The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-06-17

New Jersey; Judge Miller, of Wisconsin;
John ]. Hewett, of Michigan. Secre-
taries-Rev. C. W. Quick, Pennsylva-
MIA; Rev. N. N. Cowhill, of Kentucky,
and Rev. T. S. Smith, of Missouri. -
The President returned thanks. He
had no intimation that he would occupy
this place and therefore could make no
lengthy speech.
Rev. DIR. Cooper offered the following
preamble and resolution.
WHEREAS, This Conference of the
Evangelical, Clerical and Laity of the
Protestant Episcopal Church have as
sembled in pursuance of call for the
purpose Of discussing topics connected
with certain protest issued in tebru-
airy last, and also for the purpose oil
transacting such ether business as unoer
the circumstances may be deemed eA-
pedient; therefore, -
Resolred, That all who have signed,
together with all who may herealeeF
sign or who shall express their sympa-
tbies with the protest above named,
sball be members of this Conference.
Adjourned till 2:3O +: M.
Attbe afternoon session the members
nrocssdsd to the discussion of "What
shall we do"
M, Ash. of Illinois, said the first thing
IN do was to put themselves right on
the record. He insisted that 1t was not
a Conference to divide the Church, but
| a Conference to protect it. In regard
to the revision of the Prayer-book, be
Thought the subject should be touched
teAderly. He thought the fight on the
word Regeneration" was very small
one. He doubted whether this was the
proper time to act on the Prayer'DooK;;
He signed the call for the meeting ana
did not intend to ask pardon. II they
were compelled to ask leave of their
Bishop to meet and discuss issues they
had better go home or somewhere else
or yield up the ghost.
Mr.. Cooper spoke at considerable
length in denunciation of the treatment
of the Evangelical charges in this do
cese.
Mr.. Bowen said that when a clergy
man said to his Bishop that his con-
science would not let him use service
the Bishop would have to so on and
exercise his authority. Many could not
use the word "regenerate," and he
would not strike it out.
Mr.. Newton said the Bishop should
not attempt to depOse Mr.. Cheney but
the Prayer Book. There was not an al
tentative for those who had conscien-
tious scruples bat to be forced out of
the Church. The question Chow shall
we do iti" was then discussed and Mr..
Cooper offered the following resolution:
Re8olUed, That this Conference and
the members thereof have heretofore in
dividually and now in their collective Ca
pacity recognize as unsound and unpro-
testant the statements and teachings
against which the protest alluded to in
the resolution passed this morning was
directed, now solemnly reaffirm their
opposition to them.
Resolred, That this Conference, rec
ognizing the present as time of immi-
neut danger to tire purity of the worship
of the present Episcopal Church, does
hereby pledge itself to use all proper
efforts for the preservation of the same
in their integrity.
The resolutions were passed; the first
with few dissenting voices, and the
last unanimously. -&.
The Business committee announ ced
that the revision of the Prayer-book !
would be discussed this evening.
Mr.. Cheney said he could not be pres
ent tonight. He consequently wanted
to say something about the revision of
the prayer-book. Were they to go on
in using prayer. book which inculcated
false doctrine and untrue meaning, he |
hoped the time would come when they
could have a pure liturgy with no
Bishop laying his heavy hand upon
them; liturgy rejecting the teachings
of Christ the Master. He had seen
many laymen present and he was glad to
see them waking up; they would under
stand that the clergy did not propose to
tear up the prayer book, but bring it
into harmony with the Word of God.
The discussion had already done more
good than all the Episcopal preaching
in Chicago for a quarter of a century;
it would awaken the laity to the truth
that they had right to see; they would
know that there were men who dared
stand up for the truth in the face OF
ecclesiastical censure.
Adjourned until o'clock.