The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-21

r.vc,x-s,x,n Amsumi session.
InanxilIe Newy.l

~--
fDanviile News.l
r,onsarence met according to adjourn
,nent 4, . O'Clock yesterday [Frida,] morn.
ino-Bisbop Keener 10 the chair.
Religious services were conducted py
Rev. jacob Manning.
The examination OF the character OF pre-
siding elders was continued by taking up
the Richmond district, Rev. Dr. Leroy Nj.
Lee, presiding elder, and al the elders
nsssed. So. ako OF the Norfolk district,
Rev. Joseph o. Proctor presiding elder
and The Eastern Shore district, Rev. u. IL.
Raw presiding elder. =,
the various circuits on these u's'Tics
showed. "a also did those previously SUB.
mi,tcd. a fiodrishing condition OF Metho-
dism 10 the Stale.
Or. o. r. Fitzgerald, native OF MOTTO.
way county, Va, and at present editor o.
the Nashville Christidn Advocate, addressed
Conference To behalf OF his paper and The
NASHVILLE PUBLISHING HOUSE.
He made a splendid talk Of California,
on whose mouutainaop the snow never
p.e,ted. and in whose valleys the flowers
never faded; alluded to the time when he
came 10 Danyille years ago, and thought IL
the biggest place be ever was In until he
saw New York and other larger cities, not
failing also 10 pay the Richmond ChrtSlloh
Advocate and its talented editor, d. y. Lsi'
ferty, high compliment.
The next business taken up was the ex.
animation OF the class Tor
DEAcoNs' ORDERS
and the following candidates were duly
elected: J. n. Rossfr, James Austin, j. w.
Stiff, w. T.. Payne, j. X. Sturgis, and G. Ii.
Zimmerman.
s. o. Harris was discontinued at his own
equest.
In the
CASE OF REV. G. C. wRENN
the Conference had lengthy discussion be-
fore continuing him, during which Rev. r..
NJ. Peterson, sitter the character OF the can
didate had passed. undertook In opposition
10 his further continuance 10 revert TO GER
tain things touching same. Bishop keener
promptly called the brothers attention TO
The fact that the candidates character bad
passed. Mr.. Peterson, continuing, SAID
paddock bad been placed on his mouth.
"You have had your mouth open long
time. brolher," said the Bishop, and Mr..
Peterson sat down..
Rev. Paul Whitehead also opposed the
continuance Of the candidate, as did DR..
wards, DIR. Leroy NJ. Lee. Rev. l.. l.. Reid,
and the presiding elder OF Mr.. Wrenn's dis
trict, Rev. r. M. Anderson, caused the con-
tinuaDce Of the candidate by an over
whelming vote.
The nice candidates mentioned above
were received into full connection ana
were duly examined ut tue bar oil the Con-
ference by The Bishop, who DELIVERED 10
them one OF the most stirring appeals Tor
zeal In the cause 10 which we ever listened.
DIR. w. w. Bennett obtained the floor
and read the following
ADMIRABLE PAPER:
Whereas the work OF Metbod'sm Tor
above a. hundred years fully atte>ts lis
value as one OF the branches OF The Church |
of Christ on earth, and whereas we DelieVe
that 10 changes can ever occur 10 the soclai,
Intellectual, or moral condition Of mankind |
20 demand departure from the essential
doctrines and features Of the system; and
whereas there exists in the mln0s OF maty
OF our own people fear lest Methodkm
should drift from ITS anchorage IN tue
great principles held and practiced by
our fathers, lose its Efficiency, and iaii 10
its work by gradual departure from the
premises on which il has achieved lis grand
results: and whereas the Virginia. one OF
Minced that The success of our Church has
been due to clear spprehensoH OF the
value OF the following leading principles OF
the system aud steady adherence to them
to wit:
L. ministry eXperimentaly religious,
thoroughly sound in Christian doctrine. |
aud entirely consecrated 10 theswork OF |
preaching the Gospel on the Methodist
plan.
9. A membership soundly converted, care
fully trained IN the doctrines and duties or
religion. and completely separated from The
world in spirit and practice.
8. An tinerant system OF supplying the
reople with the Word Of Life, wisely. firm |
ly, aud impartially administered in all ITS
departments, so as TO secure to every Deio
The preacher best suited in all respects to |
cultivate and develop IL as part OF The |
Lords vineyard: therefore
Resolved, That We feel bound by our
sacred obligations to the great Head OF the
Church, who has cal ed us out of darkness
into light, AID counted US worthy, putting
us into the ministry, to use. our utmost ell
forts TO ground Methodist people deeply IN
the doctrines held by our Church, and 10
urge them to a complete separation, in spirit /
and practice from the world, and TO con-
Start and careful cultivation OF family and
social religion.
>. RESOLVED, That we recognize the Wis !
dom OF the principles on which our itlne.
raney is based-to wit, the surrender oil
natural risbts both on the part OF the min
jstr, and the laity. Of the former TO choose
their charges and OF the latter to choose
their pastors, and the reference OF this ex-
tremely delicate matter to tie general SUI
periptendents OF the Church, to be decided
by them In the fear OF God and according |
10 the best lights before them, without
improper interference either on the part
OF preacher or people; that this plan,
distributing, as IL does, the varied talents !
OF the whole body OF travelling preachers
to every part OF the entire work, and
recognizing. no class as entitled TO special
places or special favors, aud never leaving a
church without pastor, has in 1t excellen-
ces aud advantages fully attested by the
upprecedented success OF Methodism IN
every part OF the world, and has so posi-
lively commended itself to the best minds
in other churches that they are seeking by |
evangelism 10 engrait 1t upon the congre-
eatiopal system; that we feel that any de-
parture from this time bonorcd and heaven
approved plan would be the opening OF our
system 10 an antagonistic principle which
would ia sbo, ter time than we may sup
pose result In the obliteration OF one OF the
marked features OF Methodism, and necessi-
tate what would be probably fatal change.
8. Resolved, That we fully recognize the
wisdom OF The fathers OF our Church as
shown In the method OF administering the
itineraut system, and feel assured that
tal olrth Of ho