Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-12-25

Its Closing Session. synopsis OF the
Pastoral A sttress.

Ats CLOSING seHston-synopsts OF the
Pastoral a bdress.
The closing session OF the Centennial
N. K. Conference, Baltimore, yesterday
week, awAs presided over lby the Rev.
DR.. ]. M. Trimble Of Ohio.
The expression Of the sentiment Of the
conference on the education Of the masses
took the shape Of the following resolu.
ton:
Resolued, That as representatives Of .
church which has ever been the friend and
patron Of education, as Of every philan-
thropic and benevolent agency for the intel
lectual and moral elevation and culture OF
the people, we hail with peculiar pleasure the
constantly increasing zeal and liberality OF
our churches and the enlightened statesman
ship Of our country, looking to the universal
and thorough diffusion Of the inestimable
benefits Of free public educating all Glasses,
as well as the higher education through our
UNCONVENTIONAL institutions. Adopted unani-
mously.
Resolutions Of thanks to the ladies Of
Baltimore, TO the press, &c., were adopted.
The week Of prayer was fixed for the
week after Thanksgiving instead Of the
first Of the year.
Ahn EAnfOhhh AbDhbHbt
The pastoral address was read by the
Rev. Bishop Merrill, the chairman Of the
committee. Il says 1.-THE history OF the
frat century Of organized Methodlsm lie
full OF instructions. Its Lessons are too
fresh and imperative to be forgotten and
too numerous to be described. They
enter into our domestic, social and bust
ness relations mot less than our inner and
spiritual life In reviewing them. We
gratefully acknowledge the GOOD hand
OF our God which has been upon
our fathers and has not iorssken us. "
Il further states that sin all the years
OF our history the truths relating to God,
to moral government, to Immortality, %
eternal retribations, have been sscredly
maintained and asserted with great dis
tinotness, and that we have held in COM
mon with all Christian people to the in
| SEPARATION and divine authority OF the
scriptures, the divine origin OF the
church, the vocation OF the ministry, the
value of the sAcraments, and the iudis
penssbleness Of the strictest morality ao.
oordipg to the New Testament standard.
Beyond oil these we have made con-
| spicuous the heinoushees Of Elm, the ne.
oessity Of the atonement and the freeness
Of grace" In the way Of warning
the address says: "Methodisn
has been but little trouble
with herssy in her ranks. Now we
discern tendency which suggests watch
fitness. There 10 spirit Of inquiry
abroad which needs to be directed and
restrained. Under the guise of liborslity
and OF loyalty to Christ men strike at the
foundations without intending evil; the
inexperienced are osptivated by the
sound Of pleasing words aud call tor re
statements OF established truths. Tn,
maintenance Of family religion ia urged
and also to keep the Sabbath day holy
on the ground that all GLASSES nsed tn,
physical and moral recuperstior 4
brings; II is needed by all the toilinf
millions, and to the lsborer 1t ia booI
Of priceless value" II further state
that "Methodism cannot afford Il
stand behind the foremost ranks
in the battle against profanity
RIGHTEOUSNESS and intemperAnce, or what
ever kindred vices cause the land Il
mourn. he voice ia for war sRains
everything that dishonors good or Rffliot
humanity ; also that polygsmous prao
ticss In our territories merit the riRh teou
indignation Of an outraged people, Ant
yet the abuse Of the essential ideas Q
marriage as found in the divorce laws OF
our statute cooks and administered Ii
our courts, fall but little IL any beloy
the denominations Of Gormanism, and oll
loudly for the publication of public aenti
ment on this subject. As Christians W
must stand upon the Law Of the Nei
Testament and permit no compromis
with she looser opinions and prac
tioes which have become q
feArfully prevalent In our times
The sacrednsss Of the msrriag
relation Rs an institution OF God must
mRintained, and our undivided influeno
should bs Joined with that Of all VIII
| stand on the solid ground Of the hol
scriptures to beat back the haod-tid
of lioentiousness which threatens 4
| overwhelm all that is pure in the frame
work OF our social life. Every interest
i morality and religion ia involved in thi
} question Of divorce. Let not our effort
relax till our church stands free froI
offSnse in this thing"
/ In reference to the multiplication
separate churches, the address says: .'W
> are happy to believe that the period
discussions is we'll nigh over. We ha
} the dawn Of the better day, and rejois
y in 'he rising spirit Of fratsrnity who
} promises much for the future success I
, the cause We love From this time onwar
, our principal rivslries should be TO exc,
j in coed works"
The address was adopted aud the col
ference closed with love feast.