The Morning herald., 1876-03-18
rHELAYAEx'S C0NFERExOA.

THE LAYAEN'S CONFERENOA d,
Meeting Ysstsrdsy-FlS lection Of Dsls0atss
to the 0speral Cessyesence-C CbsssS6sr1.
ttsss Of Inspostass Rssolwtto'ss. go
The Laymen of the Methodist Church
held . Conference, yesterday, for the pur-
pose Of 9 Getting Delegates 70 the General
Conference and for other purposes. About
eighty delegates we're in attendance. ~,
Z. Fl. Mcdaniel, of the Union Church,
called the Conference TO order, and on his
motion, Robert j. Jump,of Denton, was
elected temporary chairman, Mr.. Jump
thanked the conference for the honor con-
ferrcd. Rev John Wilson then led In pray
er. after which I. T. Matthews was chosen
temporary secretary.
B. &. King, Wilmington District; W. Spry
Sherman, Dover District; Walter Thomp.
son, EastOn District, and J. E. Elleg0od,
Salisbury District, were appointed Com
mittee on Credentials. l.O..O ,.. .r- .y
During the retirement of the committee
Bishop Ames was introduced To the Con-
ference and saluted them by saying: "Brsth-
rem. an glad to sea you % you are and
where you are" e u. =.
Rev. John Wilson, Pr: Csueey, J. ".
Brown, W. L. Schoolfisld, and w. W.
Sharp were announced as committee on
permanent organization. The Committee
after short retirement, announced the fol-
lowing permanent officers:
President-Robert J. Jump.
Vice President--Jabcz Hodson.
| Secretares-I. T. Matthews and j. H..
Bell. a--,y,....g.-- --ss.-.es
: Jabez Hodson, of St. Pauls, Wilmington;
WV. Sharp, Of Bridgeville; Price Griffith,
Of Smyrna; Thomas Mallalieu, of Milling
ton; r. H. eMcDanel, of Union Church,
Wilmington, made remarks representing
the respective churches to which they be-
longed.
The Committee on Credentials made 3
report of the lay delegates elected, which
report WAS adopted.
Half.past O'Clock was fixed upon as the
hour for the election of two lay delegates.
T. H. Gray, John F. Dawson, Rev. John
Wilson, j. E. Ellegood, and The President
Of the Conference were appointed com
mittee to which all resolutions touching
church polity should be referred.
I The Conference reassembled at 2:20 P.
M, and proceeded to. the election of dele
gates and alternates. The following were
nominated:
J. F. Williamson, VIM. J. Jones, Cove
Salisbury, Thomas B. Courssy, George W.
Sparks, James E. Ellegood. I. T. Matthews,
Robert j. Jump, Thomas Mallalieu, Elijah
Pierce, Henry P. Hopkins, Rev. John Will
son, Hon. D. F. Bates, Richard G. Carter,
Isaac Jump and John W. Hall.
Rev. John Wilson and John w. Hall de-
clined the nomination, and w. R. Cahoon
Withdrew the name of DR.. Isaac Jump.
The third ballot resulted in 81 votes for
John F. Williamson, 45 for Thomas Malla-
lieu. 38 for W. J. Jones ard ID for Cove
Salisbury.
Messrs. Williamson and Mallalieu having
received majority of the votes cast, were
d eclared elected.
The Conference then proceeded to the
election OF two alternates, and elected W.
J. Jones and Dr.. G. G. Tyler.
| The Committee on Resolutions and Me-
MORALS reported, and after postponing the
consideration Of the report the Conference
adjourned until 7:SO P. M.
The following resolutions constituted the
report: =
Resolved, Thstin our judgment 1t is the
part of wisdom to rest from the agitation
of fundamental changes in church poltty, to
the end that the energies of the church,
may be given without distraction to its
work of seeking the lost, and of increasing
the spiritual life and power, as well as to
the larger development and greater efficien-
cy Of our denominatisnal agencies, particu-
larly the educational, missionary, and es-
tensive publishing and Sunday School inter-
ests,
Resolved, That we hold firmly to stable
and Independent Episcopacy as being essen
tial to the peculiar economy of Methodism
which seeks to maintain the unity, health
and prosperity Of the entire body Of the
church; that our conventional interest and
the itinerant work required In the intervals
between the sittings Of the General Confer
ence, the care and Suspension of q select
body of men trained for their work by much
experience, identified with 1t by long sym
pathy and association, and above all re-
moved from sectional partisan influences.
We therefore feel it to be duty to advise
our delegates in the ensuing General Con-
ference to oppose steadfastly any proposi-
tion for a modification Of the Epispocal Of
flee by shortening the terms of service or
abridging its present constitutions forms.
! THE EVENINGS SESSION.
The lay delegates convened at 73O, Rev.
G.. J. Jump, presiding.
The meeting opened with prayer from
Mr.. Leatherby, of Accomac Co., Virginia.
| Rev. +. E. Martindale wished to know
whether the Electoral Conference desired
to have published in the Conference Min
utes, its proceedings.
&C. King, Of Newark, offered resolu.
tion providing that the proceedings should
be published In the minutes of the Confer
ence; adopted. Mr.. Martindale also sug-
gested that some one should be appointed
to whom he could look for the cost Of print
ing. On motion, the secretary was author
lied to procure record In which the pro-
ceedings be kept.
The President stated that the cost Of
printing would amount to about SIS, and
/ annn sl cd the r,ronriatu of com mittee heinr