Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-05-08
EVENING STAR.
Methods, Prote.tan, General Conferences.

SIXTH DAY.
IJs<rnooa Stssion.-Rey. W. III. Wills, pres
ident in the chair.
Rev. T. Waters, d. d., presented paper de-
signed TO be added to the address TO ministers
and members published in the Discipline At
'he beginning OF article OF that address, as
follows: as
90 The ordinances Of the church, common.
Iy called the Christian sacraments-theee are
two only. as ordained by Christ, viz:-BAp-
tism aAa the Supper Of the Lord. and they are
accordingly of equal and supreme authority
and obligation.
81. Bapti,m.-what circumcision was as a
sign and seal under the Abrahamic cove.
nant. the same is baptism under the Covenant
Of grace. Circumcision had a. divine com.
mand, and so no individual was Jew, or
within me compass OF the first covenant who
did not receive and bear this sign and seal:
ana oy Just inference, no one il an accredited
member Of the visible church of Christ that
mas not received the sacrament OF baptism,
which he himself has ordained as the seal Of
the covenant of grace. Neither circumcision
nor baptism is TO be regarded rs a saving, and
snficient of itself, but that invalidates not the
either as the command OF God. Though cir
cumcision, as to its spiritual intent, was Of the
heart I'm the spirit, and not in the letter, still
no man was Jew that had not received il,
and for equal reason no one is q christian,
aereeably 10 the command Of Christ, without
baptism, though essentially to make him such
tne washing OF regeneration must be uniform
with the renewing of the Holy Ghost. the act,
word and visible sign, with the award and
spiritual grace This is not the place. nor NJ II
necessary here 10 discuss the mode of admins.
tsring the christian ordinance, our church al
lows sufficient latitude to every mind en- this
question; but the obligation Of compliance, we
think, 10 all important to enforce, and as on
fhrs point the command of the Saviour il so
explicit, and the testimony of .he same i'm the
practice of the Apostles and of the church in
their day and in all subsequent generations
sufncient reason TO do so, that our ministry
and membership, universally, will hold this
christian sacrament in becoming and reverent
respect; that no heads of families amongst us
will neglect il in relation to their own children,
nor any of our ministers will fail to inculcate
~ as OF divine authority and indispensable to
memoership ana communion with us as a
Church Of Christi The paper was received
and referred TO the committee on the means of
grace
Rev. W. II. Wills offered resolution re-
guessing the committee on means of grace to
report, If they deem it proper, an amendment
to the Discipline declaring that persons en-
Toying probationary privileges SHAH not be re-
ceiyed into full mem bership until they have
been baptized, OF, II not deemed proper, to
state the reason why; which was adopted
Rev Dr. Waters, from committee appointed
AZ the iast General Conferences TO prepare a
Sunday service or litany for the use OF the
Methodist Protestant Church, reported that
the committee had collected and in part ar
ranged what they hoped would be valuable
material for such a service These materials
were selected wholly from the book of com
mon prayer as used by the established Church
VI EnSldnu ana the protestant EPISCOPAL
Church in the United States. but some what
modined In terms and expressions. The com.
mltfee refer TO the fact that the Wesleyan Meth
odisrs have always in England used a form of
worship. and in closing their report the com.
mittee recommend that the liturgy, when duly
arranged with the articles Of religion, sacra.
ments and ordination services. marriage and
funeral rituals, &c, be all embodied in one
Volume, entitled the liturgy and ritual. Re.
ferred TO means of grace committee.
Inc Chair announced the substitution of
General III Il. Woodhouse for James A. Ken.
nedy on the committee of means of grace
Kew DIR. Murray, from the committee to
wait upon the President of the United States,
and ascertain IL il he his pleasure, and at what
time, 10 receive visit from this General Con.
ference, reported that the duty had been at.
tended TO, and the President, by his Private
Secretary, had informed them that he would
be happy to receive a visit from the Geperal
conference any day after Tuesday, between
the hours OF 10 n. m. and p. m.
On motion OF Dr. Bachelor, IL was ordered
that the Conference adjourn At n O'Clock a. m.
on Wednesday morning, in order to wait upon
the President in a body.
Rev. DIR. Waters presented a preamble and
resolutions relative to the appointment of mes
sengers TO the Con vention Of Western Metho-
dists, To he held in Cincinnati during the pres.
ent month.
Objection beng made, the preamble and res.
oln tions were Withdrawn.
The Con ference adjourned