West-Jersey pioneer., 1873-03-21

|
SO long course, had reached all the re-
suits that can be reached. But l am still
going on to perfection, and l expect to be
as long as live.
see the ideal still floating before me,
which have never reached, and which in
all its fullness I don't expect to reach in all
eternity strange as that remark may
seem.
Whatever qualifications you have for the
ministry, if you have not personal relg-
ion, your qualifications will avail naught.
| have sometimes been compelled to fear
that the Methodist ministry, gives signs of
drifting away from those ancient moorings
and giving place to other qualifications than
personal religion.
1t was SO in the primitive Church. and in
the Church of reformation, when the great
Characteristic doctrine OF justification by
faith was almost lost.
l am gratified to know that there has not
been time for centuries when there were
more longings to get back to the first prin-
ciples than now.
May God help us speedily to get back
May the ministry be as flaming lights in the
world
With the increased advantages of the
Methodist ministry of the present age, with
the great progress that has been made in
education, to have still the old baptism of
| fire, What cannot be accomplished?
Brethren, l am confident that I am
reaching the terminus of my active christ
ian life, want to say to these my breth-
ren, be faithful. Groan for perfection, and
when God meets and fills you, groan again.
0! continually look up for deeper bap-
tisms p
The Bishop then spoke of the itinerant's
! pledge, which every man makes, that en-
ters the itinerancy, to act in all things not
according to his own will, but as a son in
the Gospel. | am son little advanced
in life, and, as have always thought, in
the strange providence of God, little ad-
vaneed in official position, but l am a son
and expect to be as long as am in the
world.
Methodism is peculiar in that it was i'm
promptu in its organization. 1t was not
the result of generalization, of preconceived
plans, or schemes 1t was the outgIowth of
that personal religion to which we have re-
| ferred, that sympathy for souls inspired in
| the hour of conversion.
| The itineraney is founded upon real gen.
uine personal Christianity in the ministry,
and the Church. When we leave this, the
itinerancy will become burden too intol-
erable to be borne.
You have been startled no doubt, 4 GER
tainly have), with that declaration of st.
| Paul to the Philistines, ''fer | have no
man lil1e-mindeG. except Timothy--who
will naturally care for you; for all seek their
own and not the things of Christ" Now
that is startling-in that golden age!-while
the apostle of Christ was a prisoner at
Rome, that an inspired apostle should write
| that all besides Timothy sought the things
that are their own. Merciful God! Shall
that state of things come over the Metho-
dist Church? God forbidN For then will
the glory have departed.
Brethren, whatever may be said of you,
trust in God that no one will ever be able
| to say, ''they seek their own" o. for the
old chivalry of Methodisml
| In the forces of our itinerancy, there must
| be third party-call them Bishops. or what
you will. But if the parties to whom the
| Methodist Church intrusts the manage
ment of this machinery, seek to lord it
| over Gods heritage, and if they will not be
corrected, let them be speedily removed.
| had rather be removed than stand in the
| way.
In conclusion, may God bless you breth-
ren, that after you have preached Him to
them all, you may say in death, behold be-
| hold the Lamb!
| The Committee of Examination and the
| Presiding Elders reported concerning these
! brethren, and JAS Moore, Lewis NJ. Atllin-
son, and John Pratt were admitted TO full
connection, and except the first named, be-
fore ordained, elected to Deacon's orders.
l. H. Stockton was continued on trial.
The Conference Stewards made call of
the names of former Conference claimants,
to ascertain who have claims on the funds
of the Conference this year.
A report of the trustees of Vlneland
Seminary, was read and referred to the
Committee on Education.
J. Stiles and J. Fort were appointed to
receive moneys collected for the Episcopal
Fund
The eighth question, "Who are the super
numerary preachers?' was taken up. and
c.iIz ,al,o, oota
and were continued as supernumerary
preachers
G. F. Brown. S. Jaquett, B. F. Woolston,
j. S. Beegle, T. Sovereign, A. Owen, W. A.
Wilmer, J. Gaskill j. Caughey, S. II.
Johnston, j. Atwood, ]. T. Tucker, L.
Herr T. A. Morreil, d. L. Adams, G. w.
Dobbins, J. H. Stockton.
J. S. Heisler, was passed and made eff
fective.
The ninth question, 'Who are the Super
anuates s?' was taken up, and the following
| were passed as to character, and their rela-
tion continued
s. Rushing, G. A. Reybold, M. German,
r. E. Morrison, D. Duffell.
A resolution, acknowledging the services
of W. S. Barnart, as Recording Secretary
for the past eight years, was passed by
rising vote.
The report of the Book committee, and
the exhibit of the Book Concern, were read
and ordered filed.
A paper from the book agents concerning
the collections for the Episcopal Fund, was
read and ordered filed.
The report from the Sunday School Union
and Tract Society was read and ordered
filed.
Dr. G. F. Brown, moved the reconsider
alton of the vote by which T. Ii. Stockton
was continued on trial, which motion pre-
vailed, and the committee was instructed to
examine him.
Bro. Salkeld, the Oldest Methodist of
Bridgeton or vicinity; Bro. Irvine. of the
Methodist Church; and DR.. Sheldon, the
Bible agent for New Jersey and Delaware,
were introduced.
DR.. Sheldon addressed the Conference on
the interests of the Bible Society.