American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-05-12
Acts OF General Conference.

The action Of the General Conferenc,
may be summed up in the following
, liens:
/. The name Of the Church II was re
solved to change to EPrscopAL METHOD,
IaT CHuRcH, prosided that three fourth,
Of all the members of the several Annua
Conferences shall concur therein.
2 Lay Representatives, laymes.
one OF whom may be local preacher.
2 to be elected by the District Stewards or
in such way as the Annual Conferences
may direct to each Presiding Elders
t District in the Annual Conferences /; 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 be
given to the clerical portion-the lay
members Of the Annual Conference to
elect the lay representatives to the Cen
VOL SohlcicHCc' duu Tue CitfiCai tDtu'
bers to elect the clerical representatives
Upon the request Of one-6fh Of the Gem
eral Conference. the laymen and the cler-
gymen can form two distinct houses,
when concurrent majority will be nee
essary to pass any law. This action
however, is subject to the same confirm
ation and approval Of lhree-f ourhs Of all
the preachers in the several Annual Con,
ferences. H-#
3 The limit of the Passionate has been
extended from two to four years.
4. A system of Church meetings was
adopted to be held once a mouth if praci.
cable, otherwise once quar:er---to be
presided over by The preacher in charge.
The object of it is to put the membership
more thoroughly in connection with the
yarions enterprises Of the Church. ..s |
s. The probationary system has been
'bro-sted-members are TO be received
ormally By the preacher in charge &C.
'otding to the form Of the ba'ismal ser
vice, or some other form in an appendix
o he Discipline. . . .-.
e GlaSsamee'ing is placed upon The same
oo'ng with prayer-meeting, and is no
onger test of membership. {
7 The missionary society is divided in>
q Domestic AID Foreign Missionary !
'ocety, with distinct Boards, Secretaries e
nd Treasures--the former located at q
nashville, ard The latter at Baltimore. r
Everything in the Discipline in re. n
ard to rhe men and women sitting apart Il
the Church has been taken out. n
8. The whole matter of the qnarterage II
"a been merged into real support.
10 Everything advisory in regard to fc
'ess il taken out ; and SO too all that part 70
hich requires preachers to consult the n;
'asiding elder upon the delicate subject
mat,imouy. !,
H. Nc travelling preacher can be pro- :,
'sed 10 an Annual Conference for ordin &C.
ion, ezcep, he shall have passed an OK
ljnaIion before the Conference Commit /
rs to their satisfaction in The prescribed /
urse Of study. {
IL 1t is recommended that, for the -
esent, Biblical Chair be established
connection with each Of our Colleges
the theological education Of young
oachers.
IS. Several important changes in the -
,ndarles OF Conferences were made. for
ich We refer to the report of the Com TIL
tee on Bouncaries and Nor tb west Sc
zas. the Columbia. the Mobile. and the cr
rtgomery Conferences were formed. me-
e name of the I" Rio Grande " Confer
e was changed to West Texas, and or
of the "Ouachita Conference to vi
tie Rock The Kansas Conference -
J divided between the Missouri and St.
lis Conferences The St. Louis. the
souri,, the Baltimore. the Virginia, The uni
'rgia, and the East Texas are permit Vri
TO divide during the next four years, II
hey shall deem it expedient and de 49,.
bic so to do. 49,
4 The veto on licensing preachers
Recommending persons for ordination.
be taken By ballot in the Quarterly
ferences. -rf
) The colored members of the d
rch are to be formed into their own Wi Wis.
rterly and Annual Conferences, the =
r at the discretion of the Bishops,
view 10 their ultimately forming Y
own General Conference. Mean
e the Bishops OF our Church are au> -
zed to confer with the Bishops of the II -
an NJ. E, Church. with a view to 8
D between our Colored Churches and
Church. II is also recommended
day schools and Sabbsth-schools be apr
ed among The colored people when TO
practicable = Christian AdUocote. i
--~------ -e---~-O-
e Mississippi Baptist convention
at Jackson on the ,3lst. Among GE