The state journal. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1883-1885, 1884-05-24
CHURCHMEN AT WORK.
A Missionary for Africa Elected.

A Missionary for Africa Elected.
PHILADELPHIA, May 22.-The pro-
ceedings of the Methodist Conference
yesterday were presided over by Bishop
Foster, who at the opening of the session
announced the following Committee on
Tenure of Church Property; Judge G. G..
Reynolds, c. B. Eddy, H. l.. Sibley and
G.. w, Parker and G. W. Wells, Esqs.,
and Revs. NJ j. Talbot and w. S. Prem
tice. The reports of the Committee on
Sunday schools and Tracts were presented
and adopted. The report suggested
changes in the discipline Of the Sunday
School Board, and recommended the edi-
tor of the German Sunday school pub
LEGATIONS Of Cincinnati to be made
German assistant secretary of the
Sunday School Union. 1t also spoke
in a gratiied manner Of the re-
port of the Tract Society, which has
issued 52,215, 070 pages OF tracts, The
Conference invited by vote the four
bishops elect to take seats upon the plat
form. Rev. G. w. Smith was announced
to have been elected editor of the Pitts.
burg AdUOcGt6 by the ballot taken the day
before. The report of the Committee of
Missions recommending the election of a
missionary bishop for South Africa pro
vOked an animated discussion. 1t was
finally adopted, and it was agreed to post
pone the election until the afternoon ses-
sion. A number of nominations were
made. Among them were Rev. Joshua E.
Wilson (colored), Rev. DR.. Vernon, Rev.
G. o. Fisher (colored), and missionary
William Taylor, of South India. There
was full attendance at 2 O'Clock when
the Conference reassembled after the
noon recess. Bishop Wiley presided.
A number of the candidates for the
South African bishopric withdrew their
names, and the election was between the
three-Missionary Taylor, Rev. Charles
o. Fisher and Rev. Pierre Landry.
Missionary Taylor was chosen by a large
majority. Mr.. Taylor is familiary known
as Father Taylor. He was born in Nir-
ginia in 1921, and joined the Baltimore
conference in 1843. He became an elder
of the church in 1S47. He was after
ward sent as missionary to California.
Since that time he has been engaged in
missionary work in Canada, and in many
European countries and in South Amer
lea. During the last twelve years he has
been in Burmah, India and other Eastern
countries The conference elected Dr.
B. F. Crary editor of the California Chris
tan Advocate, and after taking q ballot
Advocate, adjourned.
Presbyterians ut Saratoga.
SARATOGA, N. Y, May 22-At the
morning session of the Presbyterian Gen
frat nj oil
gram was read from the General Confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in session at Philadelphia. The commit
tee of forty two on reduced representation
was granted additional time in which to
report. Overtures relative to the Pres
byteries of Washington city and Dayton
were accepted and adopted.
At the afternoon session of the Presby-
terrain General Assembly the forty sixth
annual report of the Board of Publication
was submitted. The total issues during
the year were 1, 7S9, 500, and the aggre-
gate publications Is, 1876, 566 The re-
ceipts were $308, 1913 SO; expenditures,
$2S7, 216 50; balance in treasury, $21,
176 96; aggregate sales, $199, $50 5S.
Methodist Protestant General Confer ence.
BALTIMORE, Md, May 22.-In the
General Conference of the Methodist
Protestant church yesterday, the conven-
ton refused to strike from the discipline
the clause permitting the choice by the
candidate of the mode of baptism. 1t
also refused to make any change in the
prescribed marriage ceremony. A num-
Der of verbal alterations were made in
the discipline and Constitution. The
Committee on Revision reported against
proposition to expunge from the disci-
pline all that relating to infant baptism
which makes its observance obligatory.
The proposition to change was voted
down and infant baptism remains in the
discipline The committee on creden-
tials reported favorably on the certifi-
Gates of Rev. J. NJ. Barge and Layman
J. NJ. Smith, of the Georgia (colored)
district.