American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-04-19
IFrom tho N. O Crescent 18th inst
General Conference Methodist Episco-
pal Church South.

pal Church South.
The visitor to New Orleans will find nc
more profitable way of spending the morning
than in attendance on the sessions of this
venerable body, which commenced on We'd
nssday last.
To many it is not known that the general
conference is the highest ecclesiastical judi
catory of that important and influential de-
nomination. Meeting but once in four years
its advent is always anticipated with great
interest, enhanced, in this instance, not only
because, from the failure of the last confer
ence to meet, it is the only one held fol
pearly eight years, but for the many grave
and interesting questions which are to form
the subject of its deliberations We looh
/ forward to these discussions with the expect
alton of seeing elected by them the choicest
learning, ability and skill of the Methodist
Church. The future policy and welfare o.
that church will largely depend on the policy
which this conference shall adopt
We have no doubt the church has carefully
and judiciously selected the men to who's,
care those important interests are intrusted
A glance over the various delegations i:
enough TO convince you of that fact You
are impressed by the general air of calm
thoughtfuluess, the business.like manner
the quiet dignity, which pervades the assem-
bly,, giving it tone of strong and decided
superiority. You may, also, recognize many
man whose name has become a household
word in the Methodist Church.
Bishop Soule, the senior bishop, is to the
regret of all, detained at home by Illness
But there is the venerable Bishop Andrew,
whose name is historical, connected as it is
with that epoch which behed the rise OF
radicalisn in the church. There, too, is
Bishop Kavanaugh, in the chair; energetic
bishop, able divine, and devout christian.
No one can look on that strong face of his
without feeling that here is no ordinary man
There, too, is the stately and digni6ed
Bishop Early, in appearance aud manner the
living model of the Methodism of the olden
time. There, also is the bland and courteous
Bishop Paine, whose delightful letters tho
old readers of the Advocate have not forgot
ten. We miss the commanding presence of
the junior of the bench, Bishop Pierce but
we learn that this eloquent and gifted preach
er lie expected in few days. And then, too,
there is DR.. Deems, of North Carolina, editor
of the Waterman DR.. Myers, of South Car
DINA, long the editor of that eIcsllent paper,
Justly celebrated as a scholar, able at almost
everything, but most known, perhaps,
through his various and important literary
labors. book man, but wearing the look
of a man who would also be a very uuproft-
able antagonist in a discussion.
There, too, is DR.. Wightman, of Alabama,
and many other men of rank, whose presence
alone would be guaranty enough for the in
terest of the debates, and the importance of
the business.
The Methodist organs of Black Republic
anism in the North seem disposed 10 sneer at
the conference now in session. What we
know of the Northern conferences leads us 70
feel good deal surprised at this. What
those good people expect to gain by dragging
themselves into comparison with this body
is a mystery to us. For our own part we
thick this conference forms a representation
of Methodism, of which no branch of the
church need have any cause to itel ashamed,
and the important interests with which they
are charged could scarcely be iutrusted to
better hands.
Venerable fathers in the ministry, divines,
scholars, laborious preachers, faithful, elo-
quent and devoted teachers, upright and re-
fined christian gentlemen, we bid you hail J
and welcome to New Orleans! May your
stay among us be pleasant to you. May a.
blessing attend it for us ! and may you be
wise and .uccessuful in all your delibera-
sionsI Outsider.