Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-14
ALL ABOUT MARRYING
Should Local Preachers be Granted
the Sacred Authority?
PRIMITIVE DOMIN1Es DISCUSS IT.
No Drinking or the Sale of Intoxicants
Will be Permitted.
THE ARTICLES OF FAITH PRESENTED

The consideration of the rules of disci-
pline was continued at the General Confer
ence of the Primitive Methodists in the
Holmes Street Church yesterday.
The most important subject that came up
was a rule allowing local preachers to
marry people, They have never had this
power, and the rule was opposed by
many members of the conference. Rev.
Bateman thought it sacrilegious to say that
man who las been called to the ministry
shall not have the power to perform all Of
the ministerial functions as given in the
New Testament. Rev. McGreaham thought
that such rule, if adopted. would destroy
the bond of the ministry ordination.
Before the discussion on the subject be-
came heated it was referred to committee,
composed of Revs. Bateman, Humphries
and McGreaham, for modification.
The time of the afternoon session was
taken up by the consideration of the rules
governing missionary regulations. No i'm
portant changes were made from the rules
now in force
The principal points passed upon and
adopted thusf far by the conference are as fol-
lows: First. The Primitive Methodist Church
is community of Protestant Christians
united for mutual help in the perfection of
Christian character; for promoting vital
Christianity in the earth and aiding in ex-
tending the kingdom of Christ throughout
the world.
THE BIBLE AS A RULE OF FAITH.
Second-We take the Bible as the only
true rule of faith and practice, as being the
inspired word of God, and hold its declara-
tions final, and that it teaches the following
doctrines: The existence of true God, viz:
Father, Son and Holy Ghost; the divinity
of Jesus Christ; the holiness of Adam and
Eve in the Garden of Eden; the fall of man;
the redemption of the race by our Lord
Jesus Christ; the necessity of repentance, in
cluding godly sorrow for sin and reforma-
tion of life; the sanctifcation by faith of all
who repent; regeneration witnessed by the
Holy Spirit; sanctification by the Holy
Spirit producing holiness of heart and life;
the resurrection Of the dead, and conscious
future existence Of all men; the general
judgment and eternal rewards and punish
ments. All men have equal rights to pri-
vate judgment in matters of religion, but no
one is allowed to teach or hold doctrines in
our church contrary to those above named.
1t has been determined to subject the
ministers at each annual conference to an
examination of character, religious teach
ing, mental and physical capacity and the
general success of his work.
AGAINST THE USE OF LIQUORS.
The rules governing members Of the
church were amended SO as to prohibit the
use of intoxicating drinks as beverage, as
well as the buying selling or leasing prop
erty for the sale of iutoxicants, or indorsing |
applicants for license.
The following resolution was adopted: Be- |
heving, as we do, that growth in grace is greatly
promoted by attendance on class, we earnestly |
and affectionately request our members to at |
tend as often as possible.
The powers of the annual conferences were
restricted to administrative functions, and |
their legislative powers were transferred to
the General Conference.
The basis of representation to the annual |
was made one lay delegate for
each station having 100 mem bers less, and
for each additional 100 or half thereof one
additional delegate.
The conference will adjourn at noon to-
day and the delegates will spend the re-
of the day in steamboat ride and
q visit to the Exposition.
The members of the Conference will occu-
py the following pulpits tomorrow:
st. Paul's NJ. E. Church, Liberty avenue and
Gedar street, morning, Rev: A. Humphries. of
Tamaqua; evening, Rev. E. HumphrIes of
Brooklyn, Manager of the Primitive Methodist
publishing House and associate editor of the
Record and Messenger.
Millvale NJ. K. Church, morning, Rev. e.
Humphries; evening, Rev. 8. r. Chubb, of
Fortieth Street M. E. Church, evening. Rev.
]. Ralph, of Plattesville. Wis.
McCandless Street NJ. E. Church, morning,
I. M. Bateman, OF Lowell, Mass; evening, Rev.
]. Hardcastle, of DodgeviIle, Wis
Forty-third Street Presbyterian Church.
morning, Rev. II. ]. c. Bond, of Mineral Point.
Wis, associate editor of the Record and Mes.
'enger; evening, Rev. ]. A. McGreaham, MA,
Of Brooklyn, N. Y.