The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-07-27
(Por tbs Sumter Wstshaap.1r>
COLUMDIA DISTDIOT COW YKRRNCE
OF TINE NJ. Il. CHURCH SOUTH.

Dir. EDITOR by your permission
l propose briefly to sketch the doipgs Of
this body, which convened in Camden
on the 7th inst, after an introductory
sermon by Rev. j. w. Murray, do
livered the previous evening. Abou,
fifteen ministers aud thirty lsymsn were
in attendance a. members from the va
rious pastorates in Riohland, Fairfield,
Chester, Kershaw and Sumter counties
The small number Of lsymen present is
mainly, ifnot exclusively, attributable:
to the pressure Of the farming interest
at this season Of the year. The time
appointed was selected for tho conve
nienoe Of our beloved Bishop w. NJ.
Wightmau, whom 'we we're all anxious
to have with us, and who could not
attend at any other time. in consequence
ofindispensable engagements elsewh here.
The writer is hopful that the report
Of q brief sy nopsis, as above, and tho
publication Of few of the several pa
pers, adopted by the body, while it will
not infringe upon any principle Of public
and impartial journalism upon Jour
part, nor impose upon your readers
matters in which they can feel no in
terest, nor provoke any unkind feeling
or spirit Of controversy with our sister
churches in this territory, will, never.
thsless, stimulate to wholesome reli.
gious inquiry and emulation. Indeed,
sir, is it not possible that religious
bodies err in restricting thu publioa.
tion of their transactions to their
respective organs3 Public opinion j..
moulded by tho ministry of religion and
the public is reached mainly through the
secular press. If these could but act in
concert on all the great moral interests
Of hum.nity-the ministry ignoring
party, politics and the press e.chewiug
secular issues, knowledge and virtue
could not fail Of an early triumph over
ignorance and superstition.
But 1 shall not intrude into your
columns detail of tho proceedings of
+, tho District Conference held at Camden.
What was done is all propose to report,
aud that iu brief synopsis. And what
Was done by this body does not possess
the weight ofs legislative enactment or
judicial decision. It is only au advisory
body, except that as delegated and re.
preventative assembly, it elects lay
delegates to the next Annual Confer,
ence. Its other duties are simply to
confer and recommend by resolution or
otherwise to the higher authorities of
the church. This is generally done at
the suggestion OF Committees upon the
various interests involved. The hearing
of verbal reports from tho various pasto-
rates occupied the time of this Copfsr.
ence to near the close of the second day,
after which the following resolutions
wore discussed and passed in relation
THE coLoRED MEMBERSHIP OF THE
CHURCH.
1. Thut in our judgment, tho plan
for the organization ola colored Metho.
dist Episcopal Church South, adopted
by the General Conference in 1865, and
fe-afirmed in 1870, is tho best that
could have been devised for our colored
membership, under the circumstances.
2. That We approve the proposition of
our Bishops to organize in December
next, General Conference for the or
gsuisation of a colored M. e. Church,
South, in accordance with tho above
plan.
8. That We heartily approve tho con.
templated organization of colored
South Carolina Conference of the Nj. E.
Church, South, by Bishop Wightman,
in August next, in order that those Of
our colored membership in this State
who have SO nobly stood by their true
mother church in the trials aud tempta.
tions Of the last few years, may be
represented in tho General Conference
in December.
4. That we viii! give to our colored
members and friends ali necessary in
formation and such other assistance as
may be practicable in aid of this move.
ment.
5. That we still feel deep interest
in the spiritual welfare of the colored
people of this country, and that We will
continue to render them suoh ministerial
or other religious assistance as they may
desire at our hands-limlted only by
tho dictates Of prudence and ability.
b. That We recommend brethren in
charge Of circuits, stations and missions
within the bounds of this District to
give their personal attention to the
religious interests Of tho colored people
whenever it il manifest that they
desire it.
The following extract is from report
No. ], Of tho committee on
:, EDUCATION.
T. Observation-Disclosures education-bas.
from tho beginning Of the Gospel dis
pensation, been one of the greatest pil-,
lars Of the Christian Church; and no
denomination can hope for much sue.
cess, either in material or spiritual
sense, without npsoial attention to its
claims. This fast has so impressed it
self upon the religious world, that
ROmanisk and pSnkaekank havA viAd