The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-21
THE METHODIST CONGRESS.
TRUE CHRIsTIAN MEN NEEDED IN
PLACES OF PUBLIC TRUST.


Another Proposition to Remove the Dtsabtii-
ties Of Women-An Exciting Election Of
Editor-Thc Colored Brethren.
BALTIMORE, May 20.-In the Methodist
Conference to-day the programme Of the Cen
tennial services to be held tomorrow was an
nounced. Bishop Ames will preside, and adj
dresses will be delivered by Bishop Simpson,
the Rev. James Brown, and II. Stockett Mat
thews.
G. L. Robinson Of Florida presented the fol-
lowing, which was referred to the Committee
on the State Of the Church:
Episcopal Church any TO connect the church
N a sse ss S sn
II %iss ~ s &c 5 he
races have had so little prominence 9ualincstlons
iS. G's BS.'sa: spe sf@s Pg s
ease q tie arr i soa e sefeoFs 'nnu
Resoired That we the delegates TO the General Con.
CT as NJ @ . 81 Ss SsS SGpf
sa OF our 40 cRS Dss S IS h
they WIZ endeayoT by every Just and proper means 70
such men as known to possess and maintain true
Christian character and principles.
Bishop Harris announced the Special Com
mission on Relations with the Methodist Church
South as follows: The Rev. NJ. d. c. Crawford
Of central New York, the Rev. e. o. Fuller Of
GeoRia, the Rev. J. p. Newman Of Baltimore.
Clinton b. Fisk OF st. Louis, and Enoch L. Fan
cher OF New York.
The Rev. Bennett Mitchell Of northwestern
Iowa offered resolution to remove the dIsa-
billties OF women from holding ofices In the
church. Referred to the Committee on the
X. Wheatley Of New York presented reso-
luton that the bishops be requested to select
seven men Of thorough literary culture, of whom
two shall be the New York book agents, to be
added to the committee appointed yesterday to
and scope cope Of the Ladies Repository. Adopted.
DIR. wentworth, present editor VI the Ladies'
Repository, addressed the Conference, giving a
statement OF the disabilities under which he la
bored In that position.
DIR. Curry thought the Repository now de-
served decent burial, as II had outlyed Its use
fulness. The Conference proceeded TO elect an
editor Of the Ladies Repository. The name OF
s. H. Nesbitt was withdrawn from the nomina-
tons Of yesterday, and that OF DR.. Daniel Curry
Of New York added to the list The tellers re-
vi Saf Dts ese;sa 70 sheiss
Wentworth, So; Miss Willard, 80; the rest scat
terng, and no election.
lively scene. Members rose In every part OF the
house calling for second ballot, and nominat-
ing DIR. Curry. A motion was made to elect DIR.
Curry by acclamation, but, there being oo1eo-
ton, II was withdrawn.
The Conference proceeded to q second ballot.
The telers reported 2s4 votes cast, OF which DR..
Curry received 30 and he was declared elected.
A general clappine OF hands greeted the vote,
which DIR. Curry recognized by grave lateral
movements of his head.
A resolution was offered rendering the con-
CALCULATIONS OF the Conference to Bishop Ames
on attaining to-day the anniversary OF his
seventeen birthday, his three score and
diminished usefulness to the church. which
was adopted unanimously with manifestations
OF appreciation. Bishop Ames came forward
and Acknowledged the compliment With graft
tude and emotion.
The report OF the frsternai messengers to the
Conference OF the African Methodist Episcopal
Church assembled at Atlanta was presented,
after which the messengers to Atlanta, DIR:
Sherman and Brother Tate (colored), addressed
tue Confersnce, giving an account OF their re-
cepiion. The address OF Brother Tate. who said
he was Tennessee farmer and was at tho
plough handle when he receive notice OF his
appointment as messenger, was extremely inter-
esting, Astounding 10 wit, and was received with
yociferous laughter by tn. Bishops aud menu
bers OF the Conference. Brother Tate said he
had been sold on the block three times. and had
graduated after attending sunday school three
Sabbaths. 1t was compliment to him to be
associated with DIR, Sherman, = Massachusetts,
DR. sherman at Atlanta full weight and effect.
he lrate) had TO endorse.what DIR. Sherman said.
mitted two reports Of the rights OF women as
local preachers Tue question was brought be-
fore the COMMITTEES on appe.l Of Mrs. Maggie
Van Colt against the ruling Of Bishop Merrill,
who refused to ordain Mrs. Van Colt to the
deaconate because she was not. according to the
church, a local preacher, the uniform iDterpretA-
ton OF the discipline In all cases being that a
woman cannot be eligible to tnat office. An APP
peal from decision Of Bishop Bowman ia q
similar case was also before the committee. A
majority report Of the committee sustains
liughey, for the minority, dissents from the de-
cisions of the Bishops. The subject has not yet
been acted upon by the Conference.
The Com mittee Oh the state of III . Church have
submitted report on the expediency Of Ovid
ing certain conferences in the south. The
question OF division involves the " color line"
The report concludes with the following recon-
msndations:
l. Resored, That where II is the general desire OF the
members OF an annual conference In the Southern
work that there should be division such con
ference INTO two or more conferences aud where IL
clearly to be that such would favor or
Improve the state Of WORK Any conference, and
where tue interests and usefulness Of majority
OF the members OF such conference the MI IN.
bers OF CHURCHES In such conference might be damaged
or mperlvd by division, II 10 the opinion of this Gen.
eral Conference that such division should be made
g HesOlred. That Whenever It shall be requested by
large part Of the members of any conference in
our Southern wOrk. clearly and uraly expressed,
that such conference should DC divided Into two or
more conference, and whenever II shall appear that
the interests VI the would be promoter oy such
DIVISION, without INJURY TO any part eof IL Is the
opinion OF this General Conference that such
snould be made.
Adjourned TO Monday.