New-York tribune., 1872-06-03
THE METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE

rwrNrY-EIGIIru pAY-sIYFUL ADJUSTMENTS Ex-
PLIcITLY CONDEMNED-A NATloSAL CEN
TENARY FUYD-woMAN'S WORK IN THE
CHURCH-FINAL ADJOURNMENT TOMORROW.
Bishop Peck presided, last Saturday, over
the 18th davis session OF tho NJ E. General Conference
The Rev Dr. E. O. Haven was unanimously elected Cor
responding Secretary OF the Board OF Elucaon. The
Conference then up the report OF the Committee on
the state of the Church. recommending that the chapter
OF the discipline imprudent conduct be 80 amended
as TO declare that indulgence IN sinful tempers words
buying selling or using Intoxicating liquors as bey-
erage dancing playing games OF chance, attending the
aters horseraccs crcuses dancing parties, patron
Izng danclngschoo indulgng In such other anuse-
ments as are obviously Of misleading or questionable
moral tendency shall be held contrary to tho order and
discipline OF the Church.
Dr. Holmes was opposed 10 tho adoption OF the report
lie believed that the rues applying to such amusemeus
were sufficiently explicit and that their Interpretation
should be left 10 great extent to the individual con-
eciences of the members Of the Church. How those
brethren who did not hesitate TO offend the ladies' be-
longing to the Church by the Of tobacco could nave
the conscience eslate against amusements to which
they have no temptation he could not see He believed
there were circumstances under which smiles we're Just
as godly as tears and laughter just religious as
whining.
The Rev Mr.. Stevenson was favor Of the adoption
of the report He could see objection to specifying
te things that arc embraced in the spirit OF the general
rules The sins referred known to be prevailing
to an alarming extent
Tie report was finally adopted by q vote Of no to 75
The Committee on the Book Concern presented re-
port recommending that the Book Agents at NewYork
bo outhor,zed aud recommended establish monthly
Methodist magazine. under tho management OF the
Boston Wesleyan Association, provided arrangements
can he made for the which will secure the Book
Concern from loss. Carried.
The Committee on the Bible Society reported that the
ars OF that Society the highest degree salts
factory and cheering. Tie receipts during the past four
years were s2sgs 50; whole number OF books Issued
In moro than 60 languages and dialects. 4.9OO059.
TIC Trustees Of the Metropolitan Memorial Church at
Washington d. c. reported that since Its dedication 1t
had been constantly throngcd with multitude Of hear
ers many OF them strangers not only from all parts OF
this country but other lands Several Improvements nave
| bccn made including beautiful spre and q chime Of
b Tho floating debt of $25 900 has been eXtinguisbed,
Iut tere remains a funded debt OF S50OOO sum too
large to he met by tie local congregation, and as the
bevv en- tnre cannot be long endured t asked that
the Conference commend the church " the generosity OF
| A fesointion was presented recommending that the
Centenary OF American Independence be appropriately
celebrated by tho churches OF tie NJ E. Churcn, with
rpec1i religious services to begin the first sunday in
June t76 aud close the 4th Of july and that tle
Bishops be requested 10 prepare lifting programme OF
! seyIces i'm c5mmemoratlon OF tho event The resou-
iion also recommended that collection he taken t Jnat
time which snail constitute National Centenary fund,
the PRINCIPAL 10 intact and the interest 10 be used
for educafiOUal purposes. motion 10 strike out the
section proyIdg Tor collection was lost llJ to lOo, and
| the resolution, as reported WAS adopted.
| The Committee Temperance presented resolutions
declaring that the Methodist Episcopal Church Will
never be satisfied with anything less than the entire dc
strucon of The liquor trac iagOlng the enactment or
laws making this vast system " inquity responsible
for the loss and waste il has recessy inflicted upon
alongsuering and patient people, and declaring that
the MethOdists will support only temperance men Tor
Office and that all members OF the church who give any
cOuntenance the liquor traffic. by signing petitions for
licenses or voting TO grant them By renting property for
such purposes or by directly helping In any other way
10 promote ntcmperance shall be subject to disciplinary
! On motion Of DR.. Curry the Conference voted 70
adjourn finally at the end OF tomorrow morning
] session.
| Tie Committee on Woman's Work in the Church re-
ported that there many manifestations or lntreas
lug interest The part Of women in all that pertains 10
| Christian work. aud that women undoubtedly have
place and work iu the Church, but 10 define the exact
,chaacteT and old OF their labor Is not an easy matter
| In rcgurd 10 WOmaus preaching" the report sayf
| we must await the further developments OF ProV-
dcnce We rejoice IN indications that women are called
TO be teachers of the Word of Life and yet the Instances
sufficiently numerous " justify any ne" esIsI@
| u0n on the subject" -, A.,
In conclusion the report recommends that the Ladies
aud Pastors Christian UuOn the object OF when is the
eyGngeizaton Of the neglected masses by personal re-
az regularly constituted socety OF the NJ T. Church
that Bishops requested to procure an act OF ncor
p0raOn for and that pastors be instructed TO cooper
ate win in carrying out its work. 1he report was
| adopted aud the Conference then adjourned
|