Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-03-29
THE M. P. CONFERENCE.

The sixty-seventh session of the
Maryland Annual Conference of the
Methodist Protestant Church will con-
vene in the Methodist Protestant
Church, this city, Wednesday, April 3,
at 9 a. m. J. d. Kinzer is president
and Hugh l.. Elderdice secretary.
The following is a part of the pro-
gramme to be carried out:
April 3, s p. M, Temperance Meet
ing. Speakers, Rev. j. L. Straughn and
Rev. j. w. Kirk.
April 8, IL a. M, sermon on Foreign
Missions. by Rev. S. R. Murray, d. D..
April 3, S p. M, Anniversary of the
Superanuated Fund Society. An open
Parliament, conducted by Rev. L. ID.
Lewis, D.. ID.
April s, s D. M, Anniversary of the
Church Extension Society. An Open
Parliament, conducted by Rev. 5. j.
Smith.
ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF THE
CHURCH.
l. A Christian Church is o society OF
believers in Jesus Christ, and is of d.
vine institution.
2. Christ is only Head ofthe Church,
and the word of God the only rule OF
faith and practice.
8. No person who loves the Lord
Jesus Christ, and obeys the Gospel of
God our Saviour, ought to be deprived
of church membership.
4. Every mar has an ~inalienable
right to private judgment in matters OF
religion and an equal right to express
his opinion in any way which will not
violate the laws of God or the rights OF
his fellow-men.
5. Church trials should be conduct
ed on Gospel principles only; and no
minister or member should be excom-
municated except for immortality, the
propagation of unchristian doctrines,
or for the neglect of duties enjoined by
the word of God.
G. The pastoral or ministerial office
and duties are of divine appointment;
| and all elders in the church of God are
| equal; but ministers are forbidden to be
lords over Gods heritage, or to have
dominion over the faith of the saints.
Z. The church has the right to form
and enforce such rules and regulations
only as are in accordance with the
Holy Scriptures, and may be necessary
or have a tendency to carry into effect
the great system of practical christian
ity.
s. Whatever power NAV be neces-
sary to the formation of rules and reg
| ulations is inherent in the ministers
and members of the church, but so
much of the power may be delegated,
from time to time, upon a plan of rep
resentation, as they may judge neces-
sary and proper.
8. 1t is the duty of all ministers and
members of the church to maintain
goodness, and to oppose all moral evil.
10. 1t is obligatory on ministers OF the
Gospel to be faithful in the discharge
of their pastoral and ministerial duties;
and it is also obligatory on its members
to esteem ministers highly for their
works sake, and to render them q
righteous compensation for their labors.
IL. The church ought to secure to all
her official bodies the necessary auth
ority for the purposes of good govern
ment, but she has no right to create any
distinct or independent sovereignties.
DISTINCTIVE IRREGULARITIES.
1. But one order Of the ministry,
elders. Cali elders of the church Of
God are equal"
2. The mutual rights of the ministry
and laity. Equal representation in the
annual and general conferences.
THE PRESENT ESTIMATED STRENGTH.
Number of annual conferences forty
six, number of itinerant ministers, eigh-
teen hundred; lay membership n hun.
dred and seventy thousand; value OF
church property, s~3,750,0OO.