The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-11
CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST PRO
TESTANT CHURCH.
THIRD DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
From our Special Reporter.

NORFOLK, November 9, 1867.
The Conference was opened in usual form
by the Rev. Mr.. Pcarman. After which, the
roll of members was called, and the minutes
of the second days proceedings read and APP
proved.
A Communication was read from Rev. DR..
MILAN, of the Abingdon district.
The examination OF official characters being
the order OF business, the names.of Z. ".
Petit, II. L. +. King, and Samuel Clawson
were called, and their characters passed;
The Rev. Mr.. Clawson and Rev. MI. White
requested to be left without an appointment
for the ensuing year The application OF Mr..
Clawson was granted; KEY. MT. Whlle
waived his for the present.
Rev. DR.. Lee, of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and fraternal messenger from that
Church TO this Conference. on invitation adj
dressed the Conference He spoke IN favor OF
tho unity of the Churches; stated that the
only difference which existed between the
Churches some eight years ago was that Of
law representation at Conference in this
Church and that of presiding elders ana
bishops in the Methodist Protestant Church.
His Church had adopted the representation OF
lay members in Conferences, and that he con-
sidered that the Methodist Protestant Church
could adopt the principle of having bishops
and presiding elders. He hoped lhat inc
Churches would be united, not in part, put ln
the whole. He had long favored, desired 'tiu
labored for it, and he prayed 6od 'ha' u
might occur. ~,
The President, Mr.. MCGEE, thanked Or;
Lee, in behalf Of the Conference, for the KIND
expression of feeling. The question OF union
was n grave one, TO which we should come
with hearts rs pure and hands as clean as
can be- The unity, if it occurred, was not Tor
n day or year, but for lifeiime-a lifetimel In
the other world He prayed God to ada ms
blessing to what had occurred, and sarctl1y
what might occur so that we can all say
amen.
On motion of the Rev. Mr.. Crocker, the
name Of Rev. Mr.. Langhorne was referred TO
the committee for recommendation TO travel
under the stationary authority, ana II CIT
cumstances require, for ordination
The name of the Rev. MIR. Haines was re-
ouested to be restored TO the list OF delegates
to the Conference.
The recommendation OF j. L. weaver WIS
referred to the committee.
On motion of the Rev Mr.. Crocker, the
Conference went into the selection OF place
for holding the next Conference.
Delegate Brown recommended hampton. {.
Delegate Roke recommended Bristol.
On motion of Delegate Percival, the motion
was laid on the table for the present.
The committee appointed to consider ana
report on the union of the churches made the
following report through their chairman, 19eN.
j. G. Whitfield:
ssThe commi ttee appointed TO consider and re-
port to this Conference such action rs III their
opinion rs is called for by the action OF the
Convention which convened III montgomery,
Ala in May last, beg leave TO report that
they have had the matter under consideration,
and submit the following report:
"The action of The Montgomery Conven-
ton contemplated that the several nnual
Conferences ut their next session would take
such action upon the subject as would enable
the commissioners in their conference win
the commissioners Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South, in May next, to come 70 Il nhili
decision on The subject; but from the TACT, so
far as our Conference is concerned, that the
churches within our district have not to amy
extent considered and passed IN primary
meetings OH the question, we feel that we are
not sufficiently advised of the sentiments ana
wishes of our people to JUSTIFY Us III 'aAlis
final action on the subject now.
UThat this Conference adopt such plan or
nropositiop. embracing the terms and prlncl-
piles clearly eXpressed-so lar Us lHe IlSIts pe
fore Them will enable them to 90 so-npon
which they think union Gun DC GoI rs u Ia
snectpd commission Of the Methodist Episco-
cal Church South, made TO us NJ lhe mont
romery Convention: and That the ministers
and reachers of our body are required 10 pre-
sent such plan or proposition fairly and fully
10 our people in their respective charges, III
meetings appointed for the purpose, with at
least four weeks notice Of such appointment,
and that our people be requested toconslder
The plan or proposition, ana 10 act upon IL py
voting either for or against
"That the result of such action by our peo-
ple in their primary meetings shall be for
warded by the minister or preacher in charge
to -, who shall announce the result
through the Protestant: and such announce
ment shall be considered instruction to our
commissioners in their action 1T the Comic
renee in May next.
"That we recommend that this Conference
express to our people their entiments upon the
subject of union by direct vote upon the
issue but that we earnestly deprecatc any
action that would tend 10 produce serious
schism in our ranks, it being highly desirable
to all concerned that the Church should act
with unanimity, and that in whatever action
the Conference take we desire to act in concert
with our whole connection, 1T least until after
the conference Of the commissioners in May
next. 80
81. Ct. WHITFIELD, Chairman,
AN. j. LASGHoRSE,
All. B. W0oDHOUsE,
&C. w. BUTTON, Cnn,mHtee.H
The name of Rev. T. i. Davis was not
signed.
The ReY. Mr.. Croeker moved TO adopt the