The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-05-25

n 1txsrHIs, fxxn, Nay 10, 1870.
Dear RazcAssds MY last letter gave
yon some account Of she visit Of Bishop
james and his colleague, DR.. Harris, Of
tho Northern Methodist Church, to the
General Conference of tho Southern
Church now in session here.
The whole matter Of union Was refer.
ed to committee of nine, (clergy aud
laisy) and the following, submitted by
said committee, was unanimously adopt.
cd, by rising vote:
Resolued, l. That gratefully recogni.
zing that Providence which has hitherto
guided us, multiplied us, strengthened
our hands and preserved our integrity as
Church Of Jesus Christ under the trying
conditions, both OF war and peace, We
earnestly desire to cultivate true Chris.
tian fellowship with every other branch
of tho Christian Church, and especially
with our brethren of the several branch.
es of Methodism in this Country and in
Europe.
z. That the action of our Bishops in
their last annual meeting in St. Louis,
in response to the message from the
Bishops Of the Methodist Episcopal
Churoh, has the full endorsement Of
this General Conference, aud accurately
defines our position in reference to
any overtures which may proceed from
that Church, having in them an official
and proper recognition of this body.
g. That the distinguished Commits
sion now present, of the General Cons
ference Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church met at Chicago in May, 1868,
appointed by it for the specific purpose
expressed 10 the following resolution,
to wit:
Resolved, That the Commission or
dered by the General Conference to
confer with like Commission from the
African NJ. +. Zion Church to arrange
tor the union Of that body with our
own, be also empowered to treat with
similar Commissions from any other
Methodist Church that may desire u
like uuion," caunot, in our judgment,
without great violence in constituting
the language Of said resolution, be rc>
garded as having been constituted by
that General Conference Commission
to make proposals Of union to the Gen.
eral difference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South.
4. Resolccd, moreover, That if this
distinguished Commission were fully
clothed with authority to treat with US
for union, it is the judgment of this
Conference that the true interests Of tho
Church of Christ require and demand
the maintenance Of our separate and
distinct organization.
S. That VIC tender to the Rev. Bish-
op e. S. James, and the Rev. w. L..
Harris, D. D., the members OF the Com
mission now with us, our high regards
as brethren beloved in the Lord, aud
expressed our desire that the day may
soon come when proper Christian senti-
ments and fraternal relations between
tho two great branches Of Northern aud
Southern Methodism shall be perma-
uen:ly established.
This General Conference will make
but few organic changes Of the existing
economy of Southern Me,hodism. Tho
pastoragc term will remain as at present
restricted to four years.
Two new Bishops will probably be
elected. IF so, DIR. j. G. Keencr, of
New Orleans, will likely be one.
The organization of General Con-
ference of colored Mcthodists, under the
auspices Of this Conference, will be
provided for, in response to the memo
rial from several Annual Conferences
of this people now iu existence. These
memorials were couchcd in most graft
flying tcrms-expressiDs the utmost
confidence in and vcneration for the
Methodist Episcopal Church South. 1t
is believed that thousands aud tens OF
thousands OF this people will now 90
back to their former connection, and
that ere long there will be an Annual
Conference within the limits Of every
State in the South.
The Conference was visited, to-day,
by Hon.. Jefferson Davis. He is dt
present resident Of this city, and is
President Of the Carolina Life Insurance
Company, with a. salary, it is said OF
$4,000. 1t was my privilege to be
presented to this distinguished man, at
his office Oh Madison Street, yesterday
afternoon. 1t is difficult to conceive OF
u nun moro easy, or graceful, or pleas
ant in his mapncrs. was charmed by
his presence. Ho entered into CONVEX
sation freely with me in regard to tire
commercial interests OF. this city and the
great country which lies north of this
on the Mississippi river, and in regard
to local and other matters OF general
remark. lie was cheerful; might say,
very cheerful. During my interview
Ex-Gov. Harris, OF this State, was
announced. AS he approached, MIR.
Davis said: "And here, gentlemen, is