The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-20
GhegntelEigsnrr:
West virginia LaJ.EIecfOr"l Con-
ference.
SATURDAY, March 10.


the Rev. Mr.. LowLher.
On motion Of Hon. n. Coll, ST., tn
reading Of the minutes was dispensed
with. -, .-,.., a. =,
crror in the minutes Of the first days pro
credinrs, viz: that the report us publish
cd stated that the resolution offered B.
MIR, Brockunier, in relation 10 the eleCtioI
II Presiding Elders, &C., after general de
hate, was defeated. This was not the TACT
The discussion was not upon the merits o
the resolution, but upon the question u
TO whether il should be made n part o
the report Of the Committee on hesGlu
lions. The vote on the resolution refer ':t
rcd to was taken by call oil inc prev !;
question, and was decided in the negative
The following resolutions, which were
:, s"Ls,oncc thS same as the one referred
-, ~ '" "%"v" were offered by Mr.. c. w
Brockunicr: p,..,o.,, co,toro,oo
TLa, y ys are opposed to any action by the
General Conference, tentative or other
wi.c looking to change in our system
Witch shall effect the relation Of oul
Ri.hops rs now defined and make Q
nuadrcnnial election necessary.
Resolved, That we do not think the cleo
,ion OF the Presiding Elders by the An
nual Conference will promote the peace
and prosperity OF the Church or cOnducC
TO the effective working Of the office O.
Presiding Elder.
Hon. &. d. Hubbard spoke in favor o.
both OF the resolutions. His prime rea
son for the position he had taken was
that il the Bishops were to be elected
every four years il would introduce intt
the church u system Of "log.rolling" OF
the part Of friends OF the applicants fol
the position which would degrade ant
disgrace the church. He applied tn,
same argument 10 the election Of Presid
ing Elder.
Prof. T. II. Crago said that he was il
favor Of the first resolution, but was op
posed to the other. For years he haG
been Of the opinion that Presiding
Elders should be elected by thu
preachers. lie claimed that his position
was in accord with the genius and spiri
of the age; that it could not degrade the
church; that it was an old and we'll un
dcrstood question; that II adopted i
would infusc new life into the church, &c
Mr.. ]. W. Davis was in favor OF boil
resolutions. 1t was his conviction tina
by making tho Presiding Elders elective
you would in most cases get inferior mer
in that position.
Mr.. +. J. Stone was fearful that II We
began to change our organic law by thu
election Of Presiding Elders ii would re
suit in n general change OF our church
polity; that it would most likely lay the
axe nj the root Of the tree, and We are
not ready for that. lie was Opposed tc
fifth wheel, unless a fifth wheel was
necessary"
Hon. d. I. Martin said that he had de
cided opinions upon both Of these qne'
tions; that he was opposed TO all Of thes
radical changes in our system; that h
was opposed TO the introduction Of La,
Delegates into the government OF tn,
church eight years ago, for tho reason
that he feared it would lead to other OK
IRENE changes; that he would resign hi
position as Delegate rather than vote fol
any OF these radical changes in OIL
church polity, &c.
Mr.. Waugh was OF opinion that mos
Of the changes that have thus far beer
made in our church polity had not PROVED
for the best; that he was not only in favor
Of retaining our Discipline rs it now
stands, but would vote to go back TO ole
land marks.
Mr.. A. Shamrock claimed to be an ole
timed man; that he was converted in the
old Fourth street church under Bro
Waterman, now gone 10 heaven; was o.
opinion that the election OF Presiding
Elders would prove az disastrous rs the
movement known ms the "Old Reform
Church." which went out from the Meth
odists and had long since passed out Of
existence. He was opposed to all changes
OF the Discipline.
Mr.. d. Skidmore was also opposed tC
all changes. II We commence these
changes the thing will never stop anC
would finally result in the overthrow o.
the old church.
Mr.. Conway was din favor Of letting
we'll enough alone" to which there was
response Of about fifty "amens." Ht
wanted "the church run by good, relig'
ious men, and not wire.pullcrs and back
siders."
Mr.. Golf was in favor Of clinging still &c
the old Methodist ship as ii is, and CLOSED
his remarks by exhorting all present to be
faithful and true.
Mr.. Atkinson said that he was in favor
Of the first resolution, but had not yet
made up his mind on the second one; tha
there were strong arguments on both sides
that he had given the matter considerable
attention, but was not yet ready to vote
upon 1t. lie claimed that nothing should
be done 10 injurc or weaken the ltiner
ant system Of the church, which in his
opinion was the secret Of the great success
Of the Methodist Church in the world.
A vote was taken upon the resolution:
separately. The first one, relating to thu
Bishops, was unanimously adopted. The
second one, relating to the election oil
Presiding Elders, was also adopted by .
vote oil 10 10 l.
E.. Stone offered the following resO'
lntions, which were unanimously adopt
ed:
WHEREAS, In the economy Of the NJ. L
Church ii often becomes necessary to EN-
ploy local preachers in the regular work,
especially in tho border States and coun'
ties, and
WHEREAS, BY decision Of our Bish-
ops. travelling preachers alone can be re-
cipients Of moneys raised for ncccssitous
cases; therefore, I've it
ReSolrsd, BY this Lay Electoral Confer
eucc in conference assembled, that we
consider the above law Of the church 9
hardship upon the local ministers who
shall be called to bear equally the burden
Of tho travelling ministers while employed
in the regular work Of the ministry.
RESOLVED, That we desire our delegates
to the General Conference to use their
efforts to have the above law so modified
as, that where local preachers nre en-
ploycd to the work of regular travelling
preachers, they shall have an equal share
in the fund raised for neccssitOus cases
The committee appointed yesterday tt
communicate to the Ministerial Confer
ence the action OF this body reported tina!
they had performed their duty, and had
the pleasure OF presenting to this La!
Electoral Conference the warm Christian
gr,,,;rr, f.n,,, tho Animal Conference