Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-20
heretofore occupied much Of the time Of
the Conference. If should trespass
on your patience, please bear with me
and remember to my credit the many
times | have not trespassed upon you
or tried your patience"

or uied your patience.
THOU SHALT NOT SIT IN CUsHIo NED
| CHAIRS.
lie read from the General Rules the
rule fcrbiddiDg "softness or needless
self-indulgence." The Doctor sail
the Bishop was sitting on cushioned
chair with cushioned back to it. "This
is needless self-indulgence and viola
ton Of the Methodist Discipline" be
said, further, " Some Of US go fishing
for recreation, which is contrary to the
rule which requires that We should not
do what We know is not for the glory
Of God-taking such diversions as can
not be used in the nsme Of the Lord
Jesus" A voice: " Peter went a.
fishing."l "Yes," responded the
speaker, sand he violated the Disci-
pline Of the Methodist Church."
DR.. Dodd also objected to requiring
the preachers to read " All these rules
We know His Spirit writes on truly
awakened hearts," when we do not
knoc it, and many Of our preachers do
not believe that all these rules - are
written on truly awakened hearts,"
DR.. McFerrin never expected to live
to see the day when the General Rules
would be assailed in this the highest
assembly of the Church. 81 have
lived 10 hear in the General Conference
Of 1885 the, declaration that some OF
the rules ale not scriptural that some
Of the declarations contained in the
rules are not true; that these rules,
which cannot be expunged from our
Discipline by General Conference ;
that these rules, which cannot be done
away with without the action Of the
Annual Conferences. are not fit to be
read by our pastors from the pulpits Of
the Church." "Mr. President" said
the speaker, pardon me if betray
some feeling on this subject" He
hoped the Conference would not grant
the request Of the petitioners.
DR.. McFerrin's speech was strong.
and he betrayed no signs OF age as he
proceeded to advocate the continuance
Of the rule as now in the Discipline.
DR.. a. 5. Andrews, Of Alabama,
favored the report Of the committee,
leaving the rule as at present.
Rev. p. A. Peterson, Of Virginia,
chairman of the committee, Was ac-
corded the floor under the rule which
gives chairmen Of committees the pri-
yilege Of making the closing argument.
Mr. Peterson contended that for
about $50 years these rules have been
read as now required by the Discipline,
and there was no valid reason for de-
parting in this matter from the ancient
custom of the Church. lie expressed
the highest admiration for his col
leagues, Drs. Edwards and Blackwell,
but was persuaded in this instance they
were in error, and had no very great
following in the Virginia Conference.
He replied fOrcibly to the leading argu-
ments Of the other side, and concluded
by saying the vote in the committee
was almost unanimous for non.concur-
renee as in the report.
The report of the committee was
adopted, and the preachers must con-
tinue to read the rules once o year in
all their congregations or be guilty Of
breach OF the Discipline.
CHINA AND BRAZIL.
The Committee on Missions report
back for adoption by the Conference
certain resolutions signed by d. G.
Kelley and others, recommending that
measures be taken for erecting the mis-
sions in China and Brazil into Annual
Conferences, and that proper and legal
steps be taken for securing to the
Church in these countries the right to
hold property for church purposes.
The resolutions were adopted.
DIVISION OF NORTH CAROLINA con-
FERENCE.
The Committee on Boundaries re-
ported in favor Of the division Of the
North Carolina Conference into two
Conferences, the eastern division to be
known as the North Carolina Confer
ence, and the western to be known as
the Western North Carolina Conference.
The report went on the calendar and
lies over under the rules.
SISTER CHURCHES.
The Committee on Hymn Book had
considered certain requests for the ap-
pointment ofcommissiOner to meet and
actwith commissioners ofsister Churches
in the preparation Of common hymnal
for use in all Methodist churches. They
report that while appreciating the fact
that many hymns are the property alike
of all Christians, and that in these songs
the Church gives expression to the
unity of the faith, they are not persuaded
that it is now advisable to appoint the
commission asked for by the petition
ers.
The report was adopted.
woMAN's MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
A report Of the Committee on Mis-
sions, recommending certain changes in
the constitution of the Woman's Mis-
sionary Society looking to the perfect
ing of said constitution, was taken up.
DR.. Kelley, Of Tennessee, moved an
amendment requiring that copies of all
instructions sent by the Woman's
Board to missionaries in the field be
sent TO the office Of the general secretary
of missions. DR.. Kelly said that these
copies were necessary in order to pre-
vent conflict between the instructions
given by the Woman's Board and the in
structions given through the secretary
Of the General Board.
DR.. Whitehead opposed the amend
ment. lie said the report was made
after consultation with the ladies Of the
Woman's Board, and he thought the
committee had put in all that the women
wished to be incorporated in the report.
After some further discussion the re-
port was passed 6y until the ladies can
be consulted.
CHILDREN's DAY.
The report of the Committee on Sum-
day Schools, recommending that the
third Sunday in May be set apart and
observed in all the churches as Ohil-
dIen's Day, and that suitable services
be held, and that a collection be taken
for Sunday-school purposes, one tenth
Of the amount collected to be sent to
the Sunday School Committee at Nash