The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-23
,..,,. !, papdolpb. Macon College, was

Smith. of Rand0Iph-Maeon Coiicge, Wss
invited to address the Conference on the
subject Of the report before the body.
Professor Smith earnestly advocated
..iocal optionv rs the most available plan
for abatIng the evils Of intemperancc. lie
stated during his address that the state
sr,ends twelve millions for drink, while she
claims 10 be too poor to pay two millions
Interest on her public debt. The PROBES
sor made strong speech.
DIR. Bennett addressed the Conference on
the subject Of the report.
Z, a, Peterson spSs.a to the question:,
claiming that the Methodist Church mas at
,,.avs neon tho foe of the traffic In ardent
suiyi,s and Of the drinking OF arden'
shirts. except In cases Of necessity:
Dr. Rosscr spoke, insisting that the legis-
,at;on ~ the Church il sufficient, but the
low 81 the Church Is violated, and urged
the necessity Of enforcing the law against
those members who are dram-drinkers or
dram-sellerr. -,
w. w. Walker offered substitute for
MFR. Petcrson's amendment, which was ac-
ccpted bv Mr.. Peterson and Mr.. Edwards.
The report as amended was adopted, as
follows:
THE REPORT.
The evils resulting from the sale OF in
to.irants constitute one Of the most seri-
ous because one of the most powerful OBJ
stacles 10 religious progress. Ihey meet
the GOSPEL herald in country sparse anu
CITY fulI and wherever found present pc
cuiiar dangers to the institutions OF Chris
tianity. The strength is discovered by
the amount OF successful resistance ohereu
for wears to all the efforts made ny tempe,
rance organizations and by ecclesiastical
bodies OF all denominations to educate the
ponulation OF our country up TO proper
idea Of philanthropic or Christian duty IN
the premises. For more than century the
Methodism we love has battlcd the wrong
hy the testimony OF IFS general rules, ana
by the example and work OF pious preach
ers and laymen. In the present condition
Of the contest we recognize with Joy q
growing sentiment in favor OF eXertion to-
ward securing an act by the Legislature OF
the State giving TO the counties power
TO PoIGID THE SALE OF ARDENT SPIRITS
rs beverage in their territory. This we
regard step in the right direction, and
l,oDe fhe time will soon come when the firm
hand Of law will abate the danger we de-
plore.
Your committee can but feel well assured
that the importance OF taking decided
ground on a subject so intimately con-
nected with the success OF the ministry Is
recognized by our Conference and mem
bership. We hence offer the following
resolutions:
I. That we are gratifled at the renewed
zeal in our land relative to the suppression
OF the sale OF ardent spirits, and BID God
speed 10 all prudent measures LOOKING 10
the securement OF influence upon our
Legislature in regard to the passage OF a
law for the cessation OF such traffic.
.. That we urge our clerical and lay
members TO so enforce the law OF our
Church ms 10 free the membership OF our
Church from all connection with the traffic
which stands so much in the way OF spread
ing vital piety.
3. That our Book of Laws in connection
with episcopal decisions gives authority to
orr societies to exercise discipline when all
pcrs,lasions and appeals failto secure aban-
donmcnt Of the trade by members OF our
Church.
4. That we regard pastoral duty to en-
brace attention to the sale OF ardent spirits
whenever it is known TO be engaged in by
members of our Church, and we urge our
pastors to use all proper means to carry
out our rules on this subject.
i. NJ. EDWARDS,
c. +. WATTS,
Committee.
PUBLISHING INTERESTS.
w. w. Walker presented the report OF
the Committee on Publishing Interests.
The report presents IN abstract OF the
report of the agent OF the Publishing
House: congratulates the Church on the
success of the agent in reducing the prin-
cipal OF the debt of the House in the sum
of s1O4,540.70 in three years, and the re-
duction of the annual interest from about
5000 annually TO about $4,000 per an
nun.
DIR. McFerrin. agent OF the Publishing
House, was invited to address the Confer
ence.
He gave a very encouraging report OF the
business and condition Of the Publishing
house. The total business OF the house for
the year ending June /, 1881, Sl7S, las. Y I;
OF which the sale OF books and merchandise
constitute. Ss3,517.39; the publication OF
periodicals, S75, 344.07; miscellaneous, $780,
8ST.26.
The Conference and audience were fire.
qucntly convulsed with laughter during
Or. McFerrin's speech.
The report on publishing interests was
adopted.
REPORT OF STATISTICS.
The Bishop called for the statistical re-
port, and the secretary announced as fol-
lows:
Local 10y
White ......0|,3I
Col0red members. ..............'.s' .'''.'''. lZo
Infants baptlzed....... Ky
Adults zoos
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 6IO
Jcacncrs.' rs
scholars. 400
Necessary for the support Of the super
animated preachers, the widows, and
orphans Of tho Conference, 5000. Coz
Ieeted, se,s2iigg,
MISSIONS.
Foreign mission, sS532.03; domestic
missions, s4,s5O o..
This does not include the amount raised
by the "Rosebud Missionary Society"
and the "Woman's Missionary Society,""
and some other amounts, which, added TO
the amount in the report, will swell the
total contributed for missions this year TO
$4,000.
ROSEBUD MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
j. b. Lawrens, treasurer OF the Rose
/ bud Missionary Society, reported the re-
n n q =