Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-23
THE METHODIST. CONFERENCE
Vigorous Handling of the Tenn
perance Question.
Intoxicating Drinks Forbidden as a
BeveraSe-The General RuIe Amend
ed III Three-Fourths Of the AnnuaI
Conferences Concur.

Ell lhEee-EOurIiLS OF the amman
Conferences Concur.
LOUISVILLE, KY, May 22.-The minor
ity report on temperance, which provides as
an amendment to the general rule that any
person making, buying, selling or using as
a beverage intoxicating liquors shall be,
upon conviction, debarred from member
ship in the Church, was adopted by very
large majority-a vote Of 135 to 3S, being
more tnan the twO-thirds necessary for the
change of one of the general rules. This
action will be sent round 10 the Annual
Conferences, and if q majority of three
fourths concur Herewith it will pass into
a law,
Preceding the final vote very animated
debate occurred. All the speakers were
agreed on the evil of intemperance, but the
question was as to the remedy.
DR.. Edwards said that brethren were
clamoring for another specific law who
were continually violating those that al
ready existed, such as the wearing of gold
and costly apparel, and others as laid down
in the Discipline. He was opposed to in
PRODUCING a new test of membership.
DR.. Register was surprised TO hear what
the brother,j DIR. Edwards, had said; they
were told that the rule as it stands does
spirits, and if the Bishop and General Con-
ference so expounded the law how could it
be new test of membership? He was in
favor of special legislation upon the subject
though il struck $1,000 members from the
roll. He trusted tina. the grand old MethO-
dist Church would be misunderstood on this
point no longer.
The speaker having been loudly ap-
al o,,I IL l,a
bar, the Secretary and Bishop Paine entered
their protest against it, and the chair stated
that all appiauding in the Conference room
was out Of order.
The previous question being called, the
vote was taken with the above result.
The report of the committee providing
for a General Board of Missions was
aiIopt,ed, and the following officers elected:
President, Thomas o. Summers; Vice
President, E. w. Sehon; Treasurer, A. II.
RedfOrd.
Reunion with the Northern Church.
The Committee of Fraternal Relations
with the Northern Church submitted re-
port, in which they say:
ave stand ready to meet our brothers OF
the NJ Z. Church in a spirit of Christian
candor. compose all differences upon prin-
ciples of justice and equality" The report
expresses regret that the NOrthern Com
lniSsioners were not empowered to agree
upon plan of settlement and says: ave
are prepared to take advanced steps in this
direction, and, waving any considerations
which might Justify greater reserve, we
will not only appoint delegation to return
the greeting so gracefully conveyed to us
from the NJ. E. Church, but we will also
provide for commission to meet similar
commission from that Church, for the pur-
pose of settling the disturbing questions.
Resolutions to the above effect conclude
the report of the committee.
An animated debate Immediately fol-
lowed, and while large majority Of the
speakers endorsed the sentiments expressed
in the report, they were il favor of not
complicating the basis of establishment OF
fraternal relations by any reference to the
old difficulties between the two bodies.
The report was finally recOmmitted, WIFI
instructions to report again before the Con-
ference adjourned.