The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-03-07
Methodist Episcopal Church.
SECOND ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
THIRD DAY.
SATURDAY, March S. 1870,

Rev. Charles King moved that Rev. b. r.
Redwine and Rev. Owen Hicks be elected
to deacons' orders, under the missionary
rule. Carried.
Rev. Charles King, treasurer of the Mis-
sionary Society, read the annual report,
showing the amount received and the man.
ner of its expenditure.
BOARD OF CHURCH EXTENSION.
Rev. W.F. Hemenway, from the Commit
tee on Church Extension, recommended the
election of the following officers for the
current year: Rev. C. King, president ).
Rev. E. W. Pierce, vice-president; Rev. I.
H. Haynes, secretary; Rev. ". F. Hemen-
way, corresponding secretary. Laymen-
Messrs. R. NJ. Manly, treasurer J. R.
Wilson, S. Ruth, William Brown.
The report was adopted.
Question /: -Wko are admitted on trial.
When this question was called, the names of
Samuel A. Ball, Isaac NJ. Foster, William
j. Bayne, and Robert A. Scott, from the
Richmond district; George W. Bruffey,
Benjamin Morgan, and James Murray,
from the Rockingham district, and Giles A.
Conner, from the Abingdon district, were
proposed, and after the usual examination
PLACE OF NEXT MEETING.
On motion of Rev. 7. H. Haynes, Alex
andria was chosen as the seat Of the next
session of the Conference.
LAY DELEGATIONS.
Rev. James Mitchell presented the report
of the Committee on Lay Delegation re-
commencing the adoption of resolutions
providing for vote for or against the
change of the restrictive rule on this sub
ject in such form as the Conference may
order, and that if the requisite majority
for the change be obtained, the Conference
will cordially welcome the laity into the
councils Of the church. The report is
signed by Messrs. Mitchell, King, and
Walsh.
Rev. DR.. Phelps expressed his unchanged
conviction against the propriety of lay re-
presentation, but stated that he would not
vote against it, in view of the existing cir
cumstances.
The report was then unanimously adopt
ed. .
4 vote was then taken upon the PROPOSE
ton of the General Conference to change
the restrictive rule SO as to allow lay repre-
sentation with the following result Ayes,
13; noes, 4. ....
On motion of Rev. Charles King, reso-
luton was adopted declaring that the Con-
ference accompany its vote in favor OF d
change of the second restrictive rule with q
recommendation to the General Conference
to consider whether the plan may not be so
altered as to better promote the unity and
prosperity of the Church.
PERIODICALS.
Rev. James Mitchell presented the re-
port on periodicals, favoring the introduc-
tion of the periodicals Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church into all the families of
the Conference. Adopted.
Rev. Dr.. Fuller was introduced by the
| Bishop, and brought to the notice of Con-
ference the claims Of the Methodist Adro-
cate, published at Atlanta, Ga, of which
he is the editor.
The Conference then took recess until
half-past o'clock P. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Conference met at 3l P. NJ.
CHURCH EXTENSION.
Rev. ". F. Hemenway read the proceed
ings of this Society. Their Minutes em-
brace the operations of the Society for the
| last twelve months, and give in detail all
it's acts, appropriations, SC. Amongst these
acts is one looking to the immediate erec-
tion of house of worship i'll this city
Rev. James Mitchell presented the following
report from the committee bearing on the
same subject:
Whereas the Methodist Episcopal
Church has at sundry times been displaced
from her churches and real estate in Vir-
ginia ; and whereas there are many places
where the title to that property should be
claimed at once therefore
Resolred, That whilst cultivating Chris
tian charity for all other denominations we
owe it to ourselves, our people, and the
principles we advocate, to make every legal
and righteous effort to recover our church
property.
"2. Resolved, That the presiding elders,
after conference with each other, be di-
rected to employ counsel to aid in securing
our church property.
SO. Resolved, That we are profoundly
grateful to the good people of Virginia for
reaffirming by their vote on the revised
Constitution the rights of the respective
churches in and to their church property,
as conveyed to them according to the forms
of law"
The report was adopted without discus
sion.
A letter was received from Bishop Ames
concerning certain restrictive rules pro-
posed by the Baltimore Conference to be
added to the discipline.
First. They shall not further extend the
time of pastoral service. Unanimously
adopted.
| Second. They shall not charge compen-
sation of our Annual Conferences. Also
unanimously adopted.
Third. They shall not restrict the pre-
sent authority of the Bishop. Also unani-
mously adopted.
& communication was received from the
Clerk of the House of Delegates of Vir-
ginia covering resolution of that body
| inviting the members of Conference to the
hall. The Secretary was directed to re-
epond in suitable terms.
BIBLE CAUSE.
Rev. Mr.. Porter presented the report of
this Society recommending and endorsing
the American Bible Society as the most
efficient means through which the Confer
ence can do it's work.
# TOBACCO.
Rev. ]. 8. Boyer offered resolution re-
questing that the Bishop, in his examina-
ton of candidates, be directed to ascertain
from them if they used tobacco.
After humorous remarks by some of the
members it was adopted.
| TEMPERANCE.
Rev. Joseph Wickline read the report Oh
this subject. This report takes high ground