American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-04-14
ADORE IA
0f the Bishops of the Methodist E.
Church South, atGeneral Co inference.
\ New Orleans, April, lS66E
A ID ID r Z S S

session Of the General Conference Of til,
Methodist Episcopal Church South. Cir
cumstances connected with the late un'
happy war have prevented US from al
earlier meeting; and now that we are per
mitted by Divine Providence to assemble
the important interests that will engage
our attention demand that, with all sobri.
ETY. and prayerfulness, we address our
selves to their consideration.
We have to review the operation Of the
Chareh for eight years-embracing a pc,
Rod during which important and startling
events have crowded on each other in
rapid succession. When the last General
Conference closed, we anticipated an ear,
lier reunion. in this city but the well
known condition Of things, at the time ap.
pointed irregular order for our meeting,
precluded our converting here. And ever
since. until within the last few months, it
has been deemed mpracticable to call the
Conference together. When it twas defin.
itely decided that the Conference could not
meet at the proper time and place, there
being no law in the Discipline aut borizing
the Bishops to convene the General Con-
ference, and the state Of the country also
being such as to render it doubtful wheth-
er any considerable number of the preach
ers could be collected together for the
purpose Of holding such session if called.
the Bishops, feeling the importance of
wise counsel in the emergency, published
a card inviting a meeting Of the Bishops.
Book Committee and others, to consult
together on divers important subjects
connected with the immediate interests of
the church. Such meeting was held,
first at Atlanta, Ga; afterwards at Macon,
Ga; and then at Montgomery. Ala. In
August last the Bishops alone met for con-
at Columbus. Ga. These vari-
Gus meetings were seasons Of interest and
profit to those who attended them, and the
results Of our deliberations, as exhibited
in the resolutions which we published,
tended greatly. as we have reason to be-
lieve. to promote the peace and prosperity
Of the church.
In order thatthe character of those meet
ings may be clearly appreciated, we would
remind you that when they were called it
was distinctly stated that all the acts OF
such meetings would be simply advisory.
We discaim all authority to take any
action that should be binding on the
church, only as it might be approved as
wise and godly. We gave such advice as
we judged best for the church 10 her
strained circumstances. If the Annual
Conferences approved it, then they acted
N accordance with their own convictions;
4 not, then they simply took their own
course in all matters that came before
hem, without reference TO our advice. 1t
s for the General Conference to decide
whether we transcribed our authority in
such advisory counsels.
Early during the war the Bishops had
o con6ne their episcopal visitations to the
erritory east of the Mississippi river.
This we deeply regretted, but in our cir
,umstances it was unavoidable. The con
sequence was that the Conferences west
IF the Mississippi we're deprived Of epis-
opal supervision during nearly the whole
period of the war. We would not, how
,yer. fail 10 mention in this connection.
hat Bishop Kayanaugh. resdiugas be did
within the Federal lines. was able to visit
he Missouri. the St. Louis and the two
Kentucky Conferences, and was also able |
o extend his visitations to the California
work. The rest of the Bishops we're able
o extend their labors 10 various parts of
he work within the Confederate lines.
the fact that our epis>
opal supervision Of the work has been
ecessarily partial, we are gratifed to
relieve that the preachers have been
ailbful generally to the interest Of the
hurch Of God. With but very few ex
options, the Annual Conferences have
een regularly held The Presiding e.
ers and Preachers have filled their APP
oinlments as Of old /; and, with humble
ralitude to God. we mention the fact that
uriug the trying yearstbrough which we
ave passed gracious revivsls Of religion
mong our people have sltested how the
Divine presence has been with US.
We do not atte mpt in this brief address
D enter into detailed account Of the gen
raj state of the work. Thank God that
le have so safely passed through a most
ainful and fiery ordeal; that the church
as preserved under His blessing her in
sgrity; that she has in no wise become
duplicated with political affairs; but
eeping in view her own high mission,
as been satisfied to perform her legiti-
rate duties. |