The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-11-16
VIRGINIA CONFERENCE
Methodist Episcopal Church South.
ANNUAL SESSION.
FIFE T II ID 4 Y.

4
MONDAY. November Is, 1869.
The Conference met at 81 o'clock this
morning. Prayer by Rev. j. D. Southall.
ORDINATIONS.
The Bishop reported the following ordl-
nations: Elders W. NJ. Jerdone, John n.
Jones, William e.. Starr, Herbert /. Bacon,
James L. Gates. DedconS James {. Reid,
William II. Cobb, David i. Hodges, William
=. Wright, Travis J. Taylor, Joseph ID.
Arnold (certifcate), and Robert \. Lee
ll0caD.
TIE CASE OF Mr.. BowLEs.
The Bishop appointed the following com
mittce on the case Of Mr.. Bowlcs !: Rev.
Messrs. b. II. Johnston, J. l.. Harnsberger,
and J. ID. Southall.
PUBLICATION OF THE MINUTES.
On motion of Rev. d. z. Wills, the Con-
ference requested Rev. j. y. Peterson TO
publish the minutes of this session OF the
Conference. Mr.. Wills stated that Mr.. Pc
tcrson had shown himself the very man for
the work, and that the minutes Of the last
session. rs published, were invaluable to
the preachers.
Mr.. Peterson avowcd his willingness to
undertake the work, and made some Su@-
"cstons about the furnishing of the mate
rial He said that the bulk of the book
would be much larger than the record OF
last year.
BENJAMIN c. Spiiler was transferred from
the effective to the Supernumcrary list, ana
Joseph II. Riddick from the supernumcraly
10 the effective list.
EDUCATION.
The hour for the order Of the day thc re-
mort of the Committee on Educatlon) now
arrived. but DR.. Duncan announcing that
the committee was not ready to report, the
consideration Of the sub ect was postponed
until half-past 10 O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing.
OPENING SERMON.
Rev. Mr.. ,Judkin moved that the Commit
tee on Devotional Exercises he requested to
anpoint. before the adjournment, Il minister
and alternate TO preach the orcnn. sermon
ut the next session OF Conference.
After discussion by Rev. DR.. Lee. Rev. II.
+. CowIcs. and Rev. G. ". Langhornc, the
motion YVES adopted.
DOMESTIC MISSIONS.
Rev. DR.. J. =. McFcrrim. secretary Of the
Board OF Domestic Missions, submitted Il
few remarks on this subject. He regretted
that when he had presented the cause on
nrc>cnt. However, those who We're pre-
sent came forward. and although he did not
ask for cent, contributed about $50. Now
he wished 10 have the attention of the Con-
ference on the subject. lie thought DR..
lIunsry, whose speech he had heard with
50 much pleasure the other day, had made
some mistakes in his argument. With due
Difference to DR.. Mun>ey, he thought that
domestic missions did embrace some little of
the missionary spirit. He agreed that
charity should not end ut home, but it
should certainly begin there. DR.. MunScy
had showed conclusivcly that man who
did not SvmpathiZc with and contribute to
foreign missions was an in!idel. This Is so.
But we have the authority Of Holy Writ Tor
saving that the man who does not provide
for hi own household r0rSe than an m
fdf. The speaker thought this work OF
domestic missions was likely 10 be over
locked under the influence Of such eloquent
appcals for the foreign work (Which were
worthy OF all praise Is that Of Brother
Munscv. In his opinion, the soul OF ' IT.
rinian was as valuable rs the soul OF Il Chi
namau. the soul OF 4 North Carollnlan as
the soul Of IN Indian. and he would take
lust as much pleasure III converting an Aii-
glo-SaXon who speaks our own language rs
il the conversion Of Il yciloW-laccd or red
skinned foreigner whose gibbcriSh he could
not understand.
He then drew picture Of the needs Of
many circut-ridcr III the slaShes OF r.
ril,ia and the pinv woods Of North Carolina,
and contrasting the condition of their fulni-
lies with that Of tie families Of many city
ministers, made III earnest appeal 10 the
latter TO remember the necessities OF their
uoorcr brethren. They too often shrink
from making collections for these objects.
They were afraid 10 ask their people for
money. and sometimes, in their timlGuy, ac-
t1ElIly paid money out Of their own pockets
rather than have their churches APP
pear behind others in the statistics.
The amount paid during the past year
~ the Virginia Conference for this good
cause was ONLY five and Il half cents per men,
hcr And this while many members OF the
Church were living in luxury and ease,
dressing in broadcloth and silk. giving
sumptuous entertainments, treating their
guests to sparkling wines, smoking boxes
Of fine cigars, and chewing choice tobacco.
He was no rcformcr, in the radical sense OF
the word, and was not going to enter into Il
crusade against the use OF tobacco, but he
did think hat protesting Christian might
be expected 10 give rs much for the adj
yanccnent OF the cause uf Christ in his own
land as he expended for the luxury Of
smoking or chewing.
DR.. McFcrrin concluded with IN earnest
tribute to the Southern Methodist Church
and IN expression Of his devotion 10 her
principles. He had been preacher forty
wears, and did not expect to live much
longer. and hardly hoped TO meet the dear
brethren of the Virginia Conference again !;
but he hoped that if this privilege should
he denied him, it might he said Of him that
he died in Christ and in the enjoyment of the
respect and confidence Of his brethren, and
thai the work which the Church had pIaced
in his hands had been discharged with faith
iuneSS.
At the close of the address the Confer
cncc and the congregation joined in singing,
by request of the Bishop, the hymn
''Chidrcn Of the Heavenly King,
As We journey let Us sing
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
Rev. Dr.. L. NJ. Lee offered resolution
proposing an amendment 10 the clause Of
The constitution providing for the assess
mcnt OF salaries by 4 board Of stewards. 1t
was referred TO the Committee on Memo
rails to the General Conference.
Reys. DR.. Duncan and II. B. CoWlcs
offered 4 resolution requesting the General
Conference TO introduce into the questions
to he answered by annual conferences one
| to this effect :" What ministers are received
from other churcheS:" Referred TO the