New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-05-09
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE
ADDRrss OF THE BISHOPS.

a., ,b,n, ,udo 10 the death Of Bishop Hamlne since
e last General Conference and they then advert 10 the
,si,, Of Bishop James as delegate to the Wesleyan
Conrpre of Great Britain in 1865 and his visit to the
mission stations in Germany Switzerland and scandina
Via the visit Of Bishop Kingsley to the same missions in
1seT and bishop Thompson's extended tour through
india aud China in 1864 and 1865 The address then pro-
ceeds:
I'm accordance with the action OF the last General Con
K,rce "A number OF annual conferences nave been or
,niyed Among these -four German conferences the
Central Northwestern, southwestern ana ~
are in successful operation much TO the Satisfaction OF
our German brethren. In that part OF our southern %
rtOry heretofore not included IN annual if e
Following conferences organized under the speclnc
authority given to the Bishops, VIZ holston, 5utI .,
1865; Ma,sppL December p 1863 !SSSSeJ IoDsT
g. 1866 South Carolina, Aplli 2 1870 19s5 &C.,
1867: Virginia and North Carolina January o. go Tn
gia October 10, 1867 and haDama GgIoDU 3,nointrd
these conferences 573 travelling reacners MeIo %
at tho recent sessions beside large hnmoeI O UT I
preachers who travel under to IlSsus dS, az" ~ tbe
membership reported at 9OOli; IN auutlol W Cno
above our work has been greatly enlarged IN Hon r
lucky Missouri ana hlh&nsas e an " e add these
returns n the conferences above named, we ma tOt
the close 81 the last General Conference authority was
given 10 the Bishops Ito organize among our coioIe9
ministers for the benefit Of our cOloIed
mombcr. and population one or more mission confer
ences aud define their boundaries. Subsequently on
the same day. the General Conference defined the Della
ware aud Washington Conferences by names and Dounda
ries The rule OF discipline requiring probation OF ten
ganzc annual conferences such cO0red local elders
had travelled two more under Presiding Elders
the Delaware Conference was organized July 49,
1861 and the Washington Conference Oct a.
members and pTObatiOners. This action OF these
Conferences was hailed, by our col0Ted ministers
ductive Of much good. The ministers are becoming IA
Iuar with the mode Of conducting business, and many
Of them rapidly improving. Not only has the Church
greatly extended by the organization of the annual
conferences but with deyOut thankuness we record that
the Divine blessing has been given in large measure TO
pastoral work, The number OF members ana ptODa
TONERS has increased from 92S S9 in 1852 to 146Os1 in
bai n
I'm the history of the Church Part Of this
has arisen, as before stated from the progress OF
the work southwark, where large number OF
those who had been able TO secure our service pre-
vousy gladly welcomed arrival among them, but by
far the largest part OF the increase has been by CONVEX
sions The material interests show an addition equally
remarkable The number OF church edhces has increased
from 1855 2l-being addition Of 1891, OF an In.
