Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-13
THE CONFERENCE.
TIE paocEEDIses YrsTERDAY-eov
.YRKoR FORAKER DOESN'T CONE.
The Order Of Pubic Worship Discussed
Dr.. xilcy, fratsrnal Messenger Ar
rived Bishops' Residences, &c.

chufcn.
After devotional exercises by Rev
Y. NJ, Bounds, Of st. Louis, the chat
was vacated for Bishop Keener, VIII
presided during the session.
BISHOPS RESIDENCE.
The Committee on Episcopacy pre-
sen,ed report on The subject Of tn
residence Of the bishops OF the Church
which recommends that they be sllowet
to select their own places Of residence
but have due regard to the wants ant
demands Of the Church for episcopa
supervision.
"Ihe committee unanimously 70
comnerd, however, that the College Of
Bishops do, if practicable, so agree 10
the matter Of episcopal residences thai
each great section Of Church territory
may have bishop resident in some on,
OF the Conferences embraced in it,"
A motion was made TO adopt the re.
port.
Rev. Mr. Whitehead, of Virginia,
objected to action being taken on the
report, holding that under the rules the
report should go on the calendar and
be taken up in It's regular order.
The Chair decided that the motion to
adopt was in order.
Mr.. Whitehead appealed from the
decision Of the Chair, and stated the
grounds Of his appeal.
The Conference, by vote, sustained
the Chair in its ruling.
The report of the committee was
adopted.
REPRESENTATION IN TIE GENERAL
CONFERENCE.
The Committee on Reyisals reported
that they had considered certain papers
referred TO them asking a change in the
basis Of representation in the General
Conference and in the manner of elect
ing delegates TO the same. The report
recommends that no change be made in
the law of the Church as now existing
on these questions.
The report goes on the calendar, and
will come up in its order.
A minority report was announced.
The Chair decided that it was not now
in order to receive the report Of the
minority.
PUBLICATIONS.
The Committee on Publishing In.
terest reported adversely on petitions
asking that the Conference instruct the
book agent to publish q paper to be
known as the Daily Advocate, to be
issued from the Publishing House, at
Nashville. Also adversely to the re-
quest in certain papers referred to them
asking that the price of the Nashville
Christian AduOcote be reduced to one
dollar per year.
The report of the committee was
adopted.
MR.. BRAGG's REQUESTS.
The secretary read clauses from the
will Of Rev. Mr. Bragg which make
certain conditional requests to the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
The widow, Mrs. Ella G. Bragg, who
is nominated as executrix, represents
that in administering the estate it is
necessary to sell certain property be-
longing TO the estate, and asks this Con-
ference as beneficiary legatee to grant
the power TO sell and make convey
ance. The committee recommends that
the book agent to be elected by this
Conference and his successor in office
be directed to take such legal counsel
as be may deem necessary in the case,
and that he be empowered to take such
action in regard to the matter as he
may deem best for tho protection Of the
interests Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South.
The report was adopted.
NO CHANGE IN BOUNDARIES.
The Committee on Boundaries re-
ported adversely on papers requesting a
change in the boundaries OF the Holston
and Tennessee Conferences. The report
was placed on the calendar.
REV. DIR. MILEY.
Rev. DIR. Miley, fraternal messenger
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was
brought forward by DR.. Wiley and in
troduced to the Chair, by whom he was
presented to the Conference, which re-
ceiyed him standing.
EPISCOPAL DECISIONS.
Mr.. Hudgin, of Arkansas, presented
a resolution requesting the bishops to
publish their episcopal decisions vol
ume TO themselves.
Mr.. Hudgins came in front OF the
Chair, read his resolutions, and called
attention to the provisions Of the Dis
cipline requiring the publication Of the
decisions Of the bishops in such
form as they thought best. lie urged
that the discussions on this floor had
brought out declaration in effect that
there is in the Church no judiciary en-
powered to give authoritative interpre-
tations Of law. lie insisted that this
was an error. The bishops have power
TO give authoritative interpreta-
tons of law. Confusion has
arisen from the fact that the
decisions Of the bishops have been
published in = temporary form, or in
connection with other matter. What
is needed and what is wanted are the
episcopal decisions in q volume sepa-
rate from other matters, so that they
can be gotten unincumbered by opin-
ions and comments not authoritative
coming from whatever source.
MIR. Walker OF Virginia, Rev. Mr..
WipgGeld Of Arkansas, and others
took part in the debate.
Mr. Hughes, Of Texas, moved as a
substitute that the decisions Of the
bishops be made an appendix in the
Manual Of the Discipline.
The resolutions were referred to the
Committee on Publishing Interests.
NIGHT SESSIONS.
A resolution was presented proposing
20 hold night sessions after the 18th.
The Chair decided thstths resolution
must lie over under the rules.
THE ORDER OF PUBLIC WORSHIP.
The Committee on Revisals reported
on the resolution changing the order OF
public worship recommending non-con-