The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-06-06


The methodist GsnsraI coufsssrses.
CLOSE OF THE Ioaa sEss1ox-- HrroE7 on THr
STATE OF THE cHrRCH-FRArERSALG REtT-
IsGs 70 TIE SOUTHERN EETHoDIsrs, &c.
Tuesday closed the long session of the
Methodist General Conference at BROOKLYN.
| Most of what renaiued to Ire done was fin
ished Monday, the most noteworthy busi-
ness being the adoption OF regulations re-
| garling tho trial ef book agents and edito, 2.
"A report on the churches North aud South
and a resolution appointing delegation to
| convey the fraternal greetings Of the Confer
ence TO the Church South at the next ens,l-
| ing session was. also adopted The report
OF the Committee on the State of the Church
was read DIS follows: =.
y The Committee on the State of the Church
| TO whom were referred sundry. petitions,
massofials, and resolutions, respecting our
relations with the Methodist Episcopal
Church South, respectfully report:
@We believe that very generally there has
hitherto existed among our people dispo-
sition of goodwill and Christian fraternity
toward the Methodist Episcopal Church
South. This disposition and purpose we
still hold and maintain. In whatever degree
Of success iii preaching the gospel, edifying
believers, and saving souls, God has given to
that Church, we devoutly rel ice; and we
will continue to pray for the prosperity and
success of the lal,ors Of our brethren of that
Church, and for its increase in all spiritlr,
and temporal good and in all our labors, in
proximity to the local churches and societies
OF that body, we desire to maint,Iin with
them5reiltions Of Christian goodwill. Re
| specfing whatever Intercourse there has been
| ietweeu,,ls and them since the beginning Of
the separate existence of the Methodist Epis-
copll Church South. we do not propose TO
say anything ut this time. We are content
| to let past events 30 into history or be for
gotten, AZ the case may be; and recognizing
that Church and its people Us 4 portion OF
| the great Christian and Methodist FAM
| lily, we wish them abundant success i'll
I their efforts to promote the cause Of
Christ and his gospel. Within the parts Of
the country in which the Methodist Episco-
| pal Church South has nearly all its member
! ship and il,StitlitOns-to-wit,a all the States
| formerly known us slave Stales, except Ma
| ryland and Drlawnre--oyer three hundred
thousand uf' our nhrmlsers reside, with their
| houses nf worship, institutions OF learning,
and other church arrangements. Our Church
is rs really settled i'm that region rs i'm any
| part of the land and every consideration OF
good filth to our own people. and Of regard
TO the integrity OF our Church, and especially
! OF the ,lnmstakable evidence Of the favor OF
God toward our efforts there. forbids the
thought Of relaxing our labors in that part
of our work. We must therefore continue
TO occupy that part of the country i'm pcrN'-
tllity, and We have need to strengthen and
reinforce our work in it Us God slral give lis
the means and the opportunities But in
| this we desire to avoid all untrientlly rival
res with our brethren OF the Church South.
| There is abundant room for both Us and
them, and God may Use both OF these
| Churches for the promotion of Ills cause in
those parts. 70 place ourselves in the truly
| flaternal relations toward our southern
| brethren which the sentiment Of our people
demand, and to prepare the way for the open
| ing OF formal fraternity with them, be il
hereby =Ea. -
Resolred, That this General Conference
will appoint il delegation, consisting of two
ministers aud one laylIln, to convey Our fra
| tcrnai greetings t0 the General Conference o
the Methodist Episcopal Church South at the
next ensuing session."
| 1t was discussed by Mr.. Benson, of st
| Louis, Rev. Mr.. Osborne, DR.. Hibbird, DR.
Slcrr, Dr. Curry, and others. Mr.. Benson
thought il was time to bury the past, and tC
| say, 50 We. are one" DIR. SIcer said they had
met everybody else fraterrally, and why not
/ those on the soil of our own country? lie
didn't mean to agitatc the question Of one
organization, but the North and South could
| work side by side and shoulder to shoulder
They could afford tn be Is distinct is tn,
wave, and yet one ~ the sea. It's safe t.
| love people, and il il sale for Christians tn
shut up The mouths OF nlillels by loving Gael
other.
Rev. Mr.. Matlack, who claimed 10 know
inst how the South felt. said there was nc
feeling in the South for the resembling oil
ulst action on the part Of the NJ. +. Church
North. All they asked, then, was that any
further action must come from the North
That is what we now propose to do, and il
will be received with the greatest unanimity
South Just as sure lis We send our represcn
tativcs down there.
The s'prcyious question F." was called for
and the resolution WAS adopted by q rising
vote. After further debate the report was
adopted unanimously, the officers on the plat
form joining in the vote. The result was re-
ceivcd with applause. The second part O.
the report in relation to church property il
the South was withdrawn, lest it might put
an obstacle in the way OF the establishment o.
fI1lternal relations.
The attendance ut the closing session yes
tertay was unusually large. The report o.
the Committee OH Boundaries, fixing thu
boundaries of Indiana, Iowa, Philadelphia
Liberia, kentucky and North Indiana Con
fercnces, was adopted.
Rev. DIR. Fuller offered q resolution to es
tablish a coIored conference in the territory
now occupied by the Georgia and Alaban:
Conferences which, after some discussion
was tabled.
A resolution was passed authorizing fht
General Conference to appoint tribunal fol
udjudicating cases on conference boundaries
the decisions Of said tribunal to be final. A
| great part of the morning was spent i'll Ills
cllssing and adopting minor details of Chllrcl
discipline. =.
Resolutions were adopted holding the cdi
tors of the papers responsible for all matter
in their papers, including advertisements.
A report was made from the Education
Committee which denounces the efforts o
the Romanists to abolish the commoli-scloo
system, and pledges the Conference to list
every effort to make such schools permanent
and efficient; opposes the division OF thu
public money among UNCONVENTIONAL schools
and that the Conference will resist all effort
to remove the Bible from the public 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.
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