The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-06-08
THE METHODISTS, NORTH.
CLOSING PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEN.
ERAL CONFERENCE.
maternal Greetings 10 the Southern
Methodists, &c.

report ON the state OF the Church.
Fraternal Greetings 10 the Southern
methodtsts, &c.
Tuesday closed the long session Of the
Methodist General Conference at Brooklyn.
Most of what remalnedto be done was finished
Monday, the most noteworthy business be-.
Ing The adoption Of regulations regarding the
trial of book agents and editors. Areport on
the churches. North and South, and resolu-
ton appointing delegation to convey the
fraternal greetings of the conference to the
church South at the next ensuing session was
also adopted. The report of The committee on
the state of the church was read as follows:
The committee on the slate of the church,
to whom were referred snndry petitions,
memorials and resolutions respecting our re-
lallons with the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, respectfully report:
We believe that very generally there has
ton OF good will and Christian fraternity TO-
ward the Methodlst Episcopal Church, South.
This disposition and purpose we still hold and
maintain. In whatever degree OF success In
preaching the Gospel, edifylng believers and
saving souls, God has given to that church we
devoutly rejoice; and we will continue to pray
for the prosperity and success oil the labors
increase in all spiritual and temporal
good; and In oil our labors, III prox-
Unity to the local churches and 80
cieties Of that body, we desire to maiH-
tain with them relations of Christian good
will. Respecting whatever intercourse there
has been between us and them since the be-
ginning or the separate existence OF The
Methodist Episcopal Church, SonLh, we do not
propose to say anything at this time. We are
content to let past events 60 Into history or be
forgotten, as the case may be; and, recogulz-
iDg that church and It's people as portion OF
the great Christian and Methodist family, we
wish them abundant success In their efforts to
promote the cause Of Christ and his Gospel.
Within the parts OF the country In which the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, has near
ly all It's membership and Institutions, to viii,
all the States formerly known as slave states,
except Maryland and Delaware, over three
hundred thousand of our members reside,
with their houses of worship, institutions OF
learning and other church arrangements.
Our church Is as really Settled In that re-
gion as in any part OF the land; and every con-
sideratiou Of good faith to our own people,
and oil regard to the inLegrlLy of our church.
and especially OF The unmistakable evil
dence of the favor of God toward our ef
forts there, forbds the thought of relaxing our
lubors In that part OF our work. We must,
therefore, continue to occupy that part OF the
country In perpetulty, aud We have need to
strengthen and reinforce our work 10 itas God
shall give us The means and the opportunities.
But in This we desire 10 avoid all nnfrIendly
rivalrles with our brethren OF the Church
Sonlh. There Is abundant room for both us
aud them, and God may use both oil these
churches for the promotion OF His cause in
lhose parts. To place ourselves In the truly
lraternal relations toward our Southern brelh-
rem which tile sentiments OF our people de-
mand, and 10 prepare the way for The opening
OF formal fraternity with them. be 1t hereby
RESOLVED, That this General Conference will
appoint delegation, consisting OF Two minis
ters ard one layman, TO convey our fraternal
greetings TO the General Conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at the next
ensuing session.
1t was discussed by Mr. Benson, of st. Louis,
Rev. Mr.. Osburn, DR.. Hibbard, Dr.. Slicer, DR..
Curry, and others. Mr.. Benson thought it
are one. Dhf". h" SIlesr sdld they had met eveP
body else fraternally, and why not those on
The soil OF our own country? He didn't mean
to agitale the question OF one organization, but
the North and south conld work side oy side
and shoulder to shoulder. They could afford
to be as distinct as the wave, and yet one as
the sea. II is safe to love people, and t is safe
for Christians 10 shut up the mouths of lnhdels
by loving each other.
Rev. Mr.. Matlack, who claimed to know jnst
how The South felt, said there was no feeling
In the South Tor the resembling OF past action
on the part of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
North. All they asked, then, was that any
further action must come from the North.
That IL what we now propose to do, and ltwil be
received with the greatest unanlmity South just
80 sure as we send our representatives down
here.
The .'previous question" was called for, and
the resolution WAS adopted by rising vote.
Alter further debate the report was adopted
unanimously, the officers on the platform in
ing In the vote. The result was received with
applause. The second part OF The report In rela.
lion to church property In the South was with
drawn, lest 1t might put an obstacle In the way
oil The establishment of lraternal relations.
The attendance at the closing session yester
day was unusually large. The report of the
committee on boundaries, fixing the bounda.
ries of Indiana, Iowa, Philadelphia, Liberia,
Kentucky aud North Indiana Conferences,
was adopted.
Rev. Dr.. Fuller offered resolution to estab-
lIsh a colored conferences In the territory now
occupied by the Georgia and Alabama Con-
lerences, which, after some discussion, was
tabled.
A resolution was passed authorizing the
General Conference to appoint tribunal for
udjudicating cases on conference Doundarles,
the decision of said tribunal TO be hnal. A
great part of the morning was spent In dis
cussng and adopting minor details of church
discipline. ;,
RESOLUTIONS were adopted holding the edl-
tors oil The papers responsible for all matter In
their papers, including advertisements. A re-
port was made from the education committee
which denounces the efforts Of the Romanists
to abolish the common school system, and
pledges the COME: ence to use every effort to
make such schools permanent and elhclent,
OPPOSES the division OF the public money
among denomlnauonal schools, and that the
Conference will resist all efforts to remove the
Bible from the pubic schools. The report was
unanimously adopted.
Resolutions were passed that local preach
ers must hold license for four consecutive
years before ordination. The Conference then
adjourned sine die.