Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-05
OF the board he should move in favor ofintroducing
Prof. Goodwin's Greek grammar in the high school.
Adjourned for one week.
New England Methodist Conference.


Boston HIGHLANDS, April4
Tuesday forenoon's session was opened with de-
yotional exercises conducted by Rev. Mr.. Sargent
| of Maiden. In the absence of the bishops Rev
Mark Trafton presided The first business was the
consideration of the report of the committee on the
observance of the Sabbath, made by Rev. j. G. Bid
well of Cambridgeport the opening sentence of
which was: awe believe that the Sabbath was
Gods perpetual ordinance for the individual man,
for society and for the state We believe that Jesus
Christ shifted Sabbath ssnctity and service from
the seventh to the first day of the week. so that
now the Lords day is truly and authentatively the
Christian Sabbath-that it is an absolute ordinance
of Jehovah which is binding upon US with the
three special sanctions; first of natural necessity;
second of organic law; third, the gospel sanction
oflOve." On these positive positions as basis, an
able report was elaborated, which was unanimous
y adopted by rising vote.
The order of the day was then reached the re-
quest of Rev. S. Kelley TO be permitted to locate
Rev. DR.. Haven presented a resolution asking Mr..
Kelley to locate, and supported 1t with remarks at
some length, urging this on the ground that
his longer identity with the conference as a vOlun-
tary separatist from his wife, would not only COM
promise the character of the conference, but the
cause of Christian morals besides by fostering the
looseness in regard to the marriage relation now
prevalent in the community DIR. H. said he took
this position earnest and sincere friend of Mr.
Kelley whose history in the past he had greatly adj
mired, especially in his straightforward and up
right course in reference to the great antislavery
struggle, which had covered him with imperishable
honors.
Rev. james Porter, D. D., of New York, followed,
taking the ground that Mr.. Kelley, in voluntarily
separating from his wife, after having lived with
her so long as he could consistently with his hap
piness or convictions of duty and with not the re-
hottest idea Of marrying again, had in so doing,
placed himself entirely above reproach. DR.. Porter
concluded by moving TO lay the whole subject on
the table, which was done by the decisive vote of
SO to Al.
A resolution expressive of the deepest sympathy
for Mr. Kelley was then adopted, in the face of an
earnest attempt to defeat 1t.
The following were admitted on trial in the con-
ference: VIM. A. Cheney, W. Fl. Cook and Edward
Z. King of Boston, W. 5. Jaeger OF North Amherst,
James w. Fem of Williamsburg and w. Wignell
of Gill.
Rev J. H. Owens, of the California conference,
and Rev. VIM. H. Richardson, of the Maine confer
ence, were readmttted into the travelling connec-
ton, both as elders.
Rev S. o. Dyer, a Congregational minister, was
received into the church and conference.
Rev. j. l. Hanatord was voted supernumerary
relation.
a communication was read from the daughter of
the venerable Father TAYLOR stating that he was
not expected to live from hour to hour, and the
forenoon session closed with special prayers in
his behalf by Rev. A. D. Merrill and Rev. Mr. Up
ham.
The date of Father Taylor's joining the conference
was 1913, and there are but three living members of
1t ane-dating the veteran chaplain of the old North
square Bethel in Boston in connection with the con-
ference, viz: Rev. I. w. Tucker, who Joined it in
ISL, and Rev. Isaac Jennison in 1914.
At the afternoon session Bishop Simpson pre-
sized, and, after devotional exercises conducted by
Rev. >. ID. Twombly, Rev. DR.. Haven introduced
the subject matter of hearing the report of the dele
cation present from lions NJ E. church, who were
then introduced. DIR. III. said 1t was time all dis
tinction on account of color race should be done
away with, in the test of Christian fellowship.
Rev VIM. F. Butler of New York lions NJ. E.
conference, Rev. Geo. ii. Washington of New Bed.
ford, and Rev. james II. Smith of Providence the
two last being members of the lions NJ E. confer
ence of New England then addressed the confer
ence In earnest words for complete union of the
two organizations, after the communication signed
by them urging such union had been read by Mr..
Butler, to this etiect-"Approving the spirit of
paterna regard expressed In your friendly commu-
nication to the N E. conference of N. E. lions
church at its last sitting, and believing every inter-
est OF our common race as well as the most cherished
interests Of Protestantism and Methodism, and
above all of the cause of Christ point towards the
contamination of such union, we joyfully concur iu
the desire that the negotiations now pending be-
tween us for the permanent unifcation of the two
churches, may be speedily successful"
= Rev, J. p shreyes of the African Bethel church
of Boston, also addressed the conference in support
of the union, In response to call upon him.
Rev. Mark Trafton addressed the conference in
spetCliy MS us one OF
the earliest anti-savery advocates, beginning more
than forty years ago, when to talk against slavery
was stigma in the church as well as in social life;
he compared those times with the present, saying
that never in his dreams could he have ever con-
ceived of the possibility of such contrast as we
now see; his widest imagination never scared so
high in its fight to suppose possible the results
of the last ten years. 1t seemed to him now he had
nothing to live for; all the work of his life
had been done in the sudden eradication from the
land of the terrible curse of holding over four mil
lions of our fellow men slaves He favored the
union proposed, and had good word to say against
the terrible prejudice on account of color, which
should be done away with.
Rev. j. N. Mars followed in an earnest and eff
fective speech, the appeals of which against preu-
dice and caste in its reference to various incidents
connected with the speakers life, made an impress
sion upon the conference. He is an able speaker
though OF black complexion.
The action of the conference on this subject was
expressed in the addition of toe following resolu-
ton:
Resolved, that we have been highly entertained
by the visit of our dear brethren, the representa-.
tives of the lions NJ. e. church, and the pas
tor of the African Bethel church of Boston, and
have listened to their addresses with great pleasure
and do hereby extend to them our cordial Christian
greeting, and will pray that the blessing of God
may rest upon them and the churches they repre-
sent, and trust that the time will not be distant
when these churches will be united and one with us.
Without concluding the business before it, the
conference adjourned to this morning at nine
O'Clock, when it is expected the committee on the
matter of W. S. Kyle will be ready to report
sermon was preached last evening by Rev. DIR.
True.