Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-13
Methodist Conference.


Church, in Baltimore, yesterday. The hour
for the reception Of the traernal messengers
from the Methodist Episcopal chuch South
having come, that ceremony took place. WIN
4he exception of the upper tier, which was we'll
ilIedy -epefy part of the hall-was crowded, many
standing during the entire proceedings. The
desk ia front OF the presiding bishop and all
the tables of the secretaries and official report
ers, ranged al the front of the platform, were
decorated with immense bouquets and wreaths
of the rarcst flowers.
Rev. DR.. Foss and Rev J. p, Newman for
malIy introduced to Bishop James and the Con
terence the. iraternai messengers Rev. James
A, Duncan, D. d., president OF the Randolph
Macon College, Virginia, and Laudon {. Gar
land, l.. l.. D., Chancellor Of Vanderbilt Uni
yersi,y, of Nashville, tennessee. Dr. Newman
was eI, qucut 10 his words of introduction, al
hiding 10 Dr. Duncan as the representative OF
the order of Aaron aud to Mr.. Garland, (Iay
messenger as the representative of the COM
mon veal of Israel, and the messengers rising
90 the platform and bowling, their salutatloos
to the bishop and conference, were cordially
welcomed with prolonged greeting.
Bishop James, on welcoming them, express
ed 10 the most feeling manner the regret oil tie
| bishops and the conference at the absence Of
| Rev. DR.. Lovioh Pierce, one OF the tratvrna
messcngcrs from the Church South, who had
started on his way to this conference, but was
detained 10y the infrmIy oil age.
| The secretary then read the credentials OF
the messengers from the General CoLtr' encc
of the Church South, in which this c,nlt renee
| III t,1
mi ssiou of FIVE persons 10 consult upon. aud
adjust legal points at issue between the two
| churches.
Au address to bishops and delegates of the
| Methodist Episcopal Church, in conference as
sembled, written by Rev. DR.. LHvich Pierce,
was then read. After expressing the great
pleasure he experienced 10 his appointment As
fratcrnal messenger, DR.. Pierce says As u
regular appoiutcc 10 this irnlernal dciel alton.
| | furnish az instance To the history OF Aucrl-
can Methodism, such as | think it Likely was
neyer known before IL one sent abroad u any
| Diplomatic minstry-a man in the 92d year OF
his age, and 10 the. I'D IT his effective mlnls-
try. He then alIud.s to his being sent az 4
| lone tralernal mes oyer trom the hrs. General
Conference (South). alter the division OF 1916,
TO arrange f'r and settle on, basis OF ID CT
| communication so that two Ge ,cral Confer
ences, instead Of ouc. sh ,uld br al the d fer
euce between us ITO III Tt lection Of tha mes
sepgcr by the General Conference 10 lS4S. to
the "wintry night Of tTcuty-onc years iha' til
flowed his rejection, succeeded by The ''S!al OF
Hope" that apppcurcd 10 the voluntary visit OF
BISHOP Simpson and DR.. (uJw B,saop) Harris
to the meeting of our bishops III st. Louis, il
May, 1869. The address then rcvle's, the pro-
gress OF MeIhodisu generally, aud co C. udc. :
Aud finally ie; Us as two companlcS ot broth
ers, cntrustcd with most precious patrlmoulal
estate, to enjoy as trustees, and cntarEe ana
increase as guardians for All indefinite poscrl-
| ty, see which of us can so use our portion OF
this Nj thOdist capital AZ 10 lu"kv it> pr cent.
age OF income the test Of comparative fidelity,
Industry aud devotion to It's poliy aud ITS lrIn-
cples of operation as it's founders and It's faith
| ers turned II over to Us. Let US do this a.
| brethren OF one heart and one mud, OF Que great
aim and end, .nnd the future Will prove that our
division into w, general Conference Jurlsdlc-
tons was baucdictioD Instead Ola deprivation.
We will watch each other ouy with cody zeal.
ousy for faithful propagation OF our Undivided
Methodisu. This-lnasmuch as II can be SOS
my last will and t.s,ament, turning over to my
successors my estate 10 Melhodism. FInatl5
brethren, farewell. BE perfect be of good com
| lott DC VI Ruou lHiuu h'c III pEaoe' 1uH onc
God of love aud peace shall be with yon
(Signcd,) 81 PIERCE, DEL
During the reading Their W re- frequent mani.
festaions of sympathy and approval DIR. Dun.
can then made an able address, sa!uIng the
bishops and delegates III the name Of his Con
ferepce as brethren in Christ Jesus He was
followed by Mr.. Garland The remarks If both
these gentlemen were in the IN st tratcrnal
.spjrit. and cordially received. Resolutions Of
weIco me aud regret at the absence Of DR.. Pierce,
we're unanimously adopted.
The Conference then arose and sang verse
Of the hymu, "Blr>t be the Tie that binds.
The matter OF appointing Il commission to
meet that appointed by The Church South, to
adjust legal points at issue, was referred to d
| special committee of seven, tu be appointed.
| Tt,o nsit;sI, (alnhrntiOu Of :S-S af