Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-20


Texas; f. W. Crowder and Isaac
Reeves, of the Memphis Conference ;
T. J. Dodd and David Wilson, OF
Kentucky; W. L. Thomson, Of Ala
bama, and Rev. DR.. A. Hunter, Of Lit
tie Rock, Ark.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The election Of Book Agent, Mis-
sicnary Secretary, Secretary Of the
Board OF Church Extension, Book
Editor, Sundsy.School Editor, and a.
other correctional officers to be elected
by the General Conference, was, On
motion Of Judge Tucker, made the spe-
cial order for Friday at 10 o'clock.
SUBSTITUTE.
Rev. D. Bush, principal, from the
Baltimore Conference, was substituted
for Rev. Il. Smi,hson, reserve delegate.
DIR. J. f. EVANS.
The Chair announced the sudden
dealh, ON Tuesday afternoon, the 18th,
of DR.. James +. Evans, Of Georgia.
Mr. Evans was distinguished and VEN
eIable minister Of the Church. Until
this he had for many sessions repre-
serted his Conference in this body.
Rev. Ii. II. Parks made some touch
irg remarks respecting the excellent
character Of the deceased.
PRESIDING ELDERS.
The Committee on Reyisals reported
that they had considered the requests
made in various papers referred to
them asking changes in the Discipline
respecting the office Of presiding elder.
One Of these requested that the Disci-
pliLe be so changed that bishop be
restrained from appointing the same
person presiding elder for more than
eight years in succession another that
the salary of the presiding elder be col
lected separately from that of the
"preacher in charge" another that
the bishops be allowed to put fifty ap-
pointments in presiding elders dis
trict. The committee recommended
that the requests be not granted.
A motion to amend was laid on the
table.
The recommendation Of the commit
tee was adopted, and the law remains
as at present.
CHANGE or NAME, AGAIN.
The Committee on Revisals made a
report recommending non. concurrence
in the requests contained in certain pa
pers referred to them asking a change
in the name of the Church to "Episco-
pal Methodist Church" The main
object of the petitioners seemed to be
to get rid Of the suflix " South" now q
part Of the name Of the Church.
A minority report was presented and
read. The report Of the minority sets
forth in lengthy preamble reasons for
making the change asked for by the Pc
titioners. The chief reason urged was
that the suflix South was unpopular
with the people Of the West, and barred
the progress Of the Church in the Ter
ritoIies and new States. The minority
report closed with resolution recon-
mending the change asked for.
A motion was made to substitute the
report Of the minority for that of the
majority.
This motion was laid on the table,
and the report Of the majority was
adopted by an almost unanimous vote.
The name stands, and the Conference
seemed not ashamed Of the name under
which they have so greatly prospered
in the past.
GENERAL RULES.
The Committee on Revisals had con-
sidered carefully request to so change
the Discipline that ministers should not
be required TO read the General Rules
in their congregations once a year.
The committee reported, recommending
"pon-concurrence."
DR.. Edwards, Of Virginia, moved to
amend by striking out mon" He held
that the General Rules was a valuable
document, historically and preceptively;
that the Rules were wisely conceived
and, in the general, in perfect harmony
with the Word Of God. But there
were some Of the specific rules that were
of local and temporary application,
and though proper in England, at the
time when Mr. Wesley prepared them,
and very proper for societies in the
Church seeking higher state Of rel-
gious development, they were not, in
his Judgment, suitable to this country,
this age, and the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South. DR.. Edwards con-
tended that some Of these specific rules
were not taught in the Word Of God "
as the preacher was required to read in
the General Rules. For his part be felt
ashamed whenever he got up before his
congregation to read these things, some
of which he did not believe. He hoped
the Conference would strike out that
clause in the Discipline which required
him to do thing so distasteful to him.
DR.. Blackwell, of Virginia, followed
in a speech on the same side. lie was
more specific than DR.. Edwards, and
reading from the General Rules some
specific requirements, in q mastery
manner be argued that it was unwise to
force the pastors to read these rules once
q year in each of the congregations OF
the Church. He contendsd that to ac-
cept these rules and to require
them to be read as the Scrip
lures are read from our pulpits is
giving too much importance to what
Mr.. Wesley, a mere man, has said. lie
had q profound veneration for the Illus
trious founder under God Of the
Methodist Church, but was not prepared
to regard him as infallible. "By the
reformation Protestants disposed OF the
Pope, let US not sxalt Mr. Wesley into
. Pope" He hoped the Conference
would adopt the amendment.
DR.. Dodd, Of Nashville 81 hope
that you will indulge me, as l have not