Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-06-05
THE CONFERENCE OVER
OF THE LAST DAY'S
SESSIONS.
Of PernfciOus Lftera-
,ure - Strenuous anti-POlyRamy
IegisiafiOn Advocated - Other
business Disposed Of.


snsnepded to introduce resolution to re.
consider the vote on lay representation in
,bs General Conference, but the motion
was voted down.
1ioverpor Pattison, chairman OF the
y committee on the state OF the church,
called up report No. from that commit
tss which recommended the insertion
sitrr paragraph S6 of the discipline OF a
nav paragraph requiring the annual
conferences to syyoint annually for each
ot ia distriots board of church location,
4 ocnsistiug OF the presiding elder as chair
4 man and not less than two nor more than
\ Ave ministers and an equal number OF
lsymen, whose duty 1t should be to pre-
vent the selection Of improper sites, and
determine questions relating to the seleo-
i lion of church locations referred to it by
d the presiding elder, or by the vote OF the
quarterly conference. The report WAS
L adopted.
A long report from the same committee
on the quettion OF marriage and divorce
4 was then read.
DR.. l.. C. Watson OF Gsnessee offered
all amendment making adultery the only
ground for divorce, which was debated
and finally adopted.
An exciting discussion followed the
resding OF report from the same COM
E,nittee, which declared "the policy of the
Meihodlst Episcopal church to be that no
msmber Of any society within the church
fhsll be excluded from public worship In
bny and every edifice of the denomina-
giOn and no student shall be excluded
from instruction In any and every sohool
hndsr the supervision Of the church be-
pause of race, color or previous condition
bf ssrvitude."
Dr.. Howes Of Kentucky presented
minority report providing that no further
bctOn WAS necessary In. the matter, and
poke to sustain It. 1t was defeated,
however, and after number of motions
b prevent the adoption of the report had
been made and decided, Governor Patti
jon, as chairman, closed the debate in
svor OF the report. 1t WAS then adopted.
Governor Pattison called up = number
other reports from the same committee,
khlCh were adopted. One "deemsd IL
hnwise, in view Of certain unfinished
business connected with lay delegati
10 take action touching the matter Of the
bivsion of the General Conference into
lwo legislative houses" Another de-
plOred the keeping open Of ordinary
places Of business, drinking saloons,
unning railroad trains, engaging in Sun.
bay picnios and buying or reading Of
Eundsy papers, and resolved that all
)swiul measures should be faithfully
Employed to obtain higher appreciation
pi Sunday.
The reading and circulation Of 'per-
bCious literature" WAS also condemned,
hnd 1t was earnestly urged that care be
aaken to exclude from the family and the
Snnday school literature OF that nature
'calculated to vitiate the taste and create
'tsse ideas of life." The work of the
postal authorities in eliminating such
publications from the mails, and that OF
Ahe Society for the Prevention of the
Publication Of Obscene Literature was
heartily approved. Polysamy, "as it
txlsts and is prsotioed ip the Territory
fpecies ofsdultery that ia in conflict with
the spirit aud genius Of modern civiliza-
iion, and is at war with every principle
oi Chris !ianity and good morals."
II was resolved, "that it is the duty OF
'he legislative department OF the govern
nent to proceed, without further delay,
10 enact laws, which will summarily de-
pose from political and official power in
'he territories OF the United States those
who either ptactice or advocate polyRsmy
p civil or religious right" The effort
the missionary department "to combat
ths pernicious and sinful influences OF
Iolygamy aud its long train Of evils, by
Building up and strengthening the
Church and educational work In Utah"
wss commended and encouraged.
iensrsl Fisk reported the following
tsuTe1 relative to the eastern aud western
poor Concerns for the terms just closed j:
Total assets, u 650,946 90; total liabili
tle' $l,772, ,433 80; total capital,
,jl7 900.
Dr. l.. NJ Vernoo, chairman OF the
committee on miesions, called up reports
'ioul that committee, the provisions Of
shlch were adopted as follows: That the
Clerical members Of the general mis-
tlonsry committee shall constitute a
adlolal conference to hear sppeals OF
iOal preachers convicted at an annual
meeting OF foreign mission that special
Ngsnizations shall bs instituted Sin all
'llual conferences, embracing towns OF
clles ID which considerable numbers OF
fallofs havo their homes or to which they
resort In the pursuit Of their calling"
'Of the purpose Of assisting and oo-operat-
lns with societies already formed in the
interest OF seamen organizing CEN
HN conferences In India and
span demonstrating against the
sOn'innsnce of the opium traffic
~ Treat Britain, America and
.a'na commanding to the earnest and
sVOFaDle attention Of the managers Of
sle Missionary Society the Importance
NM advantage Of publishing msgszine
usVotsd exclusively to the dissemination
missionary literature, and requesting
le bishops to insert in the course of
isSuing for both travelling and local
Preachers, books on missionary topics !;
asahizing the Women's Foreign Mis-
onafy Society and the Women's Home
customary Society, under the supervision
'he board of managers OF the Mis-
sonsfy Society of the Methodist Kpisco-
pa Caurch; advising that the missionsr
VOmmittee make an annual grant Of
money 10 the Evangelical Methodist
'uu'oh OF France and Switzerland.
az .he evening session, DR.. Harizsll
Moved iId that the time for speeches be
n'led to two minutes for delegates and
I'VE minutes for the chairmen OF commit
'ets' Agreed to.
Df, Martin, chairman of the committee
no,.u n s.uuacstion, called up the following re-
Sy,S sS from that committee, which were
As,.i
asking Tor contribution from every
ouS,Tgation; recommending that the
bya ba,u OF education consider the advisa.
"iy oi promoting the interests Of edu-
uu ~ IN the way of correspondence be.
"een institutions and teaoE ers, and re-
man, mS''ng' II practicable, the establish
Ear Vi teaohers' agency under the
IeO''0n OF the secretary of the board.
slj,. har'zell presented a resolution,
Ua.,i, ,r'Hl was adopted, requesting the
ENnYIilus Exposition, which begins at New
'tc1ans, to close its gates on Sunday.
Chaifman Gellett, of the committee on
uhday schools and tracts, called up the
''iVwing reporte, which were adopted
4 equiring a more diligent use of the cate
% N the sunday schools; requiring
oook concern to publish at least one
"a week for the next quadrenium for
purpose Of stocking the Sunday school
. Two reports were called up by Judge
uoias, chairman of the committee on
n,ow.at and were adopted. The frs,
inl,nneu ior new paragraph in the dis
piue' as follows: "The annual con-
aOs,nN, mas power to hear complaints
rsn,"s ns. travelling preachers, and may try,
SSpiaove, oSina suspend, deprive Of ministerial
ms%h e and credentials, exrel or acquit any