The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-18
THE M. E. CONFERENCE SOUTH.
Methodist General Convention in New
Orleaps-AddIess of the BiehOps.

CO the Atm instant and It's proceedings have been
highly interesting, embracing in their review
PERIOD Of eight years since the last General Con-
ference closed It's labOTs. On the 9th instant the
delegates OF the Southern Ba timore Conference
introduced and the Rev. DR.. Sargent and the y. .ev
Mr.. Poysal were cord ally received, and took their
The Episcopal Address was then reaS,. and re-
coved with approval and admiration.
1he Rev Dr Palmer was introduced by the Presi.
dent ana invited to take seat wi min the bar
The Rev DR. Myers and the Pew Mr Martin were
appointed additional secretssnes.
The report of the book o cent and publishing house
of the church was read. It showed that IN 1868 the
assets were S4597S2 end the liabilities 500 SAG, leaV
ing balance in iaYor o SS5S 1885, but that one item
OF $4,000 had been overlooked Entering into par
ticulars from that time forward, itshows how the
liabilities had been reduced until in 1881 the agent
lett Nashville and did not return till the surrender
OF the Confederate States armies.
After the agent had leit Nashville the building
was taken possession of by the military and was
hbeled TOR conhscaton; but it was subsequently,
ordered by the President to be released on payment
of costs. Yet il was transferred tc the Freedmen's
Bureau before the agent could get possession of
il Everything on the premises was more or less
miuIed The following is the
ADDRESS OF THE BISHOP.
Dear Bretbren;-We hail with feelings Of devOut
gratitude the opening or another session ol the
Genera Conference OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church south. Circumstances connected with the
late unhappy war have prevented us from an earlier
meeting; and now that we are permitted by
ests that will engage our attention demand tHat
with all sObrIety and pTayeriuness address
selves 70 their consideration.
for eight years. embracing period during which
important and startling events have crowded on
each other in rapid succession. When the last
General Conference closed anticipated earlier
rtunon IN TINS city; but the w9ll-knOwn condition
OF things at the time appointed IN regular order for
our meeting precuded our convenng here. And
ever SINCE, until within the last few months IL has
been deemed lmpracucable to call the Conference
When it was definitely decGed that the Con-
ference could not meet at the prop time and place
there being law in the discipline horzing the
bishops TO the General Conference, aud the
state of the country also being such to render 1t
doubtful whether any considerable number OF the
preachers could be collected together for the purpose
Of holding such session II called, the bishops feel
ing the importance of wise counsel in the emergency
published card inviting a meeting of the bishops
Book Committee ana others, to consult together on
divers important subjects connected with the imme-
date interests of the Church.
Such a meeting was held; first at Atlanta, Ga
afterwards at Macon, Ga; and then at Montgomery,
Ala. In August ast the Bishops alone met tor con-
sultat1on at Columbus, "a. These various meetings
were seasons interests and profit to those who at
tended ihem and the results OF our deliberations,
| exhibited IN the resolutions which published,
tended greatly, as we have reason to believe to pro-
mote the peace and prosperity OF the Church
In order that the character of those meetings may
| be clearly appreciated, we would remind You tnat
when they were called It was distinctly stated that
al the acts of such meetings would be SIMPLY advl-
| sorry. We disclalmed all authority TO take any
action that should be binding on tne Church, only
| as II might be approved as wise and god) We
gave such advice as we judged best for the Church
in her straItened circumstances. If the annual Con-
ferences approved it, then they acted in accordance
with,ther own convictions; ii not then they sim
ply took their own course IN all matters that came
| before them without reference to our advice 1t is
| for the General Conference to decide whether we
transeended our utooT1ty in conVening such advi-
| sOrV council s.
| Early during the war the Bishops had to confne
their episcopal vistaons to he territory east OF the
Mississippi river. This We deeply regretted but in
| our circumstances it was unavoidable. The cOnse.
quence that the Conferences west of the Miss
sppi were deprived of episcopal supervision during
nearly the whole period of the war We would not,
| however, iai to mention, this connection. that
! Bishop Kavanagh, residing as he did within the
Federal lines, was able to visit the Missouri, st.
| Louis. and the two Kentucky Conferences and was
also able to extend his visltations to the California
their abors to various parts of the work within the
| Confederate lines.
pery1sion of the work has been necessarily partial,
we are grahfed to believe that the preachers have
faithful generally to the interest of the Church
| Conferences have been regu arly held The Pre-
SIDING Elders and Preachers have filed their ap-
pOintments of old; and with humble gratitude to
| God we mention the fact that during the trying
| years through which we nave passed gracious revi-
walls of religion among our people have attested how
! the DIVINE presence has been with us.
We do not attempt IN this brief address to enter
into detailed account Of the general state OF the
| work. Thank God that we have so safely passed
| through most painful and fiery ordeal; that the
Church has preserved under His blessing her inte.
gIity; that she has in no wise become complicated
with political affairs; but keeping in view her own
hPh mission, has been satisfied perform her lelh
It is proper to state to you that we found IT, in ouI
Judgment needful to the interest OF the WORK to de-
in some respects from the sCr1ct letter oil the
| law of the church Episcopal admins tration
| Extraordinary eXigencies required to take this
| responsibility In the journals of the annual con.
feTences which will come before you the particular
instances in which we have judged it best to assume
this grave responsibility will appear. In all such
instances we wish 1t understood that we DO not re
precedents Tor future guidance but only illustrating
how extraordinary exlgencies may make 1t necessary
to transcend the provisions of even the most whole
some human regulations. From this experience
| however, tine General Conference may hnd sugges
| a m "a ia
| as practicable Tor contingencies in the future
1t would have been gratifying to us If we had been
able to bear the expense OF more extensive aVel
through the work but IN the Impoverished state oil
| the Church, and especially in the absence OF any
| provision Tor more than bare support of the
Bishops, this was impossible. This TACT we hope,
will be suggestive to your body.
In August last we deemed 1t prudent to issue
"Pastola Address to the Preachers and Members o1
the Church. ;" reminding them of their duty as Chris
tan citizens, ana giving such advice as seemed ia
us appropriate to the peculiar circumstances OF the
times. As that address has been extensively pub
lshed, we deem ITS formal transmission TO you with
this communication unnecessary, and will only ask
your attention to such parts of 1t we may find il
proper to recaptulae on particular points at this
time.
The publishing interests of the Church suffered
greatly in consequence of the war The book COD.
Germ will require your careful consideration, and
some important changes in your plan of operations
may be needed for It's future efficiency. OF this
YOU have heard the report Of the agent with pleas
ure we have welcomed the revival Of our Church
papers, and while we regard them as in high de-
gree cTeditable to the Church. would respectfully
submit whether 1t would not be best TO unite confer
ences in the publication of fewer number in order
that they may be better supported and still further
Our missionary work, ,once.the glory of our Church
| has been well nigh ruined. The China mission Still
| lives and needs your fostering care. Although the
financial condition of the country at present fOrbd
the expectation OF large collections, yet we may
make prospective arrangements SSS Tor doing grea
The interest Of the colored population should en-