Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-06-07
From tho Atlanta Constitution, May 2G.l
Close Of tho General Conference.

Yesterday afternoon at half past six o'clock,
after laborious session of moro than thrce
weeks. tho General Conference of tho Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South adjourned to
meet on the first Wednesday in May, 1882.
in Nashville.
Tho Conference was singnlarly conserva-
two. and any proposed change in tho church
discipline and customs was invariably sub
jccted to tho crucial analysis before it could
receive tho sanction of tho body.
Besides this spirit, there were two other
ideas which appeared to rulo tho body in oil
its actions. Tho first was to preserve every
distinctive feature Of Mc,hodsm with most
manifest when tho doctrine OF "entro sancti-
fication" was incidentally brought up by q
resolution to restore in the church discipline
tho question, edo you expect to be mado
perfect in love in this life," which is to DO
applied to licants for full connection in tho
church.
1t was admitted that othcr questions taught
tho same doctrine, but this was insisted on as
o moro emphatic endorsement of it and was
ordered restored. Tho other ruling idea Of
the body's action was tendency to q spread
of its work.
Tho board Of missions held frequent and
| important meetings. A new conference was
organized for Montana and ono authorized
| for Mexico. Tho spirit Of the church is to
push right forward both where it now has
stronghold and into new fields.
Tho great difficulties surrounding tho
church publishing house at Knoxville was
ono of the knottiest questions the conference
| had to conoi1cr. large committee laborcd
ON tho matter for weeks and at last sub
| mttcd long report in favor Of continuing
the operations Of the house under now rcgu-
la.tions,
Rev. j. B. MlcFcrrin, D. D., Of Nashville,
was elected the publishing agent Of tho
Church, vice Rev. a. II. Rcdford, D. D., who
has conducted tho business for tho past twelve
years. Tho church was pledged to tho pays
mont of cvory cent of the debt and the affairs
| of tho house wcre put in much moro hopo-
full aspect
Very few changes wcrc p,ado in any Of tho
rules or regulations of tho church.
Tho conference refused to elect any bishops,
though tho church has now only seven. two
Of whom are in bad health and they arc
worked too hard, either for their own welfare
or tho true economy Of tho church.
Tho constant supervision of the largest
denomination in the South, numbering nearly
100000 members, and requiring, under tho
pelity of tho church, immense labors from
the bishops-this is a great task for seven
men.
The bishops arc, without exception, men Of
raro powers and rich attainmonts, and arc
devoted to ovcry interest Of their church and
ready to do for it any labor. The general
condition Of tho church is most prosperous:
and it evidenced most kindly Christian
spirit toward its kindred in tho cordial ro.-
ception Of fratcrnal delegates from tho Metho-
dist Episcopal Church. tho Methodist Protest.
ant Church and tho African Methodist
Church. These receptions wero tho most
pleasant episodes of tho eossions..
On tho whole tho session Of tho General
Conference will greatly help tho interests Of
tho great church Of which tho BODY was tho
supreme Legislative and judiciary power.