The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-03-12
1salti,nore Cenference.


probably continue its sittings until the 18Th |
--tc.morrow Bishop Doggctt presiaisg-
The proceedings have been marked>s by, the
Utmost harmony. and brotherlY> affection,
contrasting agreeab bly, with the stormy session !
of 1861, which res1lsad in the division Of
she old Baltimore Cepgeresce, and the crea-
zion of the Bsltiu.css Conference, North,
aid the Eaatimore Conference, South, as
they now EXIST 4ss' 5:s - !.
1t has not .besu our privilege to give un-
sassssnpted 'astenitioh 10 the <procesdiees, ia
.~uruoh as car pHce engagements have aem.
banded almost cxcfusiyely our .sin,ts;. The
unavoidable ard indispensable pressure" prop
eur columns has interpossa no. ..iins,speaaSle
obstacle to detailed account of tbs: trans
sections, but as these have bean generally Of q
routine character and not Involving any
grave qsestlan Of church economy, or new
subject UPON which asviasionr.' 81 Of opinion
might be expected, cur reasaesH win. bear The.
omissions We are compelled 10 maize.
It is apisaeant sight to- eoasemplats near
Two hundred men, embracing all ages, and
almost every grade Of intellectual capacity
animated by . commou ob5ect, and that the
good of their fellow men, meeting together
as brothers, their hearts bouyaut with the
inspiration Of religion, almost thoughsless
and careless of self, to. dedicate. themselves
afresh to the greas work Of the gospel, and
70 unmwrmuring1y await the assignment Of
their fields Of labor: - 81, i
The economy Of the M,thodist church 10
essentially democratic. The details of the
operations of the ministry is in harmony
with the instincts and tendencies of human,
,,ature, and is peculiarly adapted to the wants
Of the people. The. syssens of itinerancy
embraces b wide range Of instruction. aud
furnishes en- education that is mot to be
found iu tine nusty foles Of chasrcar Iitera-
,nre or the fresher emanations Of scholastic
research. 1t envolves iessou OF burma
nature,,a study of the dispositions and pc
eularities Of men, and enables the qniek
perception to- ccqppuchend the influences that
are best calculated to- operate TO, the beue6n
of those with whom each pastor is+ thnomn
to work. Probably there could not be a sys-
tenn devised which, could so effectually dis
courage bigotry and selfshaess. sFrequenaly
changing from, ene locality to, mother, and
eommau letl.to Iabor,in eoamunities of diff
erent occura' ieps and. advancement ia. so
sial ref5einedI,. tie minister learns to app
preciate variant phases Of popular preju-
dice or conviction and to- understand that
in this free country, the widest latitude is
eolerabls ID tie conclusions to- whlsh mems
minis nay arrive Such schooling gives
.,lastiea y.ae~ths mental faepgi les. ever furp
ishing eWafsfoed for reflection, and e1Lltipsaes
broad understanding of the versatility Of
she aspirations sca wants Of our fpecies. 1t
is an Induction iiase tie very science of hu-
,nau progress, aaa opens up am indefinite feld
sf proso@ad s,udy to! the Intellectual man. far
rnore Instructive than. the most elaborate
treatiss,ot the most erudite scholars
Tne-sdspt ability of the, ieina-sat systern to
the peeessitiss of the people,. has been the
arcat .seseapet Of the woaderfSp success OF
,aethoSism- 1ss den,ecratie seudeusoies har-
nsonizp With the popu5as ). i'ppssssss. and the
sbseqce Of restrictive ~ complicated forms
Sn tEsS fhtsera polity Of the church, Or 10
its Nero conventional usages, s in coosoueuce
will. thai, psInar supremacy THAT is given to
.p;risaI. eajoy raent, as an essential elemens
eff religious eoalviiatian.
Gposekently the census returns inform
us that the ratio Of the increase of the men.
berahip ef.tbe Methodist denomiuetToo is
far greater than that Of any osher branch Of
the CHRIST au Church. Not only + H., but
current history presents the fact THAT the
learned mem Of this persuasiou are more
sensiStI alive to the lnsidious APP eaehes Of
Iofi@ity ip ths. guise OF Science, and are
more deeply impressed with the necessity OIL
% vigorous preparation for rot only . warfare
If defence, bud fos bold, aggressive. move
,nent against the life Of the captiva-
sng..and insi3ieus -harlot. To the. discour-
ses which have been delivered during the
tresept sittings of conference, we find thst
bishop Noggettss Dr. Duncan and Dr.. Hay
good, ssbave had prominently In their nalnds
tbs. nsagm5t vide Of the issue that is upon
sssrs and chat there Is . fearful necessity
.xissisg for a., combined and determined
puSpsosa 10. make NON -sssentSa Is suhesdisate
tostAe srest central thousht Of cheekieg and
crushing she Moral Monster, which through
tine laet.physscaI teachings Of tbs DEVILS
xn,issarTensr in the form Of acaeatific m4uema-
niaes. i ptanties Sts triumP- ant eoloss 5Mong
tine intellectual spesnlssoss. Of the go : :
WidsIe tine controlling ob5sat Of all ecatSssi-
ssiieal bodies is to ecueats the heavS to- am
,ssderstandpg of the sree destssy of man,
she .eesna@y Of the Meahadist thurrh is pc
&ulsalls adapted to this great work among
tie masses, and it is anong shens that shs
Important work has to be eonaammated oil
srsxnlaiisS and stinsuEaslpg an army that
will by The sas y force OF it's ZEAL meet and