The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-05-25
Methodist Episcopal Church South.

We copy the following synopsis
from the Southern Christian Adu0-
cate:
The uction of the General Confer
enoe may be summed up in the fol-
lowing items:
l: 1t was resolved to change the
name Of the Church to Episcopal
Methodist Church." provided that
three-fonrths of all the members of
the several Annual Conferences shall
concur therein.
2. Lay rcpresentation-for lay
men, one of whom may be local
preacher, Ito be elected by the Dis
trict Stewards, or in such way as the
Annual Conference may direct, to
each Presiding Elders District in the
Annual Conferences; an equal num-
Der Of laymen and clergymen as rep
resentatives to the General Confer
ence, and the clerical members to
elect the clerical representatives.
Upon the request of one-fifth of the
General Conference, the laymen and
clergymen can form two distinct
houses, when n concurrent majority
Will be necessary to pass any law.
Ihls action, however, is subject to
the same confirmation and approval
OF three-fourths of all the preachers
in the several Annual Conferences.
3. The limit Of the pastor,tc has
been extended from two to four
years.
4. a system Of church meetings
was adopted, to be held once month,
If otherwise once Il quar-
ter-to be presided over by the preach
er i'll charge. The object of it is to
put the membership moro thoroughly
IN connection with the various enter
prises Of the church.
3. The probationary system has
been abrogated members are to be
received formally by the preacher in
charge, according to the form of the
baptismal service, or some otherform
IN an appendix to the discipline.
o. Class meeting is placcdupon the
same footing with prayer meeting,
and is no longer Il condition OF mcm-
bership.
Z. The Missionary Society is ti-
v1ded into Domestic and a Foreign
Missionary Society, with distinct
Boards, Secretaries and Treas,,rers-
the former located at Nashville and
the latter Mt Baltimore.
s. Everything in the discipline in
regard to the men and women sitting
apart III the church, 4as been taken
out.
8. The Whole matter of the quar-
terage has been merged into II real
support.
10. Everything advisory in regard
to dress is taken out; and SO, too, all
that part which requires preachers to
consult the Presiding Elder upon the
delicate subject of matrimony.
II. No travelling preacher can he
proposed to an Annual Conference
for ordination except he Shall have
passed an examination before the
Conference Committees, to their s;.-
tlsfactlon, in the prescribed course of
study.
II. 1t is recommended that, for the
present, 4 Biblical Chair be establish
ell i'll connection with each of our
colleges, for the theological education
of young preachers.
is. Several important changes in
the boundaries Of Conferences were
made, for which we refer to the re-
port of the Committee ON Bounda-
rles; and Northwest Texas. the Co
l'lmbia, the Mobile and the Mont
gomcry Conferences were formed.
The name of the lilo Granle" Con-
ference was changed to West Texas,
and that Of the 'Ouachita" Confer
ence to Little Rock. The Kansas
Conference was divided between the
Missouri and st. Louis Conferences.
The St. Louis, the Missouri, the
Baltimore, the Virginia, the Georgia
and the East Texas are permitted to
divide during the next four wears. ii
they shall deem it cxpc,Gcnt and dc
slrable to do SO.
IA. The vote on licensing preach
ers and recommending persons for
ordination, is to he taken bv ballot in
the Quarterly Conferences.
ID. The colorcd members Of the
church are to be formed into their
own Quarterly and Annual Confer
cnces, the latter ut the discretion of
the Bishops, with view to their ulti
mntely forming their own General
Conference. Meanwhile, the Bishops
OF our church are authorized to con
fer with the Bishops of the African
NJ. f.. Church, with view to a union
between our coloreu churches and
that church. 1t is also recommended
that day schools and Sabbath schools