New-York tribune., 1867-05-27
=" METHODIST GENERAL coNrErnNcE.

METHODIST GENERAL CONrEEENCE
From Our Special Correspondent
CLEVELAND. May a. 1867.
Tho First General Conference of what is now called
"The Methodist Church." has Just closed its sessions IN
this city Its officers were Rev T. H. Graham, OF Ohio
President; Rev. H. b. Knight and Rov. j. H. Hamilton,
Secretaries.
Tho elements composing this now church formerly
known as "McthOdist Protcstants," wesleyan Mcth0
dists" and few independent Methodist" churches
The efforts unite these date back TO May 1854 when
convention held tins city, which inillitcd lno
movement THIS convention resolved 10 reeoinincnd 20
all Non-EpscOpal Methodists the holding oi an SlcL m
Convention Cincinnati in juno lSOG, ana the enOrt W
gs a"t named convention adopted what is called
Constitution" and appointed committee TO prepare
discipline In application OF the constitution 10 h church
wants The constitution and discipline IN question, weie
referred TO the Annual Conference and local Churches of
the bodies interested for concurrence concurrence
90 cnte them 10 representation III the conference just
The Methodist Protestant Conferences concurred in
the Cincinnati action with great unanmity They met
every cXpcctaon aud well and ably represented
i'm the Cleveland General Conference. The Wesleyan ec-
ment In the Cincinnati Convention did hot very gene
raIv coucur I'm adopting It's action. The vexcd question
OF secret societies stood IN thclf way IIey Wlcu ho
new Church make It test that no minister or member
should belong TO such this not done, but
part of the Wescyans, rs yet unitee with the new
body More undoubtedly viii, ana notwithstanding ue
present outlook time and good pocyto aay nothlnS OF
good fith-will probably witness this after adhesion
The Conference Just closed had as its chief duties the
final acceptance and revision Of the Discipline PROVIDED
by the Cincinnati Convention. Preliminary To ths Noik
report Oh the status ana relations OF lhc IoIeIc.c
TO "a d Conventions acted on This seemed necessary
as In doubt rs to certain action ot he ast VI
General Conference, held at Allegheny cay last Nosii
ber and its relation to tins General Conference ih"'
Gorr committee ON the status Of this body-or more
propcry on relations of this General Conference WIN
special reference the Cincinnati Convention and the
General Conference Of the Methodist Protestant ChnIc
held in Allegheny in November last-Deg leave 10 submit
J. We regard this Conference the outgrowth or pro
duet ~ the Cincinnati Conventions ana more remotely OF
former structurc and functions OF tins Conference
were provided for and its labors neccsssted IN ooi
/ II IN lp
tior pages &c. 3s A. 81 and especially as for functions
TIie resolution on page ~ Of Minutes OF the cneiat.
Convention we regard expression OF enthusiastic
puro,e TO COnsumnate the union. It's wording may not
bc m fcIitons as could have been selected but
not corstrue IT except harmony with the nature and
n,;1,5crtnf "The Methodist Church" aud not to pro-
cL an incboatc state finished one. II TO prepare
house that went there and not TO enter H. We had
fauiy arrangements 10 make, and goods To pack and
iT;s1ort which We have since done Here we lake lnal
possess OF temple ecclesiastical structure, ded
The General Conference held in Allegheny City
body composed Of but part OF the Cincinnati CohVcn
ton Its structure functions and abors applied To such
part aud only such. Its wish was 10 provide cOnstu
tionay for participating in the labors of hs General
Conference and for becoming what hhs proved 10 u"
fact. the larger part of what Is now The Methodist
Church Ia view Of this they need TO act purely and
simply Methodist Protcstants, iiasinu'h rs hN'1
element would have Vated their change OF name ahd
discipline II not the tenure Of their church properly.
