Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-05-23
RELIGIOUS.

In the M. p. Conference at Kansas
City, Kas., yesterday, considerable dis
cussion took place over an item in the
report of the committee on home mis-
sions providing that the board do notas-
sumo new obligations until its present
ones were liquidated. 1t was suggest
ed that the board be reduced or that it
be consolidated with the foreign mis-
sionary board. Discussion was post
poned for the time being. The princi-
pal business of the session was the cleo
ton of the general conference officers.
The committee on revision of the dis
cipline reported adversely on the
amendment to make refusal to con-
tribute to pastors salary a cause for
dismissal without trial. The report
was adopted.
At yesterdays proceedings of the
Methodist general conference in Cleve-
land, editors of the various church pa
pers were elected. The report allow
| ing bishops to rent their residences
in the order of their appointment was
adopted. The bishops met in the after.
noon, and talked about the selection of
their residences but did not reach con-
clusion. In the evening q meeting
in the interests of the deacon
esses' work was held, and num-
Der of deaconesses were consecrated.
There was not debate in the commit
tee on itineracy on the proposition that
the bishops be directed not to appoint
at annual conference officers addicted
to the use of tobacco. The vote stood
"a yeas and % nays. The fight in the
General Conference on this matter will
be even more lively. The proposition
that bishops be guided in appointment
of ministers by the wishes of the major
ity of presiding elders was very quickly
killed. The committee on state of the
church, after much discussion, decided
not to take action on petition request
ing that section IS be stricken out of
the discipline. This section relates to
certain passages of scripture, which re-
commend that women do not wear pre-
cious stones and fine apparel, The
committee on episoopacy held an i'm
portant meeting last night. The re-
quest that missionary bishop be elect
ed for the colored people of America
and Africa was temporarily tabled, but
another missionary bishop to assist
Bishop Thoburn in India was recon-
mended. The committee decided to
report the non.efectiveness of Bishop
Taylor, of Africa, who is 76 years old,
and recommend that missionary bish-
op be elected to take his place.
In the Presbyterian General Assem-
bly, at Saratoga yesterday the final re-
port of the morning called forth
warm discussion. 1t related to Sab
bath observance, and was presented by
Elder William R. Worrell, of New
York. The report denounced all work
on Sundays; various theories of indi-
vidual liberty, excursions, ball games,
bicycle riding, lax views of the Sab
bath, social entertainment and the
Sunday newspaper, Christian people
were criticised for their lax of observ-
ance of Sunday. The resolutions which
were adopted, reafirmed former deliv-
erances as to the perpetual binding OBJ
legations of the Sabbath. They also
UuO CaOl " LhabO al k1oh2oy
schools and young peoples societies for
the better observance OF the Sabbath;
appointed the last Sunday in October
as q day for the special consideration
of the subject and commended the
work of the American Sabbath Union
and its au1iliaries.
In the Presbyterian General Assem-
bly, at Memphis yesterday the report of
the trustees of the Union Theological
Seminary showed an attendance of IS
students. The report of the board
of trustees OF the General Assembly
showed that the receipts for the year
amounted to to $3.50, disbursements
being $3.50. The report of the execu-
tive committee On foreign missions
shows that receipts for the year from
all sources were s142 ,O99, and disburse-
ments S127, 1889. Nineteen new mis-
sionaries were sent out during the
year. The home missions committee
report shows total disbursements
1884,, 235.