera! Com
ference Has Done.


The New Orleans Christian Alvo-
cate thus sums up the acts of impor-
lancc, in the way Of change of discip-
line and polity, effected by the General
Conference at its late session:
l. The name Of the church it was re-
solved to change to episcopal Meth
odist Church" provided that three
fourths Of all the members Of the Seve-
raj annual conferences shall concur
therein.
. Lay reprcsentaton-four laymcn,
one Of whom may he local preacher,
(to be elected by the district stewards.
or in such way rs the annual con'rren-
ces may direct, to each presiding ol-
dcr'S district in the annual conferences
IN equal number Of lymcn and clcr-
"Nmen rs representatives to the general
conference, excepting the number be
odd, then the advantage Of the odd
uumhcr to be given to the clerical por.
tion-the lay members Of the anIuai
conference to elect the lay reproScnla-
tivvs to the genera! conference, and the
clerical members to elect the clerical
. representatives. Upon the request of
one fifth Of the general conference, the
layman and the clcr4ymen can form
two distinct houses, when Il concurrent
majority will he necessary to pass any
law. This action, however. Is subj
t.N fbn ION tn Il ,.l
Of t|lrcc-iourths OF all the preachers in
the several annual conferences.
3. The limit Of the pastoragc has
been extended from two to four years
4. a system Of fchurch meetings was
adopted, to be held once Il month, if
practicablc, otherwise once quarter
to hc presided over by the preacher in
charge. The object Of it is to rut the
membership more thoroughly in con
ncction with the various enterprises of
the church.
). The probationary system has
been ahrogatcd-- members are to be
received formally by the preacher in in
charge, according to the form of the
baptismal service, or some other form
in in appendix to the discipline.
6 Glass meeting is placed upon the
same footing with prayer meeting, and
is no longer II test Of membership.
!. The missionary society is divided
into a Domestic and Foreign Missioua,
ry Society. with distinct boards, sccrr-
tai'ies and trcasurcs--thc former loca-
ted at Nashville, and the latter at Bal
tinOrc
s Everything in the discipline in re
gard to the men and women sitting
apart in the church, has been taken
out
D. The whole matter Of the quarter.
age has been merged into Il real sup
port.
10. Everything advisory in regard
to dress is taken out; and SO too all
that part which requires preachers to
consult the presiding elder upon the
delicate subject OF matrimony.
II. No travelling preacher can be
proposed TO an annual conference for
ordination, except he shall have passed.
an examination before the conference
committees to their satisfaction in the
prescribed course of study.
II. 1t is recommended that, for the
present, Il biblical chair be established
in connection with each Of our col
lcgcs, for the theological education OF
young preachers.
II. Several important changes in thi
boundaries of conferences were made
and Northwest Texas. the Columbia
: the Mobile and the Montgomery Con
fcrences were formed. The name o
the Rio Grande Conference was changeC
to West Texas, and that of the Qua
chita Conference to Little Rock. TIL,
Kansas Conference was divided between
= the Missouri and ST. Louis Conferences
+ The st. Louis, the Baltimore. the Nir
ginia, the Georgia, and the East Texas
are permitted to divide during ,iie mex
= four years, if they shall deem it expe
, dent and desirable SO to do.
/ H. The vote on licensing preachers
and recommending persons for ordina
ton, is to he taken by ballot in tn,
; quarterly conferences.
IL. The eolorcd members of TIN
| church are to be formed into their owl
quarterly aud annual conferences, TN
latter at the discretion OF the bishops
/ with view to their ultimately forlniI:
. their own general conference. Mean
5 while the bishops of our churches ar
! authorized to confer with the bishop
| OF the African M. E. Church, with
/ view 10 a union between our colore'
] churches and tina; church. 1t is ais
recoanended that day shOois an,
4 Sabbath schools be formed amoug tb
. coiorcl people whenever practicable.