New-York tribune., 1874-03-12
A RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE.
A Noy-EPIsCoPAL SECTION or TUE METHODIST
CHURCH.

A
CHURCH.
The New-York Conference of the Meth
odist" Church began annual session in the Graham
ave Methodist Mission Church, Brooklyn, f. d.. at p
M Yesterday. The Methodist" Church Is Que OF the
largest Of the non-EpiscOpal Methodist DENOMINATIONS
In America which have originated in occasions from
that body. II formerly known as the Methodist
Protestant Church. and organized in 1850 For sew
era years prior the General Conference OF 1873 the
Methodist Episcopal Chulch was greatly asitatod
by the question of admitting lay delegates
into the legislative body. In the Pittsburgh
Annual Conference OF 1896 the debate grew
very warm and this followed by the publication OF
a pamphlet and Of a paper called &" Mutual Rights
which led to the expulsion tho Baltimore Annual
Conference OF the Rev D. B. Dorsey. He appealed to
the General Conference OF 1923 and his expulsion was
confirmed This action led the withdrawal OF large
body OF ministers and aymon aud the formation OF the
Methodist Protestant Church. which on the breaking
out Of the Rebellion quite numerous body, hs
chief strength being in Maryland, Virgins, Pennsyl-
vania, and Ohio. but reaching into all parts
OF the country. Its chief point OF
difference with the Methodist Episcopal Church,
now that the latter adopted the policy for advooat
ing which founders OF the other suffered Is that 1t
las no bishops, each general and annual conference
electing its President During the war The two sections
OF the church became divided and at the General Con
ference Of the Northern branch held IN No'eoer lJd
plan OF union adopted, which all non-Epscopal
Methodist bodies agreed to submit for approval 10 their
conferences and churches. In May, 1857, the
first General Conference of the newly
ganized Church assembled at Cleveland, ono.
Besides the Methodist Protestant Churches. only
few others reprcsented-two wesleyan
Methodist the Independent Methodist ChuToh 0ut
efforts for union have constantly been made from thai
time with some success The largest accessOns have
been received from the Wesleyan Methodist Church,
which was organized In 1913 an antiSlaycry basis
The General Conference OF 1910 adopted ceran9 rules Ia
regard receiving NEGRO testimony IN church trlais
which gave great Ofense TO the antI5aVery men, ana
caused the of large body OF preachers anl
laymen 'undcr the leadership OF Orange scott,
who established a church radically anti
Slavery in It's doctrines than any other
at ttat time in America. II has since
its General Conference OF revised the discipline
s Off churches toerating members who belong 80
the other societies bT vote Of IS 10 g.
These rad cal measures Of legislation have prevented
the coalition Of bodies under the new organiza
ton and name though several WESLEYAN Churches have
gone over 10 the larger body. The Methodist Church
contains about 60,O00 members.
The New-York Conference represents New England,
and the eastern parts NewY0rk and Pennsy ylvsua,
in which the denomination was about 90 caurches.
Nearly 80 OF these already represented The Rev.
j. j. Smith s the presiding officer The Conference was
opeued with devotional exercises. ald most OF
the session was occupied Ia the appointment
OF the usual committees. It Will remain in
session during the remainder OF the week. and Ih usnai
business OF assigning preachers TO their charges Tor me
ensuing year will bo Transacted together WIN other
matters In the Methodist Church a preacher may
remain in one for four yesrs III the Methodist
EpispOca Church he is restricted TO three though IN
either he may changed at the end OF any year.