The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-30
THE METHODIST CONGRESS.
THE DIvIsION or CONFERENCES ON
THE LINE or COLOR.

CONTINUING the Publication Of oil Newspapers
Printed bv the Conference Authority-The
Use Of spirituops Liquor and Of Tobacco.
BALTIMORE. May 20.-1}ishop Ames pre-
led at the morning session Of the Conference.
The majority and minority reports Of the Com
mittee on tho State OF the Church were taken
up the question OF mixed conferences" or q
division OF conferences on the color line In the
South, being the point under discussion. The
majority report recommended that the question
OF division into white and black be left to the
conferences Interested; and the minority re-
port recommended that no new annual con-
ference should to organized or new conference
lines established because Of any difference ex-
isting between persons OF African or Anglo
Saxon origin.
A rule was adopted limiting speeches to i've
minutes, and under this between thirty and
forty were delivered, principally In favor OF the
minority report. A number OF amendments, as
well as the minority report, were voted down
under the previous question, and, at 10 o'clock.
without coming to a lnal vote, the Conference
took recess until o'clock. At the afternoon
go sion Bishop simpson presided. The majority
report adopted with amendments. As
amended 1t provides that whenever II shall be
requested bv a majority OF white and colored
members Of any conference that such conference
should be divided into two or more conferences,
II Ia the opinion OF THIS conference that such
division should be made and the Bishop OF the
district is authorized to carry such request into
effect The provision applies TO all conferences
without feeaiI 20 geO9 apuioai POSITION.
On motion OF Dr. Fuller a resolution was
ad pted providing for division Of the ueorgia
and Alabama Conferences into two conferences
each in accordance with unanimous request
from these conferences.
Report No. q on the Book Concern was con-
sidered aud adopted 1t provides TIL I all news
papers now published by authority of this Gem
eral Conference be continued that the Pittsburgh
Christian Advocate be published by the New
York Book Agents under the book committee
tnat tho Pacific Christian Advocate be paid 1850
ent necessities, and $500 per annum for the con-
tinusnce OF the paper during the next quadren-
MUM and in case It cannot be sustained with
said amounts. that It be discontinued; that
5000 per annum be paid by the Western book
agents TO the Methodist Advocate at Atlantis. and
snOuld such sun be Insufficient to maintain II,
thht II be discontinued.
Report No.s OF tue Committee 90 the Book
Concern was amended and adopted. Under
this report. the matter Of establishing a book
depository at New Orleans was referred to the
New iorK book agents, with directions to make
such arrangements for the sale OF books In New
Orleans us they may deem advisable.
The New York agents are also authorized to
publish a weekly SUNDAY school and missionary
paper, under the management OF the Sunday
school Department and Missionary secretaries;
aud tfO.WO from the Missionary society Is ap-
propIlsted for Its support. That the Sunday
School Journal shall be published monthly. as at
present. and that the Normal CldS ana Mission
drD Advocate shall DC discontinued.
NeI Iort No. !. from tue Committee on Lay
Delegations, was taken up. Dr. Buckley OF
New YORK East proposed a substitute Tor the
report, u the effect that, whereas, the introduce
ton OF lay representation IN annual conferences
II an important question, but no plans. as yet
presented, are practicable therefore, the Board
OF Bishops are authorized to appoint "A com mis-
sion Of Ave IN inisters and Ave laymen to consider
the matter OF lay representation III annual con-
ferences, and to report plan to tho next gen
eral Convention. II the commission shall deem
tho same advisable. the substitute OF DIR. Buck
ley was adopted-yeas lsy, nays 63. recoss
was then taken until Y. NJ.
Bishop Bowman presided at the evening ses-
sion.
Report No. II. from the Committee on Mis-.
tee on Missions and the General Committee on
Caurch Extension, which meet annually In
New York and PhiIadelphia. shall consist OF the
same persons to lie appointed from the several
conference districts, aud that tho expenses OF
said committees shall be equally divided and
paid fronl the Mission funtSand Church Exten-
sion fund, was adopted.
The report of the Committee on the American
Bible ;, ciety WAS taken up. 1t states that the
receipts OF I e society Tor the last four years
have been $i59,3,0i0 less than the preceding
tour, whicn is partly owing To financial depres-
sion and partly To the irrcsponsibility Of auxi-
drY sOCtrttcS.
Wanlgement and Work OF the American Bible
society, and recommending that subscriptions
In lis aid he taken NJ IN Methodist churches
ana adopted as amended.
Ihe report OF the Committee on Temperance.
utterly opposing the importation, mauutdctu re.
ana sale Of intUxiclting drinks. aud In favor OF
legal prOhi 1itlon, aud advising all members Of
the church to abstain from tue use of tobacco,
a- injurious to both soul aud body, WIS adopted.
not to pass candidates Tor the ministry who use
tOOACCn.