, 1876-04-30

approve Of this action Of the Church Of the perna
the f4ct that we do follow in tbs footsteps Of thst
church, though wo may retain the Congregational
name, md even bare fragment Of the Plymouth rock
openly and soemny 1isavow congregationalfam itself
as It has always existed as historical system.
Appropos to this general discussion I must
congratulate Our new "Central Church, ;" under
Prof. Swing, upon its discretion in adopting the
regime Of absolute and uncontrovertibIe "inde-
pendency.' aud trust that it will remain in its
present position until the point in controversy is
settled, and it be- determined whether Dr.. Storrs
or President Sturtevant is the true Congrega-
tionalist. II.
METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE.
OUTLINE OF ITs LABoRs.
Ne4o Fork Herald.
Ono week hence the General Conference Of
tho Methodist Episcopal Church OF the United
States will assemble in quadrennial session in
Baltimore. The delegates, even with reduced
representation this year, will number 600 aud
will represent constituency Of 1850, 900 church
members and twice that number OF nominal
adherents in this country, and frhternal dele
gates from other bodies OF Methodists in this
aud other lands. The sessions OF tho General
Conference seldom occupy less time than one
month, and frequently they overrun that period
leaving much of their business unfinished at the
final adjournment. The Academy Of Music has
been hired and prepared for the use of the Con-
ference and the people Of Baltimore have genor-
oaa's openeo 'ue'r nonea 10 entefsaln the DELE
gates.
Four years ago, when the General Conference
met in Brook1yn. N. Y. they adiourn,6 In noaot
n G. T,r,, Tror1 1919 a. ~. ...,-..,;..
-: w. o oPtooo'o" "
pnsaaese anu tue stassnopper plague nave 30
impoverished the few and feeble Methodists Of
fHrfa in
conference Tor a month without very greatly
increasing their burdens and Gripping their en-
erg1es. The Methodlsts OF Baltimore who four
years aRo we're anxlouE that the Conference
promptly to the rescue OF their Western breth-
rem and renewed their invitation, and one An
nual Conference after another has accepted it,
and tomorrow week there will be bustle and
stir in that city such rs it has not witnessed
for many years. As preparation for that gath
ering, the Bishops hare recommended TINT
next Friday be observed throughout the
churches as aday Of fasting aud prayer for Gods
special blessing upon the Conference that He
will graciously guide and assist the delegates in
ali their deliberations and bring them to wise
and Just conclusions On all questions that may
come before them. Some Of these questions
are OF very great importance to the Church at
large. They include tho Fundamental ideas of |
Methodsun the number OF Bishops and their |
support; the character, duties, and tenure Of
their office and their proper care when old age |
enfaebles them aud units them for actiyo work
the number and method Of electing the Preaid-
ing Elders OF sub-Bishops OF the Church and !
tho manner OF their support tho itinerant |
system tue probationary system; the Sundar- !
school department, its conduct and relation to |
the Church. The ritual OF Methodan, and the |
e1pensiyeness Of the machinery OF this form Of ]
Christianity, will come up 70. hearing before |
this General Conference.
At the close OF the last General Conference
the Methodist Episcopal Church had thirteen |
Bishops. One. the Senior Bishop, Morris, has ]
died since, and Bishop James, OF thls city, is now
his successor in years and pastoral work Hn |
has been torty-aix years in the ministry and |
twentr-four in tho Episcopate. The last Cen
eral Conference assigned The Bishops to separate |
districts for the purpose OF residence only They
make out their own plan of visitation to the an |
nual Conferences to suit themselves, a. hereto
fore. But the locating Of them was designed to |
prevent the tendency, rerr apparent among !
R1chnps and presbyters, to settle On the Atlantic
seaboard, and leave the rest Of the country in |
measure uucared for. There has sincs grown
NJ among the churches provincial Idea which |
would confine each Bishop to bis own district !
or province. This, however, viii hardly tjnd /
favor with the General Conference, az it would