, 1876-05-21
CHURCH AFFAIRS.
Proceedings in the Methodist
General Conference at
Baltimore.
The Rights Of Women Preachers Dis
cussed on q Petition Of Mrs.
Van Cott.
What Was Done in the Several Pres
byterian Councils.

| Episcopal Conference to-day, preamble ant
resolution were read aud referred, rocittng that
"while it is not the policy OF purpose Of th<
! Methodist Episcopal Church, in any manner, X
connect the Church with the State, OF 10 bring
politics into our religion, yet, in Vcv OF the I'M
piety, unfaithfuness, and corruption IN places q
| public hnst,the Conference recommends thai
| members Of the Church throughout the country
endeayor, by every just and proper means, to
| place in all civil offices OF tle Government only
such men as are known to possess and maintain
true Christian character and principles"
Bishop Harris announced the Special Conmls
sion On relations with the Methodist Episcopal
Church South, as follows: the Rev. III. ?. G.
Crawford, Central New York; the Rey. F. O.
Fuller, Georgia; the Rev, ]. 2. Newman, Balta-
more; Clinton B. Fiske, st. Louis; and Enoad
l. Fancher.
The Rev. Bennett, Of Northwestern lows, Of.
fered Q resolution to remove disabilities OF
women from holding Offices in the Church Ke-
ferred.
Aresolution was adopted that The Bishops select
seven men OF thorough literary culture, OIL
whom two shall be tbs Ncr York Book Agents,
to be added to the Committee appointed yester-
day to take into consideration the change N the
name and scope Of the Ladies' Repository.
Adopted.
n. Wentworth, present editor Of the Ladta'
Repository, made statement Of the disabilities
under which be Iabored IN that position.
DR.. Curry thought the Repository deserved de-
cent burial, as it bad outlved its usefulness.
A ballot for editor Of the Repository then took
place as follows: Ballots cast, 2S7; necessary
to choice, Ia: Dr.. Curry received 81; Steele,
s.; Wentworth, So; Miss Willard, &C.; the re-
nlaindcr scattering.
On the announcement Of the vote members
rose IN erery part Of the house calling for sec
ond ballot, and nominating DR.. Curry.
The second ballot was taken, and Of the 2S4
votes cast DR.. Curry got 200, and be was de-
clared elected amid general clapping OF hands.
BY resolution, Bishop Ames was congratu-
allied on attaining his 10Th birthday. The Bish-
op, full Of emotion, acknowledged tha compli-
1aent-
The report Of the frate1na1 messengers to tho
African Methodist Episcopal Assembly at At
lata was presented, after which the messengers,
DR.. Sherman and Brother Tate {colored), ad-
dressed the Conference, giving an account OF
their reception. The address Of Brother Tate,
who said he was a Tennessee farmer, and was
at the plow-handle when he received notice OF
hls appointment as messenger, abounded In
wit, aud was received with vociferous laughter
by the Bishops aud members of the Confer
ence. Brother Tate said he had been sold on
the block three times, and was graduated after
attending Sunday-school three Sabbaths. It
Dr.: Sherman, a Massachusetts, scholar, but IN
order to give the utterances Of DR.. Sherman 1t
Atlanta full weight and effect he CTate) had to
in1orse what Brother Sherman said
Inc committee on the EPscopacy nave sub
rnitted two reports on the rights OF women as
local preachers. The question was brought be-
fore the Committee on the appeal Of Mrs. Mag
gle Van Cott, against the ruling Of Bishop Mer~
rit1, who refused to ordain her to a deacouate
because she was not q local preacher, the uni- |
form Interpretation Of the discipline In all cases
being that women cannot be eligible to that
office. The subject has not get been acted On !
by the Conference |
The Committee On State Of the Church hare |
q report on the expedicncy OF divid- |
ing certain Conference in the South. Tbs |
question OF division involved the stcolor line" |
The report concludes with the following recon- /
nendations:
Resclped, That where 1t is The general desire OF
The members ct the Annual Conference in South !
srn work that there should be no such division |
u such Conference into two or more I
Conferences and where it Is not clearly to be seen
hat such division would favor OF improve the /
'tate Of the work IN any Conference, and where
ne interests and usefulness Of even majority OF
ae members Of such Conference, and members Of
he churches in such Conference, might be damaged
Y impcri1cd by division, it is the opinion Of this
7eneral Conference that such division shooId not
'e made.
2: That whenever it shall be regarded by large
'art OF the memberJ OF any Annual Conference In |
ur Southern work, clearly and naturally e1- |
'ressed, TINT such Conference should BE- divided
nto two or more Conferences and whenever it I
hall appear that the interest Of the work would ba
promoted by such division without damage to any |
art thereof 1t is the opinion Of this General Con-
crence that such division should be made.
Adjourned.