Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-04-08
Tuesday. April 8. 1854.
New York East Confer ence.

Travelling Deacous-The ChfIdren's Ed
ueationaI Fund-The Banner Confer
ence-Dencons as Santa Claus-Church
and SoeIOty-SPIrtted Debate ON She
Three Years. Pastoral Term.
The New York East conference met again
yesterday morning in the Hanson Place
Methodist Episcopal church, Bishop Hurst
presiding The question "Who are the
travelling deacons of the second class?' was
taken up.
The names of Marcus L. Taft, Duncan Nc
Aregor, W. A. Layton, BENZ. NJ. Kidder,
Henry M. Livingston and A. r. Goodenough
were passed In the case of Mr.. McGregor
the committee reported that in two studies
he stood only 5. and when the sermon cam .
in the committee were unable to read it, He
has gone home for another which he hopes
the committee will be able to read. 1t was
voted that Mr.. McGregor pass an examina-
ton next year on the studies in which he
fell below the average.
The Rev. DIR. Kidder, the secretary OF the
board of education of the church, was in
troduced and made short address upon the
york of the board. Collections for the chill
dren's educational fund have been growing
in an encouraging manner. Three years ago
they sent in 800, two years ago they sent in
$500, and last year they sent in $1,000, SO
that in this respect this conference will be
The banner conference. He then referred to
the good uses to which the money was put,
and condemned the manner of the celebration
of Christmas in some of the churches. They
made farces of these celebrations, got up
dramatic entertainments, and he had seen old
Methodist class leaders logged out as Santa
Claus coming down the chimney in the pres
ence of these little children.
Presiding Elder Hubbell presented re-
port in favor of the permanent organization
of 'the Pastoral Church Aid society" He
said they recognized the.nesd of some eff
Gent mode of securing money for the aid of
churches which need assistance. They had
had the substance of this society in opera
ton for several years past, and number of
churches had been freed from debt by it.
The report was adopted.
The question as to the change of the pas
toral term was then taken up. The secreta-
nv. DR. Goodsell read the substitute to the
resolution, to the effect that the delegates to
the General conference be requested to OPP
pose any change in the pastoral term of three
years.
The Rev George P. Mains, of Waterbury,
Conn, made strong argument in favor of
the change. There we're conditions in the
history OF the cn0rcn Wnlcn demanded some
notifications. The Methodist church was
not fossil, and this three years. limitation
was an inconsistency. The symmetry of
the growth of the church would be interfered
with if this change was not made. The sd-
ministration of some of the bishops has been
an evasion of the Law. This resolution was
ironclad, and he hoped the brothers would
not adopt it.
The Rev. W. r. Jones took an opposite
view of the question, and was interrupted
several times when he driftsd into PERSONAL
ties. Six years ago, in the last sermon which
a young man preached in a prominent church
before his change, he attacked this itinerant
rule before his congregation. The Rev. MIR.
Reed, who had been pastor of the Hanson
Place NJ. E. church six years ago, arose and
said:
IF the gentleman means me I denounce it
as false, and protest against these person.
aIities."
Mr.. Jones said he was only speaking from
what was printed in the paper.
Mr. Reed-''Produce the paper"
Mr.. Jones said he would stand by what he
said.
Mr. Reed-'I never attacked the three
years term before my congregation"
The Rev. r. Crook opposed the change of
the three years rule.
Tho debate was further continued With va
rying opinions offered.