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ent day, should in their entirety, without
modification, restriction or enlargement, be
believed, practised rnd conformed to by
those entrusted with the continued preserva-
tion and development Of African Methodism
in its historic and progressive relations and
WHEREAS, We further believe that in all
things essential as touching the doctrines,
government, service, order and work of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church, there
should be oneness sf parpose, concurrent
opinion, congruity Of methods; harmony of
feeling and relations between the several fac
tions that compose the whole;
Resolved, First-That we hold, as the re-
suit of our best knowledge and highest wis
dom, based upon the facts cf history and the
teachings of experience. the same resulting
primarily from the origin and development
of American Methodlsm, and secondarily
from the origin and development of African
Methodism, that it is highly inexpedient and
unwise to permit any innovation on the con-
current beliefs, practices and usages of Afri-
can Metl.odism and in view of this we do
not hesitate to affirm that the dogma of apos.
tolic succession is foreign and repugnsnt to
the concurrent beliefs and teachings of Afri-
can Methodism, and that no bishop or minis
ter of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church should be allowed to publicly pro
claim opinions and views favorable thereto.
Second. AS touching the usages and prac-
tices of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church. we are FREQ to aver that while it is
desirable to secure uniformity in the order of
public services and to enlist, so far as posi-
BILE, the thought and spirit of the people in
the same, and while we grant that the orderly
repetition of the Decalogue, the Apostles
Greed, the Ten Commandments and the re-
sponsive reading of the Scripture may con-
duce to the entertainment thereof, we siren.
ususly deny that the presence of a heavy and
prosy ritualistic service in our congregations
will in any sense increase their spiritual in
terests, and We deprecate any and all efforts
that favor the introduction of ritualism in
connection with our public services. Third.
That the wearing of robes, gowns or sur
plices by any of the bishops or ministers of
the African Methodist Episcopal Church is
at variance with the simplicity of Methodist
usages, and should, therefore, be discon-
thu ed.
Resolved, That all laws or parts of laws in
conflict with the spirit or language of these
resolutions be and the same are hereby re-
pealed
1t appears as if they are going to make
it warm and uncomfortable for Bishop Brown,
as he advanced the idea af Apostolic success
sion, and also wore a robe in doing so. 1t is
hoped that an amiable adjustment of the
matter will be speedily brought about. The
great fault of the supporters Of the resolu-
tions is, they wonld not submit them to dis.
cussion, but hurried them through as early
as possible. An effort is to be ma@e to have
them reconsidercd. A resolution was pre-.
sented by Rev. VIM. B. Derrick touching up
on the death of Wendell Phillips, but was
laid over fer discussion until this morning.
Mrs. Francis E. W. Harper is to address the
conference this morning upon the temper
ance work. 1t is thought the conference
will adjourn on the 22d. A series Of English
dinners will be given the delegates four even
ings this week by the ladies of Trinity A. N.
e. Church.