and IL 1897 4 had s sweed
tha0 10 per cent IN four years In the same pe99 he
Increase IN the number OF parsOnages was 10 ana the IN
crease IA value 571 45maknR total increase IN
tho estimated value of church property in four of
l7696O) BY turning the minutes Of 1867 IL will be
9s nas G Ot so va%e that IN the @ four years the
addition church property was nearly equal 10 ITS
noresse may have been caused by the general rise in es
maled prices and part by the erection OF new
primitive edces those OF more commOdiOus size and OF
pleased 10 direct the Bishops TO appoint committee OF
preachers aud laymen who should designate " TO what
objects what proportion the money raised as Gem
This committee met at Cleveland, Ohio, February o. 1885,
aud already been placed before the General
Conference It was found practically, however, that our
people generally preferred local objects to connectonsl
Hence while some noble cOntT3ntOns Wers mace
20 the Mission House, to the General Educational Fund
and 60 the Irish and German Funds, the larger part Of
tho cOui given to colleges md semnar1es,
erection and improvement OF church ednces
and Parson2ges The religious services were Sgh Sce
there were signal manifestations OF Divine mercy The
aggregate amount Of the contributions for general and
loca objects is Iep0Ttea Dy the Ctt en- DO
mttee 662 That portion winch Is Tor the Renera
educational fund and for the chldrens fund is under
tbe direction OF the General Conference, and win
gurc appropriate action We are happy 70 say mat the
,r0 nTi8e the last four Years Many Of our inst
buttons. which deeply embarrassed, have Deen re-
creased ana the general interest IN the Of educa
strengthened and extended throughout the
prosperous condition The oldest Of them removed from
nary Il has been but partially organized IN us new
abode bat liberal friends are ralying around AZ and 1t
,ronsos co tako high rank among similar institutions
Iho barrett Biblical Institute has erected Deautlul
memorial hall known as ING HeeE man tttS OnoI ,
the nac Of tho Christian lady who was nrst 70 urge the
establishment OF Methodistic public worship ON our
nemps,c has been filled by the Trustees the nomina
tnis OF Bishop, by the election OF Miner Raymond
II rsf nrosDerify 10 these been added by the mu-
liGCea hberalty OF Daniel Drew, esq., OF New ork q
,,.rv Irre is we think less tendency 20 the multi
rcaon If collegiate institutions than during the Iormer
noSiitou 70 more thoroughly cndoW ana sustain those
which have been founded Several new semnaIlee nave
gsaBcs f5iio %gg think. under fsvoraSis auspices
children amounting to S4i Sc being some 1900 more
than the addition to our membership The conversions
reported also exhibit large increase. New publications
have been issued from the press local libraries have been
enlarged ana an increased interest mas Decn aWAKened
school cheers institutes has added 70 tins interest and
has been OF great service to the How far add
t0ual encouragement should be given TO this department.
OF labor worthy your careful consideration The tract
report shows increase both In collections and dsburse
meut A number of tracts have also been added
the list The receipts OF the Treasurer Of the Missionary
isn,, yos from sc6 to 1874 ap,onntip9 70 IN ia oIf
Those frO 1864 TO 1868 are 5s increase Of SOI
Yet many fields have been opened and 80 urgent
have peon the calls that the treasury now IN debt
Our foreign missions generally In a satisfactory
condition In the oldest OF these, the mission in Liberia
the progress has been SLOW yet It s thought there has
previous period. The futuTc also seems hope
couutr ia improved the emigration 70 Africa viii DO Of
Intelligent and enterprise men, The demands OF
develop the OF that country and
educate tho youth must bear TO their shores those who
NIFTY with the provision made by the last General Confer
enee. the Liberia Annual Conference, with the concur
tho Bishop having charge Of the work. elected the Rev.
:. W. Roberts as Missionary Bishop Tor Liberia He
visited that country and was ordained ana set apart Tor
that by Bishop james aud scott at New-IOrk In
June 1896 Our mission IN Chna IS progressing steaay
Not content Win occupying tnS lEo'Dhoo VI Avy
ken missionaries have entered that OF Nj
angsiO. have planted a mission in It's capital,
Kiukang heretofore unoccuped by any Christian mis-
siOnsFy Our India mission field, we have every reason
10 believe mas Deen CULTIVATED ny IatnIul lhDOreIs Win
fruits worthy Of their diligence and devotion. In Bull
Raifa though but little fruit has yet been apparent,
mach faithfu labor has been expended. The Rev Mr.
FOckem mas worked admirably IN his held tho Dan
nbo Wbo more recently DR. Long the superintendent OF
TIA Nilsson who had been engaged IN cooperation with
ptbsss "a the translation and publication Of the Holy
ScriBaras IN the Bulgarian language, has entered upon
oar va ssiOn work at CCnstantmOlle Ia Germany our
missions organized ten years ago into annual confer
enoe have steadily been ganng m every element OF
ssteRth Orr missions In Scandinavia Ike those IN Ger
many Switzerland have resulted from the desire OF
Refse@ converted IN America 70 proclaim the Gospel
IN All nd In
siOns thsre has been considerable enlargement.
InIsSs the Bishops rec recommended the establishment of