Their wisdom In all this commend. and their necessity
fully appreciate. Their addition 10 the dsclphe pre-
pared by tho Cincinnati Cony ycnon regard "a pro.
ysiona we can recognize thtl as part on thc
stiles connected with transition state ana terminate
| g. The Cincinnati Convention after providing for the
existence OF the Methodist Church ordained that those
more should he represented IN general conference capac
ity at this place and time We ere is To sane.
the discipline It provided for amend ard add thereto,
according 10 the constitution which 10 The
cral Conference at Allegheny city was an episode q
thing aside 10 us, though matter necessary ANA vice
| 10 that part Of who weTD ccinatcy Represent 9
therein Here start dc moro knowing 10 more Mrtt
| odist PrOtcstapisu We.lcyanlsm, or Independent
faithful keeping people record 81 noble deeds. and the
gems from the Tree Of Life whose leaves are for the
4 Finally your Committee recommend that. except In
matters Of revision this General Conference express is
approval of the results reached y that held IN shcny
/ city IN November Last
H.E; TaIn2er KMenT' !; ! y y F12'm TIooD'
After discussing this for one day or more il was adopted
with slight modiicaols The report was drafted 10y
as graphing with yeNed points. which It's adoption set
lieu' Tue onleen'e tA'n WIN ~ n'l. WI a.
/ The new discipline was reported on ythe respective
committees, and item by item, It, several PROV lsons
were scanned. anendedf need be and adopted. Add
tions provide for effective Educational and Ms
siOnary interests made It's Publishing establish
ment was looked into, and provision made looking toward
rs removal from Springfield Ohio. to some CENTER like
! Clcyelald, Pittsburgh, or CINCINNATI
Dr. john scott the acc0mp shed editor OF The NcH0dsf
EecoTd the organ Of The New Church. reelected;
also the Rev A. H. Bassett. ITS publisher The body has,
most promising institution. Non-Epkcopal most heart
iy in It's ecclesiastical structure fresh It's oreanila-
Church starts out with much TO commend ana Ia insure
its 10 has able men In IL heartily In sympat ny
| TIE OLD sCUOOLPRESBYTEEIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
TELEGRAPH TBE TRIBUNE.
! CINCINNATI, May 2j.-m the Presbyterian General
Assembly yesterday the report the Declaration and
Testimony" matter adopted, after long discussion.
y vote OF 2Ol against c. The Committee 10 whom had
been referred the report oi the Joint Committee of the
two Schools reunion, made majority and minority
report The first recommends the adoption Of the basis
OF union embodied in the report under consido ration,
and the other that the Joint tOmlnittce endeavor
definite statement Of the doctrna basis pro-
allowing
seats IN any church court, and distinct RECOGNITION OF
the allegation OF every Presbytey 10 he SATISFIED as 10 the
sOundncss Of every minister 10 receives. The reports
filed for further consideration The Assembly
meets Covingon to-day for the purpose Of appointing
Directors and Professors IN the DanyIc, kyJ IlcOloG
ical Seminary.
NEW SCHOOL PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The following is the report of the Standing Com
mittec Reunion presented the 39d ns aud adopted
unanimously without debate:
"The Committee 10 whom was referred The report of
Special Committee appointed 10y the last General Assem-
and praeueaby Of reuntng the bodies which they
scyeraliy represeH, would respectfully report;
THAT they have given the document committed 20
them careful consideration in Of It's grave import
ance, ard tie manifold interests IL Involves IN its rea
ion TO our own Church. and the progress OF the Kingdom
Of Christ in the earth II presents basis for the pro
posed reunion which, II the two Assemblies order is
to be submitted 10 The deliberate examination OF both
branches Of the Church for year. subject 10 such
notifications as may appear necessary desirable with
10 act with reference these terms OF reunion
whole or ~ part as providentia signs may indicates aud
IL advisable 10 submit them TO tho Constitutional and
final action Of the Presbyteres. Ample opportunity is
thus afforded for full and deliberate Of tho
whole subject, in all It's bearings, they shall affect 10
cal interests or the webeing OF the entire Church
"FOr this and kindred reasons, your Committee con
clude not the intention Of this body referring
them this proposed basis OF reunion that several
articles should be discussed at this time and place and
yet they cannot withhold their conviction expressed IN
these general terms, that results have already been
have been made, they cny indicate how the
parts OF tbs divided Church have appyoacLed each
other Shat nothing more and nothing than Christian
charity would dictate has been Yielded and that in the
! dfuet Of .,n.e