The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-14
METHODIST
CONFERENCE.
Fourth Days Proceedings at
Pacific Grove.
The Presidents Address to Candidates
for Full Membership.
Remarks Of Bishop GOOdsel Before the
Laymen'S Association -EduGa-
tlOnal Anniversary.
Special Dispatches to THE MORNING CALL.

L
o'clock J. A. Bruner led the opening SER
vices of the conference, after which the
BishGa p90k the chair.
After reading the minutes the plan of the
Lay Association to secure a permanent fund
for the support of worn-out preachers was
indorsed
A Sunday was ordered to be given each
year to receiving funds for the use of the
superannuates, the presiding elders to fix
the day, to be known as Veterans day. for
that purpose.
Mrs. AIRY Austin of Vallejo, having do
mated $1,000 toward the support of super
annuates, the conference, by a rising vote,
expressed their thanks to her for the same
A. c. Hirst, James A. Clayton, NJ. G.
Biggs and Peter Bohe were elected Trustees
of the University of the Pacific.
A. w. Norton, J. f. Lamdin, n. B. FRS
bic, j. a. Mcclellan and r. V. Watt were
elected Trustees of the Napa College.
The Select Committee in the case of l.. W.
Simmons read their report which sus-
pended him for one year.
LAY REPRESENTATION.
The Lay Association brought their greet
ings to the conference through their commit
tee. w. Watson of Oakland, James a.
Clayton and c. Gaines. j. w. Watson made
an address, and assured the conference of
their purpose to do what is possible 10 pr o.
vide for the support of the uperannuates,
and also the desire to have equal representa-
ton in both Annual and General Confer
ences and also hoping the W omen may soon
have seats in the General COnfere &c.
Bishop Goodsell was requested by the
conference to respond, which lie did most
cordially. He assured them that the history
of the church showed that twice the min
istry offered lay representation before the
laymen accepted. The ministry have the
most cordial love for the men and women
who make our success possible. The temp
tation to unjust gain is resisted by you, and
| we feel that God is with you and yours.
| The laity is the originator of all the minis
try in the land The relief for the super
annuates, which you are now making, calls
| forth our tender love. To provide for the
veterans in the marching army, and also OF
| the widows and orphans OF these, is an
| essential part of our duty.
The Trustees OF the Conference were In
structed to hold the endowment fund In
their hands until further instructions.
j. A. Chesnutwood of the Business College
in Santa Cruz offered free tuition to the
sons and daughters of all members of the
conference, for which thanks were re-
turned.
EXAMINATION OF CANDIDATES.
One of the most solemn and important
| hours of the Conference Session had now
arrived. The candidates for full member
ship were called before the Bishop for ex-
animation, as follows: Frank w. Baker.
| Charles f. Coy, James E. Bailey, Charles
+. Mcneil, John E. Wright. Wilbur W.
| Thobun, Wallace E. Miller James n. Will
| Jams, james Whitaker, William S. Bovard,
! Luther z. Walker, George Anderson.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
| N. G. Briggs led in prayer, and the adj
| dress of the President was given. He re-
| called the solemn hour when he took the
VOWS upon himself thirty years ago.. There
| are many hours in our Conference Session,
| notably when after years separation we
| are gathered around the sacramento table,
| also, when the close of the conference has
| come and orders are given to the different
| fields of toll. Also. it is important when
| the ordination services are over. The time
| has not come when the Methodist Church
| expects all persons TO belong to her COM
muniOn. There are others of equal value.
| When men come into our ranks as
| ministers we want them to know what
| the church is and what kind Of men you
are before we receive You. There should
| be the complete surrender of yourselves to
the ministry-as the bride gives herself, or
| the husband to the wife-so that there may
| be perfect confidence, cooperation and love
for its Office and work One word. expedi-
| entlal, conveys the idea of the church in its
| plans and work; that is, laying everythiDg,
annually and riennially-everything be-
| fore God, to see If there is not something
| better. Names are nothing, except as they are
vital with Gods presence and providential.
| Every thing useless should be discarded, and
what is not should be adopted. Infalli-
| bility is stumbing-bl0ck to improvement.
The papal doctrine of transmission of
| grace by mere fancied actions of Bishops
| and Pope is deadening in its effect a
| teaching force. study everything in our
polity and doctrine. and be sure you find
the truth in everything.
ALWAYS ON THE ADVANCE.
We are a marching church; not always
| victorious, but always on the advance. 1t is
| not enough to hold the fort-that is for
munitions and defense-but an army that
cOnQueTS is to march out into the field and
march upon the enemy. Methodism has few
| forts where it is safe, but nearly all are in the
| posts of danger, and unless you are ready
for danger and toll, retire, and do not come
| into our ranks. Each Bishop receives his
| orders, as every humble preacher receives
his, not knowing to what field you may be
assigned. An army under orders, ndepend-
| ent and aggressive, must be the motto of the
church. There is an assimilative power in
| Melhodism. While advocating independ-
| ence of thought, yet there must be large
| charity toward all. This was John Yves
| ley's position. There have been assimila-
| tions in our church which makes us one with
| all the Protestant bodies of the land. So
| long as we hold last to what we are in es-
| sence now, our victories must be certain.
| A narrow minded Methodist is an abnormal
| personality.
A REFORM CHURCH.
We are reform church, not always as
| much as it should be, but historically, really
| such. John Wesley went out TO every place
where souls were in need, and preached to
| the people for whom Jesus died. The
| House OF Commons and Westminster Alb
| tah tn ha mi IF
;his, one of the greatest of men. Wesley
| initiated the temperance movement; hecalled
| slavery the ''scum OF all villanies;" he be-
| lieyed the time would come when united
| Methodism would help heal the wounds OF
| the nation. Every rum-seller knows that
every Methodist minister is his opponent.
| The church is now and must ever remain
| free from the awfulest curse that rests on
humanity. We must also study the labor
| and capital problem, if we would keep our
| hold on the public, and especially the OPP
| pressions of either side.
You are coming into an orthodox church.
| No reprobation of childhood, but infants
| come into the world as the children of God
| No Reproduction of a man for the faint of
| Adams sin, but for his own actions alone.
| Shall one be lost? Nor is there need of a
| second probation to know God and show his
Justice to man. Our church creed needs no
| revision.
APOSTOLIC SUCCESS.
/
We do not claim to trace our episcopal
ordination to an unbroken external success
| sion, which some teach and which has been
| an awful barrier to the progress of Chris
| tianily, and is relic of Judaism. "a
| disastrous delusion and historical falsehood'
| is the designation of the doctrine of apostolic
succession. The Methodist Episcopal
| Church tests not on the doctrine of apostolic
| succession, but on that of apostolic success.
Do not the fruits Of the Methodist preach
ing show themselves really the successors of
| the apostles?
| You are coming to revival church, for our
| church teaches that not merely human touch
makes Christians. but that the soul is born
of the Spirit by faith in Jesus. We are to
come up TO the fountains of pure spiritual
| life, and thus are put into communion with
! God. God calls every sinner to repentance
now and there are no favorite hours with
! God. You must be eyangelists if you want
! to be with us.
| If YOU want to come into such fellow