The Cecil Whig., 1876-05-06
METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE.
lcoNrrSurn FROM surpLEurxr.l
Third Day-Wednesday.

lhtft Day-N eGneSday.
hen the Conference met the theatrical
associations of their place of meeting We're
brought home to delegates by the presence
OF a bass vlol in the orchestra. In order
to cut OH cold draught of air from the
rear OF the stage the curtain had been let
down, SO that the background to the plat
form was q theatrical drop, with blue bay,
gay fishing boats thereon, and huge
mountain in the rear, against which the
Bishops planted their backs in august Sc
renity, is presented to the view of the del
egates.
The Conference was called to order at Q
o clock 10y Bishop Simpson. Rev. l.. c.
Matlack, of the Wilmington Conference.
conducted the devotional exercises winch
included the reading OF the Bible, prayer
and the singing of the 290th hymn.
The roll of absentees was called and
number OF delegates who had arrived since
the previous day s session responded.
The work Of making up standing COM
mittees was then begun. The lists. so far
as made up, we're read over by the Secre
tary, and additions and corrections were
made. Members exhibited some sensitive
ness lest the fair proportions of their names
should be curtaled. DIR. A. Wood said his
father always called him " Aaron-bg A. ;
little "a TO n" Mr.. ]. W. Ray said
that they were making Methodist history,
and he wanted his full name to appear,
viz: John w. Ray.
Bishop James announced the presence of
the Rev. W. B. Pope. of the British Wes-
leyan Conference, whom he desired to in
troduce to the Conference. The members
of the Conference rose with one accord in
recognition Of Mr.. Pope's presence. Mr.
Pope expressed his deep sense of their
kindness and almost undue consideration.
He is a Professor in the Theological Insti-
tuition Of the British Wesleyan Church at
Manchester, England, and stands high in
the denomination as a scholar and writer
on theological subjects.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Conference met at $50 o'clock in
the Eutaw Street Church, between Null
berry and Franklin streets, Bishop Haven
i'll the chair. The meeting was principally
devoted to the organization of the stand
ing committees by the election of chairmen
aud secretaries, each committee making its
own selection. The session was character
iZcl by Il somewhat lax observance Of the
ruies OF order, and there was a good deal
of noise at times.
y NAt = hfEliNt'
In answer to the call OF Dr. Cummings,
about one hundred and fifty delegates met
III the Fayctte Street Church in the even
ing To caucus ON the subircT OF the PIe>id-
ing Eldelship. There is Il great deal of
warm feeling III the church on the subject
now and when the matter comes up for
debate in the General Conference, there will
dOubtieSs be a lield-day.
held in the Eutaw Street Church. at which
delegates from the Detroit, Erie, Central
New York, New Hampshire. New Eng
land, Southern Illinois, Central Pennsylva
MIA, New York East, New York, West
New York, and Missouri Conferences stated
the wishes of their Conferences on the sub
ject. Of these Conferences, nearly all were
for election OF the Presiding Elders by the
Annual Conferences, and also the placing
of the number of presiding Eldership dis
trcts within the discretion Of the Annual
Conferences. Delegates from the New
York Conference stated that the vote in
that Conference was seven majority against
such a change.
At the caucus in the evening at the
Fayette Street Church, delegates from the
California, North Indiana, Philadelphia,
Iowa, Baltimore, Troy, Upper Iowa, Cen
trail Ohio, Illinois, Vermont, Cincinnati
and st. Louis were heard from. The lead
ing points in
THE PROGRAMME
of those who desired change, seemed to be
that the Annual Conferences should have
the power to elect the Presiding Elders and
to regulate the number and extent of the
districts, and that the visits of the Presd
ing Elders should be semi-annual, instead
of quarterly. so as to lessen the burden of
expense upon the churches. The election
of the Presiding Elders was the main feat
ure, however, and the delegates from the
Philadelphia, North Indiana, California
Cincinnati and Central Ohio were unequiv-
ocally for this. Dir. Juo. Lanahan reported
that the Baltimore Conference had had
vote on the matter, and only some nine or
twelve voted for a change, and of these
four or five were Superannuated. The
other delegates from the other Conferences
were without positive instructions, and re-
ported divided state of feeling.
Fourth Thursday.
In the Conference, Committees on Tenn
perance, Ritual, Addresses and the Amer-
can Bible Society were ordered to be ap-
pointed \ motion was adopted for ap-
pointment of special committee of twelve
to consider and report on the propriety of
a revision Of the hymn book. The quad
renuial address Of the Bishops was read by
Bishop James, and followed by some en-
thusiastc remarks by DR.. Granville Moody,
of Cincinnati. On motion Of DR.. Moody.
the address was ordered to be printed in ali
the organs of the Methodist Church and
1000 copies in pamphlet form. 1t was
also ordered that SO much of the address as
relates to charters be referred to special
committee of five.