Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-05-04
Methodist Protestant G-..r.I c..f.re.s..
Tulkn DAY.

Methodist Protestant General Conference.
Tnikp DAY.
lftsrsees sSssses--Tbe Confersacs wa. called
70 Sroer oy NE Prve,dent, who ANNOUNCED The
presence % Rev. J. Ia Miehaux. OF n. q, aaa
l. J. Oos. Jr- nan, of Md, aud they were
rev. l.. J. Ooa ashed ana obtained ,sxv, .,
absence for the remsinaer OF The sessIoa =
a letter from j. A. Kennedy, an alternate,
expressing refr~t that u vas impcee.eS~ 20 s,-
Isnd the Oontsresce vss read asd Md on ths
The considers ion OF the r~port OF ne com
miftrs on journals was resumed, and q spirited
otee.ssion OF tbs lao Of the church rssstive 10
mem mbsIshlp ensued, IN which RsS. Dr. Mur-
ray. D. X. Soatherland. Of ND, wm. Motss.,
OF Va w. n. Wills, 7. n. P~grAn, j. q.
pesms, Of n. O.. DR. p. Waters, Mr. "a.
NwhrneIs, " Of Va, ana pr. L. w. BsseheIos. q
The question was stased N follows The
SnIy eendinon required Of applicants tor mem
Snnip IN the Methodist Protestant Ohurch BY
ne sonfututon N - oesire 10 nee from The
NIntn co come and Be saved oy er1ce through
Ialln IN our Lord Jesus Christ, win an avoged
ess ,ninseon 70 vsik In all the csnaana-
mehts of God elameless; but those vho con
unne theiein must give eviseuce Of their de-
sire ano deferuination by conforming % sueh
ruIee OF moral discipiine the Word OF God
The North Carolina Conferenee n..-sa- q, .
recent session, q notion defining their view cf
The Law TO b that no uncovered p>rsou 40
sntitled 10 membership m the N p Church
be com mmittee on journals reported tAat the
motion 10 unconstitutional. and IL came o.f.re
tn. General Conference for decision
Rev r. n. Peeram explained the reason OF
this sction Of the Con ference. He VA pre.1
dent Of the Inference and in visiting the Va.
mons circuits and stations he found ia some
Of the distant localities persons in the societle.
were guilty Of sabbath breaking, eursine and
swearing, gambling and lying, and the had
been told In come casey stealing. At one
place, where a revival suited in forty con
versions, there were few converts VINO were
not already members of the church. IL was 20
prevent this abuse Of the pro ision Of the con-
sttuuon that the motion was passed, but the
motion ehGis out no sincere applicant for
membership.
Rev. Mr.. Whitfield defended the repor, ou-
ply upon constitutional grounds, without i'm
puening the motions Of the Conference lie
was aware Of the abuses. Mr.. w proceeded
In good humored style to speak of circuits an
portion Of Virginia, where just such a state
of affairs pre- vailed. The Methodist Episcopal
the Presby terian and Baptist Ministers preach
there, and whatever minister pleases them best
they all join his church. This year they may
be all Baptists and next all Methodist. The
Rev. hr. Langhorne preached a discourse at a
camp meeting in thar section, and after the
discourse man jumped upon the stand and
proposed TO elect brother LanFhorne president
Tor that year. All these abuses may De expect
ed for every good thing; religion itself AZ
abused, but be was in favor Of opening the
door and trying 10 make bad men better, and
not close the door upon them entirely.
Mr.. G. W Button offered Substitute for the
report, reafirping the language OF the consti-
tuition, which was ruled ont Of order
Rev John Paris moved 10 lay the report on
the table; passed.
Rev. DIR. Murray offered q resolution invit-
ing the North Carolina Conference 20 REVIEW
its action and make the motion accord with rhe
letter OF the constitution. which, on motion of
Dr. Bachelor was laid on the table
Mr.. Buttons substitute was called up aud
laid on the table.
The conmittees report was taken mn axsip.
Rev J. G. whitfieid called for the yess and
dered
The report was rejected by the Ionowine
Yeas-Ministerisl, Reys. r.. n. Wills, J. X.
Page, J. &. Dpanes, J. T. Murray, y b. South
srland, J h Nicholt, W. Nctiee, J: q. whit
neid, r. l. r. Sharer; Laymen, X Thomas =.
Nays-Ministerial. W. II. Miller, John Paris.
A w Lineberry, L. n. Pegram, J. l.. Mich
aux, Dr. r. Waters, Dr. J. J: Murray, John
Cherry, J. b. Mathews.
The law requiring majority OF each class
upon division OF the house. the report wss
not sustained, the laity vote being a tie
Rev. 7. H. Pegram offered q resolution in
structing the committee on boundaries 70 in
quire into the propriety Of go altering the
boundaries of the North Carolina district that
II may embrace that portion OF Tennessee east
of the Tennessee and Clinch rivers; referred
DR.. Bachelor offered a resolution thai in the
opinion Of this General Conference, the Mary
land Annual Conference, in the appointment
Of Rev. 7. l.. McLain a. Supernumerary As
slstant OF the jefferson Circuit and Frederick
Missisn, is in contravention Of the rule of
discipline on page "a: which was rejected
Kew. j. >. Murray presented everal sub,ecis
upon which the Maryland Conference asked
the action Of this General Conference: which
were appropriately referred.
Rev. Or. Waters, from the judiciary commit
tee, reported that the committee sare of opin-
ion that no General Conference can have con-
yentional powers without a recommendation
ln writing from two-thirds OF the whole num-
h+Hr of Annual Conferences, (see Discipline %
50, art. l., sec. ID And whereas we have no
evidence that more than three of the Annual
Conferences have made any such recommen-
dation as rs contemplated In the Dis cipline:
Therefore,
ResoIred, That thls General Conference ia nor
clothed with conventional powers
communication from Rev. Clay. relafi ys
10 church registration, was referred 10 the en-
ecutlye committee
On motion OF Rev. John Roberts the first
business in order for to- morrow morning In
The call Of Conference for business
Dr. Bachelor moved TO reconsider the rules
which was agreed 20: and. upon his motion.
the time for devotional exercises in IN. morn,
ing was limited 10 halt IN hour, and with ms
amendment the rules were adopted.
Adjourned.